7.
The Discourse on the Six-Factored Gift
37.
On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park.
Now at that time the female lay follower Nandamātā of Veḷukaṇḍaka was establishing an offering possessed of six factors to the community of monks headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna.
The Blessed One saw with the divine eye, which is pure and surpasses the human, the female lay follower Nandamātā of Veḷukaṇḍaka establishing an offering possessed of six factors to the community of monks headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna.
Having seen, he addressed the monks -
"This, monks, female lay follower Nandamātā of Veḷukaṇḍaka is establishing an offering possessed of six factors to the community of monks headed by Sāriputta and Moggallāna."
"And how, monks, is an offering possessed of six factors? Here, monks, there are three factors of the donor, and three factors of the recipients. What are the three factors of the donor? Here, monks, the donor is glad even before giving, while giving he makes the mind confident, and having given he is delighted. These are the three factors of the donor.
"What are the three factors of the recipients? Here, monks, the recipients are either without lust or are practising for the removal of lust, are either without hate or are practising for the removal of hate, are either without delusion or are practising for the removal of delusion. These are the three factors of the recipients. Thus there are three factors of the donor, and three factors of the recipients. Thus, monks, an offering is possessed of six factors.
"For an offering thus possessed of six factors, monks, it is not easy to take the measure of merit: 'This much is the stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness, leading to heaven, resulting in happiness, conducive to heaven, leading to the desirable, to the pleasant, to the agreeable, to welfare, to happiness.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of merit.
Just as, monks, in the great ocean it is not easy to take the measure of water: 'So many gallons of water' or 'so many hundreds of gallons of water' or 'so many thousands of gallons of water' or 'so many hundreds of thousands of gallons of water.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of water. So too, monks, for an offering thus possessed of six factors, it is not easy to take the measure of merit: 'This much is the stream of merit, stream of the wholesome, nutriment of happiness, leading to heaven, resulting in happiness, conducive to heaven, leading to the desirable, to the pleasant, to the agreeable, to welfare, to happiness.' Rather, it is reckoned simply as an incalculable, immeasurable great mass of merit."
Having given one is delighted, this is the accomplishment of sacrifice.
The accomplished field of sacrifice, the restrained practitioners of the holy life.
This sacrifice is of great fruit for oneself and for others.
The wise one is reborn in a world of happiness, free from affliction." The seventh.