Sumanasuttaṃ [AN 5.31, PTS 3.33–3.34]

1.

The Discourse on Sumanā

31. On one occasion, etc. in Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Then the princess Sumanā, surrounded by five hundred chariots and five hundred princesses, approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the princess Sumanā said this to the Blessed One -

"Suppose here, venerable sir, there were two disciples of the Blessed One, equal in faith, equal in morality, equal in wisdom - one a donor, one a non-donor. Upon the body's collapse at death, they would be reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world. For them having become gods, venerable sir, would there be a distinction, would there be a difference?"

"There would be, Sumanā," the Blessed One said - "Sumanā, he who is a donor, having become a god, surpasses that non-donor in five respects - in divine life span, in divine beauty, in divine happiness, in divine fame, in divine authority. Sumanā, he who is a donor, having become a god, surpasses that non-donor in these five respects."

"But if, venerable sir, having passed away from there, they come to this state of being, for them having become human beings, venerable sir, would there be a distinction, would there be a difference?" "There would be, Sumanā," the Blessed One said - "Sumanā, he who is a donor, having become a human being, surpasses that non-donor in five respects - in human life span, in human beauty, in human happiness, in human fame, in human authority. Sumanā, he who is a donor, having become a human being, surpasses that non-donor in these five respects."

"But if, venerable sir, both go forth from home into homelessness, for them having gone forth, venerable sir, would there be a distinction, would there be a difference?" "There would be, Sumanā," the Blessed One said - "Sumanā, he who is a donor, having gone forth, surpasses that non-donor in five respects - he mostly uses robes that are requested, little that is unrequested; he mostly uses almsfood that is requested, little that is unrequested; he mostly uses lodging that is requested, little that is unrequested; he mostly uses requisites of medicines for the sick that are requested, little that is unrequested. Those fellows in the holy life with whom he dwells, they mostly behave towards him with agreeable bodily action, little with disagreeable; they mostly behave towards him with agreeable verbal action, little with disagreeable; they mostly behave towards him with agreeable mental action, little with disagreeable; they mostly offer him agreeable offerings, little that is disagreeable. Sumanā, he who is a donor, having gone forth, surpasses that non-donor in these five respects."

"But if, venerable sir, both attain arahantship, for them having attained arahantship, venerable sir, would there be a distinction, would there be a difference?" "Here indeed, Sumanā, I say there is no difference whatsoever, that is to say, liberation compared to liberation."

"Wonderful, venerable sir, marvellous, venerable sir! How fitting it is, venerable sir, to give gifts, fitting to make merit; since indeed merits are helpful for one who has become a god, merits are helpful for one who has become a human being, merits are helpful for one who has gone forth." "So it is, Sumanā! Indeed it is fitting, Sumanā, to give gifts, fitting to make merit! Merits are helpful for one who has become a god, merits are helpful for one who has become a human being, merits are helpful for one who has gone forth."

This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this -