Harmlessness as the highest form of generosity?
Upvote:0
Bhikkhus, whatever grounds there are for making merit productive of a future birth, all these do not equal a sixteenth part of the mind-release of loving-kindness.
(It §27)
For It §27, loving-kindness is said to be the most merit-producing form of generosity.
Next, for Satipatthana Samyutta, No. 19, loving-kindness is described as protecting others, together with harmlessness and compassion.
And how does one, in protecting others, protect oneself? By patience and forbearance, by a non-violent and harmless life, by loving kindness and compassion."
Upvote:1
Dhammapada 270 has been translated in several ways, some of which use the word "harm".
Verse 270: He who harms living beings is, for that reason, not an ariya (a Noble One); he who does not harm any living being is called an ariya
In terms of "greatest", it is notable that generosity is the first Paramita.
Focusing on "greatest" alone is problematic, because it may lead one to ignore other considerations. For example, standing by to avoid risk of harm to oneself while others are being harmed might not be generous.
Upvote:1
in Overflowing Merit.
Reasons for people to observe precepts. some might do so for self benefit, self generated peace .. or in case of incorporating with gift giving, people observe precepts so others may benefit from it. such as no killing, stealing etc.
IMO, observing precepts for benefit of others is highest form of generosity.
...Mendicants, these five gifts are great, original, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. They are uncorrupted, as they have been since the beginning. They’re not being corrupted now nor will they be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on them. What five? Firstly, a noble disciple gives up killing living creatures. By so doing they give to countless sentient beings the gift of freedom from fear, enmity, and ill will. And they themselves also enjoy unlimited freedom from fear, enmity, and ill will. This is the first gift that is a great offering, original, long-standing, traditional, and ancient. It is uncorrupted, as it has been since the beginning. It’s not being corrupted now nor will it be. Sensible ascetics and brahmins don’t look down on it. This is the fourth kind of overflowing merit …
Upvote:2
Dhamma-dana, the gift of the noble teachings, is said by the Buddha to excel all other gifts:
The gift of Dhamma excels all gifts; the taste of the Dhamma excels all tastes; the delight in Dhamma excels all delights. The Craving-Freed vanquishes all suffering. ~~ Dhp. 354 ~~
More post
- 📝 Do ascetic practices create samvega? If so, how?
- 📝 Textual reference vs. Direct insight
- 📝 What is wisdom? How to contemplate?
- 📝 How to make a decision based on Buddhist principles?
- 📝 What's the difference between Samma Sambuddho and Buddho
- 📝 Identification of Buddhist saints or sages
- 📝 Is it harder to attain enlightenment without a living Buddha?
- 📝 Work, Love, and Buddhism in the modern setting
- 📝 In what order should I read the various Buddhist scriptures?
- 📝 How to stay mindful of the gap in the breath
- 📝 Over control and energy dissipation
- 📝 How worried should one be about the lay precepts?
- 📝 Does every Buddha have knowledge of the past, present and future?
- 📝 Happiness for laypeople
- 📝 A scientific error of the Buddha?
- 📝 Am I following Buddhism as a sort of Escapism?
- 📝 Can a girl & a boy be friends
- 📝 Are bhanga and sotapatti synonyms?
- 📝 If there be no soul or transmigrating entity that takes rebirth, who or what bears or enjoys the consequences or fruits of karma?
- 📝 Four Nutriments in the context of Satipatthana?
- 📝 How to let go of something the other person involved won't acknowledge
- 📝 What is the actual status of the Dalai Lama in regard of Dhamma-Vinaya?
- 📝 Dependent Origination: causes vs conditions?
- 📝 Why are beings born?
- 📝 Abhidhamma vs Sutta: Did the Buddha teach about the birth of things?
- 📝 Nature of Direct Experience
- 📝 Changing of questions and the precept of not speaking what is not true
- 📝 Helping Others Who Still Need to Suffer due to karma
- 📝 Scientific Problem solving and Wu Wei
- 📝 Sankhara conditions vinjana dependent origination
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Harmlessness as the highest form of generosity?
- 📝 Is watching the heart beat (instead of watching the breath) a known form of meditation?
- 📝 Not-Buddhism is the highest level of Buddhism?
- 📝 Is the attempt to understand others a form of value judgement?
- 📝 Is Physical Attraction or Appreciation of the Human Form Considered Attachment?
- 📝 What is the proper way to foster generosity and gratitude?
- 📝 Is there a scientific book summarizing the orthodox buddhism, the most ancient form of it?
- 📝 The Law of One Form
- 📝 How, if at all, does karma exist in the form and formless realms?
- 📝 Are the formless jhanas without any consciouness of form at all?
- 📝 Does any/every form of lying violate the precept of "not-lying"?
- 📝 Form in the formless realms
- 📝 Can an Icchantika make any form of progress along the Buddhist path?
- 📝 Is the existence of life & teaching Dhamma a form of attachment?
- 📝 Can the Buddha ever be a woman?
- 📝 Does illegal downloading or viewing of copyright material violate the second precept?
- 📝 Where is the Buddha quoted as saying do not believe anything I say until you can prove it by yourself?
- 📝 How not to kill the mouse in my house?
- 📝 Is drinking coffee or tea against the fifth precept?
- 📝 Masturbation: Does it break the 3rd precept?
- 📝 What are the differences between vipassana and mindfulness meditation?
- 📝 How to determine the end of a meditation session without a clock?
- 📝 Is Nirvana the goal for all Buddhist?
- 📝 How can I assess the quality of a local Buddhist group?
- 📝 What is the attitude toward h*m*sexuality in Buddhism?
- 📝 How do you tell a 4-year-old who the Buddha was?
- 📝 What is the next meditation type after Mindfulness of Breathing meditation?
- 📝 Are Vajrayana and Tibetan Buddhism the same thing?
- 📝 What is the meaning and/or purpose of life?
- 📝 How is sexual misconduct explained in regards to the five precepts?