Kathavatthu - Of the Order and the Accepting & Purifying of Gifts; Daily Life; the Fruit of Giving

Points of Controversy
OR
Subjects of Discourse
BEING A TRANSLATION OF THE KATHAVATTHU
FROM THE ABHIDHAMMA-PITAKA
BY
SHWE ZAN AUNG, B.A
AND
MRS. RHYS DAVIDS, M.A

6. Of the Order and the Accepting of Gifts.
Controverted Point.—That it ought not to be said ' The
Order accepts gifts.'
From the Commentary.—This view is how held by those of the
Vetulya[ka]s, who are known as the Mahasunnatavadins.2 They believe
that the Order, in the metaphysical sense [paramatthato] of the
word, is the Paths and the Fruits. These cannot be said to accept
anything.
[1] Th.—But is not the Order worthy of offerings of
hospitality, of gifts, of salutations, as the world's supreme
field of merit ? How then can it be wrong to say it accepts
gifts? [2] Were not its four pairs of men, its eight classes
of individuals3 declared by the Exalted One to be worthy of
gifts ? [3] And are there not they who give to it ?
[4] Finally, was it not said by the Exalted One:—
' As doth the holy flame its offering,
As doth the bounteous earth the summer rain,
So Mth the Order, in rapt thought expert,
The Gift accept'?4
Hence surely the Order accepts gifts.
[5] M.—But can a Path accept? Can Fruition ac-
cept? . . .

1
See XXIII. 1.
2
So PTS ed. Br.has 'Mahapunnavadins.'
3
Digha-Nik., iii. 255.
4
We cannot trace this passage.


7. Of the Order and the Purifying of Gifts.
Controverted Point.—That it ought not to be said that
' The Order purifies1 gifts.'
From the Commentary.—Those who hold the view just discussed,
hold as a corollary that Paths and Fruits are not able to purify gifts.
[1, 2] Similar to XVII, 6, §§ 1, 2.
[3] And are there not those who, having made a gift to
the Order, make their offering effective ?2
[4] M.—But does- a Path, does Fruition 'purify'? . . .

8. Of the Order and Daily Life.
Contr overted Point.—That it should not be said that
' The Order " enjoys," " eats," " drinks." '
The reason and the adherents as above.
[1] Th.—But you must admit that there are those who
partake of the meals of the Order, both daily and on special
occasions, both of rice-gruel and of drink.
[2] Moreover, did not the Exalted One speak of ' meals
taken in company,' 'in turn,' 'of food left over,' and 'not
left over'?3
[3] And did He not speak of eight kinds
of drinks:—'mango-syrup, jambu-syrup, plantain-syrup,
mScha-syrup, honey-syrup, grape-juice, lilyroot-syrup, and
pharusaka-syrup'?4 How then can you maintain your view?
[4] M.—But does a Path, does Fruition 'enjoy,' 'eat,'
'drink'? . . .

1
Visodheti—i.e., causes to fructify, makes more fruitful (in
merit).—Comy.
2
Dakkhinang aradheti, a less obvious phrasing than the
instrumental phrase of the Sutta-Nipata, verse 488, aradhaye
dakkhineyyehi. 'They gain, they win great fruit even by a
trifling offering. . . . Little (when so offered) becomes much, much
becomes more.'—Comy. In the text the usual gifts to the Order are
then detailed. See above, p. 199 § 3.
3
Vinaya Texts, i. 38 f.
4
Ibid., ii. 132. The Commentary does not enrich our scanty know-
ledge about the less obvious kinds.


9. Of the Order and the Fruit of Giving.
Controverted Point—That it should not be said that 'a
thing given to the Order brings great reward.'
The reason and the adherents as above.'
[1, 2] Similar to XVII . 6, §§ 1, 2.
[3] And was it not said by the Exalted One : ' Give, lady
of the Gotamas, to the Order. In that giving thou shalt also
render honour to me and to the Order'?1
[4] Again, was it not said to the Exalted One by Sakka,
ruler of the gods :
'Of men who bring their offerings,
Of creatures who for merit seek,
Makers of merit for fair doom:—
Where must they give to reap reward I
The four who practise in the Paths,
The four established in the Fruits :—
Such is the Order upright, true,
By wisdom and by virtue stayed.
Of men who bring their offerings,
Of creatures who for merit seek.
Makers of merit for fair doom,
Who to the Order make their gift:—
Theirs is't to reap a rich reward.'2
' This Order sooth abounds and is grown great,
In measure as the waters of the sea,
These be the valiant students, best of men,
Light-bringers they who do the Norm proclaim.
They who because of them do give their gifts,
Oblations fair, and seemly sacrifice,
They to the Order loyal, firm in faith,
Commended by the wise, win great reward.
And mindful thenceforth of the offerings made,
Joy is their heritage3 while in this world.

1
Majjhima-Nik., iii. 253.
2
Samyutta-Nik., i. 233.
3
The V. V. Commentary explains vedajata by jatasoma-
nassa.


Thereafter, conquerors of selfishness1
And of the root thereof free front all blame,
Lo ! to a brighter world they win their way !'2
Hence surely a thing given to the Order brings great
reward.

1
In the PTS edition read maccheramalang samulang.
2
Vimana-Vatthu, 34, 25-27