6 returns to be expected from giving

6 returns to be expected from giving

Now, Ānanda, gifts to the following persons may be expected to yield the following returns.

• 1. To an animal, a hundred times.
• 2. To an unethical ordinary person, a thousand.
• 3. To an ethical ordinary person, a hundred thousand.
• 4. To an outsider free of sensual desire, 10,000,000,000.
• 5. But a gift to someone practicing to realize the fruit of stream-entry may be expected to yield incalculable, immeasurable returns.
• 6. How much more so a gift to a stream-enterer, someone practicing to realize the fruit of once-return, a once-returner, someone practicing to realize the fruit of non-return, a non-returner, someone practicing to realize the fruit of perfection, a perfected one, or a Buddha awakened for themselves? How much more so a Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha?

(MN 142)

References

• The Complete Book of Buddha's Lists -- Explained. David N. Snyder, Ph.D., 2006.
• http://www.thedhamma.com/