The Online Library of Liberty

A project of Liberty Fund, Inc.

• Preface.
• Pronunciation.
• Introduction.
• I.: Rejoice!
• II.: SamsĀra and NirvĀna.
• III.: Truth the Saviour.
• Prince Siddhattha Becomes Buddha.
• IV.: The Bodhisatta’s Birth.
• V.: The Ties of Life.
• VI.: The Three Woes.
• VII.: The Bodhisatta’s Renunciation.
• VIII.: King BimbisĀra.
• IX.: The Bodhisatta’s Search.
• X.: UruvelĀ, the Place of Mortification.
• XI.: MĀra the Evil One.
• XII.: Enlightenment.
• XIII.: The First Converts.
• XIV.: BrahmĀs Request.
• The Foundation of the Kingdom of Righteousness.
• XV.: Upaka.
• XVI.: The Sermon At Benares.
• XVII.: The Sangha.
• XVIII.: Yasa, the Youth of Benares.
• XIX.: Kassapa.
• XX.: The Sermon At RĀjagaha.
• XXI.: The King’s Gift.
• XXII.: SĀriputta and MoggallĀna.
• XXIII.: AnĀthapindika.
• XXIV.: The Sermon On Charity.
• XXV.: Jetavana.
• XXVI.: The Three Characteristics and the Uncreate.
• XXVII.: The Buddha’s Father.
• XXVIII.: YasodharĀ.
• XXIX.: RĀhula.
• Consolidation of the Buddha’s Religion.
• XXX.: JĪvaka, the Physician.
• XXXI.: The Buddha’s Parents Attain NirvĀna.
• XXXII.: Women Admitted to the Sangha.
• XXXIII.: The Bhikkhus’ Conduct Toward Women.
• XXXIV.: VisĀkhĀ.
• XXXV.: The Uposatha and PĀtimokkha.
• XXXVI.: The Schism.
• XXXVII.: The Re-establishment of Concord.
• XXXVIII.: The Bhikkhus Rebuked.
• XXXIX.: Devadatta.
• Xl.: Name and Form.
• Xli.: the Goal.
• Xlii.: Miracles Forbidden.
• Xliii.: the Vanity of Worldliness.
• Xliv.: Secrecy and Publicity.
• Xlv.: the Annihilation of Suffering.
• Xlvi.: Avoiding the Ten Evils.
• Xlvii.: the Preacher’s Mission.
• The Teacher.
• Xlviii.: the Dhammapada.
• Xlix.: the Two Brahmans.
• L.: Guard the Six Quarters.
• Li.: Simha’s Question Concerning Annihilation.
• Lii.: All Existence Is Spiritual.
• Liii.: Identity and Non-identity.
• Liv.: the Buddha Omnipresent.
• Lv.: One Essence, One Law, One Aim.
• Lvi.: the Lesson Given to RĀhula.: Lvii.: the Sermon On Abuse.
• Lviii.: the Buddha Replies to the Deva.
• Lix.: Words of Instruction.
• Lx.: AmitĀbha.
• Lxi.: the Teacher Unknown.
• Parables and Stories.
• Lxii.: Parables.
• Lxiii.: the Widow’s Two Mites and the Parable of the Three Merchants.
• Lxiv.: the Man Born Blind.
• Lxv.: the Lost Son.
• Lxvi.: the Giddy Fish.
• Lxvii.: the Cruel Crane Outwitted.
• Lxviii.: Four Kinds of Merit.
• Lxix.: the Light of the World.
• Lxx.: Luxurious Living.
• Lxxi.: the Communication of Bliss.
• Lxxii.: the Listless Fool.
• Lxxiii.: Rescue In the Desert.
• Lxxiv.: the Sower.
• Lxxv.: the Outcast.
• Lxxvi.: the Woman At the Well.
• Lxxvii.: the Peacemaker.
• Lxxviii.: the Hungry Dog.
• Lxxix.: the Despot.
• Lxxx.: VĀsavadattĀ.
• Lxxxi.: the Marriage-feast In JambŪnada.
• Lxxxii.: a Party In Search of a Thief.
• Lxxxiii.: In the Realm of YamarĀja.
• Lxxxiv.: the Mustard Seed.
• Lxxxv.: Following the Master Over the Stream.
• Lxxxvi.: the Sick Bhikkhu.
• Lxxxvii.: the Patient Elephant.
• Lxxxviii.: the Conditions of Welfare.
• Lxxxix.: SĀriputta’s Faith.
• XC.: PĀtaliputta.
• XCI.: The Mirror of Truth.
• XCII.: AmbapĀlĪ.
• XCIII.: The Buddha’s Farewell Address.
• XCIV.: The Buddha Announces His Death.
• XCV.: Chunda, the Smith.
• XCVI.: Metteyya.
• XCVII.: The Buddha’s Final Entering Into NirvĀna.
• Conclusion.
• XCVIII.: The Three Personalities of the Buddha.
• XCIX.: The Purpose of Being.
• C.: The Praise of All the Buddhas.
• Table of Reference.
• Abbreviations In the Table of Reference.
• Glossary of Names and Terms.
• Remarks On the Illustrations of the Gospel of Buddha.

LXVIII.

FOUR KINDS OF MERIT.

There was a rich man who used to invite all the Brahmans of the neighborhood to his house, and, giving them rich gifts, offered great sacrifices to the gods. 1

And the Blessed One said: “If a man each month repeat a thousand sacrifices and give offerings without ceasing, he is not equal to him who but for one moment fixes his mind upon righteousness.” 2

The world-honored Buddha continued: “There are four kinds of offering: first, when the gifts are large and the merit small; secondly, when the gifts are small and the merit small; thirdly, when the gifts are small and the merit large; and fourthly, when the gifts are large and the merit is also large. 3

“The first is the case of the deluded man who takes away life for the purpose of sacrificing to the gods, accompanied by carousing and feasting. Here the gifts are great, but the merit is small indeed. 4

“The gifts are small and the merit is also small, when from covetousness and an evil heart a man keeps to himself a part of that which he intends to offer. 5

“The merit is great, however, while the gift is small, when a man makes his offering from love and with a desire to grow in wisdom and in kindness. 6

“Lastly, the gift is large and the merit is large, when a wealthy man, in an unselfish spirit and with the wisdom of a Buddha, gives donations and founds institutions for the best of mankind to enlighten the minds of his fellow-men and to administer unto their needs.” 7