Part 8 - Predicting the fruits of ripening of various kinds of gifts

Sūtra (cf. Pañcaviṃśati, p. 25, l. 4–17; Śatasāhasrikā, p. 80, l. 12–92, l. 4). –

Furthermore, Śāriputra, the bodhisattva-mahāsattva practicing the perfection of wisdom knows what kind of gift should be made in order for it to be very fruitful. – Making the gift in this way, one is reborn in wealthy kṣatriya families, in wealthy brāhmaṇa families or in wealthy householder families. – Making the gift in a certain other way, one is reborn among the Caturmahārājika gods, the Trāyastriṃśa gods, the Yāma gods, the Tuṣita gods, the Nirmāṇarati gods or the Paranirmitavaśavartin gods. – Making the gift in yet another way, one gains the first dhyāna, the second dhyāna, the third dhyāna, the fourth dhyāna, the absorption of the sphere of infinite space, the absorption of the sphere of infinite consciousness, the absorption of the sphere of nothing at all or the absorption of the sphere of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. – By this kind of gift the eightfold noble Path is produced. – By a certain other kind of gift, the fruit of entry into the stream and so on up to supreme complete enlightenment is attained (Punar aparaṃ Śāriputra bodhisattvo mahāsattaḥ prajñāpāramitāyāṃ carañ jānāti yad evaṃ dānaṃ dattaṃ mahāphalaṃ bhavat. – Evaṃ dānaṃ dattvā kṣatriyamahāśālakuleṣu brāhmaṇamahāśālakuleṣu gṛhapatimahāśalakuleṣūpapadyate. – Evaṃ dattvā cāturmahārājikeṣu deveṣu trāyastriṃśeṣu deveṣu yāmeṣu deveṣu tusiteṣu deveṣu nirmāṇaratiṣu deveṣu paranirmitavaśavartiṣu deveṣūpapadyate. – Evaṃ dānaṃ dattvā prathamaṃ dhyānaṃ dvitīyaṃ dhyānaṃ tṛtīyaṃ dhyānaṃ caturthaṃ dhyānaṃ ākāśānantyāyatanasamāpattiṃ vijñānantyāyatanasamāpattiṃ ākiṃcanyāyatanasamāpattiṃ naivasaṃjñānāsaṃjñāyatanasamāpattiṃ pratilabhate. – Evaṃ dānaṃ dattvā āryāṣṭaṅgo mārga utpadyate. – Evaṃ dānaṃ dattvā srotaāpattiphalaṃ yāvad anuttarā saṃyaksaṃbodhir anuprāpyate).

Śāstra. –

The bodhisattva-mahāsattva knows the true nature of dharmas (dharmatā) free of grasping (aparigraha), free of rejecting (anutsarga) and indestructible (anupaghāta). He practices an ungraspable perfection of wisdom (anupalabdhā prajñāpāramitā), but by means of a feeling of great compassion (mahākaruṇācitta), he returns to cultivate meritorious practices (puṇyakriyā).

The first gate of meritorious practices is above all the practice of generosity (dāna). [301b]