ལས་བརྒྱ་ཐམ་པ་པ 15.2

15.2

Morsel

Once, when the Blessed One was in Śrāvastī, he said to the monks, “Monks, if all beings came to understand the fruits of giving and the karmic ripening of the fruits of each portion given just as I understand the fruits of giving and know the karmic ripening of the fruits of each portion given, then those who received offerings would not eat even the tiniest remnant of a single morsel unless they had given of it or portioned it out.

“If beings’ minds do not change but rather remain ensnared by miserliness, they do not understand the fruits of giving or know the karmic ripening of the fruits of each portion given the way that I understand the fruits of giving and know the karmic ripening of the fruits of each portion given. That is why their minds clutch at everything, they fail to give, they eat without sharing any portion, and their minds are ensnared by miserliness.” Thus spoke the Blessed One.

After the Sugata had said such, he, our Founder, continued:

“If sentient beings only knew
What it is the sages teach—
The ripening of each portion given
And just how great it will become—

“Then their minds would not be filled with greed;
And not having shared, they would not eat;
And the grasping that pervades their minds
Would never appear again.

“Unaware, the naive are veiled
In darkness, and so they grasp at
Everything. They never think
To share, though they eat and eat.
Thus their greed, born of mind,
Keeps them bound.”

“Lord,” the monks requested of the Blessed One, “tell us why the Blessed One has spoken in praise of giving and of the portion given.”