155. （一五五）须达哆经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the country of Śrāvastī, staying at the Jeta Grove Anāthapiṇḍada-ārāma.

At that time, the householder Sudatta went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at his feet, and sat to one side.

The World-Honored One asked, "Householder, do you practice giving in your home?"

The householder Sudatta replied, "Yes, World-Honored One! We practice giving in our home, but it is only coarse and not good. We offer rice with bran, hemp soup, and a piece of ginger and vegetables."

The World-Honored One said, "Householder! Whether one gives coarse food or fine food, one will receive the same reward. Householder! If one practices coarse giving, without faith, intentionally, not with one's own hands, not going oneself, not contemplating, not giving out of faith, not observing the fruits of karma, one should know that one will receive such a reward. One's mind will not desire a good family, a good vehicle, good clothing, good food and drink, or the five sense pleasures. Why is this? Because one practices giving without sincerity. Householder! One should know that one will receive such a reward. Householder! If one practices coarse giving, with faith, intentionally, with one's own hands, going oneself, contemplating, giving out of faith, observing the fruits of karma, one should know that one will receive such a reward. One's mind will desire a good family, a good vehicle, good clothing, good food and drink, and the five sense pleasures. Why is this? Because one practices giving with sincerity. Householder! One should know that one will receive such a reward.

Householder! If one practices fine giving, without faith, not intentionally, not with one's own hands, not going oneself, not contemplating, not giving out of faith, not observing the fruits of karma, one should know that one will receive such a reward. One's mind will not desire a good family, a good vehicle, good clothing, good food and drink, or the five sense pleasures. Why is this? Because one practices giving without sincerity. Householder! One should know that one will receive such a reward. Householder! If one practices fine giving, with faith, intentionally, with one's own hands, going oneself, contemplating, giving out of faith, observing the fruits of karma, one should know that one will receive such a reward. One's mind will desire a good family, a good vehicle, good clothing, good food and drink, and the five sense pleasures. Why is this? Because one practices giving with sincerity. Householder! One should know that one will receive such a reward.

Householder! In the past, there was a brahman householder named Sūra, who was extremely wealthy and happy, with immeasurable wealth and property, with many precious treasures, livestock, and industries. His practice of giving was like this: he gave away 84,000 golden bowls filled with silver dust, practicing such great giving. He gave away 84,000 silver bowls filled with gold dust, practicing such great giving. He gave away 84,000 golden bowls filled with gold dust, practicing such great giving. He gave away 84,000 silver bowls filled with silver dust, practicing such great giving. He gave away 84,000 elephants, adorned and decorated, covered with white nets, practicing such great giving. He gave away 84,000 horses, adorned and decorated, covered with white nets and golden saddles, practicing such great giving. He gave away 84,000 cows, covered with leather ropes and leather, each producing one bushel of milk, practicing such great giving. He gave away 84,000 women, with beautiful appearances, pleasing to behold, adorned with various precious necklaces, practicing such great giving. Not to mention the other food and drink.

Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, this would be the most supreme giving. Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to one srota-āpanna, this would be the most supreme giving. Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to a hundred srota-āpannas, and if one were to give food to one sakṛd-āgāmin, this would be the most supreme giving. Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to a hundred srota-āpannas, a hundred sakṛd-āgāmins, and if one were to give food to one anāgāmin, this would be the most supreme giving. Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to a hundred srota-āpannas, a hundred sakṛd-āgāmins, a hundred anāgāmins, and if one were to give food to one arhat, this would be the most supreme giving.

Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to a hundred srota-āpannas, a hundred sakṛd-āgāmins, a hundred anāgāmins, a hundred arhats, and if one were to give food to one pratyekabuddha, this would be the most supreme giving. Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to a hundred srota-āpannas, a hundred sakṛd-āgāmins, a hundred anāgāmins, a hundred arhats, a hundred pratyekabuddhas, and if one were to give food to one Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, this would be the most supreme giving. Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to a hundred srota-āpannas, a hundred sakṛd-āgāmins, a hundred anāgāmins, a hundred arhats, a hundred pratyekabuddhas, and if one were to build a dwelling and give it to the bhikṣu saṃgha of the four directions, this would be the most supreme giving.

Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to a hundred srota-āpannas, a hundred sakṛd-āgāmins, a hundred anāgāmins, a hundred arhats, a hundred pratyekabuddhas, and if one were to build a dwelling and give it to the bhikṣu saṃgha of the four directions, and if one were to joyfully take refuge in the Three Jewels - the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṃgha - and receive the precepts, this would be the most supreme giving. Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to a hundred srota-āpannas, a hundred sakṛd-āgāmins, a hundred anāgāmins, a hundred arhats, a hundred pratyekabuddhas, and if one were to build a dwelling and give it to the bhikṣu saṃgha of the four directions, and if one were to joyfully take refuge in the Three Jewels - the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṃgha - and receive the precepts, and if one were to cultivate a mind of loving-kindness for all beings, even for the time it takes to milk a cow, this would be the most supreme giving.

Householder! If the brahman Sūra practiced such great giving, and if one were to give food to all the ordinary people in Jambudvīpa, and if one were to give food to a hundred srota-āpannas, a hundred sakṛd-āgāmins, a hundred anāgāmins, a hundred arhats, a hundred pratyekabuddhas, and if one were to build a dwelling and give it to the bhikṣu saṃgha of the four directions, and if one were to joyfully take refuge in the Three Jewels - the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṃgha - and receive the precepts, and if one were to cultivate a mind of loving-kindness for all beings, even for the time it takes to milk a cow, and if one were able to contemplate all dharmas as impermanent, suffering, empty, and non-self, this would be the most supreme giving.

What do you think, householder? Was the brahman Sūra of old a different person? Do not think so. Why? Know that I was the brahman Sūra of old. Householder! At that time, I benefited myself, benefited others, benefited many people, had compassion for the world, sought benefit and happiness for gods and humans. At that time, the teaching did not reach the ultimate, did not reach the ultimate purity, did not reach the ultimate practice of the holy life, did not reach the ultimate completion of the holy life. At that time, I was not free from birth, old age, sickness, death, wailing, sorrow, and lamentation, and I was not yet able to escape all suffering.

Householder! Now I have appeared in the world as a Tathāgata, Arhat, Perfectly Enlightened One, Perfect in Knowledge and Conduct, Well-Gone, Knower of the Secular World, Unsurpassed Trainer of those who can be trained, Teacher of gods and men, Buddha, Blessed One. Now I benefit myself, benefit others, benefit many people, have compassion for the world, seek benefit and happiness for gods and humans. Now I teach the Dharma that reaches the ultimate, reaches the ultimate purity, reaches the ultimate practice of the holy life, reaches the ultimate completion of the holy life. Now I am free from birth, old age, sickness, death, wailing, sorrow, and lamentation, and now I have attained liberation from all suffering.

The Buddha spoke thus. The householder Sudatta and the bhikṣus, having heard the Buddha's words, rejoiced and practiced accordingly.