Velama Sutta (AN 9:20) 

It would be more fruitful to feed the mendicant Saṅgha headed by the Buddha than to feed one Realized One, a perfected one, a fully awakened Buddha.

https://suttacentral.net/an9.20/en/sujato?lang=en&layout=plain&reference=none&notes=asterisk&highlight=false&script=latin

The above verse hinges on “mendicant Sangha”. It refers to a religious community that was established by Sakyamuni Buddha. This group of disciples does not stay in a fixed location but wander from place to place. In short, it is the life of the homeless and they rely on alms for survival. They have minimum possession to facilitate roaming and do not identify a place to call home. This monastic community is truly a group of renunciants who are determined to gain enlightenment.

In a famous exhort, Shakyamuni Buddha instructed a group of enlightened monks to travel individually in different directions so that the message of Buddha could spread far and wide.

As for those disciples who are still in training, Buddha would instruct them in meditation and send them away to meditate in solitude. After practicing in solitude for a short period of time, they may seek Buddha or other advanced practitioners for further instructions or to clarify their doubts. Then they would once again practice in solitude until enlightenment is reached.

All these practices are meant to cultivate a sense of detachment from relationships and home, which form a base for identity (a.k.a Self)

In this verse, The Buddha said that it is better to feed such a community than to feed a fully enlightened Buddha.

We need to understand that such a group of monks are training to become enlightened. They live and train according to the original methods recommended by Buddha and are therefore likely to become enlightened. Therefore, supporting them is like supporting “Buddha-to-be”

In comparison, some monks or nuns are so attached to their temples that they have no issue with using violence to protect their ‘homes”. And beyond that, they would also group into fractions and clans too. If we understand how the original Sangha lived, we will know that such a practice is not appropriate or becoming.

Another point worth noting is that we tend to compare, who has a better or higher enlightenment. Strictly speaking, full enlightenment is when we become arhat. The nirvana of Buddha is also the same as the nirvana of an Arhat. That is the final goal. Due to our education and upbringing, we constantly seek to identify the “power” figure, and this habit is also brought into Buddhism. Due to this habitual way of thinking, there is much confusion about the state of enlightenment. But once we understand this, then the rationale of why it is more meritorious to feed an entire community of would-be Buddhas versus one actual Buddha becomes easier to understand.

The verse also mentioned, “headed by Buddha”. Does that mean such a Sangha no longer exists because Buddha is no longer physically present? To understand this, we need to reference the Buddha’s last words before his parinirvana. After Buddha passed away, the disciples are supposed to rely on his teachings. Those who see the Dharma, see Buddha.

How does this affect our alms to the monastic communities?

For a start, we need to identify those who are sincere about enlightenment. If they are truly trying to be enlightened, then they will be seriously engaged in mind-training. they will observe the precepts well and learn the dharma well. Such a community of monastic is deserving of our financial support.

To be continued.

May all be well and hat is ippy.