The Wisdom of Giving Chapter Two

Chapter Two

The First Two Questions

第二章 前两个问题

The First Question: What Is Giving?

Veda Vyasa first asked the Buddha:

"What is giving? Why do we give? What is the true meaning of giving?"

The Buddha answered:

"Through giving, one purifies oneself; through giving, the fruit of merit naturally follows. This is why it is called generosity."

The Buddha did not define generosity through philosophical concepts. Instead, He explained it through the practice of daily life. True giving is the willingness to offer to others something that rightfully belongs to oneself. It is not limited to material possessions, but also includes the giving of wisdom, guidance, compassion, encouragement, and every act that benefits others. Through the act of giving, one's own mind is purified, and merit naturally follows.

第一问：什么是布施？

毗耶娑首先请问佛陀：

「云何布施？何故布施？何义名施？」

佛陀回答：

「即布施已，自食自净，施已报转，故名布施。」

佛陀没有用抽象的理论解释什么是布施，而是从生活中的实践来说明。真正的布施，是把自己所有、愿意舍出的东西给予他人。布施不仅包括财物，也包括智慧、教导、关怀、鼓励，以及一切能够利益他人的善行。布施不仅利益别人，也净化自己的内心，因此福德便随着善行而增长。

The Second Question: Who Is a True Giver?

Veda Vyasa then asked:

"Who is a true giver?"

Rather than answering directly, the Buddha offered a simple example.

"Suppose a person owns some property and, inspired by faith, wishes to make an offering in a distant place. The owner entrusts the gift to another person for delivery. Although the messenger carries and offers the gift, the merit belongs to the owner who generated the intention to give and willingly relinquished the property. The messenger delivers the gift, but is not the true giver."

The Buddha explained that the true giver is the one who gives rise to the intention of generosity and willingly parts with what belongs to him.

He then continued:

"If a person offers what truly belongs to him with his own hands, he is both the one who relinquishes his possessions and the true giver."

第二问：谁是真正的施主？

毗耶娑继续请问：

「以何义故，名为施主？」

佛陀没有直接回答，而是举了一个简单的例子：

「若人有物，彼信心生，信心生已，以财付人，遣向他国。彼人将物，向他国施。彼人布施，财主得福，非施者福；彼所遣者，虽持物施，而非舍主。」

佛陀借这个例子说明，真正获得布施功德的，是发起布施之心，并愿意舍出自己财物的人。代为送达的人，只是完成了送物的过程，并不是真正的施主。

佛陀接着说道：

「若人自物，自手施者，则是舍主，亦是施主。」

如果一个人亲自将自己所有的财物布施给别人，那么他既是舍主，也是真正的施主。