The Buddha distinguishes between two types of giving, sharing, and assistance—those based on material things and those based on the Dhamma. In each case, giving, sharing, and assisting with the Dhamma are declared the highest.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, dānāni—āmisadānañca dhammadānañca. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ dānānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammadānaṁ.
“Bhikkhus, there are these two kinds of |giving::the act of giving or donating, with an intention to give [dāna]|—the giving of material things and the giving of the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|. Of these two givings, bhikkhus, the giving of the Dhamma is |the best::foremost, the highest [etadagga]|.
Dveme, bhikkhave, saṁvibhāgā—āmisasaṁvibhāgo ca dhammasaṁvibhāgo ca. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ saṁvibhāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasaṁvibhāgo.
Bhikkhus, there are these two kinds of |sharing::distributing or sharing something that one has with others [saṃvibhāga]|—sharing of material things and sharing of the Dhamma. Of these two kinds of sharing, bhikkhus, sharing of the Dhamma is the best.
Dveme, bhikkhave, anuggahā—āmisānuggaho ca dhammānuggaho ca. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ anuggahānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammānuggaho”ti.
Bhikkhus, there are these two kinds of |assistance::support, help [anuggaha]|—assistance with material things and assistance with the Dhamma. Of these two kinds of assistance, bhikkhus, assistance with the Dhamma is the best.”
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“Yamāhu dānaṁ paramaṁ anuttaraṁ,
Yaṁ saṁvibhāgaṁ bhagavā avaṇṇayi;
Aggamhi khettamhi pasannacitto,
Viññū pajānaṁ ko na yajetha kāle.
“That which they call the very best, unexcelled giving,
that sharing which the Blessed One praised;
To the foremost field, with a |settled mind::mentally full of confidence, a bright, pure, or pleased mind [pasannacitta]|,
What |wise person::discerning, intelligent, who can distinguish [viññū]| would not offer at the proper time?
Ye ceva bhāsanti suṇanti cūbhayaṁ,
Pasannacittā sugatassa sāsane;
Tesaṁ so attho paramo visujjhati,
Ye appamattā sugatassa sāsane”ti.
Those who both speak and listen,
with minds settled in the Accomplished One’s teaching;
For them, that highest goal becomes clear,
when they are |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]| in the Accomplished One’s instruction.”
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:
“Bhikkhus, there are these two kinds of |giving::the act of giving or donating, with an intention to give [dāna]|—the giving of material things and the giving of the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|. Of these two givings, bhikkhus, the giving of the Dhamma is |the best::foremost, the highest [etadagga]|.
Bhikkhus, there are these two kinds of |sharing::distributing or sharing something that one has with others [saṃvibhāga]|—sharing of material things and sharing of the Dhamma. Of these two kinds of sharing, bhikkhus, sharing of the Dhamma is the best.
Bhikkhus, there are these two kinds of |assistance::support, help [anuggaha]|—assistance with material things and assistance with the Dhamma. Of these two kinds of assistance, bhikkhus, assistance with the Dhamma is the best.”
The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:
“That which they call the very best, unexcelled giving,
that sharing which the Blessed One praised;
To the foremost field, with a |settled mind::mentally full of confidence, a bright, pure, or pleased mind [pasannacitta]|,
What |wise person::discerning, intelligent, who can distinguish [viññū]| would not offer at the proper time?
Those who both speak and listen,
with minds settled in the Accomplished One’s teaching;
For them, that highest goal becomes clear,
when they are |diligent::doing one’s work or duty well, with alertness, carefulness and care [appamatta]| in the Accomplished One’s instruction.”
This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.
Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:
“Dvemāni, bhikkhave, dānāni—āmisadānañca dhammadānañca. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ dānānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammadānaṁ.
Dveme, bhikkhave, saṁvibhāgā—āmisasaṁvibhāgo ca dhammasaṁvibhāgo ca. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ saṁvibhāgānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammasaṁvibhāgo.
Dveme, bhikkhave, anuggahā—āmisānuggaho ca dhammānuggaho ca. Etadaggaṁ, bhikkhave, imesaṁ dvinnaṁ anuggahānaṁ yadidaṁ dhammānuggaho”ti.
Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:
“Yamāhu dānaṁ paramaṁ anuttaraṁ,
Yaṁ saṁvibhāgaṁ bhagavā avaṇṇayi;
Aggamhi khettamhi pasannacitto,
Viññū pajānaṁ ko na yajetha kāle.
Ye ceva bhāsanti suṇanti cūbhayaṁ,
Pasannacittā sugatassa sāsane;
Tesaṁ so attho paramo visujjhati,
Ye appamattā sugatassa sāsane”ti.
Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.