The Book of the Fives

Chapter XV: Three-thorn Grove

[129]

Thus have I heard:

Once the Exalted One dwelt near Sāvatthī;
and there he addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

'Yes, lord,' they replied;
and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, these five are not a good man's gifts.

What five?

He¹ gives without deference;
gives without thinking;
gives not with his own hand;
gives orts;
he gives holding no views as to the future.²

Verily, monks, these five are not a good man's gifts.'

"Monks, these five are a good man's gifts.

What five?

He gives with deference;
gives with thought;
gives with his own hand;
gives non-orts;
gives holding views as to the future.

Verily, monks, these five are a good man's gifts.'

¹ Cf. A. iv, 392.

² Comy. on the opposite: he gives believing in deed (kamma: karma) and result. Cf. below VI, § 92.