The Buddha explains the benefits of cultivating loving-kindness compared to giving donations.
Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.
At Sāvatthi.
“Yo, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ okkhāsataṁ dānaṁ dadeyya, yo majjhanhikasamayaṁ okkhāsataṁ dānaṁ dadeyya, yo sāyanhasamayaṁ okkhāsataṁ dānaṁ dadeyya, yo vā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṁ bhāveyya, yo vā majjhanhikasamayaṁ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṁ bhāveyya, yo vā sāyanhasamayaṁ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṁ bhāveyya, idaṁ tato mahapphalataraṁ.
“Bhikkhus, if someone were |to give a donation::the act of giving or donating, with an intention to give [dāna]| of a hundred pots [of food] in the morning, a hundred pots of food at noon, and a hundred pots of food in the evening, and if someone else were to cultivate a |mind of loving-kindness::friendly heart, kind mind, benevolent mind [mettācitta]| even for the brief moment it takes to milk a cow, whether in the morning, at noon, or in the evening — this [cultivation of loving-kindness] would yield far greater fruit than those givings.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘mettā no cetovimutti bhāvitā bhavissati bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.
Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘Our |release of mind::mental liberation, emancipation of heart, a meditation attainment [cetovimutti]| through loving-kindness will be developed, practiced often, made a vehicle, made a basis, firmly established, nurtured, and |resolutely undertaken::fully engaged with, energetically taken up [susamāraddha]|.’ Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves.”
At Sāvatthi.
“Bhikkhus, if someone were |to give a donation::the act of giving or donating, with an intention to give [dāna]| of a hundred pots [of food] in the morning, a hundred pots of food at noon, and a hundred pots of food in the evening, and if someone else were to cultivate a |mind of loving-kindness::friendly heart, kind mind, benevolent mind [mettācitta]| even for the brief moment it takes to milk a cow, whether in the morning, at noon, or in the evening — this [cultivation of loving-kindness] would yield far greater fruit than those givings.
Therefore, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves thus: ‘Our |release of mind::mental liberation, emancipation of heart, a meditation attainment [cetovimutti]| through loving-kindness will be developed, practiced often, made a vehicle, made a basis, firmly established, nurtured, and |resolutely undertaken::fully engaged with, energetically taken up [susamāraddha]|.’ Thus, bhikkhus, you should train yourselves.”
Sāvatthiyaṁ viharati.
“Yo, bhikkhave, pubbaṇhasamayaṁ okkhāsataṁ dānaṁ dadeyya, yo majjhanhikasamayaṁ okkhāsataṁ dānaṁ dadeyya, yo sāyanhasamayaṁ okkhāsataṁ dānaṁ dadeyya, yo vā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṁ bhāveyya, yo vā majjhanhikasamayaṁ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṁ bhāveyya, yo vā sāyanhasamayaṁ antamaso gadduhanamattampi mettacittaṁ bhāveyya, idaṁ tato mahapphalataraṁ.
Tasmātiha, bhikkhave, evaṁ sikkhitabbaṁ: ‘mettā no cetovimutti bhāvitā bhavissati bahulīkatā yānīkatā vatthukatā anuṭṭhitā paricitā susamāraddhā’ti. Evañhi vo, bhikkhave, sikkhitabban”ti.