Remember Your Generosity

Again, Mahānāma, you should remember your own generosity thus: It is truly my good fortune and gain that in a population obsessed by the stain of selfishness, I reside at home with a mind free of the stain of selfishness, freely generous, openhanded, joyful in letting go, devoted to charity, joyful in giving and sharing.

When a Noble Disciple remembers his generosity, on that occasion his mind is not obsessed by craving, anger, or ignorance (unknowing of true reality); on that occasion his mind is simply straight, based on generosity.

A Noble Disciple whose mind is straight gains inspiration in the meaning, gains inspiration in The Teachings, gains joy connected with The Teachings. When he is joyful, joy arises. For one with a joyous mind, the body becomes tranquil. One tranquil in body feels calm. For one feeling calm, the mind becomes concentrated.

This is called a Noble Disciple who resides in balance among an unbalanced population, who resides untroubled among a troubled population. As one who has entered the stream of The Teachings, he develops memory of generosity.

Mahānāma, you should develop this memory of your own generosity while walking, standing, sitting, and lying down. You should develop it while engaged in work and while living at home in a house full of children.

(Reference: AN 11.11)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how learning to regularly practice generosity is an important quality of mind that brings the mind to Enlightenment.

Without eliminating the stain of selfishness, a Practitioner would have no ability to attain Enlightenment.