AN 5.36 - AN 5:36 Seasonable Gifts | Kāladāna Sutta
Translated by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu
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Copyright: Copyright 2014 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Revised edition 2017
License notice: Copyright 2014 Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu, Revised edition 2017 This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 Unported. To see a copy of this license visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/. “Commercial” shall mean any sale, whether for commercial or non-profit purposes or entities. Questions about this book may be addressed to Metta Forest Monastery Valley Center, CA 92082-1409 U.S.A. Additional resources More Dhamma talks, books and translations by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu are available to download in digital audio and various ebook formats at dhammatalks.org. Printed copy A paperback copy of this book is available free of charge. To request one, write to: Book Request, Metta Forest Monastery, PO Box 1409, Valley Center, CA 92082 USA.
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Seasonable Gifts
 Kāladāna Sutta (AN 5:36)

The verse from this discourse is often chanted by monks as a blessing at meals or other offerings.

* * *

“There are these five seasonable gifts. Which five? One gives to a newcomer. One gives to one going away. One gives to one who is ill. One gives in time of famine. One sets the first fruits of field & orchard in front of those who are virtuous. These are the five seasonable gifts.”

In the proper season they give—
    those with discernment,
    responsive, free from stinginess.
Having been given in proper season,
with hearts inspired by the noble ones
    —straightened, Such—
their offering bears an abundance.
Those who rejoice in that gift
    or give assistance,
they, too, have a share of the merit,
    and the offering isn’t depleted by that.
So, with an unhesitant mind,
    one should give where the gift bears great fruit.
    Merit is what establishes
    living beings in the next life.