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- Anguttara Nikaya V.34
- Siha Sutta
- To General Siha (On Generosity)
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Vesali,
in the Great Forest, at the Gabled Pavilion. Then General Siha went to
the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was
sitting there he said to the Blessed One: "Is it possible, lord, to point out a fruit
of generosity visible in the here & now?"
"It is possible, Siha. One who is generous, a master of giving, is dear &
charming to people at large. And the fact that who is generous, a master of giving, is
dear & charming to people at large: this is a fruit of generosity visible in the here
& now.
"Furthermore, good people, people of integrity, admire one who is generous, a
master of giving. And the fact that good people, people of integrity, admire one who is
generous, a master of giving: this, too, is a fruit of generosity visible in the here
& now.
"Furthermore, the fine reputation of one who is generous, a master of giving, is
spread far & wide. And the fact that the fine reputation of one who is generous, a
master of giving, is spread far & wide: this, too, is a fruit of generosity visible in
the here & now.
"Furthermore, when one who is generous, a master of giving, approaches any
assembly of people -- noble warriors, brahmins, householders, or contemplatives -- he/she
does so confidently & without embarrassment. And the fact that when one who is
generous, a master of giving, approaches any assembly of people -- noble warriors,
brahmins, householders, or contemplatives -- he/she does so confidently & without
embarrassment: this, too, is a fruit of generosity visible in the here & now.
"Furthermore, at the break-up of the body, after death, one who is generous, a
master of giving, reappears in a good destination, the heavenly world. And the fact that
at the break-up of the body, after death, one who is generous, a master of giving,
reappears in a good destination, the heavenly world: this is a fruit of generosity in the
next life."
When this was said, General Siha said to the Blessed One: "As for the four fruits
of generosity visible in the here & now that have been pointed out by the Blessed One,
it's not the case that I go by conviction in the Blessed One with regard to them. I know
them, too. I am generous, a master of giving, dear & charming to people at large. I am
generous, a master of giving; good people, people of integrity, admire me. I am generous,
a master of giving, and my fine reputation is spread far & wide: 'Siha is generous, a
doer, a supporter of the Sangha.' I am generous, a master of giving, and when I approach
any assembly of people -- noble warriors, brahmins, householders, or contemplatives -- I
do so confidently & without embarrassment.
"But when the Blessed One says to me, 'At the break-up of the body, after death,
one who is generous, a master of giving, reappears in a good destination, the heavenly
world,' that I do not know. That is where I go by conviction in the Blessed One."
"So it is, Siha. So it is. At the break-up of the body, after death, one who is
generous, a master of giving, reappears in a good destination, the heavenly world."
One who gives is dear.
People at large admire him.
He gains honor. His status grows.
He enters an assembly unembarrassed.
He is confident -- the man unmiserly.
Therefore the wise give gifts.
Seeking bliss, they would subdue the stain of miserliness.
Established in the three-fold heavenly world,
they enjoy themselves long
in fellowship with the devas.
Having made the opportunity for themselves,
having done what is skillful,
then when they fall from here
they fare on, self-radiant, in Nandana [the garden of the devas].
There they delight, enjoy, are joyful,
replete with the five sensuality strands.
Having followed the words of the sage who is Such,
they enjoy themselves in heaven --
disciples of the One Well-gone.