42.8 （八）

Thus have I heard:

At one time, the Buddha was at Anāthapiṇḍada's Park in the Jeta Grove near Śrāvastī.

At that time, the elder Anāthapiṇḍada went to where the World-Honored One was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, and sat to one side. The World-Honored One then said to the elder, "Elder, are you widely giving in your household?"

The elder said to the Buddha, "In my poor household, giving is uninterrupted day and night. At the four city gates, in the great market, in the house, on the road, and to the Buddha and the bhikṣus, these are the eight places of giving. Thus, World-Honored One! Whatever is needed, if they need clothes, I give clothes, if they need food, I give food. The treasures of the country are never refused. Clothing, food, bedding, and medical supplies for the sick are all given. There are also devas who come to me and tell me in the sky: 'Distinguish between high and low, this one upholds the precepts, this one violates the precepts, giving to this one brings merit, giving to that one brings no reward.' However, my mind is impartial, without this and that, without giving rise to a mind of increase or decrease, with a universally equal compassionate mind towards all sentient beings. There are sentient beings who rely on the life-sustaining faculty to maintain their form. If they have food, they survive, without food, their lives cannot be sustained. Giving to all sentient beings, the reward is immeasurable. Receiving the fruits of the reward, there is no increase or decrease."

The Buddha told the elder, "Excellent, excellent! Elder! Equal giving is the most honored merit. However, the minds of sentient beings are also superior. Giving to those who uphold the precepts is superior to those who violate the precepts."

At that time, the devas and gods in the sky praised and rejoiced immeasurably, and immediately spoke this verse:

The Buddha said that choosing the recipient is supreme. The ignorant have increase
and decrease. Seeking a good field of merit, what surpasses the Tathāgata's assembly?

"But now the World-Honored One's words are extremely wonderful. Giving to those who uphold precepts is superior to those who violate them."

At that time, the World-Honored One told the elder Anāthapiṇḍada, "Now I will tell you about the assembly of sages. Think about it well and keep it in your mind. Sometimes giving little brings much merit, and sometimes giving much brings much merit."

The elder Anāthapiṇḍada said to the Buddha, "I only wish the World-Honored One would explain the meaning! How does giving little bring much merit? How does giving much bring much merit?"

The Buddha told the elder, "Those who are on the path to arahantship, those who have attained arahantship, those who are on the path to non-return, those who have attained non-return, those who are on the path to once-return, those who have attained once-return, those who are on the path to stream-entry, and those who have attained stream-entry. These, elder, are the assembly of sages. Giving little to them brings much merit, and giving much to them brings much merit."

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

Those who have accomplished the four stages of the path, and those who have attained
the four fruits, are called the assembly of sages. Giving to them brings vast merit.

"The past buddhas of the world also had this assembly of sages, no different from mine today. The future buddhas who will appear in the world will also have such an assembly of sages. Therefore, householder, rejoice and joyfully make offerings to the assembly of sages."

At that time, the World-Honored One spoke the subtle Dharma to the householder, establishing him in the stage of non-retrogression. Having heard the Dharma, the householder was overjoyed and boundless. He then rose from his seat, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated the Buddha three times, and then departed.

At that time, the householder Anāthapiṇḍada, having heard the Buddha's teaching, joyfully accepted it.