"These are the five rewards of generosity:
- one is dear and appealing to people at large
- one is admired by good people
- one's good name is spread about
- one does not stray from the rightful duties of a householder
- with the break-up of the body at death, one reappears in a good destination, even in the heavenly worlds" (AN 5.35).
"There is the case," the Buddha explained, "where a certain person refrains from:
- taking life
- taking what is not given
- taking liberties with regard to sexual misconduct
- taking liberties with the truth [false, divisive, abusive, and profitless speech]
"One is not:
- covetous
- bears no ill will
- has right views
"And this person gives
- food
- drink
- cloth
- transport
- garlands
- scents
- creams
- bed
- lodging
- lamps
"to brahmins and ascetics [or other virtuous persons].
"With the breakup of the body, after death, one reappears in the company of human beings. There one experiences the "five strands of human sensuality." These are delightful:
- sights
- sounds
- smells
- tastes
- tactile sensations.
"It's because one refrained from taking...and because one was not covetous, bore no ill will, and had right views that one reappears in the company of human beings. And it is because one gave that one experiences the five strands of human sensuality.
"[Similarly, in the case when one takes rebirth in the company of devas, where one experiences the five strands of divine sensuality.] At any rate, brahmin, the donor does not go without reward."
"It is amazing, Master Gautama!" exclaimed the brahmin Janussonin to the Buddha. "It is astounding. It is enough to make one want to give a gift, enough to make one want to make an offering, since the donor does not go without reward."
"That is the way it is, brahmin. That is the way it is. The donor does not go without reward" (AN 10.177).
Never underestimate the power of small gifts
"Even if a person were to throw the rinsings of a bowl or a cup into a pond thinking, 'May whatever animals live here feed on this,' that would be a source of merit" (AN 3.57).
"Even if a person were to throw the rinsings of a bowl or a cup into a pond thinking, 'May whatever animals live here feed on this,' that would be a source of merit" (AN 3.57).
What is not given is lost
When the world is on fire with aging and death,
When the world is on fire with aging and death,
One should save [one's wealth] by giving:
What is given is well saved!
What is given bears fruit as happiness.
What is not given does not:
Instead, thieves or government take it away;
It is destroyed or lost (SN 1.41).
Overcoming miserliness
- Conquer anger with kindness
- Bad, with good
- Stinginess, with generosity
- A liar, with truth (Dhp 223).
What the miser fears
That keeps that person from giving
Is the very danger that comes
When one does not give (SN I.32)
- No misers go to the world of the devas.
- Those who praise not giving are foolish.
- The wise express approval for giving and
- So find ease in the worlds beyond (Dhp 177).
Greed versus Happiness
Buddhists believe that "greed" (lobha) -- one of the three principle defilements of the mind and heart -- is based on incorrectly connecting material wealth with happiness.
Buddhists believe that "greed" (lobha) -- one of the three principle defilements of the mind and heart -- is based on incorrectly connecting material wealth with happiness. This is caused by a view that exaggerates the positive aspects of an object. That is, acquiring material objects has less impact than we imagine on our feelings of happiness.
This view has been corroborated by studies in the field of happiness economics, which confirm that beyond the provision of a basic level of material comfort, more wealth does not increase happiness.
