About Velṅma Velṅma Sutta (AN 9:20)
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('â', Perhaps it was someone else who at that time was Velṅma the brahman, who gave that gift, that great gift,â thatâs not how it should be seen. I was Velṅma the brahman at that time. I gave that gift, that great gift. But in that gift there was no one worthy of offerings; no one purified that gift. "If one were to feed one person consummate in view, that would be more fruitful than the gift, the great gift, that Velṅma the brahman gave. "If one were to feed one once-returner, that would be more fruitful than the gift, the great gift, that Velṅma the brahman gave, and if one were to feed one person consummate in view, and if one were to feed 100 people consummate in view. "If one were to feed one non-returner, that would be more fruitful than⦠if one were to feed 100 once-returners. "If one were to feed one arahant, that would be more fruitful than⦠if one were to feed 100 non-returners. "If one were to feed one Private Buddha, that would be more fruitful than⦠if one were to feed 100 arahants. "If one were to feed one Tathṅgata—a worthy one, rightly self-awakened—that would be more fruitful than⦠if one were to feed 100 Private Buddhas. "If one were to feed a Saṃgha of monks headed by the Buddha, that would be more fruitful than⦠if one were to feed a Tathṅgata—a worthy one, rightly self-awakened. "If one were to have a dwelling built and dedicated to the Community of the four directions, that would be more fruitful than⦠if one were to feed a Saṃgha of monks headed by the Buddha. "If one with a confident mind were to go to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Saṃgha for refuge, that would be more fruitful than⦠if one were to have a dwelling built and dedicated to the Community of the four directions. "If one with a confident mind were to undertake the training rules—refraining from taking life, refraining from taking what is not given, refraining from sexual misconduct, refraining from lying, refraining from distilled & fermented drinks that cause heedlessness—that would be more fruitful than⦠if one with a confident mind were to go to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Saṃgha for refuge. "If one were to develop even just one whiff of a heart of goodwill, that would be more fruitful than⦠if one with a confident mind were to undertake the training rules.⦠"If one were to develop even for just a finger-snap the perception of inconstancy, that would be more fruitful than the gift, the great gift, that Velṅma the brahman gave, and if one were to feed one person⦠100 people consummate in view, and if one were to feed one once-returner⦠100 once-returners, and if one were to feed one non-returner⦠100 non-returners, and if one were to feed one arahant⦠100 arahants, and if one were to feed one Private Buddha⦠100 Private Buddhas, and if one were to feed a Tathṅgata—a worthy one, rightly self-awakened—and if one were to feed a Saṃgha of monks headed by the Buddha, and if one were to have a dwelling built and dedicated to the Community of the four directions, and if one with a confident mind were to go to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Saṃgha for refuge, and if one with a confident mind were to undertake the training rules—refraining from taking life, refraining from taking what is not given, refraining from sexual misconduct, refraining from lying, refraining from distilled & fermented drinks that cause heedlessness—and if one were to develop even just one whiff of a heart of goodwill." Notes 1. The Commentary states that Anṅthapiṃṇika is here referring to alms that he gives to the poor; his alms to the Saṃgha remained of high quality. However, it might have been that this discourse took place during a time of famine, when even Anṅthapiṃṇika was reduced to giving only the coarse food both to the Saṃgha and to the poor. If that is the case, then we can read the Buddhaâs remarks to Anṅthapiṃṇika as reassuring him that in straitened circumstances it is still fruitful to give, even when one can only give coarse things. The merit of the gift is determined more by the state of mind with which it is given than by the external quality of the gift. 2. This translation follows the Thai edition of the Pali Canon. The Burmese and Sri Lankan editions list four kinds of cloth—rather than just the three listed here—adding wool as the third of the four. See also: SN 3:19–20; AN 3:15; AN 5:148; AN 6:37 - --> - - - -