Which gift has more benefit for the giver? What are the dangers?

Question

There is the case where a person gives toward a monk, having a joyful perception of the good Sangha, while he gives.

There is the case where a person assumes a certain monk assuming being a Noble One and gives with such a joy.

There is a person who is not able to trace either a monk nor the Sangha and gives an householder, willing to think "more worthy is he".

What would give the most benefits? What are the problems for an ordinary person, and a most secure way? What are the dangers of overestimating ones capacities of judgment? What it a person thinks that his ideals are those of a Noble One "I know", yet total wrong?

(Note: this is not given for trade, exchange, stacks or binding entertainment here, but as a tiny door to escape the wheel corrent and since a long caught in)

Answer 1

The most beneficial giving (dana [Pali], act of generosity) is that which is done without the thought (without the conceptual constructs) of giver, giving and reciever.

The prbolem for an ordinary person, like us, is that we start evaluating the worth of the giving, worth of the person to whom it is being given and the worth of what is being given. (Certainly these are important things to think and decide, certainly there is merit in them as well; but the most meritorious, the highest dana goes beyond these conceptual constructs). WHen we think of worthiness, we get caught up (attached, we cling, we grasp) with these thoughts and therefore loose more merit that would have been gained if we were beyond the concepts of giver, giving, receiver and other related notions as worth, etc.

One danger of overestimating one's capabilities is that we would make wrong decisions (since we have not judged our own capability correctly).

'Noble one' are categories that help in positing the progress of people on the path of Nirvana. One can only make correct judgements about people who are behind oneself in the path (ref. Arya Candrakirti's 'The Entry into the Middle way'). We cannot judge people who are at advanced stages as compared to us. All we can judge is that they are ahead- for such progress on the path shows in one's actions, speech and thoughts.

Answer 2

As i remember giving with the thought; 'This is an ornament and a support for the mind' is the foremost in as far as verbalization of motivation goes.

As for the resultant kamma of giving, here three factors have been pointed out to me;

1. Purity of the gift

2. Purity of the giver

3. Purity of the recipient

When one gives to a monk it is immeasurable on account and greatness of the order.

When supporting householder one doesn't receive on account of the order but if the person is a faith-follower or attained a footing in the dhamma otherwise a gift to such person is also immeasurable id think on account of supporting the foremost lineage of the Noble Ones.

I don't know the details and particular values, some infinities are bigger than other tho.

As a householder i personally support only householders, friends and family who are in training.

If i knew of a good community of monks i might prioritize them but it depends on who needs most probably.