{"collection":"Anguttara Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_an5.31/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_an5.31","id":"suttacentral_an5.31","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/an5.31/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Anguttara Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"At one time the Buddha was staying near S\u0101vatth\u012b in Jeta\u2019s Grove, An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\u2019s monastery. Then Princess Suman\u0101, escorted by five hundred chariots and five hundred royal maidens, went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him: \u201cSir, suppose there were two disciples equal in faith, ethics, and wisdom. One is a giver, one is not. When their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. When they have become gods, would there be any distinction or difference between them?\u201d \u201cThere would be, Suman\u0101,\u201d said the Buddha. \u201cAs a god, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in five respects: heavenly lifespan, beauty, happiness, glory, and sovereignty. As a god, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in these five respects.\u201d \u201cBut sir, if they pass away from there and come back to this place as human beings, would there still be any distinction or difference between them?\u201d \u201cThere would be, Suman\u0101,\u201d said the Buddha. \u201cAs a human being, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in five respects: human lifespan, beauty, happiness, glory, and sovereignty. As a human being, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in these five respects.\u201d \u201cBut sir, if they both go forth from the lay life to homelessness, would there still be any distinction or difference between them?\u201d \u201cThere would be, Suman\u0101,\u201d said the Buddha. \u201cAs a renunciate, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in five respects. They usually use only what they\u2019ve been invited to accept\u2014robes, almsfood, lodgings, and medicines and supplies for the sick\u2014rarely using them without invitation. When living with other spiritual practitioners, they usually find themselves treated agreeably by them by way of body, speech, and mind, and rarely disagreeably. And they are usually presented with agreeable things by them, rarely with disagreeable ones. As a renunciate, the one who was a giver surpasses the other in these five respects.\u201d \u201cBut sir, if they both attain perfection, as perfected ones would there still be any distinction or difference between them?\u201d \u201cIn that case, I say there is no difference between the freedom of one and the freedom of the other.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s incredible, sir, it\u2019s amazing! This is quite enough to justify giving gifts and making merit. For merit is helpful for those who have become gods, human beings, and renunciates.\u201d \u201cThat\u2019s so true, Suman\u0101. It\u2019s quite enough to justify giving gifts and making merit. For merit is helpful for those who have become gods, human beings, and renunciates.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: \u201cThe moon so immaculate, journeying across the dimension of space; outshines with its radiance all the world\u2019s stars. So too, a faithful individual, perfect in ethics, outshines with their generosity all the world\u2019s stingy people. The thundering rain cloud, its hundred peaks wreathed in lightning, pours down over the rich earth, soaking the uplands and valleys. Even so, an astute person accomplished in vision, a disciple of the fully awakened Buddha, surpasses a stingy person in five respects: long life and fame, beauty and happiness. Lavished with riches, they depart to rejoice in heaven.\u201d","title":"With Suman\u0101","tradition":"Anguttara Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":540}