“There are five results 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 proper duties of a householder; and with the breakup of the body at death, one reappears in a good destination, in heavenly worlds” (AN V.35).
“One refrains from [ten courses of unskillful action]: taking life, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, false, divisive, abusive, idle speech, coveting, ill-will, and wrong-views.
“One gives food, drink, cloth, vehicles, garlands, scents, creams, beds, lodgings, and lamps to ascetics and Brahmins. With the break up of the body at death, one reappears in the company of humans. There one experiences five sense strands [i.e., delightful sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and sensations].
“It’s because of refraining from taking what was not given...wrong-views that one reappears in the company of humans. And it’s because one gave these things to worthy persons that one experiences these five strands.
“It’s because [of these actions, this karma] that one reappears in the company of devas. It’s because one gave these things to worthy persons that one experiences the five strands of divine sensuality. At any rate, brahmin, the donor does not go with-out reward.
“It’s amazing, Ven. Gotama, astounding! It’s enough to make one want to give, enough to make one want to make an of-fering, since the donor does not go without [superior] reward.”
“That’s the way it is, brahmin, that’s the way it is. The donor does not go without reward” (AN, X.177).
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