This discourse was taught by the Blessed One, taught by the Arahant, the fully enlightened Supreme Buddha. This is as I heard:
“Monks, if people knew as I know the results of giving and sharing, they would not eat without having given nor would the stain of stinginess overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared, if there was someone to share it with. But, monks, because people do not know as I know the results of giving and sharing, they eat without having given. The stain of stinginess overcomes their minds.”
This is the meaning of what the Blessed One said. So, with regard to this, it was said:
If people only knew—so taught the Great Sage—how the result of sharing has such great fruit, then people would subdue the stain of stinginess and with pleased minds they would give gifts in proper occasion to the noble ones where a gift bears great fruit.
Having given much food as offerings to those most worthy of offerings, the donors go to heaven when they pass away from here, the human state.
Having gone to heaven, they rejoice and enjoy divine pleasures as they desire. The generous people experience the result of generously sharing with others.
This, too, is the meaning of what was said by the Blessed One. This is exactly as I heard.
