What the Buddha Taught about Generosity
A Treasure
"And what is the treasure of generosity? There is the case of a disciple of the noble ones, his awareness cleansed of stinginess, living at home, freely generous, openhanded, delighting in being magnanimous, responsive to requests, delighting in the distribution of alms. This is called the treasure of generosity." — AN VII.6
The rewards of giving
[The Buddha:] "Then there is the case where a certain person refrains from taking life, refrains from taking what is not given, refrains from sexual misconduct, refrains from false speech, refrains from divisive speech, refrains from abusive speech, refrains from idle chatter, is not covetous, bears no ill will, and has right views. And she gives food, drink, cloth, vehicles, garlands, scents, creams, bed, lodging, & lamps to priests & contemplatives. With the break-up of the body, after death, she reappears in the company of human beings or of devas. There she experiences delightful sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations. It's because she refrained from taking what is not given, refrained from sensual misconduct, refrained from false speech, refrained from divisive speech, refrained from abusive speech, refrained from idle chatter, was not covetous, bore no ill will, and had right views that he reappears in the company of human beings. And it's because she gave food, drink, cloth, vehicles, garlands, scents, creams, bed, lodging, & lamps to priests & contemplatives that she experiences this happiness.
"It's amazing, Master Gotama, it's astounding, how it's enough to make one want to give a gift, enough to make one want to make an offering, where the donor does not go without reward."
(the Buddha:)"That's the way it is, that's the way it is. The donor does not go without reward." — AN X.177
Never underestimate the power of small gifts
"Even if a person throws the rinsings of a bowl or a cup into a village pool or pond, thinking, 'May whatever animals live here feed on this,' that would be a source of merit." — AN III.57
Giving even one's last meal
"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared, if there were someone to receive their gift. But because beings do not know, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they eat without having given. The stain of miserliness overcomes their minds." — Iti 26
Giving at the proper time
In the proper season they give —
those with discernment,
responsive, free from stinginess.
Having been given in proper season,
with hearts inspired by the Noble Ones
— straightened, Such —
their offering bears an abundance.
Those who rejoice in that gift
or give assistance,
they, too, have a share of the merit,
and the offering isn't depleted by that.
So, with an unhesitant mind,
one should give where the gift bears great fruit.
— AN V.36
To reap the highest rewards, to whom should we give?
As he was sitting to one side, King Pasenadi Kosala said to the Blessed One: "Where, lord, should a gift be given?"
"Wherever the mind feels confidence, great king."
"But a gift given where, lord, bears great fruit?"
"This [question] is one thing, great king — 'Where should a gift be given?' — while this — 'A gift given where bears great fruit?' — is something else entirely. What is given to a virtuous person — rather than to an unvirtuous one — bears great fruit." — SN III.24
How a person of integrity gives a gift
"These five are a person of integrity's gifts. Which five? A person of integrity gives a gift with a sense of conviction. A person of integrity gives a gift attentively. A person of integrity gives a gift in season. A person of integrity gives a gift with an empathetic heart. A person of integrity gives a gift without adversely affecting himself or others. — AN V.148
Overcoming miserliness
Conquer anger
with lack of anger;
bad, with good;
stinginess, with a gift;
a liar, with truth.
— Dhp 223
What the miser fears,
that keeps him from giving,
is the very danger that comes
when he doesn't give.
— SN I.32
The greatest gift
A gift of Dhamma conquers all gifts
— Dhp 354