57(4)SīhaThis is an expanded parallel of 5:34,enlarged by partly incorpo- rating the contents of 5:38.
This is an expanded parallel of 5:34,enlarged by partly incorpo- rating the contents of 5:38.On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Vesalī in the Great Wood in the hall with the peaked roof.
Then Siha the general approached the Blessed One,
paid homage to him,sat down to one side,
and said:
"Is it possible,Bhante,to point out a directly visible fruit of giving?"
"Well then,Siha,I will question you about this matter.You should answer as you see fit."
(1)"What do you think,Siha?There might be two persons,one without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive,and another endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity.
What do you think,Siha?To whom would the arahants first show compassion
to the one without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive,or to the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity?"
Mp:"They arouse compassion with the thought:Whom should we help today?Whose gift should we receive or to whom should we teach the Dhamma?'"
"Why,Bhante,would the arahants first show compassion to the person without faith who is imiserly,mean,and abusive?
They would first show compassion to the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity."
(2)"What do you think,Siha?Whom would the arahants approach first:
the one without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive,or [80]the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity?"
"Why,Bhante,would the arahants first approach the person without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive?
They would first approach the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity."
(3)"What do you think,Siha?From whom would the arahants first receive alms:
from the one without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive,or from the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity?"
"Why,Bhante,would the arahants first receive alms from the person without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive?
They would first receive alms from the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity."
(4)"What do you think,Siha?To whom would the arahants first teach the Dhamma:
to the one without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive,or to the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity?"
"Why,Bhante,would the arahants first teach the Dhamma to the person without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive?
They would first teach the Dhamma to the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity."
(5)"What do you think,Siha?Which person would acquirea good reputation:
the one without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive,or the one endowed with faith,a munificent giverwho delights in charity?"
"How,Bhante,would the person without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive acquire a good reputation?
It is the person endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity,who would acquire a good reputation."
(6)"What doyou think,Siha?Which person would approach any assembly—whether of khattiyas,brahmins,householders,or ascetics—[81]confidently and composed:
the one without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive,or the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity?"
"How,Bhante,could theperson without faith,who is miserly,mean,and abusive,approach any assembly--whether of khattiyas,brahmins,householders,or ascetics—confidently and composed?
It is the person endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity,who would approach any assembly...confidently and composed."
(7)"What do you think,Siha?With the break up of the body,after death,which person would be reborn in a good destination,in a heavenly world:
he one without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive,or the one endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights in charity?"
"How,Bhante,could theperson without faith who is miserly,mean,and abusive be reborn in a good destination,in a heavenly world,with the breakup of the body,after death?
It is the person endowed with faith,a munificent giver who delights incharity,who would be reborn in a good destination,in a heav-enly world,with the breakup of the body,after death.
"Bhante,I do not go by faith in the Blessed One concerning
those six directly visible fruits of giving declared by him.
I know
them,too.
For I am a donor,a munificent giver,and the arahants
first show compassion to me.
I am a donor,a munificent giver,
and the arahants first approach me.
I am a donor,a munificent
giver,and the arahants first receive alms from me.
I am a donor,
a munificent giver,and the arahants first teach the Dhamma
to me.
I am a donor,a munificent giver,and I have acquired a
good reputation:
'Siha the general is a donor,a sponsor,a supporter of the Sangha.'[82]
I am adonor,a munificent giver,and
whatever assembly I approach--whether of khattiyas,brah-
mins,householders,or ascetics—I approach it confidently and
composed.
I do not go by faith in the Blessed One concerning
these six directly visible fruits of giving declared by him.
I know
them,too.
But when the Blessed One tells me:
'Siha,with the
breakup of the body,after death,a donor,a munificent giver,
is reborn in a good destination,in a heavenly world,'
I do not
know this,and here I go by faith in the Blessed One."
"So it is,Siha,
so it is!
With the breakup of the body,after death,a donor,a munificent giver,is reborn in a good destination,in a heavenly world."