The One Worthy of Offerings: Why Offering to the Saint Is a Gift of Blessings to Oneself

Have you ever wondered why some people who make offerings become wealthy in future lives, while others continue to suffer? Today, through the Dharma talk "The One Worthy of Offerings" by Venerable Thích Chân Quang, we will find the answer from the story of a wealthy merchant who offered five hundred gold coins to a Zen master—yet the master only nodded, without offering a single word of thanks.

**What is the One Worthy of Offerings?**

"One Worthy of Offerings" is one of the ten titles of the Buddha: Thus Come One, One Worthy of Offerings, One of Perfect Knowledge... "Worthy" means deserving, and "offerings" refers to making offerings. Thus, the one worthy of offerings is the one who is entirely deserving of receiving offerings. But this is not merely about being deserving in the ordinary sense. The Venerable emphasizes:

The one worthy of offerings is a being who is completely deserving of offerings.

It is the word "completely" that we need to examine closely. Because in Buddhism, some phrases sound simple, yet we may practice our whole lives without fully understanding them. The concept of the One Worthy of Offerings is like that.

**Why are only the Buddha and the Arahants ones worthy of offerings?**

Because they have ended ignorance and ended the sense of self. Their minds no longer hold even a speck of enjoyment, not even as small as a grain of dust. The Venerable explains:

Even if we were to bring a mountain of gold to offer to the Buddha or an Arahant, in the mind of such a being, there is not a single grain of dust of delight.

We, as ordinary people, when receiving praise or offerings, still secretly feel a little happiness—that is the grain of dust of enjoyment. Because of this, we are still subject to outflows—to subtle faults—and thus cannot be the absolute one worthy of offerings.

**Offering to the Saint: Boundless Field of Merit**

When we make offerings to the one worthy of offerings, the merit we receive is immeasurable, beyond calculation across lifetimes. It is so great that it leads one to become a king, then ascend to the heavenly realms, and eventually attain the path. The Venerable says:

We offer to him, but the benefit is ours—what does he enjoy?

The story of the merchant and the Zen master illustrates this. When the merchant offered the five hundred gold coins, the master was unmoved and did not thank him. The merchant anxiously asked, "At least, Master, please thank me with a word." The master replied:

The one making the offering should be the one giving thanks.

This means: to have a saint to whom one can offer is a source of boundless merit for oneself, so one should be thankful.

**Offering to the Ordinary: Limited Merit and Personal Debt**

Conversely, when we make offerings to someone who has not yet attained sainthood—even if that person practices well—the merit is limited and also creates a personal debt of gratitude. The Venerable states:

When we offer to one who is not yet a one worthy of offerings... we receive a portion of merit, and that person assumes a portion of debt to us.

This is illustrated by the story of the Zen Master Nam Tuyền. Before attaining enlightenment, he once accepted a portion of rice from a local earth deity. Therefore, even after he attained a high realization, the deity was still able to read his mind. That was the lingering bond of personal gratitude.

**Practical Lessons for Buddhist Practitioners**

So when visiting a temple, what should we learn? First, maintain a pure mind when making offerings, without hoping for much or little merit. Second, seek out those who practice sincerely, but if the recipient is not yet a saint, do not be quickly disappointed—because the merit we create remains intact in the ocean of cause and effect. Most importantly, practice rejoicing and kindness, as the Venerable taught in his New Year's talk:

Cultivate love, patience, and joy... if these become your entire life, they will follow you through countless future lives.

Thus, our very act of offering, when performed with mindfulness, will gradually lead us toward the qualities of the One Worthy of Offerings.

Let us recall the words of the Zen master: The one making the offering should give thanks. Thanks for having the conditions to plant seeds of merit in the boundless field of blessings from the Buddhas and the Saints. Thanks for each offering being a lesson in letting go and nourishing a heart of compassion. Wishing you all a peaceful and happy New Year, always blessed with merit and joy as the abundant light of spring.