Give Gifts to The Community

‘My family gives gifts, Venerable Sir. And those gifts are given to Monks who are Arahants or on the path to Arahantship, those who are forest dwellers, almsfood collectors, and wearers of rag-robes.’

Since, Householder, you are a Household Practitioner enjoying sensual pleasures, living at home in a house full of children, using sandalwood from Kāsi, wearing garlands, scents, and ointments, and receiving gold and silver, it is difficult for you to know: These are Arahants (Enlightened beings) or on the path to Arahantship (Enlightenment).

If, Householder, a Monk who is a forest-dweller is restless, puffed up, conceited, talkative, rambling in his talk, muddle-minded, lacking clear comprehension, unconcentrated, with a wandering mind, with loose sense bases, then in this respect he is blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing).

But if a Monk who is a forest-dweller is not restless, puffed up, and conceited, is not talkative and rambling in his talk, but has mindfulness established, clearly comprehends, is concentrated, with singleness of mind, with restrained sense bases, then in this respect he is praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable).

If a Monk who resides on the outskirts of a village... if a Monk who is an almsfood collector… if a Monk who accepts invitations to meals... if a Monk who wears rag-robes...or, if a Monk who wears robes given by Householders is restless, puffed up, conceited, talkative, rambling in his talk, muddle-minded, lacking clear comprehension, unconcentrated, with a wandering mind, with loose sense bases, then in this respect he is blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing).

But if a Monk who resides on the outskirts of a village… if a Monk who is an almsfood collector… if a Monk who accepts invitations to meals... if a Monk who wears rag-robes... or, if a Monk who wears robes given by Householders is not restless, puffed up, and conceited, is not talkative and rambling in his talk, but has mindfulness established, clearly comprehends, is concentrated, with singleness of mind, with restrained sense bases, then in this respect he is praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable).

Come now, Householder, give gifts to The Community. When you give gifts to The Community, your mind will be confident. When your mind is confident, with the breakup of the body, after death, you will be reborn in a good destination, in a heavenly world.

‘Venerable Sir, from today onward I will give gifts to The Community.’

(Reference: AN 6.59)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how to determine which type of Ordained Practitioner a Household Practitioner should provide offerings to.

The Buddha encouraged Household Practitioners to provide offerings to Ordained Practitioners to support the continuation of these Teachings in their community and to help the Practitioner to eliminate craving/desire/attachment through practicing generosity. Through having Ordained Practitioners who are able to actively progress in their practice, this benefits all those who are living in the local villages and towns. But, in providing support to Ordained Practitioners, Gotama Buddha provided the guidance that one should make offerings to virtuous Ordained Practitioners.

Those Ordained Practitioners who are deeply practicing these Teachings are those who are applying determination, dedication, and diligence to develop their learning and practice through the development of wisdom, moral conduct, and mental discipline. Ordained Practitioners such as these are taking their role seriously and interested to progress to Enlightenment while also capable of sharing these Teachings with others benefiting all those who choose to learn.

It is very challenging for the average individual to determine who is and is not Enlightened. Having a Teacher who is Enlightened provides the best opportunity for a Student to actively learn and progress on The Path to Enlightenment. So The Buddha provides some basic guidance of how to decide who to provide offerings to as these would be the best individuals to support because they are doing the hard work of learning, reflecting, and practicing these Teachings with the goal of attaining Enlightenment and will then be best prepared to share these Teachings for the benefit of others. An Enlightened being’s ability to share these Teachings and guide others to attain Enlightenment far exceeds the abilities of any other individual.

The Buddha provides the following basic guidance to help Practitioners determine who would be an Ordained Practitioner that one should consider not supporting.

“If, Householder, a Monk who is a forest-dweller is restless, puffed up, conceited, talkative, rambling in his talk, muddle-minded, lacking clear comprehension, unconcentrated, with a wandering mind, with loose sense bases, then in this respect he is blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing)”.

“If a Monk who resides on the outskirts of a village... if a Monk who is an almsfood collector… if a Monk who accepts invitations to meals... if a Monk who wears rag-robes...or, if a Monk who wears robes given by Householders is restless, puffed up, conceited, talkative, rambling in his talk, muddle-minded, lacking clear comprehension, unconcentrated, with a wandering mind, with loose sense bases, then in this respect he is blameworthy (responsible for wrongdoing)”.

The Buddha provides the following basic guidance to help Practitioners determine who would be an Ordained Practitioner that one should consider supporting.

“If a Monk who is a forest-dweller is not restless, puffed up, and conceited, is not talkative and rambling in his talk, but has mindfulness established, clearly comprehends, is concentrated, with singleness of mind, with restrained sense bases, then in this respect he is praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable)”.

“If a Monk who resides on the outskirts of a village… if a Monk who is an almsfood collector… if a Monk who accepts invitations to meals... if a Monk who wears rag-robes... or, if a Monk who wears robes given by Householders is not restless, puffed up, and conceited, is not talkative and rambling in his talk, but has mindfulness established, clearly comprehends, is concentrated, with singleness of mind, with restrained sense bases, then in this respect he is praiseworthy (deserving admiration; commendable)”.

The Buddha provides further details on providing offerings in multiple places within his Teachings. These Teachings are shared in more detail in (Volume 13) of this book series.

Detailed explanation of making offerings is available in this same book series found in the book “Generosity” (Volume 13).