Sigalovada Sutta - Buddha's advice for laypeople

Most people are not aware that besides the Five Precepts, the Buddha also gave some very good guidelines for laypeople to follow that pertains "to the happiness directly visible in this present life."

Buddhaghosa has aptly referred to this Sutta as the "Vinaya (Buddhist code of discipline) of the householder." Known as the Sigalovada Sutta, the events take place when the Buddha encountered a youth called Sigala who was prostrating and worshipping the four compass directions (East, South, West and North), and the Earth, and the Sky. The youth explained to the Buddha that he had been told by his father to do so, and thought it was right to uphold his wishes. 

The Buddha then skilfully advised Sigala on how a noble one should 'worship' the six directions (adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigalovada_Sutta):

Avoid evil ways

The Buddha first describes fourteen evil ways that should be avoided by a householder. The Buddha enumerates these evil ways to be avoided as:

• The four defilements of action:

1. taking life (panatipato)
2. stealing (adinnadanam)
3. sexual misconduct (kamesu micchacaro)
4. lying (musavado)

• The four causes of evil action:

1. desire (chanda)
2. hate (dosa)
3. ignorance (moha)
4. fear (bhaya)

• The six ways of squandering wealth:

1. indulging in intoxicants
2. wandering the streets at inappropriate times
3. frequenting public spectacle
4. compulsive gambling
5. malevolent companionship
6. habitual idleness

 

Choose true friends

The Buddha then elaborated on the importance of having and being a true friend, as he described what true friends are; and what true friends are not; and, how true friends will aid in attaining a blissful life.

Protect close relationships

Finally, returning to the topic of the six directions, the Buddha described the Four Compass Direction as : parents (East), teachers (South), wife (West), and friends and colleagues (North), and the two vertical directions as: ascetics and Brahmins (Up) and the Servants (Down). He elaborated on how to respect and support them, and how in turn the Six will return the kindness and support.

The householder's commitments and the reciprocal acts of those he honors, as identified by the Buddha, are represented below in accordance with the four directions on the horizontal plane (east, south, west and north):

		North FRIENDS
		commitments	reciprocal acts
		generosity kind words helpfulness impartiality integrity	supportiveness protect your wealth provide shelter loyalty honor your family
West WIFE				East PARENTS
commitments	reciprocal acts			commitments	reciprocal acts
honor her respect her fidelity share authority provide gifts	organize duties hospitality fidelity wise budgeting skillfulness			support them fulfill their duties honor traditions deserve inheritance honor their passing	restrain from evil nurture goodness teach skills arrange marriage provide inheritance
		South TEACHERS
		commitments	reciprocal acts
		rise to greet them attend to them eager receptivity serve them master their teaching	thoroughly instruct ensure comprehension provide well-roundedness provide referrals ensure safety

Nadir WORKERS		To the left are shown the householder's commitments to and the reciprocal acts of employees and servants (representing the nadir, below the practitioner's body). To the right are shown the householder's commitments to and the reciprocal acts of religious guides (representing the zenith, above the practitioner's body).		Zenith ASCETICS
commitments	reciprocal acts			commitments	reciprocal acts
apt work just wages health care perks leave time	rise early stay late no stealing work well allegiance			loving acts loving speech loving thoughts hospitality material support	restrain  from evil nurture goodness lovingkindness enlighten clarify teach goodness

 

Read the entire Sigalovada Sutta here:

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