Cāgānussati Meditation
In this section, you will learn “cāgānussati” or reflection on one’s generosity. A disciple of the Buddha, who practices the Buddhānussati, Dhammānussati, Sanghānussati, and Sīlānussati and progresses in virtue, considers cultivating generosity and has the ability to donate with a happy mind. Greed is a defilement of the mind. Because of greed, because of thoughts of greed, one engages in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, and mental misconduct. Giving with a happy mind is wholesome and will not lead to unwholesome actions by body, speech or mind.
One must overcome miserliness in order to be generous. It is relieving to be free from miserliness. It is a great gain to be free from miserliness. It is indeed truly gratifying to be free from miserliness. Miserliness is the nature of disliking to give what one has for the benefit of another. Being miserly makes a person become rude and unkind whereas being generous one becomes gentle. The Buddha said that one must overcome greed and be ready to donate at anytime and anywhere. For example, if you have two mangoes, one good and the other spoilt, to be truly generous, you must be able to give the good mango keeping the bad one for yourself. If someone asks for clothing, a generous person will donate a dress that makes the receiver happy and delighted and will not give old rags. A person who donates the best he could, such as excellent food, excellent clothes, and excellent gifts will receive the best for himself. In order to cultivate noble generosity, one should always donate what one likes the most.
The disciples of the supreme Buddha have excelled in generosity. When donating, a donor should not consider the social status or weaknesses of the receiver; instead, one should donate with a pleasant mind. A donor who recollects his or her own generosity will experience joy; will be joyous; both his body and mind will be relaxed and tranquilized. The joy he thus develops will lead to concentration. Knowing this, the disciples of the Buddha practice cāgānussati; excel in cāgānussati. You should strive to practice cāgānussati regularly, as part of the daily meditation. This human life is short. In this short time, one should practice generosity, let go of stinginess; develop wholesome qualities and a tranquil mind, which in turn will help to realize the Dhamma.
Cāgānussati Meditation
- I have taken refuge in the Supreme Buddha, I have taken refuge in the Supreme Dhamma, and I have taken refuge in the Supreme Sangha.
I practice generosity in order to realize the Four Noble Truths and end suffering.
I donate and offer almsfood to monks and nuns using my hard earned and honestly earned money.
I am glad to see others using what I have donated.
I am glad to see that virtuous monks and nuns who strive to end suffering, have gained physical strength and mental strength because of food and drink I have donated.
I am delighted thinking that my contributions would help them in realizing the Four Noble Truths.
I am joyous to offer food and drinks to virtuous monks who are the unsurpassed field of merit as stated by the Supreme Buddha.
I am a person donating without miserliness.
I am a person who maintains a happy mind before giving, while giving, and after giving.
I am glad to donate the best I have.
Regularly, I donate and I am committed to donating.
I am glad to prepare alms food purely and with consideration.
I am glad to offer almsfood that suits the needs of virtuous monks and nuns.
I do not wish for worldly gains by offering alms food and donations.
I do not wish for beauty by offering alms food and donations.
I do not wish for long life by offering alms food and donations.
I do not wish for honor and praise by offering alms food and donations.
I do not wish for recognition or status by offering alms food and donations.
I do not wish for heavenly pleasures after death by offering alms food and donations.
I offer alms food and donations only as a way for cleansing my mind.
I offer alms food and donations only for the development of my wisdom and to end suffering.
Because I offer alms food and donations, I am delighted. My body and mind are relaxed.
With a relaxed body and mind and with delight, I will develop concentration.
My donations and offerings will help me in the realization of the Four Noble Truths.
- I know that one who trains in the Noble Eightfold Path practices generosity as a power of a trainee.
I am a trainee in the Noble Eightfold Path in order to end suffering.
In this way, I develop generosity as a power of a trainee.
May my generosity help me in the realization of the Four Noble Truths!
I will strive to eradicate passion, hatred and delusion.
By practicing generosity I will attain arahantship.
Because I practice generosity I am delighted, my body and mind are relaxed.
With a relaxed body and mind and with delight, I will develop concentration.
My donations and offerings will help me in the realization of the Four Noble Truths.
- The Supreme Buddha said generosity is the wealth of a noble disciple.
The generosity that I practice is my wealth. In this way, I own noble wealth.
I will practice generosity by spending my wealth. I always grow with the wealth of generosity.
I will practice generosity until I attain arahantship.
I know generosity is the noble wealth I possess.
Generosity provides me protection and security.
I will practice generosity knowing that it is a gain not a loss.
I will train for generosity in different ways.
I am glad to know that generosity is a noble wealth.
Because I practice generosity I am delighted. My body and mind are relaxed.
With a relaxed body and mind and with delight, I will develop concentration.
My donations and offerings will help me in the realization of the Four Noble Truths.