法苑珠林 81.27

81.27

又增一阿含經云。爾時世尊告諸比丘。應時之施有五事益。云何為五。一者施遠來人。二者施遠去人。三者施病人。四者儉時施。五者若初得新果蓏若穀食等。先與持戒精進人。然後自食。是故欲行此五施。當念隨時施。若應時淨施者。還得應時果報。謂隨時所宜淨心而施。若寒時施溫室氈被薪火暖食等。若熱時施涼室輕衣水扇冷物等。渴時與漿。飢時給食。風雨送供。天和請僧。如是隨時應情令悅。未來獲福還受順報。

Furthermore, the Ekottarāgama states: "At that time, the World-Honoured One addressed the bhikṣus: 'Timely giving has five benefits. What are the five? 1. Giving to one who comes from afar; 2. Giving to one who is departing for afar; 3. Giving to the sick; 4. Giving in times of famine; 5. When first obtaining newly harvested fruits, gourds, or grain foods, first offering them to those who uphold the precepts with vigor, and only afterwards eating them oneself. Therefore, if one wishes to practice these five kinds of giving, one should be mindful of giving timely.' If one gives purely at the appropriate time, one in return obtains karmic fruit in a timely manner. That is, giving with a pure mind according to what is appropriate for the time: if it is cold, giving a warm room, felt blankets, firewood, hot food, and so forth; if it is hot, giving a cool room, light clothing, water, fans, cooling items, and so forth; giving drinks when thirsty, providing food when hungry, sending offerings during wind and rain, and inviting the Saṃgha when the weather is mild. In this way, suiting the circumstances and making them glad at all times, in the future one will obtain merit and in turn receive agreeable retribution."