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Post date: Dec 29, 2011 10:24:28 PM
"There are eight ways of giving. What eight? Spontaneously[1] one gives; or one gives out of fear;[2] or because of thinking, 'He, too, has given me a gift'; or because of thinking, 'He will give me a present, too'; or because of thinking that it is good to give;[3] or because of thinking, 'I cook, but they (being ascetics) do not; since I cook, it would not be proper for me to refuse giving (a meal) to those who do not cook'; or because of thinking, 'By giving such a gift, I shall earn a good reputation'; or one gives because it ennobles the mind, adorns the mind."[4] — AN 8.31
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/nyanaponika/wheel238.html
But all these different motivations for giving are still bound up with attachment and providing future assets for oneself (upadhi), so that one will definitely continue on and on in samsara. As the Sutta below expresses it, one will be a "returner" (agami). On the other hand, if giving is done by someone completely without attachment who is ready to break out from samsara, then it is called "ornament/decoration of the mind" and one will be a "non-returner" (anagami):
9 (7) THE BEST WAY TO GIVE. Or, instead of thinking, ‘When this gift of mine is given, it calms
my mind. Satisfaction and joy arise,’ he makes a gift, thinking, ‘This is an adornment for the mind, a
support for the mind.’15
He makes his gift—food or drink; cloth, vehicle; garland, perfume or ointment; bedding, shelter or
lighting accessories—to a brahmin or a recluse.
What do you think, Sariputta? Might a person make such a gift as this?”
“He might, bhante.”
“In this case, Sāriputta, this person, having made his gifts not seeking his own profit, nor with a mind
attached (to the reward), nor seeking to store them up for himself,
nor thinking, ‘I'll enjoy this after death,’
nor thinking, ‘Giving is good,’
nor thinking, ‘This was given in the past, done in the past, by my father and father’s father. It would
not be right for me to let this old family custom die,’
nor thinking, ‘I cook, but they (being recluses) do not cook [do not keep house]. It would not be pro-
per for me when I do cook not to give to those who do not,’
nor thinking, ‘Just as there were the great sacrifices of the sages of the past, in the same way,
I will distribute my gifts,’
nor thinking, ‘When this gift of mine is given, it makes the mind serene. Satisfaction and joy arise,’
10 —but, he makes a gift, thinking, ‘This is an adornment for the mind, a support for the
mind’—
with the body’s breaking up, after death, he reappears in the company of Brahma’s Retinue. Then,
[63] having exhausted that karma, that power, that status, that sovereignty, he is a non-returner. 16 He does not come back to this world.
11 This, Sariputta, is the cause, this is the reason, why such a gift that is given in a certain manner
does not bear great fruit nor great benefit for a certain person.
And yet, Sāriputta, this is the cause, this is the reason, why such a gift that is given in a certain man-
ner does bear great fruit, great benefit for a certain person.”
http://dharmafarer.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/2.3_Dana_Mahapphala_S_a7.49_piya_bk.pdf
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