32.10 （一〇）

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at the Monkey Forest in Vaiśālī, together with a great assembly of five hundred bhikṣus.

At that time, the great general Siṃha went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. At that time, the Buddha said to Siṃha: "How is it, Siṃha! Do you always give alms at home?"

Siṃha said to the Buddha: "I always give alms at the four city gates and in the city, according to the season, without interruption. I provide food for those who need food, clothing, fragrant flowers, carriages, and bedding, according to their needs, and give them all."

The Buddha said to Siṃha: "Excellent! Excellent! You are able to give generously without any stingy thoughts. There are five merits for a donor who gives alms according to the season. What are the five? Here, the donor's reputation spreads far and wide, and many people praise him, saying: 'In such and such a village, there is a donor who always gladly receives śramaṇas and brāhmaṇas, and provides for their needs without any shortage.' This is called the first merit obtained by a donor.

Furthermore, Siṃha! When a donor goes among śramaṇas, kṣatriyas, brāhmaṇas, and elders, he is not ashamed or afraid, just like a lion king among a herd of deer. This is called the second merit obtained by a donor.

Furthermore, Siṃha! The donor is respected by the people, and those who see him are delighted, like a child seeing his father, looking at him without any weariness. This is called the third merit obtained by a donor.

Furthermore, Siṃha! After the donor's life ends, he will be reborn in two places, either in the heavens or among humans; in the heavens he is respected by the gods, among humans he is honored. This is called the fourth merit obtained by a donor.

Furthermore, Siṃha! The donor's wisdom surpasses that of the common people, and in this life he exhausts the taints and does not pass through future lives. This is called the fifth merit obtained by a donor.

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke this verse:

The mind is always joyful in giving, with merit fully
accomplished. Among the multitude, there are no doubts or difficulties
and also no fear. The wise should give, without any
regretful mind. In the Thirty-three Heavens, surrounded by jade maidens,

"You should know, Lion, that the benefactors and donors give rise to two kinds of good places. In this life, they exhaust the taints and attain the state of non-conditioning."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke this verse:

Giving is the provision for the next life, leading to
the ultimate place. The good spirits always protect and bring joy.

"You should know, Lion, that when giving, always have joy in your heart, and your body and mind will be firm. All good qualities will be complete, and you will attain the mind of samādhi, which is also unconfused and truly known. How is it truly known? The origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path to the cessation of suffering are truly known. Therefore, Lion, you should seek skillful means and give according to the time. If you wish to attain the path of the śrāvaka or the path of the pratyekabuddha, it will all be as you wish. Thus, Lion, you should train in this way."

At that time, Lion heard what the Buddha said and joyfully accepted it.