[330] On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Nādika, in the Brick House (Giñjakāvasatha). Then the householder Dārukammika approached the Blessed One; having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. As he sat to one side, the Blessed One said this to the householder Dārukammika: "Householder, are gifts given in your family?"
"Gifts are given in my family, venerable sir. And those gifts are given to those bhikkhus who are forest-dwellers (āraññakā), almsfood-gatherers, and rag-robe wearers, being arahants or those who have entered upon the path of arahantship — to such bhikkhus, venerable sir, gifts are given."
"That is difficult for you to know, householder — you being a layman who enjoys sensual pleasures, dwelling in a home crowded with children, enjoying sandalwood of Kāsi, wearing garlands, scents, and unguents, accepting gold and silver — namely, 'These are arahants,' or 'These have entered upon the path of arahantship.'
"If, householder, a bhikkhu who is a forest-dweller is restless, haughty, fickle, garrulous, rambling in speech, muddled in mindfulness (sati), lacking clear comprehension (asampajāno), unconcentrated, with a wandering mind (citta), and with faculties unrestrained, then on that account he is blameworthy. But if, householder, a bhikkhu who is a forest-dweller is not restless, not haughty, not fickle, not garrulous, not rambling in speech, with mindfulness established, clearly comprehending, concentrated, with a one-pointed mind, and with faculties restrained, then on that account he is praiseworthy.
"If, householder, a bhikkhu who dwells on the outskirts of a village is restless … then on that account he is blameworthy. But if, householder, a bhikkhu who dwells on the outskirts of a village is not restless … then on that account he is praiseworthy.
"If, householder, a bhikkhu who is an almsfood-gatherer is restless … then on that account he is blameworthy. But if, householder, a bhikkhu who is an almsfood-gatherer is not restless … then on that account he is praiseworthy.
"If, householder, a bhikkhu who accepts meal invitations is restless … then on that account he is blameworthy. But if, householder, a bhikkhu who accepts meal invitations is not restless … then on that account he is praiseworthy.
"If, householder, a bhikkhu who is a rag-robe wearer is restless … then on that account he is blameworthy. But if, householder, a bhikkhu who is a rag-robe wearer is not restless … then on that account he is praiseworthy.
"If, householder, a bhikkhu who wears robes given by householders is restless, haughty, fickle, garrulous, rambling in speech, muddled in mindfulness, lacking clear comprehension, unconcentrated, with a wandering mind, and with faculties unrestrained, then on that account he is blameworthy. But if, householder, a bhikkhu who wears robes given by householders is not restless, not haughty, not fickle, not garrulous, not rambling in speech, with mindfulness established, clearly comprehending, concentrated, with a one-pointed mind, and with faculties restrained, then on that account he is praiseworthy.
"Come, householder, give gifts to the Saṅgha. When you are giving gifts to the Saṅgha, your mind will become confident; and you, with a confident mind, upon the breakup of the body, after death, will be reborn in a good destination, a heavenly world."
"Venerable sir, from this day forward I shall give gifts to the Saṅgha."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.