7.
The Discourse to Vacchagotta
58. Then the wandering ascetic Vacchagotta approached the Blessed One; having approached, he exchanged friendly greetings with the Blessed One. Having concluded the pleasant and memorable talk, he sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the wandering ascetic Vacchagotta said this to the Blessed One - "I have heard this, Master Gotama, the ascetic Gotama says thus - 'Gifts should be given only to me, gifts should not be given to others; gifts should be given only to my disciples, gifts should not be given to the disciples of others; only what is given to me is of great fruit, what is given to others is not of great fruit; only what is given to my disciples is of great fruit, what is given to the disciples of others is not of great fruit.' Those who, Master Gotama, say thus 'The ascetic Gotama says thus - gifts should be given only to me, gifts should not be given to others. Gifts should be given only to my disciples, gifts should not be given to the disciples of others. Only what is given to me is of great fruit, what is given to others is not of great fruit. Only what is given to my disciples is of great fruit, what is given to the disciples of others is not of great fruit.' Are they speaking what has been said by Master Gotama, and do they not misrepresent Master Gotama with what is untrue, and do they explain what is in conformity with the Teaching, and does no reasonable counter-argument come to a blameworthy position? For we do not wish to misrepresent Master Gotama."
"Those who, Vaccha, say thus - 'The ascetic Gotama says thus - gifts should be given only to me, etc. what is given to the disciples of others is not of great fruit' - they are not speaking what has been said by me. And they misrepresent me with what is non-existent and untrue. Whoever, Vaccha, prevents another who is giving a gift, he creates an obstacle for three, he is a danger to three. Which three? He creates an obstacle to merit for the donor, he creates an obstacle to gain for the recipients, and already his self is injured and harmed. Whoever, Vaccha, prevents another who is giving a gift, he creates an obstacle for these three, he is a danger to three.
"But I, Vaccha, say thus - whatever living beings there are in a cesspool or in a sewer, whoever throws there the washings of a pot or the washings of a bowl - 'May the living beings there sustain themselves by that' - on that account, Vaccha, I say there is a coming of merit. What then to say of a human being! And further, Vaccha, I say what is given to one who is moral is of great fruit, not so to one who is immoral, and he has abandoned five factors and is endowed with five factors.
"What five factors have been abandoned? Sensual desire has been abandoned, anger has been abandoned, sloth and torpor have been abandoned, restlessness and remorse have been abandoned, sceptical doubt has been abandoned. These five factors have been abandoned.
"With which five factors is he endowed? He is endowed with the aggregate of morality of one beyond training, he is endowed with the aggregate of concentration of one beyond training, he is endowed with the aggregate of wisdom of one beyond training, he is endowed with the aggregate of liberation of one beyond training, he is endowed with the aggregate of knowledge and vision of liberation of one beyond training; he is endowed with these five factors. Thus what is given to one who has abandoned five factors and is endowed with five factors is of great fruit, I say."
Among spotted, of uniform colour, or pigeon-coloured cows.
A beast of burden, endowed with strength, of good and swift gait;
Him alone they yoke to the burden, they do not consider his colour.
Warriors, brahmins, merchants, workers, outcasts, and refuse-collectors.
Righteous, accomplished in morality, a speaker of truth, with a sense of shame.
With burden laid down, unbound, with obligations fulfilled, without mental corruptions.
In that very stainless field, the offering is abundant.
They give gifts outside, for they do not attend upon the peaceful ones.
Their faith in the Fortunate One is rooted and established.
Gradually the wise attain Nibbāna." The seventh.