2. Macchari Sutta
Discourse on Stinginess ,
Satullaphkayika Vagga, Devata Samyutta
Sagatha Vagga Samyutta, Samyutta Nikaya, Suttanta Pitaka

Discourse on Stinginess

          32. At one time the Bhagava was staying at the Jetavana monastery of Anathapindika in Savatthi. During that time, soon after the middle watch of the night, many devas of exceeding beauty, who become devas by (practising and) imparting the doctrine of the virtuous, approached the Bhagava, illuminating the entire Jetavana monastery. They made their obeisance to the Bhagava and stood at a suitable place. Having stood thus, one of them spoke thus in verse in the presence of the Bhagava:

         "Due either to stinginess or to remissness,¹ one fails to give in charity.

         One who wishes to do good and who understands the merit of good deeds should give in charity."

         Then another deva spoke this verse in the presence of the Bhagava.

         "The stingy person, being afraid (of loss of property), does not give, and the very thing he fears befalls him.

         The stingy person fears he might go hungry or thirsty; and the very things he fears beset the fool both in this world and in the hereafter.

         Therefore, removing stinginess and overcoming its uncleanness, one should give in charity.

         Good deeds stand one in good stead in the future worlds."

         Then another deva spoke this verse in the presence of the Bhagava:

         "Like fellow-travellers sharing (the rations) with one another on a journey, certain travellers in samsara's long journey share whatever little they have with other fellow-travellers.

         They are the ones who do not die among those others who are dead.² This is a time-honourd tradition.

         "Some, though they have very little, share with others.

         (On the other hand,) some, even though well-off, do not give in charity.

         A gift made out of slender means is worth a thousand (gifts)."

         Then another deva spoke this verse in the presence of the Bhagava:

         "Giving what is difficult to give, or doing what is difficult to do, is something that the wicked could not imitate.

         (Indeed,) the practice of the virtuous is difficult to follow.

         Therefore, the virtuous and the wicked have different destinations when they pass away from this existence.

         The wicked reach the niraya realms of continuous suffering, the virtuous reach the deva realms.

         Then another deva spoke thus to the Bhagava:"

         "Bhagava, whose words are well-spoken?"

         (and the Bhagava said:) Each of these statements is well-spoken in its own way. However, listen to mine also:

         "He who lives on the leavings gleaned at the thrashing floors of other people, who supports his wife, who gives in charity out of what little he has, he too performs meritorious acts.

         The merit gained by a hundred thousand donors donating a thousand each is not worth even a hundredth of the merit gained by the poor man."

         Then another deva spoke this verse in the presence of the Bhagava:

         "Why is this great and extensive alms-giving less in value than the offering made righteously? Why is the merit gained by a hundred thousand donors donating a thousand each not worth even a hundredth of the merit gained by the poor man?"

         (The Bhagava said:)

         "Some people are steeped in unrighteousness; they give in charity only after striking or killing or causing others' sorrow.

         Such offerings which involve tearful faces and coercion can never equal the righteous gift. Thus the merit gained by a hundred thousand donors donating a thousand each is not worth even a hundredth of the merits gained by the poor man."³

End of the Macchari Sutta

the second in this vagga.

Foot Notes on Macchari Sutta

          1. Due either to stinginess or to remissness:

          The practice of giving as a volitional act is not easy to come about. When the possessor of any object worth giving is stingy he is loathe to part with it. Or again, he may forget about the good practice of giving if he is pleased with him self and his own petty engagements.

          2. They are the ones who do not die among those others who are dead:

          The niggardly ones are dead to the needs of others around them; their insensitivity puts them in the same class as the dead. In another sense, just as a dead person is unable to speak out, 'This is for so and so, etc.", a niggardly person has the same inability. So he is as good as dead. The one who likes to give whatever little at his disposal therefore is the one who is alive among those others who, though living, are as good as dead.

          3. The means of acquiring the property that is donated is the criterion. The extent of the merit depends on the purity or otherwise of the means by which the donated property was acquired.