So I read that buddha described 14 types of donation… donation made to buddha …and so on till . donation made to animals…
And he said donation made to animals give result 100 times and it keeps increasing till donation to buddha…
So what is the meaning of 100 times…is it 100 life’s according to pa auk or it just show benifits in quantitative ways …or it is just kind of example to show benifits of donation and it’s effect in increasing manner…
Please reply
This is listed in MN 142
Herein, Ānanda, by giving a gift to an animal, the offering may be expected to repay a hundredfold. 1297 By giving a gift to an immoral ordinary person, the offering may be expected to repay a thousandfold. By giving a gift to a virtuous ordinary person, the offering may be expected to repay a hundred-thousandfold. By giving a gift to one outside [the Dispensation] who is free from lust for sensual pleasures, the offering may be expected to repay a hundred-thousand times a hundred-thousandfold. “By giving a gift to one who has entered upon the way to the realisation of the fruit of stream-entry, the offering may be expected to repay incalculably, immeasurably. What, then, should be said about giving a gift to a stream-enterer? What should be said about giving a gift to one who has entered upon the way to the realisation of the fruit of once-return… to a once-returner… to one who has entered upon the way to the realisation of the fruit of non-return… to a non-returner… to one who has entered upon the way to the realisation of the fruit of arahantship… to an arahant… to a paccekabuddha? What should be said about giving a gift to a Tathāgata, accomplished and fully enlightened? 1298
“There are seven kinds of offerings made to the Sangha, Ānanda…One gives a gift to a Sangha of both [bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs] headed by the Buddha; this is the first kind of offering made to the Sangha. 1299 One gives a gift to a Sangha of both [bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs] after the Tathāgata has attained final Nibbāna; this is the second kind of offering made to the Sangha. One gives a gift to a Sangha of bhikkhus; this is the third kind of offering made to the Sangha. One gives a gift to a Sangha of bhikkhunīs; this is the fourth kind of offering made to the Sangha. One gives a gift, saying: ‘Appoint so many bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs for me from the Sangha’; [256] this is the fifth kind of offering made to the Sangha. One gives a gift, saying: ‘Appoint so many bhikkhus for me from the Sangha’; this is the sixth kind of offering made to the Sangha. One gives a gift, saying: ‘Appoint so many bhikkhunīs for me from the Sangha’; this is the seventh kind of offering made to the Sangha. 8.
Bhikkhu Bodhi gives the Commentary, starting with giving to an animal.
1297 MA: In a hundred existences it gives long life, beauty, happiness, strength, and intelligence, and it makes one free of agitation. The following attainments should be understood accordingly.
1298 MA says that although the results of giving in each of these cases is incalculable, there is still an ascending gradation in their incalculability, similar to the ascending incalculability of the waters in a great river, etc., up to that of the waters in the ocean. Perhaps the “incalculable, immeasurable” value of these gifts consists in their becoming a supporting condition for attainment of the paths, fruits, and Nibbāna.