The Buddha repeatedly contrasts two kinds of generosity—giving material things of the flesh and giving the teaching—as gifts, riches, support, and sympathy that truly benefit others.

AN 2.141-150 The Chapter on Giving

141

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, dānāni. Katamāni dve? Āmisadānañca dhammadānañca. Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve dānāni. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ dānānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammadānan”ti.

142

“Dveme, bhikkhave, yāgā. Katame dve? Āmisayāgo ca dhammayāgo ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve yāgā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ yāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammayāgo”ti.

143

“Dveme, bhikkhave, cāgā. Katame dve? Āmisacāgo ca dhammacāgo ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve cāgā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ cāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammacāgo”ti.

144

“Dveme, bhikkhave, pariccāgā. Katame dve? Āmisapariccāgo ca dhammapariccāgo ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve pariccāgā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ pariccāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammapariccāgo”ti.

145

“Dveme, bhikkhave, bhogā. Katame dve? Āmisabhogo ca dhammabhogo ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve bhogā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ bhogānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammabhogo”ti.

146

“Dveme, bhikkhave, sambhogā. Katame dve? Āmisasambhogo ca dhammasambhogo ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve sambhogā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sambhogānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasambhogo”ti.

147

“Dveme, bhikkhave, saṁvibhāgā. Katame dve? Āmisasaṁvibhāgo ca dhammasaṁvibhāgo ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve saṁvibhāgā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ saṁvibhāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasaṁvibhāgo”ti.

148

“Dveme, bhikkhave, saṅgahā. Katame dve? Āmisasaṅgaho ca dhammasaṅgaho ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve saṅgahā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ saṅgahānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasaṅgaho”ti.

149

“Dveme, bhikkhave, anuggahā. Katame dve? Āmisānuggaho ca dhammānuggaho ca. Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve anuggahā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ anuggahānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammānuggaho”ti.

150

“Dvemā, bhikkhave, anukampā. Katamā dve? Āmisānukampā ca dhammānukampā ca. Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve anukampā. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ anukampānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammānukampā”ti.

Dānavaggo tatiyo.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

2.141

“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, dānāni.

“There are these two gifts.

Katamāni dve?

What two?

Āmisadānañca dhammadānañca.

A gift of things of the flesh and a gift of the teaching.

Imāni kho, bhikkhave, dve dānāni.

These are the two gifts.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ dānānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammadānan”ti.

The better of these two gifts is the gift of the teaching.”

2.142

“Dveme, bhikkhave, yāgā.

“There are these two offerings.

Katame dve?

What two?

Āmisayāgo ca dhammayāgo ca.

An offering of things of the flesh and an offering of the teaching.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve yāgā.

These are the two offerings.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ yāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammayāgo”ti.

The better of these two offerings is an offering of the teaching.”

2.143

“Dveme, bhikkhave, cāgā.

“There are these two acts of generosity.

Katame dve?

What two?

Āmisacāgo ca dhammacāgo ca.

Generosity with things of the flesh and generosity with the teaching.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve cāgā.

These are the two acts of generosity.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ cāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammacāgo”ti.

The better of these two acts of generosity is generosity with the teaching.”

2.144

“Dveme, bhikkhave, pariccāgā.

“There are these two kinds of charity.

Katame dve?

What two?

Āmisapariccāgo ca dhammapariccāgo ca.

Charity in things of the flesh and charity in the teaching.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve pariccāgā.

These are the two kinds of charity.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ pariccāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammapariccāgo”ti.

The better of these two kinds of charity is a charity in the teaching.”

2.145

“Dveme, bhikkhave, bhogā.

“There are these two riches.

Katame dve?

What two?

Āmisabhogo ca dhammabhogo ca.

Riches in things of the flesh and riches in the teaching.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve bhogā.

These are the two riches.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ bhogānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammabhogo”ti.

The better of these two riches is riches in the teaching.”

2.146

“Dveme, bhikkhave, sambhogā.

“There are these two kinds of enjoyment.

Katame dve?

What two?

Āmisasambhogo ca dhammasambhogo ca.

Enjoyment of things of the flesh and enjoyment of the teaching.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve sambhogā.

These are the two kinds of enjoyment.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ sambhogānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasambhogo”ti.

The better of these two kinds of enjoyment is the enjoyment of the teaching.”

2.147

“Dveme, bhikkhave, saṁvibhāgā.

“There are these two kinds of sharing.

Katame dve?

What two?

Āmisasaṁvibhāgo ca dhammasaṁvibhāgo ca.

Sharing things of the flesh and sharing the teaching.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve saṁvibhāgā.

These are the two kinds of sharing.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ saṁvibhāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasaṁvibhāgo”ti.

The better of these two kinds of sharing is sharing the teaching.”

2.148

“Dveme, bhikkhave, saṅgahā.

“There are these two kinds of inclusion.

Katame dve?

What two?

Āmisasaṅgaho ca dhammasaṅgaho ca.

Inclusion in things of the flesh and inclusion in the teaching.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve saṅgahā.

These are the two kinds of inclusion.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ saṅgahānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasaṅgaho”ti.

The better of these two kinds of inclusion is inclusion in the teaching.”

2.149

“Dveme, bhikkhave, anuggahā.

“There are these two kinds of support.

Katame dve?

What two?

Āmisānuggaho ca dhammānuggaho ca.

Support in things of the flesh and support in the teaching.

Ime kho, bhikkhave, dve anuggahā.

These are the two kinds of support.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ anuggahānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammānuggaho”ti.

The better of these two kinds of support is support in the teaching.”

2.150

“Dvemā, bhikkhave, anukampā.

“There are these two kinds of sympathy.

Katamā dve?

What two?

Āmisānukampā ca dhammānukampā ca.

Sympathy in things of the flesh and sympathy in the teaching.

Imā kho, bhikkhave, dve anukampā.

These are the two kinds of sympathy.

Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imāsaṁ dvinnaṁ anukampānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammānukampā”ti.

The better of these two kinds of sympathy is sympathy in the teaching.”

Dānavaggo tatiyo.

Topics & Qualities:

Compassion

Compassion

A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.

Also known as: benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering
Pāli: karuṇā, anukampa
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Faith

Faith

Confidence in the Buddha's awakening and the efficacy of the path. It brightens and steadies the mind, removing doubt and inspiring energy toward wholesome practice. True faith rests on clarity and direct experience rather than mere belief.

Also known as: confidence, trust, belief, conviction, self-assurance
Pāli: saddha, pasanna
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Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Last updated on July 27, 2026