Lavish Dana but meagre Cetana

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Some donors offer almsfood, buildings, clothes, ritually or perfunctorily. If so even though dana may be lavish and grand, their cetana is no match to it; they do not feel appreciative joy because the good deed was done with little volition.

Therefore, quantity or quality alone cannot determine the generosity of a donor. When King Dutthagamani Abaya was on his death bed, he did not feel much joy in his merit of building the great Maha Cedi Pagoda, instead he felt great joy in recalling his small merit of offering one meal to a monk in the forest.

Due to this great cetana he was reborn in the celestial abode of Tusita devas. Therefore keep in mond that cetana only will determine your destiny not the quantity or value of gifts you have offered. Cetana is more inportant than the lavishness of your charity.

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