{"collection":"Digha Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_dn31/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_dn31","id":"suttacentral_dn31","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/dn31/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Digha Nikaya","Early Buddhist Texts"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near R\u0101jagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels\u2019 feeding ground. Now at that time the householder\u2019s son Sig\u0101laka rose early and left R\u0101jagaha. With his clothes and hair all wet, he raised his cupped palms to revere the various quarters\u2014 east, south, west, north, below, and above. Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered R\u0101jagaha for alms. He saw Sig\u0101laka revering the various quarters and said to him, \u201cHouseholder\u2019s son, why are you revering the various quarters in this way?\u201d \u201cSir, on his deathbed my father said to me: \u2018My dear, please revere the quarters.\u2019 Honoring, respecting, and venerating my father\u2019s words, I rose early and left R\u0101jagaha and, with my clothes and hair all wet, raised my cupped palms to revere the various quarters\u2014 east, south, west, north, below, and above.\u201d 1. The Six Directions \u201cHouseholder\u2019s son, that\u2019s not how the six directions should be revered in the training of the Noble One.\u201d \u201cBut sir, how should the six directions be revered in the training of the Noble One? Sir, please teach me this.\u201d \u201cWell then, householder\u2019s son, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.\u201d \u201cYes, sir,\u201d replied Sig\u0101laka. The Buddha said this: \u201cHouseholder\u2019s son, a noble disciple gives up four corrupt deeds, doesn\u2019t do bad deeds on four grounds, and avoids six drains on wealth. When they\u2019ve left these fourteen bad things behind they have the six directions covered. They\u2019re practicing to win in both worlds, and they succeed in this world and the next. When their body breaks up, after death, they\u2019re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm. 2. Four Corrupt Deeds What four corrupt deeds have they given up? Killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, and lying: these are corrupt deeds. These are the four corrupt deeds they\u2019ve given up.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: \u201cKilling, stealing, telling lies, and committing adultery: astute people don\u2019t praise these things.\u201d 3. Four Grounds \u201cOn what four grounds do they not do bad deeds? One does bad deeds prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice. When a noble disciple is not prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice, they don\u2019t do bad deeds on these four grounds.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: \u201cIf you act against the teaching out of favoritism, hostility, cowardice, or stupidity, your fame shrinks, like the moon in the waning fortnight. If you don\u2019t act against the teaching out of favoritism, hostility, cowardice, and stupidity, your fame swells, like the moon in the waxing fortnight.\u201d 4. Six Drains on Wealth \u201cWhat six drains on wealth do they avoid? Habitually engaging in the following things is a drain on wealth: beer, wine, and liquor intoxicants; roaming the street markets at night; frequenting festivals; gambling; bad friends; laziness. 5. Six Drawbacks of Drinking There are these six drawbacks of habitually consuming intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. Immediate loss of wealth, promotion of quarrels, susceptibility to illness, disrepute, indecent exposure; and weakened wisdom is the sixth thing. These are the six drawbacks of habitually consuming intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor. 6. Six Drawbacks of Roaming the Street Markets at Night There are these six drawbacks of roaming the street markets at night. Yourself, your partners and children, and your property are all left unguarded. You\u2019re suspected of bad deeds. Untrue rumors spread about you. You\u2019re at the forefront of many things that entail suffering. These are the six drawbacks of roaming the street markets at night. 7. Six Drawbacks of Festivals There are these six drawbacks of frequenting festivals. You\u2019re always thinking: \u2018Where\u2019s the dancing? Where\u2019s the singing? Where\u2019s the music? Where are the stories? Where\u2019s the applause? Where are the kettledrums?\u2019 These are the six drawbacks of frequenting festivals. 8. Six Drawbacks of Gambling There are these six drawbacks of habitually gambling. Victory breeds enmity. The loser mourns their money. There is immediate loss of wealth. A gambler\u2019s word carries no weight in public assembly. Friends and colleagues treat them with contempt. And no one wants to marry a gambler, for they think: \u2018This individual is a gambler\u2014they\u2019re not able to support a partner.\u2019 These are the six drawbacks of habitually gambling. 9. Six Drawbacks of Bad Friends There are these six drawbacks of bad friends. You become friends and companions with those who are addicts, carousers, drunkards, frauds, swindlers, and thugs. These are the six drawbacks of bad friends. 10. Six Drawbacks of Laziness There are these six drawbacks of habitual laziness. You don\u2019t get your work done because you think: \u2018It\u2019s too cold! It\u2019s too hot. It\u2019s too late! It\u2019s too early! I\u2019m too hungry! I\u2019m too full!\u2019 By dwelling on so many excuses for not working, you don\u2019t make any more money, and the money you already have runs out. These are the six drawbacks of habitual laziness.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: \u201cSome are just drinking buddies, some call you their dear, dear friend; but a friend in times of need is a comrade indeed. Sleeping late, adultery, making enemies, harmfulness, bad friends, and avarice: these six grounds ruin a person. With bad friends, bad comrades, bad behavior and alms-resort, a man falls to ruin in both this world and the next. Dice, women, toddy, song and dance; sleeping by day and roaming at night; bad friends, and avarice: these six grounds ruin a person. They play dice and drink beer, and consort with women loved by others. Associating with the worse, not the better, they diminish like the waning moon. One who is broke and destitute due to toddy, thirsty, drinking in the bar, drowning in debt, will quickly lose their way. When you\u2019re in the habit of sleeping late, seeing night as time to rise, and always getting drunk, you can\u2019t keep up the household life. \u2018Too cold, too hot, too late,\u2019 they say. When the young neglect their work like this, riches pass them by. But one who considers heat and cold as no more than blades of grass\u2014 he does his duties as a man, and happiness never fails.\u201d 11. Fake Friends \u201cHouseholder\u2019s son, you should recognize these four enemies disguised as friends: the taker, the talker, the flatterer, the spender. You can recognize a fake friend who\u2019s all take on four grounds. Your possessions end up theirs. Giving little, they expect a lot. They do their duty out of fear. They associate for their own advantage. You can recognize a fake friend who\u2019s all take on these four grounds. You can recognize a fake friend who\u2019s all talk on four grounds. They\u2019re hospitable in the past. They\u2019re hospitable in the future. They\u2019re full of meaningless pleasantries. When something needs doing in the present they point to their own misfortune. You can recognize a fake friend who\u2019s all talk on these four grounds. You can recognize a fake friend who\u2019s a flatterer on four grounds. They support you equally in doing bad and doing good. They praise you to your face, and put you down behind your back. You can recognize a fake friend who\u2019s a flatterer on these four grounds. You can recognize a fake friend who\u2019s a spender on four grounds. They accompany you when drinking, roaming the street markets at night, frequenting festivals, and gambling. You can recognize a fake friend who\u2019s a spender on these four grounds.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: \u201cOne friend is all take, another all talk; one\u2019s just a flatterer, and one\u2019s a comrade who spends. An astute person understands these four enemies for what they are and keeps them at a distance, as they\u2019d shun a risky road.\u201d 12. Good-Hearted Friends \u201cHouseholder\u2019s son, you should recognize these four good-hearted friends: the helper, the friend in good times and bad, the counselor, and the one who\u2019s sympathetic. You can recognize a good-hearted friend who\u2019s a helper on four grounds. They guard you when you\u2019re negligent. They guard your property when you\u2019re negligent. They keep you safe in times of danger. When something needs doing, they provide you with twice the money you need. You can recognize a good-hearted friend who\u2019s a helper on these four grounds. You can recognize a good-hearted friend who\u2019s the same in good times and bad on four grounds. They tell you secrets. They keep your secrets. They don\u2019t abandon you in times of trouble. They\u2019d even give their life for your welfare. You can recognize a good-hearted friend who\u2019s the same in good times and bad on these four grounds. You can recognize a good-hearted friend who\u2019s a counselor on four grounds. They keep you from doing bad. They support you in doing good. They teach you what you do not know. They explain the path to heaven. You can recognize a good-hearted friend who\u2019s a counselor on these four grounds. You can recognize a good-hearted friend who\u2019s sympathetic on four grounds. They don\u2019t delight in your misfortune. They delight in your good fortune. They keep others from criticizing you. They encourage praise of you. You can recognize a good-hearted friend who\u2019s sympathetic on these four grounds.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: \u201cA friend who\u2019s a helper, one the same in both pleasure and pain, a friend of good counsel, and one of sympathy; an astute person understands these four friends for what they are and carefully looks after them, like a mother the child at her breast. The astute and virtuous shine like a burning flame. They pick up riches as bees roaming round pick up pollen. And their riches proceed to grow, like a termite mound piling up. In gathering wealth like this, a householder does enough for their family. And they\u2019d hold on to friends by dividing their wealth in four. One portion is to enjoy. Two parts invest in work. And the fourth should be kept for times of trouble.\u201d 13. Covering the Six Directions \u201cAnd how, householder\u2019s son, does a noble disciple cover the six directions? These six directions should be recognized: parents as the east, tutors as the south, partner and children as the west, friends and colleagues as the north, bondservants and workers as beneath, and ascetics and brahmins as above. A child should serve their parents as the eastern quarter in five ways, thinking: \u2018I will support those who supported me. I\u2019ll do my duty for them. I\u2019ll maintain the family lineage. I\u2019ll take care of the inheritance. When they have passed away, I\u2019ll make an offering on their behalf.\u2019 Parents served by the children in these five ways show sympathy to them in five ways. They keep them from doing bad. They support them in doing good. They train them in a profession. They connect them with a suitable partner. They transfer the inheritance in due time. Parents served by their children in these five ways show sympathy to them in these five ways. And that\u2019s how the eastern quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril. A pupil should serve their tutor as the southern quarter in five ways: by rising for them, by serving them, by listening well, by looking after them, and by carefully learning their profession. Tutors served by their pupils in these five ways show sympathy to them in five ways. They make sure they\u2019re well educated and well drilled in memorization. They clearly explain all the knowledge of the profession. They introduce them to their friends and colleagues. They provide protection in every region. Tutors served by their pupils in these five ways show sympathy to them in these five ways. And that\u2019s how the southern quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril. A husband should serve his wife as the western quarter in five ways: by treating her with honor, by not looking down on her, by not being unfaithful, by relinquishing authority to her, and by presenting her with adornments. A wife served by her husband in these five ways shows sympathy to him in five ways. She\u2019s well-organized in her work. She manages the domestic help. She\u2019s not unfaithful. She preserves his earnings. She\u2019s deft and tireless in all her duties. A wife served by her husband in these five ways shows sympathy to him in these five ways. And that\u2019s how the western quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril. A gentleman should serve his friends and colleagues as the northern quarter in five ways: giving, kindly words, taking care, equality, and not using tricky words. Friends and colleagues served by a gentleman in these five ways show sympathy to him in five ways. They guard him when they\u2019re negligent. They guard his property when they\u2019re negligent. They keep him safe in times of danger. They don\u2019t abandon him in times of trouble. They honor his descendants. Friends and colleagues served by a gentleman in these five ways show sympathy to him in these five ways. And that\u2019s how the northern quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril. A master should serve their bondservants and workers as the lower quarter in five ways: by organizing work according to ability, by paying food and wages, by nursing them when sick, by sharing special treats, and by giving time off work. Bondservants and workers served by a master in these five ways show sympathy to him in five ways. They get up first, and go to bed last. They don\u2019t steal. They do their work well. And they promote a good reputation. Bondservants and workers served by a master in these five ways show sympathy to him in these five ways. And that\u2019s how the lower quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril. A gentleman should serve ascetics and brahmins as the upper quarter in five ways: by loving deeds of body, speech, and mind, by not turning them away at the gate, and by providing them with material needs. Ascetics and brahmins served by a gentleman in these five ways show sympathy to him in six ways. They keep him from doing bad. They support him in doing good. They think of him with kindly thoughts. They teach him what he does not know. They clarify what he\u2019s already learned. They explain the path to heaven. Ascetics and brahmins served by a gentleman in these five ways show sympathy to him in these six ways. And that\u2019s how the upper quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril.\u201d That is what the Buddha said. Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say: \u201cParents are the east, tutors the south, wives and child the west, friends and colleagues the north, servants and workers below, and ascetics and brahmins above. By honoring these quarters a householder does enough for their family. The astute and the virtuous, the gentle and the articulate, the placid in manner and the amenable: they\u2019re the kind who win glory. The diligent, not lazy, those not disturbed by troubles, those consistent in conduct, the intelligent: they\u2019re the kind who win glory. The inclusive, the makers of friends, the bountiful, those rid of stinginess, those who lead, train, and persuade: they\u2019re the kind who win glory. Giving and kindly words, taking care here, and treating equally in worldly conditions, as they deserve in each case; these ways of being inclusive in the world are like a moving chariot\u2019s linchpin. If there were no such ways of being inclusive, neither mother nor father would be respected and honored for what they\u2019ve done for their children. But since these ways of being inclusive do exist, the astute do regard them well, so they achieve greatness and are praised.\u201d When this was said, Sig\u0101laka the householder\u2019s son said to the Buddha, \u201cExcellent, sir! Excellent! As if he were righting the overturned, or revealing the hidden, or pointing out the path to the lost, or lighting a lamp in the dark so people with clear eyes can see what\u2019s there, the Buddha has made the teaching clear in many ways. I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Sa\u1e45gha. From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.\u201d","title":"Advice to Sig\u0101laka","tradition":"Digha Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":2766}