Aṅguttara Nikāya — Discursos Numerados — 3.57 — With Vacchagotta

1Then the wanderer Vacchagotta went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha:

2“I have heard, worthy Gotama, that the ascetic Gotama says this: ‘Gifts should only be given to me, not to others. Gifts should only be given to my disciples, not to the disciples of others. Only what is given to me is very fruitful, not what is given to others. Only what is given to my disciples is very fruitful, not what is given to the disciples of others.’

3I trust those who say this repeat what the worthy Gotama has said, and do not misrepresent him with an untruth? Is their explanation in line with the teaching? Are there any legitimate grounds for rebuttal and criticism? For we don’t want to misrepresent the worthy Gotama.”

4“Vaccha, those who say this do not repeat what I have said. They misrepresent me with what is false and untrue.

5Anyone who prevents another from giving makes an obstacle and a roadblock for three individuals. What three? The giver is obstructed from making merit. The receiver is obstructed from getting what is offered. And they’ve already broken and damaged themselves. Anyone who prevents another from giving makes an obstacle and a roadblock for these three individuals.

6Vaccha, this is what I say: ‘You even make merit by tipping out dish-washing water in a cesspool or a sump with living creatures in it, thinking, “May any creatures here be nourished!”’ How much more then for human beings!

7However, I also say that a gift to an ethical person is more fruitful than one to an unethical person. They’ve given up five factors, and possess five factors.

8What are the five factors they’ve given up? Sensual desire, ill will, dullness and drowsiness, restlessness and remorse, and doubt. These are the five factors they’ve given up.

9What are the five factors they possess? The entire spectrum of an adept’s ethics, immersion, wisdom, freedom, and knowledge and vision of freedom. These are the five factors they possess.

10I say that a gift to anyone who has given up these five factors and possesses these five factors is very fruitful.

11Cows may be black or white,
red or tawny,
mottled or uniform,
or pigeon-colored.

12But when one is born among them,
the bull that’s tamed—
a behemoth, powerful,
well-paced in pulling forward—
they yoke the load just to him,
regardless of his color.

13So it is for humans,
wherever they may be born—
among aristocrats, brahmins, peasants,
menials, or corpse-workers and scavengers—

14one is born among them,
tamed, true to their vows.
Firm in principle, accomplished in ethical conduct,
truthful, conscientious,

15they’ve given up birth and death.
Complete in the spiritual journey,
with burden put down, detached,
they’ve completed the task <j>and are free of defilements.

16Gone beyond all things,
they’re quenched by not grasping.
In that flawless field,
a religious donation is abundant.

17Fools who don’t understand—
unlearned simpletons—
give their gifts to those outside,
and don’t attend the peaceful ones.

18But those who do attend the peaceful ones—
wise, esteemed as attentive—
and whose faith in the Holy One
has roots planted deep,

19they go to the realm of the gods,
or are born here in a good family.
Gradually those astute ones
reach extinguishment.”