Guest guest Posted May 2, 2005 Report Share Posted May 2, 2005 Friends: Generosity is the First Mental Perfection (Parami): RIGHT PRAISING The miser cannot go divine. The fool cannot praise giving. The clever though rejoice in giving, thereby winning bliss in the next world. Dhammapada 177 TOOLS One can only overcome anger with kindness. One can only conquer evil with good. One can only win the miser by giving gifts. One can only convince the liar with truth. Dhammapada 223 WEEDS Weeds ruin a field. Greed ruins a human. Therefore, alms given to beings who are freed from greed, yield great fruit ... Dhammapada 356 WELL PLACED Weeds ruin a field. Greed ruins a human. Therefore, alms given to beings who are freed from anger, yield great fruit ... Dhammapada 357 NOT MISTY Weeds ruin a field. Greed ruins a human. Therefore, alms given to beings who are freed from confusion, yield great fruit ... Dhammapada 358 COOLED Weeds ruin a field. Greed ruins a human. Therefore, alms given to beings who are freed from the pull of attraction, yield great fruit ... Dhammapada 359 CONSEQUENCE: So have I heard: On a certain occasion the Blessed One smiled and exclaimed: ‘Merit grows for one who gives.’ Anger cannot grow for one in control. The clever One avoids detrimental action. With attraction, aversion & confusion exhausted, such One is released, finally freed from ill.’ Udana – Inspiration: VIII - 5 GENEROSITY: And what is the treasure of generosity? When a disciple of the Noble Ones whose mentality is all cleared of disgracing miserliness, living at home, is freely generous & open-handed, delighting in being magnanimous, responsive to every request & , enjoying the giving of alms. Such is this treasure called generosity." AN VII 6 --- Just as a filled pot, which is overturned pours out all its water, leaving nothing back, even & exactly so should one give to those in need. whether low, middle or high, like the overturned pot, holding nothing back. Jataka Nidana [128-129] --- The Generosity of Giving, The Kindness in Speech, The Benefit of Service, The Impartiality treating all Alike, These 4 threads of sympathy upholds this world like the axle do the cart. AN II 32 --- Giving food, one gives & gets strength Giving clothes, one gives & gets beauty Giving light, one gives & gets vision Giving transportation, one gives & gets ease. Giving shelter one gives all, Yet one who instructs in the True Dhamma - The supreme Teaching of the Buddhas - Such one gives the quite divine ambrosia! SN I 32 --- These are these five rewards of generosity: One is liked and charming to people at large, One is admired & respected by wise people, one's good reputation is spread wide about, One does not neglect a householder's true duties, and with the break-up of the body - at the moment of death - one reappears in a happy destination, in the plane of the divine worlds. AN V.35 --- There are these two kinds of gifts: material gifts & gifts of Dhamma. The supreme gift is that of Dhamma. There are these two kinds of sharing: material sharing & sharing of Dhamma. The supreme sharing is that of Dhamma. There are these two kinds of help: Material help & help with the Dhamma. This is the supreme of the two: help with the Dhamma … It 98 --- The gift of Dhamma exceeds all other gifts. Dhammapada 354 --- The Bodhisatta once as king Sivi gave both his eyes to a beggar who was Sakka the king deity in disguise, who desired to test him. He remembered "While I was wishing to give, while I was giving and after this giving there was neither contrariety nor opposition in mind as it was for the purpose of awakening itself! Neither were these eyes nor the rest of myself disagreeable to me. Omniscience was dear to me, therefore I gave the eyes." The Basket of Conduct Cariyapitaka I-8 Full story: Sivi Jataka no. 499. --- The Bodhisatta once as the Wise Hare gave his roasted body as alms by jumping into a fire: He remembered: "There came a beggar and asked for food. Myself I gave so that he might eat. In alms there was none equal to me. In alms I had thereby reached ultimate perfection." From then & the rest of this world-cycle the moon will display a characteristic 'hare-in-the-moon' sign. Sasa-Jataka no. 316 --- Giving of things, treasures, external possessions, job, position, wife, & child is the first perfection of giving. Giving the offer of one's organs, limbs, & senses is the second higher perfection of giving. Giving the sacrifice of one's life is the ultimate perfection of giving. The clarifier of sweet meaning 89 (Commentary on Buddhavamsa) Madhuratthavilasini [59] Buddhadatta: 5th century. --- Generosity is the first perfection (parami) Come On Now ! This One is the first one to adopt, practice, develop, refine, & perfect resolutely: Acquire Perfection in your Giving then you can attain to the absolute of Wisdom. Jataka Nidana (introduction) Friendship is the Greatest ! and the entire Noble Life... Bhikkhu Samāhita, Sri Lanka. http://groups.msn.com/DirectDhamma Buddha-Direct http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/TrueDhamma What_Buddha_Said Dhamma-Questions sent to my email are quite Welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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