Householder Anāthapiṇḍika

3 discourses

Household Anāthapiṇḍika, after passing away, appears as a young deity and recites verses to the Buddha on the value of thoroughly examining the Dhamma.

The Buddha explains how one can verify that they are a stream-enterer by reflecting on the five perilous animosities, the four factors of stream-entry, and clearly seeing with wisdom the noble principle of dependent co-arising.

The Buddha explains the difference in the results of giving disrespectfully and giving with respect. Recalling his past life as the brahmin Velāma, he shows that inner purity and wisdom surpass even the grandest charity—feeding one with right view, cultivating loving-kindness, or realizing impermanence even for a brief time brings far greater fruit than any lavish gift.