Belaṭṭha Kaccāna went up to the Buddha, bowed, and said, “Sir, I would like to give one jar of sugar to each and every monk.” “Well then, Kaccāna, just bring one jar of sugar.” Saying, “Yes, sir,” he got a jar of sugar, returned to the Buddha, and said, “Here is the jar. What should I do next?” “Now give sugar to the monks.”

Saying, “Yes, sir,” he did just that. He then said to the Buddha, “I’ve given sugar to the monks, but there’s much left over. What should I do with that?” “Give the monks as much sugar as they need.” Saying, “Yes, sir,” he did as requested. He then said to the Buddha, “I’ve given the monks as much sugar as they need, but there’s much left over. What should I do with that?” “Give the monks as much sugar as they want.” Saying, “Yes, sir,” he again did as requested. Some monks filled their almsbowls and even their water filters and bags.

When he was finished, he said to the Buddha, “I’ve given the monks as much sugar as they want, but there’s much left over. What should I do with that?” “Give to those who live on scraps.” Saying, “Yes, sir,” he again did as requested. He then said to the Buddha, “I’ve given them sugar, but there’s much left over. What should I do with that?” “Give them as much sugar as they need.”

Saying, “Yes, sir,” he again did as requested. He then said to the Buddha, “I’ve given them as much sugar as they need, but there’s much left over. What should I do with that?” “Give them as much sugar as they want.” Saying, “Yes, sir,” he once again did as requested. Some of those who lived on scraps filled basins, waterpots, and baskets, and some even their laps.

When he was finished, he said to the Buddha, “I’ve given them as much sugar as they want, but there’s much left over. What should I do with that?” “Kaccāna, I don’t see anyone in this world with its gods, lords of death, and supreme beings, in this society with its monastics and brahmins, its gods and humans, who would be able to properly digest that sugar except a Buddha or his disciple. So discard that sugar where there are no cultivated plants or in water without life.” Saying, “Yes, sir,” he dumped that sugar in water without life.

As he did so, that sugar hissed, sputtered, fumed, and smoked—just like a plowshare heated the whole day hisses, sputters, fumes, and smokes when dropped in water.