How to Give
with only Good and Joyous Result :-)
There might be the case,
where one gives wealth, but without joy!
Then, the later result is,
that one gets wealth, but without any joy!
Illustration:
A multi-billionaire at Buddha's time was known as neither enjoying
himself, nor sharing any of his
wealth. He lived alone in an old house,
which were falling apart, wore
rag clothes, ate only broken rice and
drove a ramshackle ox-cart.
When he died, then it took 2 weeks to
move his gold, and silver to the kings treasury...
This king then approached, and asked the Blessed Gotama Buddha:
How come this man neither ever enjoyed, nor shared out of his wealth?
The Buddha then reviewed his
case and explained that 8 generations
back this man had given a
single meal to a solitary
Pacceka-Buddha!
Yet after he had given, he felt no joy from it,
and even regretted that
he did it. For 7 consecutive lives he was reborn as multi-billionaire,
but without ever being able to
enjoy any of it... Having now used up
his accumulated merit, without ever doing any refilling good action,
he had now, at the break-up of
his body, re-arisen in a bad state...
Apparently, he had never asked anybody about cause and effect!
The Opposite Case:
When old, the Noble Disciple recollects his own generosity thus:
"I am truly blessed, highly fortunate am I, who joyous,
among beings defiled
with the mental stain of stinginess, live with a mind freed
from stinginess,
liberal, open-handed, rejoicing in giving, ready to
give anything asked for,
glad to give, and happy to share with others. Such Noble
One not only later
gets much wealth, but he also enjoys it wholeheartedly.
Why so?
Not only does he give, but he also enjoys it both before, and after
the giving!
Most Gods actually became Divine Beings as a
result of Giving!
More on Generosity
(Dāna)
= The 1st mental perfection:
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/The_3_Gifts.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/III/Kathina_Ceremony.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/caaga.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/b_f/daana.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/Openhanded_Generosity.htm
https://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/Generosity_Contemplation.htm
