In short: in AN 5.35 the Buddha names five benefits of giving: a giver is dear to many people, good people seek their company, they gain a good reputation, they keep to their duties as a lay person, and they are reborn in a good place.
Mendicants, there are five benefits of giving. What five? A giver, a donor is dear and beloved by many people. Good and true persons associate with them. They get a good reputation. They don't neglect a layperson's duties. When their body breaks up, after death, they're reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
AN 5.35, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato.
Generosity as practice
Giving is the first of the three grounds for making merit (with ethics and meditation). It need not be money: time, attention, a meal, a kind word. Try one unasked-for gift today. See making merit and love outshines all merit.
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The full text in Pāli and English
Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato, from SuttaCentral (AN5.35). Ellipses (…) are abbreviations in the original. Notes are ANEW's.
| Pāli | English |
|---|---|
| “Pañcime, bhikkhave, dāne ānisaṁsā. | “Mendicants, there are five benefits of giving. |
| Katame pañca? | What five? |
| Bahuno janassa piyo hoti manāpo; | A giver, a donor is dear and beloved by many people. |
| santo sappurisā bhajanti; | Good and true persons associate with them. |
| kalyāṇo kittisaddo abbhuggacchati; | They get a good reputation. |
| gihidhammā anapagato hoti; | They don’t neglect a layperson’s duties. |
| kāyassa bhedā paraṁ maraṇā sugatiṁ saggaṁ lokaṁ upapajjati. | When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. |
| Ime kho, bhikkhave, pañca dāne ānisaṁsāti. | These are the five benefits of giving. |
| Dadamāno piyo hoti, | Giving, one is loved, |
| sataṁ dhammaṁ anukkamaṁ; | and follows the way of the good. |
| Santo naṁ sadā bhajanti, | The good, disciplined spiritual practitioners |
| saññatā brahmacārayo. | always associate with you. |
| Te tassa dhammaṁ desenti, | They teach you the Dhamma |
| Sabbadukkhāpanūdanaṁ; | that casts aside all suffering. |
| Yaṁ so dhammaṁ idhaññāya, | Having understood this teaching, |
| Parinibbāti anāsavo”ti. | the undefiled one is fully extinguished.” |
| Pañcamaṁ. |
Merit is a word for happiness: don't fear good deeds.
More on dāna: generosity in Buddhism.
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Questions people ask
What are the benefits of giving in Buddhism?
AN 5.35 lists five: the giver is loved by many, keeps company with good people, has a good reputation, fulfils a layperson's duties, and is reborn in a good place.