Giving (ITI98)

So It Was Said 98

The Book of the Threes

Chapter Five

Giving

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard.

“There are, mendicants, these two gifts.

A gift of things of the flesh and a gift of the teaching.

The better of these two gifts is the gift of the teaching.

There are these two kinds of sharing.

Sharing things of the flesh and sharing the teaching.

The better of these two kinds of sharing is sharing the teaching.

There are these two kinds of support.

Support in things of the flesh and support in the teaching.

The better of these two kinds of support is support in the teaching.”

The Buddha spoke this matter.

On this it is said:

“It is said to be the supreme, ultimate gift,

and the sharing praised by the Buddha;

what wise and sensible person, confident in the best of fields,

would not sow a such timely gift?

For those who are diligent in the dispensation of the Holy One,

both those who speak and those who listen,

confident in the dispensation of the Holy One,

such a gift purifies the highest goal.”

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard.