The Generous One Would Surpass the Other

‘Here, Venerable Sir, there might be two disciples of The Perfectly Enlightened One equal in confidence, virtuous behavior (moral conduct), and wisdom, but one is generous while the other is not. With the breakup of the body, after death, they would both be reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world. When they have become heavenly beings, would there be any distinction or difference between them?’

There would be, Sumanā, The Perfectly Enlightened One said: The generous one, having become a heavenly being, would surpass the other in five ways: in heavenly life span, heavenly beauty, heavenly happiness, heavenly glory, and heavenly authority. The generous one, having become a heavenly being, would surpass the other in these five ways.

‘But, Venerable Sir, if these two pass away from there and again become human beings, would there still be some distinction or difference between them?’

There would be, Sumanā, The Perfectly Enlightened One said: When they again become human beings, the generous one would surpass the other in five ways: in human life span, human beauty, human happiness, human fame, and human authority. When they again become human beings, the generous one would surpass the other in these five ways.

‘But, Venerable Sir, if these two should go forth from the household life into homelessness, would there still be some distinction or difference between them?’

There would be, Sumanā, The Perfectly Enlightened One said: The generous one, having gone forth, would surpass the other in five ways.

1. He would usually use a robe that has been specifically offered to him, seldom one that had not been specifically offered to him.

   
   

2. He would usually eat almsfood that has been specifically offered to him, seldom almsfood that had not been specifically offered to him.

   
   

3. He would usually use a lodging that had been specifically offered to him, seldom one that had not been specifically offered to him.

   
   

4. He would usually use medicines and supplies for the sick that had been specifically offered to him, seldom those that had not been specifically offered to him.

   
   

5. His fellow monastics, those with whom he resides, would usually behave toward him in agreeable ways by bodily, verbal, and mental action, seldom in disagreeable ways. They would usually present him what is agreeable, seldom what is disagreeable. The generous one, having gone forth, would surpass the other in these five ways.

‘But, Venerable Sir, if both attain Arahantship, would there still be some distinction or difference between them after they have attained Arahantship?’

In this case, Sumanā, I declare, there would be no difference between the liberation [of one] and the liberation [of the other].

‘It’s outstanding and amazing, Venerable Sir! Truly, one has good reason to give alms (a donation) and do meritorious deeds, since they will be helpful if one becomes a heavenly being, [again] becomes a human being, or goes forth.

So it is, Sumanā! So it is, Sumanā! Truly, one has good reason to give alms (a donation) and do meritorious deeds, since they will be helpful if one becomes a heavenly being, [again] becomes a human being, or goes forth.

This is what The Perfectly Enlightened One said.

Having said this, The Fortunate One, The Teacher, further said this:

As the stainless moon moving through the sphere of space

outshines with its radiance all the stars in the world, so one

accomplished in virtuous behavior (moral conduct), a person

endowed with confidence, outshines by generosity all the selfish

people in the world.

As the hundred-peaked rain cloud, thundering, covered in

lightning, pours down rain upon the earth, overwhelming the

plains and lowlands, so The Perfectly Enlightened One’s disciple,

the wise one accomplished in vision, surpasses the selfish

person in five specific respects:

Life span and glory, beauty and peacefulness.

Possessed of wealth, after death he rejoices in heaven.

(Reference: AN 5.31)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares answers to questions related to the practice of generosity.

A Student asks The Buddha what would be the difference between two Practitioners who are learning and practicing his Teachings upon rebirth, given that both Practitioners were equally practicing confidence, virtuous behavior (moral conduct), and wisdom but one would be generous while the other is not.

The Student asks this question related to rebirth in the heavenly realm, human realm, having become an Ordained Practitioner, and if both Practitioners attained Enlightenment.

Heavenly Realm

The Buddha explains that there would be a difference between the two Practitioners upon rebirth in the heavenly realm. If both Practitioners were equally established in confidence, virtuous behavior (moral conduct), and wisdom but one was generous in the past life while the other was not, the Practitioner who was generous “would surpass the other in five ways: in heavenly life span, heavenly beauty, heavenly happiness, heavenly glory, and heavenly authority”.

Human Realm

The Buddha explains that there would be a difference between the two Practitioners upon rebirth in the human realm. If both Practitioners were equally established in confidence, virtuous behavior (moral conduct), and wisdom but one was generous in the past life while the other was not, the Practitioner who was generous “would surpass the other in five ways: in human life span, human beauty, human happiness, human fame, and human authority”.

Becoming Ordained Practitioners

The Buddha explains that there would be a difference between the two Practitioners upon rebirth in the human realm and both deciding to become Ordained Practitioners. If both Ordained Practitioners were equally established in confidence, virtuous behavior (moral conduct), and wisdom but one was generous in the past life while the other was not, the Practitioner who was generous “would surpass the other in five ways”.

1. He would usually use a robe that has been specifically offered to him, seldom one that had not been specifically offered to him.

   
   

2. He would usually eat almsfood that has been specifically offered to him, seldom almsfood that had not been specifically offered to him.

   
   

3. He would usually use a lodging that has been specifically offered to him, seldom one that had not been specifically offered to him.

   
   

4. He would usually use medicines and supplies for the sick that had been specifically offered to him, seldom those that had not been specifically offered to him.

   
   

5. His fellow monastics, those with whom he resides, would usually behave toward him in agreeable ways by bodily, verbal, and mental action, seldom in disagreeable ways. They would usually present him what is agreeable, seldom what is disagreeable. The generous one, having gone forth, would surpass the other in these five ways.

Due to the Practitioner having a well developed practice of generosity in a previous life, they will experience individuals being generous to them in their current life. This is as a result of their actions in the previous and current life.

Attaining Enlightenment

The Buddha explains that there would not be a difference between the two Practitioners upon rebirth in the human realm. If both Practitioners were equally established in confidence, virtuous behavior (moral conduct), and wisdom but one was generous in the past life while the other was not, for two Practitioners who have attained Enlightenment “there would be no difference between the liberation [of one] and the liberation [of the other]”.

An Enlightened being is an Enlightened being. Any and all Enlightened beings will experience liberation of mind, such that, there will be no discontentedness because both Practitioners have fully and completely eliminated all of The Ten Fetters. With all the fetters/taints/pollution of mind eliminated, both Practitioners will have eradicated discontentedness and escaped The Cycle of Rebirth. The mind of both Practitioners will be peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy - permanently.

Generosity should be practiced on a continuous and ongoing basis. A Practitioner should incorporate generosity as part of their normal life. Giving and sharing with others trains one’s own mind to eliminate craving/desire/attachment removing the stain of selfishness from the mind. A Practitioner’s mind would not be liberated to attain Enlightenment without a well developed practice of continuous and ongoing generosity.

Detailed explanation of The Realms of Existence is available in this same book series found in the book “The Realms of Existence” (Volume 11).