Another day the Fairy went to the Merchant’s eldest son, and persuaded him in the same manner. But he refused her as before. And to the Merchant himself she did not dare to speak.
Now by constantly giving gifts, and doing no business, the Merchant’s income grew less and less, and his wealth went to ruin. And as he sank more and more into poverty, his property, and his dress, and his furniture, and his food were no longer as they had been. He nevertheless still used to give gifts to the Order; but he was no longer able to give of the best.
One day when he had taken his seat, after saluting the Teacher, he said to him, “Well, householder! are gifts still given at your house?”
“They are still being given, Lord,” said he, “but only a mere trifle of stale second day’s porridge.”
Then said the Master to him, “Don’t let your heart be troubled, householder, that you give only what is unpleasant to the taste. For if the heart be only right, a gift given to Buddhas, or Pacceka Buddhas,[339] or their disciples, can never be otherwise than right. And why? Through the greatness of the result. For that he who can cleanse his heart can never give unclean gifts is declared in the passage—
If only there be a believing heart,
There is no such thing as a trifling gift
To the Mortal One, Buddha, or his disciples.
There is no such thing as a trifling service
To the Buddhas, to the Illustrious Ones;