Sharing is great merit (sutra)

John D. Ireland (trans.), Vagga Sutra (Itivuttaka 26) via accesstoinsight.org edited by Kelly Ani, Amber Larson, and Dhr. Seven, Wisdom Quarterly, July 21, 2019

The power of letting go (nongreed, offering, sharing, generosity, giving) is great merit.

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Merit pays in the world and in meditation!

This was said by the Buddha:

"Meditators, if beings knew what I know -- the result of giving and sharing -- they would not eat without first having shared (offered, given), nor would they allow the stain of greed (clinging, stinginess, selfishness, hoarding) to obsess them and take root in their minds.

"Even if it were their last morsel of food, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared it, if there were someone to share it with.

"However, meditators, because beings do not know what I know -- the result of giving and sharing -- they eat without having given, without having offered, and the stain of greed obsesses them and takes root in their minds."

So said the Great Sage:

If only being knew

How great is the fruit

The result of sharing

With a glad mind,

Cleansed of the stain of greed,

They would duly share with noble ones

Who make what is given karmically fruitful.

Having given much food as offerings

To those most worthy of offerings,

Donors go to fortunate destinations

On departing the human realm.

Having gone there they rejoice,

And enjoying the pleasures there,

The unselfish experience the results

Of generously sharing with others.