To serve the receiver and let go of
The shackles around our miserly minds
To unleash the guards of caution and fear
About loosing, about the future…
And be free…..
Giving should not be motivated by
Any means of reward….
Be it material reward or spiritual rewards..
If one gives, in hope of the reward….
That too in a way is a deal ….a trade…
An exchange, that we fail to accept…
"We don't need to be threatened with eternal damnation in order to be kind to one another, do we? "
If people are only good because they fear punishment and hope for a reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed" —Albert Einstein
Now...
this is not to offend anyone... and I'm not challenging these statements in the picture as wrong... (extracts form MN - Dhakkina vibhanga sutra)
We should give to the pious clergy, wisely, there's no doubt about it...
But, if we are to develop unbounded love towards every being... how come giving to the lesser be of lesser value...
"Just as a mother her own son [child], her only son [child], guards him at the risk of her life, in the same manner
towards all beings, let one develop thoughts of unbounded love."
Just a thought... I've been told that I have these doubts because I've not read enough sutra and don't know dhamma correctly....and I'm collecting sins by discussing or having doubts about these things...
How come a dharma which is " Svâkkhato Bhagavatâ Dhammo Sanditthiko Akâliko Ehi-passiko Opanâyiko Paccattam veditabbo viññuhiti." Be like that?
("The Dhamma of the Blessed One is perfectly expounded; to be seen here and how; not delayed in
time; inviting one to come and see; onward leading (to Nibbana); to be known by the wise, each for himself.")
We definitely do need to read the sutras...... But if theoretical knowledge of all the sutras is the key thing I wonder how peoples realized truth with just one sutra... of course, you may say that they are much intelligent and wise beings than us.....
But the wise practice is what matters the most...
These concepts of lesser merit, (which my petty mind think is incorporated largely to the survival of the sangha in a society with a majority of puthagjana/ unenlightened beings) may be the reason that majority of town priests are well fed to the brim and lead a luxury life supported by the lay, while the suffering fellow humans are served in a different way... and animals, are totally neglected in this land.....
Isn't it like making your investment that gives the best profit?
Going for the bank that that gives the highest interest for your fixed deposit...
I fail to see any difference in your motive....
What do you except by giving?
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/31205042/dakkhina-vibhanga-sutta-the-dharmafarers
Please read page 150...commentary by many learned monks who've analyzed the MN and many other sutras...
It's not a matter of to whome you give your offerings to...it's a matter of your inner work and understanding....
"And, houselord, even though the brahmin Velāma gave those great gifts, and
even if he were to cultivate a heart of lovingkindness for just as long as it takes to tug at the cow’s teat (to milk it),
greater would be the fruit
if he were to cultivate the perception of impermanence for even the moment of a finger-snap!"
-Velama Sutra
http://dharmafarer.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/16.6-Velama-S-a9.20-piya.pdf
What I intent to discuss in the post is, the current practice of marketing the best profited offering largely by the sangha community..... promoting surplus of lay peoples' headless unwise offering to the sangha...
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