ABHIDHAMMA IN DAILY LIFE - Abhidhamma.com

is time to spare. Charity is for those living the ordinary life of laypersons, as they can afford the
time to do so.
6.5.2 The Joy of Giving Charity
Giving charity is indeed joyful. The generous always feel compassion for the poor and needy.
This is followed by loving-kindness towards all creatures. Then you cultivate sympathetic joy to
those who are already wealthy and prosperous.
Recipients of charity, in return, will reciprocate loving-kindness and wish for happiness. They
will also nurture sympathetic joy for the donor. Thus, we can say that Charity is the main cause
of practicing the Four Sublime States of Mind – (Four Brahma Vihara Cittas).
6.5.3 The Generous are the Wealthy
Wealthy persons who are free from the worry of livelihood are few in numbers. The poor,
destitute and needy are comparatively numerous. The poor are bound to be those who had no
credit of Charity in their previous existences. In addition, the wealthy are definitely generous
donors in their past lives. Should these rich people be contented in being prosperous in this
existence Surely not. For their wealth and possession cannot follow them in their next life. They
will no more be wealthy once they pass away. Therefore the wealthy ought to leave certain
portion of their property to their heirs and give away the remaining in charity to the needy. Only
then they will be prosperous in the next lives up to the attainment of Nibbána. The golden rule is
that: "Generous donor in previous life is the wealthy in this life; generous donor in this life is the
wealthy in the existence to come."
6.5.4 A Rich Person is like A River, etc
A virtuous and rich person like a river, a tree or rain it serves only for the good of others. People
come to the river to wash, to bathe or to drink. Likewise trees do not consume the fruits they
bear. Fruits are borne for other people. Rain falls not only into lakes and wells but also onto
barren plains and desserts.
A rich righteous person accumulates wealth for his or her own and in addition he or she helps
others. They spend their wealth on the poor. Like rain, which falls into lakes and barren plains
alike, they help look after not only the prestigious abbots but also the poor.
Charity causes a person to have a cheerful beaming countenance. The generous are blessed with
good merits in this existence. We all should never neglect the virtue of Charity, which is so
powerful as to expedite sentient beings to Nibbána.
6.5.5 We Cannot Do Without Charity
The benefits of charity are innumerable, countless. Wealthy must live with charity. Humanity
without Charity will in fact be very much uncivilized. In addition, of course, incivility of mind
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