The Perfection of Giving- Acariya Dhammapala (Adapted & Shortened)
The Perfection of Giving- Acariya Dhammapala (Adapted & shortened) From the Cariyapitaka Atthakatha, translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi in The Discourse on the All- Embracing Net of Views: The Brahmajala Sutta and Its Commentaries (BPS, 1978), pp. 289-96, pp. 322-23. The perfection of giving is to be practiced by benefiting beings in many ways — by relinquishing (offering) one's happiness, belongings, body and life to others, by dispelling their fear, and by instructing them in the Dhamma. Herein, giving is threefold by way of the object to be given: the giving of material things (amisadana), the giving of fearlessness (abhayadana), and the giving of the Dhamma (dhammadana). Among these, the object to be given can be twofold: internal and external. The external gift is tenfold: food, drink, garments, vehicles, garlands, scents, unguents, bedding, dwellings, and lamps. These gifts, again, become manifold by analyzing each into its constituents, e.g., food into hard food, soft food, etc. The external gift can also become six fold when analyzed by way of sense objects: visible forms, sounds, smells, tastes, tangibles, and non- sensory objects. So too, the external gift is manifold by way of valuables and belongings, such as gems, gold, silver, pearls, coral, etc.; fields, land, parks, etc. When the Great Person (the Bodhisatta) gives an external object, s/he gives whatever is needed to who ever stands in need of it; knowing that someone is in need of something, s/he gives it even unasked, much more when asked. S/He gives sufficiently, not insufficiently, when there is something to be given.
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