SigalovadaSutta

TheDiscoursetoSigala
TheLayperson'sCodeofDiscipline

TranslatedfromthePalibyNaradaThera
Forfreedistributiononly.
FromEveryman'sEthics:FourDiscoursesbytheBuddha(WH14),translatedbyNaradaThera(Kandy:Buddhist
PublicationSociety,1985).Copyright1985BuddhistPublicationSociety.Usedwithpermission.

ThushaveIheard:

OnoneoccasiontheExaltedOnewasdwellingintheBambooGrove,theSquirrels'Sanctuary,nearRajagaha.
Nowatthattime,youngSigala,ahouseholder'sson,risingearlyinthemorning,departingfromRajagaha,with
wetclothesandwethair,worshippedwithjoinedhandsthevariousquarterstheEast,theSouth,theWest,
theNorth,theNadir,andtheZenith.

ThentheExaltedOne,havingrobedhimselfintheforenoontookbowlandrobe,andenteredRajagahafor
alms.NowhesawyoungSigalaworshippingthusandspoketohimasfollows:
"Whereforedoyou,younghouseholder,risingearlyinthemorning,departingfromRajagaha,withwetclothes
andwethair,worship,withjoinedhandsthesevariousquarterstheEast,theSouth,theWest,theNorth,the
Nadir,andtheZenith?"
"
Myfather,Lord,whiledying,saidtome:Thesixquarters,dearson,youshallworship.AndI,Lord,respecting,
revering,reverencingandhonoringmyfather'sword,riseearlyinthemorning,andleavingRajagaha,withwet
clothesandwethair,worshipwithjoinedhands,thesesixquarters."

"Itisnotthus,younghouseholder,thesixquartersshouldbeworshippedinthedisciplineofthenoble."
"Howthen,Lord,shouldthesixquartersbeworshippedinthedisciplineofthenoble?Itiswell,Lord,ifthe
ExaltedOnewouldteachthedoctrinetomeshowinghowthesixquartersshouldbeworshippedinthe
disciplineofthenoble."

"Well,younghouseholder,listenandbearitwellinmind;Ishallspeak."
"Verygood,Lord,"respondedyoungSigala.
AndtheExaltedOnespokeasfollows:

"Inasmuch,younghouseholder,asthenobledisciple(1)haseradicatedthefourvicesin
conduct,[1](2)inasmuchashecommitsnoevilactioninfourways,(3)inasmuchashepursuesnotthesix
channelsfordissipatingwealth,hethus,avoidingthesefourteenevilthings,coversthesixquarters,andenters
thepathleadingtovictoryinbothworlds:heisfavoredinthisworldandintheworldbeyond.Uponthe
dissolutionofthebody,afterdeath,heisborninahappyheavenlyrealm.

(1)"Whatarethefourvicesinconductthathehaseradicated?Thedestructionoflife,householder,isavice
andsoarestealing,sexualmisconduct,andlying.Thesearethefourvicesthathehaseradicated."
ThusspoketheExaltedOne.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyetagain:
Killing,stealing,lyingandadultery,Thesefourevilsthewiseneverpraise.

(2)"Inwhichfourwaysdoesonecommitnoevilaction?Ledbydesiredoesonecommitevil.Ledbyangerdoes
onecommitevil.Ledbyignorancedoesonecommitevil.Ledbyfeardoesonecommitevil.[2]
"Butinasmuchasthenoblediscipleisnotledbydesire,anger,ignorance,andfear,hecommitsnoevil."
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,thesesixevilconsequencesinindulginginintoxicantswhichcause
infatuationandheedlessness:
(i)lossofwealth,
(ii)increaseofquarrels,
(iii)susceptibilitytodisease,
(iv)earninganevilreputation,
(v)shamelessexposureofbody,
(vi)weakeningofintellect.
(b)"Thereare,younghouseholder,thesesixevilconsequencesinsaunteringinstreetsatunseemlyhours:
(i)hehimselfisunprotectedandunguarded,
(ii)hiswifeandchildrenareunprotectedandunguarded,
(iii)hispropertyisunprotectedandunguarded,
(iv)heissuspectedofevildeeds,[3]
(v)heissubjecttofalserumours,
(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)heisnotsoughtafterformatrimony;forpeoplewouldsayheisagamblerandisnotfittolookaftera
wife.
(e)"Thereare,younghouseholder,thesesixevilconsequencesinassociatingwithevilcompanions,namely:
anygambler,anylibertine,anydrunkard,anyswindler,anycheat,anyrowdyishisfriendandcompanion.
(f)"Thereare,younghouseholder,thesesixevilconsequencesinbeingaddictedtoidleness:
"Hedoesnowork,saying:
(i)thatitisextremelycold,
(ii)thatitisextremelyhot,
(iii)thatitistoolateintheevening,
(iv)thatitistooearlyinthemorning,
(v)thatheisextremelyhungry,
(vi)thatheistoofull.
"Livinginthisway,heleavesmanydutiesundone,newwealthhedoesnotget,andwealthhehasacquired
dwindlesaway."
ThusspoketheExaltedOne.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyetagain:
"Oneisabottlefriend;onesays,'friend,friend'onlytoone'sface;oneisafriendandanassociateonlywhenit
isadvantageous.
"Sleepingtillsunrise,adultery,irascibility,malevolence,evilcompanions,avaricethesesixcausesruinaman.
"Themanwhohasevilcomradesandfriendsisgiventoevilways,toruindoeshefallinbothworldshere
andthenext.
"Dice,women,liquor,dancing,singing,sleepingbyday,saunteringatunseemlyhours,evilcompanions,
avaricethesenine[5]causesruinaman.
"Whoplayswithdiceanddrinksintoxicants,goestowomenwhoaredearuntoothersastheirownlives,
associateswiththemeanandnotwitheldershedeclinesjustasthemoonduringthewaninghalf.
"Whoisdrunk,poor,destitute,stillthirstywhilstdrinking,frequentsthebars,sinksindebtasastoneinwater,
swiftlybringsdisreputetohisfamily.
"Whobyhabitsleepsbyday,andkeepslatehours,iseverintoxicated,andislicentious,isnotfittoleada
householdlife.
"Whosaysitistoohot,toocold,toolate,andleavesthingsundone,theopportunitiesforgoodgopastsuch
men.
"Buthewhodoesnotregardcoldorheatanymorethanabladeofgrassandwhodoeshisdutiesmanfully,
doesnotfallawayfromhappiness."
***
"Thesefour,younghouseholder,shouldbeunderstoodasfoesintheguiseoffriends:
(1)hewhoappropriatesafriend'spossessions,
(2)hewhorenderslipservice,
(3)hewhoflatters,
(4)hewhobringsruin.
(1)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhoappropriatesbeunderstoodasafoeintheguiseofa
friend:
(i)heappropriateshisfriend'swealth,
(ii)hegiveslittleandasksmuch,
(iii)hedoeshisdutyoutoffear,
(iv)heassociatesforhisownadvantage.
(2)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhorenderslipservicebeunderstoodasafoeintheguise
ofafriend:
(i)hemakesfriendlyprofessionasregardsthepast,
(ii)hemakesfriendlyprofessionasregardsthefuture,
(iii)hetriestogainone'sfavorbyemptywords,
(iv)whenopportunityforservicehasarisen,heexpresseshisinability.
(3)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhoflattersbeunderstoodasafoeintheguiseofafriend:
(i)heapprovesofhisfriend'sevildeeds,
(ii)hedisapproveshisfriend'sgooddeeds,
(iii)hepraiseshiminhispresence,
(iv)hespeaksillofhiminhisabsence.
(4)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhobringsruinbeunderstoodasafoeintheguiseofa
friend:
(i)heisacompanioninindulginginintoxicantsthatcauseinfatuationandheedlessness,
(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)hewhosympathises.
(2)
(1)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldahelpmatebeunderstoodasawarmheartedfriend:
(i)heguardstheheedless,
(ii)heprotectsthewealthoftheheedless,
(iii)hebecomesarefugewhenyouareindanger,
(iv)whentherearecommitmentsheprovidesyouwithdoublethesupplyneeded.
(2)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhoisthesameinhappinessandsorrowbeunderstoodasa
warmheartedfriend:
(i)herevealshissecrets,
(ii)heconcealsone'sownsecrets,
(iii)inmisfortunehedoesnotforsakeone,
(iv)hislifeevenhesacrificesforone'ssake.
(3)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhogivesgoodcounselbeunderstoodasawarmhearted
friend:
(i)herestrainsonefromdoingevil,
(ii)heencouragesonetodogood,
(iii)heinformsoneofwhatisunknowntooneself,
(iv)hepointsoutthepathtoheaven.
(4)"Infourways,younghouseholder,shouldonewhosympathisesbeunderstoodasawarmheartedfriend:
(i)hedoesnotrejoiceinone'smisfortune,
(ii)herejoicesinone'sprosperity,
(iii)herestrainsothersspeakingillofoneself,
(iv)hepraisesthosewhospeakwellofoneself."
ThusspoketheExaltedOne.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyetagain:
Thefriendwhoisahelpmate,
thefriendinhappinessandwoe,
thefriendwhogivesgoodcounsel,
thefriendwhosympathisestoo
thesefourasfriendsthewisebehold
andcherishthemdevotedly
asdoesamotherherownchild.
Thewiseandvirtuousshinelikeablazingfire.
Hewhoacquireshiswealthinharmlessways
liketoabeethathoneygathers,[6]
richesmountupforhim
likeanthill'srapidgrowth.
Withwealthacquiredthisway,
alaymanfitforhouseholdlife,
inportionsfourdivideshiswealth:
thuswillhefriendshipwin.
Oneportionforhiswantsheuses,[7]
twoportionsonhisbusinessspends,
thefourthfortimesofneedhekeeps.
***
"Andhow,younghouseholder,doesanobledisciplecoverthesixquarters?
"Thefollowingshouldbelookeduponasthesixquarters.TheparentsshouldbelookeduponastheEast,
teachersastheSouth,wifeandchildrenastheWest,friendsandassociatesastheNorth,servantsand
employeesastheNadir,asceticsandbrahmansastheZenith.[8]
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,achildshouldministertohisparentsastheEast:
(i)HavingsupportedmeIshallsupportthem,
(ii)Ishalldotheirduties,
(iii)Ishallkeepthefamilytradition,
(iv)Ishallmakemyselfworthyofmyinheritance,
(v)furthermoreIshallofferalmsinhonorofmydepartedrelatives.[9]
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,theparentsthusministeredtoastheEastbytheirchildren,showtheir
compassion:
(i)theyrestrainthemfromevil,
(ii)theyencouragethemtodogood,
(iii)theytrainthemforaprofession,
(iv)theyarrangeasuitablemarriage,
(v)atthepropertimetheyhandovertheirinheritancetothem.
"InthesefivewaysdochildrenministertotheirparentsastheEastandtheparentsshowtheircompassionto
theirchildren.ThusistheEastcoveredbythemandmadesafeandsecure.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,apupilshouldministertoateacherastheSouth:
(i)byrisingfromtheseatinsalutation,
(ii)byattendingonhim,
(iii)byeagernesstolearn,
(iv)bypersonalservice,
(v)byrespectfulattentionwhilereceivinginstructions.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,doteachersthusministeredtoastheSouthbytheirpupils,showtheir
compassion:
(i)theytraintheminthebestdiscipline,
(ii)theyseethattheygrasptheirlessonswell,
(iii)theyinstructthemintheartsandsciences,
(iv)theyintroducethemtotheirfriendsandassociates,
(v)theyprovidefortheirsafetyineveryquarter.
"TheteachersthusministeredtoastheSouthbytheirpupils,showtheircompassiontowardstheminthese
fiveways.ThusistheSouthcoveredbythemandmadesafeandsecure.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,shouldawifeastheWestbeministeredtobyahusband:
(i)bybeingcourteoustoher,
(ii)bynotdespisingher,
(iii)bybeingfaithfultoher,
(iv)byhandingoverauthoritytoher,
(v)byprovidingherwithadornments.
"ThewifethusministeredtoastheWestbyherhusbandshowshercompassiontoherhusbandinfiveways:
(i)sheperformsherdutieswell,
(ii)sheishospitabletorelationsandattendants[10]
(iii)sheisfaithful,
(iv)sheprotectswhathebrings,
(v)sheisskilledandindustriousindischargingherduties.
"InthesefivewaysdoesthewifeshowhercompassiontoherhusbandwhoministerstoherastheWest.Thus
istheWestcoveredbyhimandmadesafeandsecure.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,shouldaclansmanministertohisfriendsandassociatesastheNorth:
(i)byliberality,
(ii)bycourteousspeech,
(iii)bybeinghelpful,
(iv)bybeingimpartial,
(v)bysincerity.
"ThefriendsandassociatesthusministeredtoastheNorthbyaclansmanshowcompassiontohiminfive
ways:
(i)theyprotecthimwhenheisheedless,
(ii)theyprotecthispropertywhenheisheedless,
(iii)theybecomearefugewhenheisindanger,
(iv)theydonotforsakehiminhistroubles,
(v)theyshowconsiderationforhisfamily.
"ThefriendsandassociatesthusministeredtoastheNorthbyaclansmanshowtheircompassiontowardshim
inthesefiveways.ThusistheNorthcoveredbyhimandmadesafeandsecure.
"InfivewaysshouldamasterministertohisservantsandemployeesastheNadir:
(i)byassigningthemworkaccordingtotheirability,
(ii)bysupplyingthemwithfoodandwithwages,
(iii)bytendingtheminsickness,
(iv)bysharingwiththemanydelicacies,
(v)bygrantingthemleaveattimes.

"TheservantsandemployeesthusministeredtoastheNadirbytheirmastershowtheircompassiontohimin
fiveways:
(i)theyrisebeforehim,
(ii)theygotosleepafterhim,
(iii)theytakeonlywhatisgiven,
(iv)theyperformtheirdutieswell,
(v)theyupholdhisgoodnameandfame.
"TheservantsandemployeesthusministeredtoastheNadirshowtheircompassiontowardshiminthesefive
ways.ThusistheNadircoveredbyhimandmadesafeandsecure.
"Infiveways,younghouseholder,shouldahouseholderministertoasceticsandbrahmansastheZenith:
(i)bylovabledeeds,
(ii)bylovablewords,
(iii)bylovablethoughts,
(iv)bykeepingopenhousetothem,
(v)bysupplyingtheirmaterialneeds.
"TheasceticsandbrahmansthusministeredtoastheZenithbyahouseholdershowtheircompassiontowards
himinsixways:
(i)theyrestrainhimfromevil,
(ii)theypersuadehimtodogood,
(iii)theylovehimwithakindheart,
(iv)theymakehimhearwhathehasnotheard,
(v)theyclarifywhathehasalreadyheard,
(vi)theypointoutthepathtoaheavenlystate.
"Inthesesixwaysdoasceticsandbrahmansshowtheircompassiontowardsahouseholderwhoministersto
themastheZenith.ThusistheZenithcoveredbyhimandmadesafeandsecure."ThusspoketheExalted
One.AndwhentheMasterhadthusspoken,hespokeyetagain:
ThemotherandfatheraretheEast,
TheTeachersaretheSouth,
WifeandChildrenaretheWest,
ThefriendsandassociatesaretheNorth.
ServantsandemployeesaretheNadir,
TheasceticsandbrahmansaretheZenith;
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,amanweretosetuprightthatwhichwasoverturned,orwereto
revealthatwhichwashidden,orweretopointoutthewaytoonewhohadgoneastray,orweretoholda
lampamidstthedarkness,sothatthosewhohaveeyesmaysee.Evenso,hasthedoctrinebeenexplainedin
variouswaysbytheExaltedOne.
"Itakerefuge,Lord,intheBuddha,theDhamma,andtheSangha.MaytheExaltedOnereceivemeasalay
follower;asonewhohastakenrefugefromthisverydaytolife'send."

Notes
1.kammakilesa,lit.,'actionsofdefilement.'
2.Thesearethefouragati,'evilcoursesofaction':chanda,dosa,moha,bhaya.
3.Crimescommittedbyothers.
4.Akindofamusement.
5.ThePalioriginalhashere"sixcauses"astwocompoundwordsandonedoubletermphrasearecountedas
units.
6.Dhammapadav.49:"Asabee,withoutharmingtheflower,itscolororscent,fliesaway,collectingonlythe
honey..."
7.Thisportionincludeswhatisspentongoodworks:giftstomonks,charity,etc.
8."Thesymbolismisdeliberatelychosen:asthedayintheEast,solifebeginswithparents'care;teacher'sfees
andtheSoutharethesameword:dakkhina;domesticcaresfollowwhentheyouthbecomesman,astheWest
holdsthelaterdaylight;Northis'beyond'(uttara),sobyhelpoffriends,etc.,hegetsbeyondtroubles."(Rhys
Davids)
9.ThisisasacredcustomoftheAryanswhoneverforgotthedead.Thistraditionisstillfaithfullyobservedby
theBuddhistsofSriLankawhomakeceremonialofferingsofalmstothemonksontheeighthday,inthethird
month,andoneachanniversaryofthedemiseoftheparents.Meritofthesegoodactionsisofferedtothe
departedaftersuchceremony.Moreoveraftereverypunnakamma(goodaction),aBuddhistneverfailsto
thinkofhisparentsandoffermerit.Suchistheloyaltyandthegratitudeshowntoparentsasadvisedbythe
Buddha.
10.lit.,'thefolkaround'(parijana).

Revised:Mon10September2001
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/digha/dn31.html