an.4.20 Aṅguttara Nikāya (Numbered Discourses)

An Assigner of Meals

“Bhikkhus, if an assigner of meals possesses four qualities, he is deposited in hell as if brought there. What four? He takes a wrong course because of desire, because of hatred, because of delusion, or because of fear. If an assigner of meals possesses these four qualities, he is deposited in hell as if brought there.

“Bhikkhus, if an assigner of meals possesses four qualities, he is deposited in heaven as if brought there. What four? He does not take a wrong course because of desire, because of hatred, because of delusion, or because of fear. If an assigner of meals possesses these four qualities, he is deposited in heaven as if brought there.”

Those people uncontrolled in sensual pleasures,
who are unrighteous, not revering the Dhamma,
gone astray through desire, hate, and fear
are called a stained assembly.
Such is said by the Ascetic who knows.

Therefore those good persons who are praiseworthy,
firm in the Dhamma, who do nothing bad,
unswayed by desire, hate, and fear,
are called an elite assembly.
Such is said by the Ascetic who knows.

- Translator: Bhikkhu Bodhi

- Editor: Blake Walsh

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A Meal Designator

“Mendicants, a meal designator who has four qualities is cast down to hell.
What four?
They make decisions prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice.
A meal designator who has these four qualities is cast down to hell.
A meal designator who has four qualities is raised up to heaven.
What four?
They make decisions unprejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice.
A meal designator who has these four qualities is raised up to heaven.
All those people with unbridled sensuality,
unprincipled, with no respect for principle,
led astray by favoritism, hatred, stupidity, or cowardice,
are called ‘an assembly of the dregs’:
that’s what was said by the ascetic who knows.
And so those good, praiseworthy people,
standing on principle, doing nothing wrong,
not led astray by favoritism, hatred, stupidity, or cowardice,
are called ‘an assembly of the cream’:
that’s what was said by the ascetic who knows.”