Q40. Where is great goodness found?

~ By Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~

The Buddha once said, ‘Developing awareness-of- impermanence (anicca-saññā) for only as long as it takes to click the fingers has more effect and value than providing meals for the entire Saṅgha when led by the Buddha himself.’ This means that if we could invite the whole community of Buddhist monastics together with the Buddha at its head to offer them food, we would still not gain as much merit as by successfully developing awareness-of-impermanence even for only as long as a click of the fingers. This is a most fundamental point revealing the Buddha’s pure intention.

Be wary of great deeds of charity such as some people display in temple halls, because they are concerned with the sensual realms. Great charity, to be genuine, must be as the Buddha described. Developing awareness-of-impermanence for just a brief moment is far better than all the lavish displays of providing for monks.

(From “Buddha-Dhamma for Inquiring Minds”)

- - ❖ - -

Buddha-Dhamma for Students (title of original translation) was composed of two talks given by Ajahn Buddhadāsa in January 1966 to students at Thammasat University, Bangkok. It was translated from the Thai by Rod Bucknell, and revised in 2018 by Santikaro Upasaka. To read/download as free ebook (pdf).

- - ❖ - -

For all English retreat talks, visit Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu.

For more information and free ebooks, visit Suan Mokkh – The Garden of Liberation.

Photo: Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives O-155