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Indeed, was it not said by the Blessed One: “There are, monks, these five great gifts, foremost, ancient, traditional, primeval, unmixed, never mixed, not doubted, nor will they be doubted, not criticized by recluses, brahmins, or the wise! Which five? Here, monks, a noble disciple, having abandoned the taking of life, abstains from the taking of life. Having abstained from the taking of life, monks, a noble disciple gives fearlessness, gives non-enmity, gives non-affliction to immeasurable beings. Having given fearlessness, having given non-enmity to immeasurable beings, Having given non-affliction, he becomes a sharer in immeasurable safety, non-enmity, non-affliction. This, monks, is the first gift, a great gift, foremost, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unmixed, unmixed before, it is not doubted, it will not be doubted, not scorned by recluses, brahmins, and the wise. Furthermore, monks, a noble disciple, having abandoned taking what is not given... having abandoned misconduct in sensual pleasures... having abandoned false speech... having abandoned the intoxicating drinks, fermented liquors, and negligence, he abstains from the intoxicating drinks, fermented liquors, and negligence. Abstaining from intoxicating drinks, fermented liquors, and negligence, monks, a noble disciple gives safety to immeasurable beings, gives non-enmity, gives non-affliction. Having given safety to immeasurable beings, having given non-enmity, having given non-affliction, he becomes a sharer in immeasurable safety, non-enmity, non-affliction. This, monks, is the fifth gift, a great gift, foremost, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unmixed, unmixed before, it is not doubted, it will not be doubted, not scorned by recluses, brahmins, and the wise. These, monks, are the five gifts, great gifts, foremost, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unmixed, unmixed before, they are not doubted, they will not be doubted, not scorned by recluses, brahmins, and the wise. Is there such a Sutta? Yes. Then mental state is a gift. Should it not be said: "Material things are a gift"? Yes. Has it not been said by the Blessed One: "Here some give food, give drink, give clothing, give vehicles, give garlands, give scents, give ointments, give beds, give dwellings, give lamps"? Is there such a Sutta? Yes. Then material things are a gift. Material things are a gift? Yes. Material things bear desirable fruit, lovely fruit, agreeable fruit, unmixed fruit, leading to happiness, with a happy result. is it? It should not be said thus…pe… Giving is said by the Blessed One to have a desirable fruit. Is a robe a gift? Yes. Is a robe a desirable fruit, a lovely fruit, a pleasing fruit, a non-drying fruit, a pleasant outcome, a pleasant result? It should not be said thus…pe… Giving is said by the Blessed One to have a desirable fruit. Is almsfood a gift?… Is a dwelling a gift?… Are requisites for the sick, medicine, and provisions a gift? Yes. Are requisites for the sick, medicine, and provisions a desirable fruit, a lovely fruit, a pleasing fruit, a non-drying fruit, a pleasant outcome, a pleasant result? It should not be said thus…pe… Therefore, it should not be said: “A meritorious offering is a gift.” The discourse on giving is finished. 7. The Seventh Chapter (67) 5. Discourse on Merit from Use 483. Does merit from use increase? Yes. Does contact from use increase, feeling increase, perception increase, volition increase, consciousness increase, faith increase, energy increase, mindfulness increase, concentration increase, wisdom increase? It should not be said thus…pe…. Does merit from use increase? Yes. Does it increase like a creeper, increase like a parasitic plant, increase like a tree, increase like grass, increase like a clump of muñja grass? It should not be said thus…pe…. 484. Does merit from use increase? Yes. A donor, having given a gift, does not reflect; does merit arise? Yes. Does it arise for one who does not reflect?… Does it arise for one who does not intend?… Does it arise for one who does not reflect?… Does it arise for one who does not pay attention?… Does it arise for one who does not intend?… Does it arise for one who does not wish?… Does it arise for one who does not aspire? It should not be said thus…pe… Does it not arise for one who reflects?… Does it arise for one who intends?… Does it arise for one who reflects?… Does it arise for one who pays attention?… Does it arise for one who intends? it is... for one who wishes, it is... for one who aspires, it is, but it should not be said, alas! "Merit from consumption increases." Does merit from consumption increase? Yes. A donor, having given a gift, thinks thoughts of sensual desire, thinks thoughts of ill-will, thinks thoughts of harm, is there merit? Yes. Is there a convergence of two contacts... of two minds? It should not be said thus... Is there a convergence of two contacts... of two minds? Yes. Do wholesome and unwholesome, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, dark and bright, corresponding qualities come into direct presence? It should not be said thus... Do wholesome and unwholesome, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, dark and bright, corresponding qualities come into direct presence? Yes. Has it not been said by the Blessed One – "These four, monks, are very far apart! Which four? Sky, monks, and earth – this is the first very far apart. This shore, monks, and the far shore of the ocean – this is the second very far apart. From where, monks, the shining one rises and where it sets – this is the third very far apart. The Dhamma of the good, monks, and the Dhamma of the bad – this is the fourth very far apart. These, monks, are the four very far apart." "Sky is far, and earth is far, The far shore of the ocean, they say, is far; From where the shining one rises, The light-maker where it sets. From that, indeed, they say is farther, The Dhamma of the good and the Dhamma of the bad; The gathering of the good is without loss, However long it may last, it remains so. Swiftly indeed passes the gathering of the bad; Therefore, the Dhamma of the good is far from the bad." Is there such a Suttanta? Yes. Therefore, it should not be said – "Wholesome and unwholesome, blameworthy and blameless, inferior and superior, dark and bright, corresponding qualities..." coming into direct presence. 486. Should it not be said: "Merit from usage increases"? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One: "Those who plant groves, those who plant forests, those who build bridges; And those who give water-huts and wells, and those who give lodging. For them, day and night, merit always increases; Righteous and endowed with virtue, those people go to heaven." Is there such a discourse? Yes. Then merit from usage increases. Should it not be said: "Merit from usage increases"? Yes. Was it not said by the Blessed One: "Monks, there are these four streams of merit, streams of wholesome deeds, feeders of happiness, heavenly, with happy results, leading to heaven, conducive to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, beneficial, and pleasant! Which four? "Monks, when a bhikkhu uses robes and dwells having attained immeasurable concentration of mind, for him there is an immeasurable stream of merit, a stream of wholesome deeds, a feeder of happiness, heavenly, with happy results, leading to heaven, conducive to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, beneficial, and pleasant. Monks, when a bhikkhu uses almsfood, when he uses lodging, when he uses requisites for the sick and medicine, and dwells having attained immeasurable concentration of mind, for him there is an immeasurable stream of merit, a stream of wholesome deeds, a feeder of happiness, heavenly, with happy results, leading to heaven, conducive to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, beneficial, and pleasant. These, Monks, are the four streams of merit, streams of wholesome deeds, feeders of happiness, heavenly, with happy results, leading to heaven, conducive to what is wished for, desired, agreeable, beneficial, and pleasant." Is there such a discourse? Yes. Then merit from usage increases. 487. Does merit from usage increase? Yes. The donor gives a gift, the recipient, having received it, does not use it, but discards it or... throws away, is there merit? Yes. If the donor gives a gift, the recipient, having received it, does not consume it, throws it away, discards it, there is merit; but it should not be said – "merit from consumption increases." Does merit from consumption increase? Yes. The donor gives a gift, when the recipient has received it, kings carry it away, or thieves carry it away, or fire burns it, or water carries it away, or disliked heirs carry it away, is there merit? Yes. If the donor gives a gift, when the recipient has received it, kings carry it away, or thieves carry it away, or fire burns it, or water carries it away, or disliked heirs carry it away, there is merit; but it should not be said – "merit from consumption increases." The discourse on merit from consumption is finished. 7. The Seventh Chapter (68) 6. Discourse on what is given from here 488. Do they subsist there on what is given from here? Yes. From here they give robes, do they consume those robes there? It should not be said thus... (etc.) From here they give almsfood, from here they give lodgings, from here they give requisites for the sick, medicine, from here they give edibles, from here they give food, from here they give drinks; do they consume those drinks there? It should not be said thus... (etc.) Do they subsist there on what is given from here? Yes. Is one the doer for another, does one make the happiness and suffering made by another, and another experience it? It should not be said thus... (etc.) 489. Should it not be said – "they subsist there on what is given from here"? Yes. Do not the departed spirits rejoice in the giving of gifts for their own benefit,