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BuddhistSutraSigalovadaSutta

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SigalovadaSutta
TheDiscoursetoSigala
TheLayperson'sCodeofDiscipline
TranslatedfromthePalibyNaradaThera
ThushaveIheard:
OnoneoccasiontheExaltedOnewasdwellingintheBambooGrove,theSquirrels'Sanctuary,
nearRajagaha.
Nowatthattime,youngSigala,ahouseholder'sson,risingearlyinthemorning,departingfrom
Rajagaha,withwetclothesandwethair,worshippedwithjoinedhandsthevariousquarters
theEast,theSouth,theWest,theNorth,theNadir,andtheZenith.
ThentheExaltedOne,havingrobedhimselfintheforenoontookbowlandrobe,andentered
Rajagahaforalms.NowhesawyoungSigalaworshippingthusandspoketohimasfollows:
"Whereforedoyou,younghouseholder,risingearlyinthemorning,departingfromRajagaha,
withwetclothesandwethair,worship,withjoinedhandsthesevariousquarterstheEast,the
South,theWest,theNorth,theNadir,andtheZenith?"
"Myfather,Lord,whiledying,saidtome:Thesixquarters,dearson,youshallworship.AndI,
Lord,respecting,revering,reverencingandhonoringmyfather'sword,riseearlyinthe
morning,andleavingRajagaha,withwetclothesandwethair,worshipwithjoinedhands,these
sixquarters."
"Itisnotthus,younghouseholder,thesixquartersshouldbeworshippedinthedisciplineofthe
noble."
"Howthen,Lord,shouldthesixquartersbeworshippedinthedisciplineofthenoble?Itiswell,
Lord,iftheExaltedOnewouldteachthedoctrinetomeshowinghowthesixquartersshouldbe
worshippedinthedisciplineofthenoble."
"Well,younghouseholder,listenandbearitwellinmindIshallspeak.""Verygood,Lord,"
respondedyoungSigala.
AndtheExaltedOnespokeasfollows:
"Inasmuch,younghouseholder,asthenobledisciple(1)haseradicatedthefourvicesin
conduct,[1](2)inasmuchashecommitsnoevilactioninfourways,(3)inasmuchashe
pursuesnotthesixchannelsfordissipatingwealth,hethus,avoidingthesefourteenevilthings,
coversthesixquarters,andentersthepathleadingtovictoryinbothworlds:heisfavoredin
thisworldandintheworldbeyond.Uponthedissolutionofthebody,afterdeath,heisbornina
happyheavenlyrealm.
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(1)"Whatarethefourvicesinconductthathehaseradicated?Thedestructionoflife,
householder,isaviceandsoarestealing,sexualmisconduct,andlying.Thesearethefour
vicesthathehaseradicated."
ThusspoketheExaltedOne.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyetagain:
Killing,stealing,lying,andadultery,
thesefourevilsthewiseneverpraise.
(2)"Inwhichfourwaysdoesonecommitnoevilaction?Ledbydesiredoesonecommitevil.
Ledbyangerdoesonecommitevil.Ledbyignorancedoesonecommitevil.Ledbyfeardoes
onecommitevil.[2]
"Butinasmuchasthenoblediscipleisnotledbydesire,anger,ignorance,andfear,hecommits
noevil."
ThusspoketheExaltedOne.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyetagain:
Whoeverthroughdesire,hateorfear,
OrignoranceshouldtransgresstheDhamma,
Allhisgloryfadesaway
Likethemoonduringthewaninghalf.
Whoeverthroughdesire,hateorfear,
OrignorancenevertransgressestheDhamma,
Allhisgloryeverincreases
Likethemoonduringthewaxinghalf.
(3)"Whatarethesixchannelsfordissipatingwealthwhichhedoesnotpursue?
(a)"Indulgenceinintoxicantswhichcauseinfatuationandheedlessness
(b)saunteringinstreetsatunseemlyhours
(c)frequentingtheatricalshows
(d)indulgenceingamblingwhichcausesheedlessness
(e)associationwithevilcompanions
(f)thehabitofidleness.
(a)"Thereare,younghouseholder,thesesixevilconsequencesinindulginginintoxicants
whichcauseinfatuationandheedlessness:
(i)lossofwealth,
(ii)increaseofquarrels,
(iii)susceptibilitytodisease,
(iv)earninganevilreputation,
(v)shamelessexposureofbody,
(vi)weakeningofintellect.
(b)"Thereare,younghouseholder,thesesixevilconsequencesinsaunteringinstreetsat
unseemlyhours:
(i)hehimselfisunprotectedandunguarded,
(ii)hiswifeandchildrenareunprotectedandunguarded,
(iii)hispropertyisunprotectedandunguarded,
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(iv)heissuspectedofevildeeds,[3]
(v)heissubjecttofalserumors,
(vi)hemeetswithmanytroubles.
(c)"Thereare,younghouseholder,thesesixevilconsequencesinfrequentingtheatricalshows:
"Heiseverthinking:
(i)whereistheredancing?
(ii)whereistheresinging?
(iii)whereistheremusic?
(iv)whereisthererecitation?
(v)whereisthereplayingwithcymbals?
(vi)whereistherepotblowing?[4]
(d)"Thereare,younghouseholder,thesesixevilconsequencesinindulgingingambling:
(i)thewinnerbegetshate,
(ii)thelosergrievesforlostwealth,
(iii)lossofwealth,
(iv)hiswordisnotrelieduponinacourtoflaw,
(v)heisdespisedbyhisfriendsandassociates,
(vi)heisnotsoughtafterformatrimonyforpeoplewouldsayheisagamblerand
isnotfittolookafterawife.
(e)"Thereare,younghouseholder,thesesixevilconsequencesinassociatingwithevil
companions,namely:anygambler,anylibertine,anydrunkard,anyswindler,anycheat,any
rowdyishisfriendandcompanion.
(f)"Thereare,younghouseholder,thesesixevilconsequencesinbeingaddictedtoidleness:
"Hedoesnowork,saying:
(i)thatitisextremelycold,
(ii)thatitisextremelyhot,
(iii)thatitistoolateintheevening,
(iv)thatitistooearlyinthemorning,
(v)thatheisextremelyhungry,
(vi)thatheistoofull.
"Livinginthisway,heleavesmanydutiesundone,newwealthhedoesnotget,andwealthhe
hasacquireddwindlesaway."
ThusspoketheExaltedOne.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyetagain:
"Oneisabottlefriendonesays,'friend,friend'onlytoone'sfaceoneisafriendandan
associateonlywhenitisadvantageous.
"Sleepingtillsunrise,adultery,irascibility,malevolence,evilcompanions,avaricethesesix
causesruinaman.
"Themanwhohasevilcomradesandfriendsisgiventoevilways,toruindoeshefallinboth
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worldshereandthenext.
"Dice,women,liquor,dancing,singing,sleepingbyday,saunteringatunseemlyhours,evil
companions,avaricethesenine[5]causesruinaman.
"Whoplayswithdiceanddrinksintoxicants,goestowomenwhoaredearuntoothersastheir
ownlives,associateswiththemeanandnotwitheldershedeclinesjustasthemoonduring
thewaninghalf.
"Whoisdrunk,poor,destitute,stillthirstywhilstdrinking,frequentsthebars,sinksindebtasa
stoneinwater,swiftlybringsdisreputetohisfamily.
"Whobyhabitsleepsbyday,andkeepslatehours,iseverintoxicated,andislicentious,isnot
fittoleadahouseholdlife.
"Whosaysitistoohot,toocold,toolate,andleavesthingsundone,theopportunitiesforgood
gopastsuchmen.
"Buthewhodoesnotregardcoldorheatanymorethanabladeofgrassandwhodoeshis
dutiesmanfully,doesnotfallawayfromhappiness."
"Thesefour,younghouseholder,shouldbeunderstoodasfoesintheguiseoffriends:
(1)hewhoappropriatesafriend'spossessions,
(2)hewhorenderslipservice,
(3)hewhoflatters,
(4)hewhobringsruin.
(1)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhoappropriatesbeunderstoodasafoein
theguiseofafriend:
(i)heappropriateshisfriend'swealth,
(ii)hegiveslittleandasksmuch,
(iii)hedoeshisdutyoutoffear,
(iv)heassociatesforhisownadvantage.
(2)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhorenderslipservicebeunderstoodasa
foeintheguiseofafriend:
(i)hemakesfriendlyprofessionasregardsthepast,
(ii)hemakesfriendlyprofessionasregardsthefuture,
(iii)hetriestogainone'sfavorbyemptywords,
(iv)whenopportunityforservicehasarisen,heexpresseshisinability.
(3)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhoflattersbeunderstoodasafoeinthe
guiseofafriend:
(i)heapprovesofhisfriend'sevildeeds,
(ii)hedisapproveshisfriend'sgooddeeds,
(iii)hepraiseshiminhispresence,
(iv)hespeaksillofhiminhisabsence.
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(4)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhobringsruinbeunderstoodasafoeinthe
guiseofafriend:
(i)heisacompanioninindulginginintoxicantsthatcauseinfatuationand
heedlessness,
(ii)heisacompanioninsaunteringinstreetsatunseemlyhours,
(iii)heisacompanioninfrequentingtheatricalshows,
(iv)heisacompanioninindulgingingamblingwhichcausesheedlessness."
ThusspoketheExaltedOne.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyetagain:
Thefriendwhoappropriates,
thefriendwhorenderslipservice,
thefriendthatflatters,
thefriendwhobringsruin,
thesefourasenemiesthewisebehold,
avoidthemfromafaraspathsofperil.
"Thesefour,younghouseholder,shouldbeunderstoodaswarmheartedfriends:
(1)hewhoisahelpmate,
(2)hewhoisthesameinhappinessandsorrow,
(3)hewhogivesgoodcounsel,
(4)hewhosympathizes.
(1)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldahelpmatebeunderstoodasawarmhearted
friend:
(i)heguardstheheedless,
(ii)heprotectsthewealthoftheheedless,
(iii)hebecomesarefugewhenyouareindanger,
(iv)whentherearecommitmentsheprovidesyouwithdoublethesupplyneeded.
(2)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhoisthesameinhappinessandsorrowbe
understoodasawarmheartedfriend:
(i)herevealshissecrets,
(ii)heconcealsone'sownsecrets,
(iii)inmisfortunehedoesnotforsakeone,
(iv)hislifeevenhesacrificesforone'ssake.
(3)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhogivesgoodcounselbeunderstoodasa
warmheartedfriend:
(i)herestrainsonefromdoingevil,
(ii)heencouragesonetodogood,
(iii)heinformsoneofwhatisunknowntooneself,
(iv)hepointsoutthepathtoheaven.
(4)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhosympathizesbeunderstoodasawarm
heartedfriend:
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(i)hedoesnotrejoiceinone'smisfortune,
(ii)herejoicesinone'sprosperity,
(iii)herestrainsothersspeakingillofoneself,
(iv)hepraisesthosewhospeakwellofoneself."
ThusspoketheExaltedOne.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyetagain:
Thefriendwhoisahelpmate,
thefriendinhappinessandwoe,
thefriendwhogivesgoodcounsel,
thefriendwhosympathizestoo
thesefourasfriendsthewisebehold
andcherishthemdevotedly
asdoesamotherherownchild.
Thewiseandvirtuousshinelikeablazingfire.
Hewhoacquireshiswealthinharmlessways
liketoabeethathoneygathers,[6]
richesmountupforhim
likeanthill'srapidgrowth.
Withwealthacquiredthisway,
alaymanfitforhouseholdlife,
inportionsfourdivideshiswealth:
thuswillhefriendshipwin.
Oneportionforhiswantsheuses,[7]
twoportionsonhisbusinessspends,
thefourthfortimesofneedhekeeps.
"Andhow,younghouseholder,doesanobledisciplecoverthesixquarters?
"Thefollowingshouldbelookeduponasthesixquarters.Theparentsshouldbelookedupon
astheEast,teachersastheSouth,wifeandchildrenastheWest,friendsandassociatesas
theNorth,servantsandemployeesastheNadir,asceticsandBrahminsastheZenith.[8]
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,achildshouldministertohisparentsastheEast:
(i)HavingsupportedmeIshallsupportthem,
(ii)Ishalldotheirduties,
(iii)Ishallkeepthefamilytradition,
(iv)Ishallmakemyselfworthyofmyinheritance,
(v)furthermoreIshallofferalmsinhonorofmydepartedrelatives.[9]
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,theparentsthusministeredtoastheEastbytheirchildren,
showtheircompassion:
(i)theyrestrainthemfromevil,
(ii)theyencouragethemtodogood,
(iii)theytrainthemforaprofession,
(iv)theyarrangeasuitablemarriage,
(v)atthepropertimetheyhandovertheirinheritancetothem.
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"InthesefivewaysdochildrenministertotheirparentsastheEastandtheparentsshowtheir
compassiontotheirchildren.ThusistheEastcoveredbythemandmadesafeandsecure.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,apupilshouldministertoateacherastheSouth:
(i)byrisingfromtheseatinsalutation,
(ii)byattendingonhim,
(iii)byeagernesstolearn,
(iv)bypersonalservice,
(v)byrespectfulattentionwhilereceivinginstructions.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,doteachersthusministeredtoastheSouthbytheirpupils,
showtheircompassion:
(i)theytraintheminthebestdiscipline,
(ii)theyseethattheygrasptheirlessonswell,
(iii)theyinstructthemintheartsandsciences,
(iv)theyintroducethemtotheirfriendsandassociates,
(v)theyprovidefortheirsafetyineveryquarter.
"TheteachersthusministeredtoastheSouthbytheirpupils,showtheircompassiontowards
theminthesefiveways.ThusistheSouthcoveredbythemandmadesafeandsecure.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,shouldawifeastheWestbeministeredtobyahusband:
(i)bybeingcourteoustoher,
(ii)bynotdespisingher,
(iii)bybeingfaithfultoher,
(iv)byhandingoverauthoritytoher,
(v)byprovidingherwithadornments.
"ThewifethusministeredtoastheWestbyherhusbandshowshercompassiontoher
husbandinfiveways:
(i)sheperformsherdutieswell,
(ii)sheishospitabletorelationsandattendants[10]
(iii)sheisfaithful,
(iv)sheprotectswhathebrings,
(v)sheisskilledandindustriousindischargingherduties.
"Inthesefivewaysdoesthewifeshowhercompassiontoherhusbandwhoministerstoheras
theWest.ThusistheWestcoveredbyhimandmadesafeandsecure.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,shouldaclansmanministertohisfriendsandassociatesas
theNorth:
(i)byliberality,
(ii)bycourteousspeech,
(iii)bybeinghelpful,
(iv)bybeingimpartial,
(v)bysincerity.
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"ThefriendsandassociatesthusministeredtoastheNorthbyaclansmanshowcompassion
tohiminfiveways:
(i)theyprotecthimwhenheisheedless,
(ii)theyprotecthispropertywhenheisheedless,
(iii)theybecomearefugewhenheisindanger,
(iv)theydonotforsakehiminhistroubles,
(v)theyshowconsiderationforhisfamily.
"ThefriendsandassociatesthusministeredtoastheNorthbyaclansmanshowtheir
compassiontowardshiminthesefiveways.ThusistheNorthcoveredbyhimandmadesafe
andsecure.
"InfivewaysshouldamasterministertohisservantsandemployeesastheNadir:
(i)byassigningthemworkaccordingtotheirability,
(ii)bysupplyingthemwithfoodandwithwages,
(iii)bytendingtheminsickness,
(iv)bysharingwiththemanydelicacies,
(v)bygrantingthemleaveattimes.
"TheservantsandemployeesthusministeredtoastheNadirbytheirmastershowtheir
compassiontohiminfiveways:
(i)Theyrisebeforehim,
(ii)Theygotosleepafterhim,
(iii)Theytakeonlywhatisgiven,
(iv)Theyperformtheirdutieswell,
(v)Theyupholdhisgoodnameandfame.
"TheservantsandemployeesthusministeredtoastheNadirshowtheircompassiontowards
himinthesefiveways.ThusistheNadircoveredbyhimandmadesafeandsecure.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,shouldahouseholderministertoasceticsandBrahminsas
theZenith:
(i)Bylovabledeeds,
(ii)Bylovablewords,
(iii)Bylovablethoughts,
(iv)Bykeepingopenhousetothem,
(v)Bysupplyingtheirmaterialneeds.
"TheasceticsandBrahminsthusministeredtoastheZenithbyahouseholdershowtheir
compassiontowardshiminsixways:
(i)Theyrestrainhimfromevil,
(ii)Theypersuadehimtodogood,
(iii)Theylovehimwithakindheart,
(iv)Theymakehimhearwhathehasnotheard,
(v)Theyclarifywhathehasalreadyheard,
(vi)Theypointoutthepathtoaheavenlystate.
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"InthesesixwaysdoasceticsandBrahminsshowtheircompassiontowardsahouseholder
whoministerstothemastheZenith.ThusistheZenithcoveredbyhimandmadesafeand
secure.ThusspoketheExaltedOne.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyet
again:
ThemotherandfatheraretheEast,
TheTeachersaretheSouth,
WifeandChildrenaretheWest,
ThefriendsandassociatesaretheNorth.
ServantsandemployeesaretheNadir,
theasceticsandBrahminsaretheZenith
whoisfittoleadthehouseholdlife,
thesesixquartersheshouldsalute.
Whoiswiseandvirtuous,
gentleandkeenwitted,
humbleandamenable,
suchaonetohonormayattain.
Whoisenergeticandnotindolent,
inmisfortuneunshaken,
flawlessinmannerandintelligent,
suchaonetohonormayattain.
Whoishospitable,andfriendly,
liberalandunselfish,
Aguide,aninstructor,aleader,
suchaonetohonormayattain.
Generosity,sweetspeech,
Helpfulnesstoothers,
Impartialitytoall,
asthecasedemands.
Thesefourwinningwaysmaketheworldgoround,
asthelinchpininamovingcar.
Iftheseintheworldexistnot,
neithermothernorfatherwillreceive,
Respectandhonorfromtheirchildren.
Sincethesefourwinningways
thewiseappraiseineveryway,
toeminencetheyattain,
andpraisetheyrightlygain.
WhentheExaltedOnehadspokenthus,Sigala,theyounghouseholder,saidasfollows:
"Excellent,Lord,excellent!Itisasif,Lord,amanweretosetuprightthatwhichwas
overturned,orweretorevealthatwhichwashidden,orweretopointoutthewaytoonewho
hadgoneastray,orweretoholdalampamidstthedarkness,sothatthosewhohaveeyesmay
see.Evenso,hasthedoctrinebeenexplainedinvariouswaysbytheExaltedOne.
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"Itakerefuge,Lord,intheBuddha,theDhamma,andtheSangha.MaytheExaltedOne
receivemeasalayfollowerasonewhohastakenrefugefromthisverydaytolife'send."

Notes
1.Kammakilesa,lit.,'actionsofdefilement.'
2.Thesearethefouragati,'evilcoursesofaction':chanda,dosa,moha,bhaya.
3.Crimescommittedbyothers.
4.Akindofamusement.
5.ThePalioriginalhashere"sixcauses"astwocompoundwordsandonedoubletermphrase
arecountedasunits.
6.Dhammapadav.49:"Asabee,withoutharmingtheflower,itscolororscent,fliesaway,
collectingonlythehoney..."
7.Thisportionincludeswhatisspentongoodworks:giftstomonks,charity,etc.
8."Thesymbolismisdeliberatelychosen:asthedayintheEast,solifebeginswithparents'
careteacher'sfeesandtheSoutharethesameword:dakkhinadomesticcaresfollowwhen
theyouthbecomesman,astheWestholdsthelaterdaylightNorthis'beyond'(uttara),soby
helpoffriends,etc.,hegetsbeyondtroubles."(RhysDavids)[
9.ThisisasacredcustomoftheAryanswhoneverforgotthedead,thistraditionisstillfaithfully
observedbytheBuddhistsofSriLankawhomakeceremonialofferingsofalmstothemonks
ontheeighthday,inthethirdmonth,andoneachanniversaryofthedemiseoftheparents.
Meritofthesegoodactionsisofferedtothedepartedaftersuchceremony.Moreoverafter
everypunnakamma(goodaction),aBuddhistneverfailstothinkofhisparentsandoffermerit.
SuchistheloyaltyandthegratitudeshowntoparentsasadvisedbytheBuddha.
10.lit.,'thefolkaround'(parijana).

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