Suppavāsāsutta—Bhikkhu Sujato

Long life, beauty, happiness, and strength.

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Koliyans, where they have a town named Pajjanika.

Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, went to the home of Suppavāsā the Koliyan, where he sat on the seat spread out. Then Suppavāsā served and satisfied the Buddha with her own hands with delicious fresh and cooked foods. When the Buddha had eaten and washed his hand and bowl, she sat down to one side. The Buddha said to her:

“Suppavāsā, when a noble disciple gives food, she gives the recipients four things. What four? Long life, beauty, happiness, and strength. Giving long life, she has long life as a god or human. Giving beauty, she has beauty as a god or human. Giving happiness, she has happiness as a god or human. Giving strength, she has strength as a god or human. When a noble disciple gives food, she gives the recipients these four things.

When she gives well-prepared food,
pure, fine, and full of flavor,
that offering—given to the upright,
who have good conduct, and are big-hearted—
joins merit to merit.
It’s very fruitful,
and is praised by those who know the world.

Those who recall such sacrifices,
live in the world full of inspiration.
They’ve driven out the stain of stinginess,
root and all,
blameless, they go to a heavenly place.”

The Buddha is sharing the benefits of a practice of giving. A practice of giving opens up the mind to loving-kindness and gradually removes the sting of jealousy, of hate, of aversion.

Related Teachings:

  • Gifts of a True Person - While the gift of food to a noble one is of great fruit and benefit, a gift of food to any being at the right time, carefully, with no strings attached, out of faith, and without hurting oneself or the recipient is a great gift.
  • Benefits of love - The Buddha recollects some of his past rebirths due to merit of giving, self-mastery and restraint
  • Eight grounds of giving - On the different intentions when one is practicing giving.
  • Rebirth by giving - Rebirths based on giving when certain conditions are met