布施的差別

有一次，世尊駐錫在古印度舍衛國祇樹給孤獨園林內。當時尊者舍利弗來到佛前，頂禮佛足後，便坐在一旁。舍利弗問世尊：「

世尊，請問是什麼原因？什麼緣故？同樣都是商人，有人經商失敗；有人獲得報酬不如預期；有人成功，所得報酬恰如其分；有人不但是成功，所得報酬甚至遠超出預期？」

舍利弗，這世間有一種人前往沙門、婆羅門等修行人處，對修行人表示：『請告訴我你們需要什麼？我想佈施植福。』，但事後卻不履行佈施承諾，因此緣故，此人死後不論出生在何處，不論他如何努力工作賺錢，都將注定失敗，一事無成。

舍利弗，這世間有第二種人前往沙門、婆羅門等修行人處，對修行人表示：『請告訴我你們需要什麼？我想佈施植福。』，事後雖履行佈施承諾，但所佈施之物卻少於當初之承諾，因此緣故，此人死後不論出生在何處，不論他如何努力工作賺錢，所得都將不如預期。

舍利弗，這世間有第三種人前往沙門、婆羅門等修行人處，對修行人表示：『請告訴我你們需要什麼？我想佈施植福。』事後亦恰如其分地履行佈施承諾，因此緣故，此人死後不論出生在何處，他因工作所賺得之報酬，都將恰如其分。

舍利弗，這世間有第四種人前往沙門、婆羅門等修行人處，對修行人表示：『請告訴我你們需要什麼？我想佈施植福。』事後不但履行佈施承諾，甚至還超出其承諾範圍，因此緣故，此人死後不論出生在何處，他因工作所賺得之報酬，都將遠超出其預期。

舍利弗，就是以上的因，以上的緣，以上的業，使得有人事業失敗；有人獲得報酬不如預期；有人事業成功，所得報酬恰如其分；有人不但事業成功，所得報酬甚至遠超出預期。」

On a certain occasion The Blessed One was dwelling at Sâvatthi, in Jetavana monastery in Anâthapindika's Park.Then Ven. Sariputta went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to the Blessed One, "What is the reason, lord, what is the cause why a certain trade, when engaged in by some people, turns out a failure? What is the reason, what is the cause why the same sort of trade, when engaged in by other people, turns out not as intended? What is the reason, what is the cause why the same sort of trade, when engaged in by other people, turns out as intended? What is the reason, what is the cause why the same sort of trade, when engaged in by other people, turns out better than intended?"

"There is the case, Sariputta, where a certain person, having gone to a priest or contemplative, makes him an offer: 'Tell me, sir, what you need in terms of the [four] requisites.' But he doesn't give what he offered. If he passes away from there and comes here, then whatever trade he engages in, it turns out a failure.

"Then there is the case where a certain person, having gone to a priest or contemplative, makes him an offer: 'Tell me, sir, what you need in terms of the [four] requisites.' But he gives him something other than what he intended by the offer. If he passes away from there and comes here, then whatever trade he engages in, it turns out not as intended.

"Then there is the case where a certain person, having gone to a priest or contemplative, makes him an offer: 'Tell me, sir, what you need in terms of the [four] requisites.' He gives him what he intended by the offer. If he passes away from there and comes here, then whatever trade he engages in, it turns out as intended.

"Then there is the case where a certain person, having gone to a priest or contemplative, makes him an offer: 'Tell me, sir, what you need in terms of the [four] requisites.' He gives him more than what he intended by the offer. If he passes away from there and comes here, then whatever trade he engages in, it turns out better than intended.

"This is the reason, Sariputta, this is the cause why a certain trade, when engaged in by some people, turns out a failure; why the same sort of trade, when engaged in by other people, turns out not as intended; why the same sort of trade, when engaged in by other people, turns out as intended; why the same sort of trade, when engaged in by other people, turns out better than intended."