59(5)Darukammika
Thus have I heard.On one occasion the Blessed One wasdwelling at Nadika in the brick hall.
Then the householder Darukammika
His name means"dealer in firewood."Mp says that he was so named because he earned his living by selling firewood. approached the Blessed One,
paid homage to him,and sat down to one side.
The Blessed One then said to
him:
"Does your family give gifts,householder?"
"My family gives gifts,Bhante.
And those gifts are given to bhikkhus who are arahants or on the path to arahantship,those who are forest dwellers,almsfood collectors,and wearers of ragrobes."
The three qualities he mentions are ascetic practices(dhutanga). These are contrasted below with non-ascetic monastic practices: living near a village,accepting invitations from laypeople to meals at their homes,and wearing robes prepared by householders."Since,householder,you are a layman enjoying sensual pleasures,living at home in a house full of children,using sandal-wood from Kasi,wearing garlands,scents,and unguents,and receiving gold and silver,it is difficult for you to know:'These are arahants or on the path to arahantship.'
(1)"If,householder,a bhikkhu who is a forest-dweller is restless,puffed up,vain,talkative,rambling in his talk,muddle-minded,lacking clear comprehension,unconcentrated,with a wandering mind,with loose sense faculties,
then in this respect he is blameworthy.
But if a bhikkhu who is a forest-dweller isnot restless,puffed up,and vain,is not talkative and rambling inhis talk,but has mindfulness established,clearly comprehends,is concentrated,with a one-pointed mind,with restrained sense faculties,
then in this respect he is praiseworthy.
(2)"If a bhikkhu who dwells on the outskirts of a village is restless...with loose sense faculties,then in this respect he is blameworthy.
But if a bhikkhu who dwells on the outskirts of a village is not restless...with restrained sense faculties,then in this respect he is praiseworthy.
(3)"If a bhikkhu who is an almsfood collector is restless...with loose sense faculties,then in this respect he is blameworthy.
But if a bhikkhu who is an almsfood collector is not restless[392] with restrained sense faculties,then in this respect he is praiseworthy.
(4)"If a bhikkhu who accepts invitations to meals is restless...with loose sense faculties,then in this respect he is blame-worthy.
But if a bhikkhu who accepts invitations to meals is not restless...with restrained sense faculties,then in this respecthe is praiseworthy.
(5)"If a bhikkhu who wears rag-robes is restless...with loose sense faculties,then in this respect he is blameworthy.
But if a bhikkhu who wears rag-robes is not restless...with restrained sense faculties,then in this respect he is praiseworthy.
(6)"If a bhikkhu who wears robes given by householders
is restless...with loose sense faculties,
then in this respect he is blameworthy.
But if a bhikkhu who wears robes given by householders is not restless...with restrained sense faculties,
then in this respect he is praiseworthy.
"Come now,householder,give gifts to the Sangha.
When you give gifts to the Sangha,your mind will be confident.
When your mind is confident,withthe breakup of the body,after death,you will be reborn in a good destination,in a heavenly world."
"Bhante,from today onward I will give gifts to the Sangha:"
Mp says that some time later,five hundred bhikkhus who visited families returned to lay life.When he heard this he said,"What does that have to do with me?"and his faith did not vacillate.It was in anticipation of this that the Buddha said to him:"When you give gifts to the Sargha,your mind will be confident."On the special merits of gifts to the Sangha,see MN 142.7-8,II 255-56.