This discourse was taught by the Blessed One, taught by the Arahant, the fully enlightened Supreme Buddha. This is as I heard,
“Monks, I am a Brāhmin (one who has abandoned all evil) and am always responsive to requests for the Dhamma and open-handed in giving the Dhamma. I bear my last body and am the supreme doctor and surgeon for removing the arrow of suffering. You are my children, my sons, born from my heart, born from the mouth of Dhamma, created by the Dhamma, heirs to the Dhamma, not heirs of material things.
Monks, there are two kinds of giving: giving material things and giving of the Dhamma. Monks, of these two kinds of giving, giving of the Dhamma is supreme.
Monks, there are two kinds of sharing: sharing material things and sharing the Dhamma. Monks, of these two kinds of sharing, sharing the Dhamma is supreme.
Monks, there are two kinds of help: help with material things and help with the Dhamma. Monks, of these two kinds of help, help with the Dhamma is supreme.”
This is the meaning of what the Blessed One said. So, with regard to this, it was said:
The Tathāgatha, unselfish and compassionate towards all beings, has given the gift of Dhamma; gods and humans pay homage to him; he is the best of gods and humans – the Buddha who crossed over the cycle of rebirths.
This, too, is the meaning of what was said by the Blessed One. This is exactly as I heard.
