𝐑𝐞𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝟏𝟎,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐚 (𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓). 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲. 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
The Buddha emphasized the great merit of offering meals to the Sangha, as it supports those who dedicate their lives to practicing and preserving the Dharma. Several teachings in the Pali Canon highlight the significance of such offerings:
𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮 𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁
In the 𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝑵𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒚𝒂 (𝑨𝑵 5.31), the Buddha said:
“Monks, there are these five great gifts—original, long-standing, traditional, ancient, unadulterated, unadulterated from the beginning—that are not open to suspicion and will never be open to suspicion. They are uncriticized by wise ascetics and brahmins. What five?
When one gives food, one gives strength.
When one gives clothes, one gives beauty.
When one gives a vehicle, one gives ease.
When one gives a lamp, one gives sight.
When one gives a dwelling, one gives shelter.”
This shows that offering meals is not just an act of generosity but a way to provide physical nourishment that supports monks in their spiritual practice.
𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁
In the 𝑫𝒂𝒌𝒌𝒉𝒊ṇā𝒗𝒊𝒃𝒉𝒂ṅ𝒈𝒂 𝑺𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒂 (𝑴𝒂𝒋𝒋𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒂 𝑵𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒚𝒂 142), the Buddha explains that offering food to the Sangha creates even greater merit than offering it to a single monk, an enlightened being, or even the Buddha himself. The merit generated by offering to the whole Sangha is vast because it supports the entire community of practitioners.
𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗸𝗵𝗶ṇā𝘃𝗶𝗯𝗵𝗮ṅ𝗴𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗮 (𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗷𝗵𝗶𝗺𝗮 𝗡𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝟭𝟰𝟮)
In the 𝑱ī𝒗𝒂𝒌𝒂 𝑺𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒂 (𝑴𝒂𝒋𝒋𝒉𝒊𝒎𝒂 𝑵𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒚𝒂 55), the Buddha teaches that offering alms with a pure mind, free of expectation, leads to great karmic benefit. If the donor offers with faith and good intention, they accumulate merit that contributes to happiness in this life and future lives.
𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵
The Buddha also taught that food should not be given with attachment but with wisdom, understanding its purpose. In the Vinaya Pitaka, monks are reminded to eat mindfully, seeing food as nourishment to sustain practice rather than for pleasure.
Offering meals to the Sangha is a noble act of generosity (dāna) that brings great merit and supports the continuation of the Dharma. The key is to give with a pure heart, not expecting anything in return but with the understanding that such offerings contribute to both material and spiritual well-being.
随喜所有参与者在2025年第五届新春供萬僧的功德、协调与奉献！愿大家身心安乐，吉祥如意。愿所积累的功德成为众生究竟证悟的助缘。
佛陀曾强调，供养僧团食物是一种极大的功德，因为这不仅支持那些全身心修行、护持正法的人，也能为供养者积累福报。在巴利经典中，有许多关于供养僧团的教导：
1. 供养僧团是大功德
在《增支部》（Anguttara Nikaya 5.31）中，佛陀说：
“比丘们，有五种伟大的布施，古老、传统、清净，从未被污染，也不会被智者所诟病。这是哪五种呢？
供养食物，就是给予力量；
供养衣服，就是给予美观；
供养交通工具，就是给予便利；
供养灯光，就是给予光明；
供养住所，就是给予庇护。”
这表明，供养食物不仅是一种布施，更是在支持修行者，使他们能够专注于修行、弘扬佛法。
2. 供养僧团的福报胜过供养个人
在《布施分别经》（Dakkhiṇāvibhaṅga Sutta，《中部》142）中，佛陀开示：供养整个僧团所获得的福德，远超供养单一比丘、圣者，甚至超越供养佛陀本身。因为供养僧团的功德是无量的，它不仅滋养个别修行者，还助长整个佛法的传承。
3. 以清净心供养，可得大福报
在《耆婆经》（Jīvaka Sutta，《中部》55）中，佛陀教导说，若能以清净的心、无所求地布施食物，便能累积极大的善业。若以信心、善意供养僧团，不仅能在今生获得福报，还能在未来生中受益，得生善道。
4. 食物不仅滋养身体，更滋养修行之道
佛陀在《律藏》中也提醒比丘，食物应当被视为维持修行的资粮，而非贪图享受之物。僧众受供后，应以正念进食，将其视为修行的一部分，而不是放纵口欲。
供养僧团食物是一种殊胜的布施（dāna），它不仅是物质上的帮助，更是对佛法修行的支持。这种供养的关键在于清净心——不求回报，而是以善意和智慧去行布施，如此才能真正积累福德，使正法长存。