長者施報經

Thus have I heard:

At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the Garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Grove of Prince Jeta, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time there was an elder named Anāthapiṇḍika who came to the place where the Buddha was, bowed his head and face at the Buddha's feet, and then sat to one side.

The Buddha said to the elder:

"Suppose there is a person who takes the most exquisite food and drink and gives it as alms in accordance with the Dharma, whether giving with his own hand or giving continually, yet he does not attain great merit. Why is this so? Because that person's mind seeks after wealth, nobility, and pleasure.

"Or suppose there is a person who, not for the sake of seeking clothing, food, bedding, riches, or pleasure, uses the most subtle and wondrous food and drink to give as alms in accordance with the Dharma; he will obtain great wealth, and will obtain a wife and children, sons and daughters, servants, and kinsfolk who are filial and who serve and support him. What do you think of this? Because that person practices giving for the sake of sentient beings."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"In a past age there was a brahmin elder named Velāma, who held a great assembly of giving: he used eighty thousand golden bowls filled with gold to give as alms. Again, he took eighty thousand silver bowls filled with silver to give as alms. Again, he took eighty thousand golden bowls filled with silver to give as alms.

Again, he took eighty thousand silver bowls filled with gold to give as alms. Again, he used eighty thousand copper bowls filled with all manner of food and drink of fragrant, subtle, and wondrous flavors to give as alms. Again, he took eighty thousand milk cows to give as alms.

Again, he took eighty thousand maidens, clothed in the most exquisite garments and adorned with all manner of jeweled necklaces, to give as alms. Again, he used eighty thousand beds of gold, beds of silver, beds of ivory, and beds of wood, laid with all manner of subtle and wondrous cushions and mats, to give as alms. Again, he used eighty thousand splendid carriages, freight carriages, and ordinary carriages, spread over with white woolen cloth and Kāśika robes, adorned with all manner of things, to give as alms."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; he will obtain a fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense. What do you think of this? Because this person does not fall into wrong view."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"That brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view; he will obtain a fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"That brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; he will obtain a fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; he will obtain a fruit of recompense greater than the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; making an offering to a hundred Arhats is not equal to making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; making an offering to a hundred Arhats is not equal to making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha; making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; making an offering to a hundred Arhats is not equal to making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha; making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas; making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas is not equal to making an offering to a single Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; making an offering to a hundred Arhats is not equal to making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha; making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas; making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas is not equal to making an offering to a single Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One; making an offering to the Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is not equal to making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; making an offering to a hundred Arhats is not equal to making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha; making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas; making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas is not equal to making an offering to a single Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One; making an offering to the Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is not equal to making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha;

making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha is not equal to offering food to all the Sangha of the four directions who take up their bowls and go begging for alms; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; making an offering to a hundred Arhats is not equal to making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha; making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas; making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas is not equal to making an offering to a single Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One; making an offering to the Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is not equal to making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha;

making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha is not equal to offering food to all the Sangha of the four directions who take up their bowls and go begging for alms; offering food to all the Sangha of the four directions who take up their bowls and go begging for alms is not equal to offering gardens and groves to all the Sangha of the four directions; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; making an offering to a hundred Arhats is not equal to making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha; making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas; making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas is not equal to making an offering to a single Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One; making an offering to the Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is not equal to making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha;

making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha is not equal to offering food to all the Sangha of the four directions who take up their bowls and go begging for alms; offering food to all the Sangha of the four directions who take up their bowls and go begging for alms is not equal to offering gardens and groves to all the Sangha of the four directions; offering gardens and groves to all the Sangha of the four directions is not equal to offering monastic dwellings to all the Sangha of the four directions; he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; making an offering to a hundred Arhats is not equal to making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha; making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas; making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas is not equal to making an offering to a single Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One; making an offering to the Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is not equal to making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha;

making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha is not equal to offering food to all the Sangha of the four directions who take up their bowls and go begging for alms; offering food to all the Sangha of the four directions who take up their bowls and go begging for alms is not equal to offering gardens and groves to all the Sangha of the four directions; offering gardens and groves to all the Sangha of the four directions is not equal to offering monastic dwellings to all the Sangha of the four directions; offering monastic dwellings to all the Sangha of the four directions is not equal to taking refuge for one's whole life, with a wholehearted mind, in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha;

he will obtain a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

The Buddha said to the elder:

"The brahmin Velāma practiced giving in this way, yet it is not equal to a person who uses food and drink to make an offering to a single person of right view; making an offering to a single person of right view is not equal to making an offering to a hundred persons of right view. Making an offering to a hundred persons of right view is not equal to making an offering to a single Srotāpanna; making an offering to a single Srotāpanna is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas; making an offering to a hundred Srotāpannas is not equal to making an offering to a single Anāgāmin; making an offering to a single Anāgāmin is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins; making an offering to a hundred Anāgāmins is not equal to making an offering to a single Arhat;

making an offering to a single Arhat is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Arhats; making an offering to a hundred Arhats is not equal to making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha; making an offering to a single Pratyekabuddha is not equal to making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas; making an offering to a hundred Pratyekabuddhas is not equal to making an offering to a single Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One; making an offering to the Tathāgata, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is not equal to making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha;

making an offering to the Buddha together with the assembly of great bhikṣus who follow in attendance upon the Buddha is not equal to offering food to all the Sangha of the four directions who take up their bowls and go begging for alms; offering food to all the Sangha of the four directions who take up their bowls and go begging for alms is not equal to offering gardens and groves to all the Sangha of the four directions; offering gardens and groves to all the Sangha of the four directions is not equal to offering monastic dwellings to all the Sangha of the four directions; offering monastic dwellings to all the Sangha of the four directions is not equal to taking refuge for one's whole life, with a wholehearted mind, in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha;

taking refuge for one's whole life, with a wholehearted mind, in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha is not equal to abstaining for one's whole life from killing, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from drinking liquor.

Abstaining for one's whole life from killing, from stealing, from sexual misconduct, from false speech, and from drinking liquor is not equal to a person who, throughout the worlds of the ten directions, in all places everywhere, practices the mind of great loving-kindness so as to bring benefit and joy to sentient beings, and, departing from the discriminating mind, thereby attains signlessness; for this reason he obtains a most excellent fruit of recompense surpassing the former recompense."

At that time the World-Honored One, having spoken these words, said to the elder: "That brahmin Velāma who in days of old practiced that great assembly of giving—how could he have been any other śramaṇa or brahmin? It was none other than my own self."

Then, when the elder Anāthapiṇḍika had heard the Buddha expound in this way, he attained the realization of no-self, the realization concerning the person, the realization concerning sentient beings, and the realization concerning life-span. Departing far from all deluded thoughts, he awakened to the patient acceptance of the Dharma of quiescent cessation.

THE BUDDHA SPEAKS THE SUTRA OF THE ELDER'S RECOMPENSE FOR GIVING