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Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc.
A Pictorial Presentation of the Advice to Sigala
Compiled by Ven. K. Dhammasiri
Art by K. W. Janaranjara
Tni Sio.iov.u. iN Iic+iis
(A icloriaI resenlalion of lhe advice lo SigaIa)
ComiIed
by
VenerabIe Kandaraanguve Dhammasiri
Arl by
K. W. }anaran|ana
Iirsl Idilion zj8 n.i. 1j ..u.
isnN: ;-j;;-z-
1j, AII righls reserved.
This book is dedicaled
lo
my beIoved arenls
"Malailaro ubbacariyali vuccare"
(Iarenls are caIIed lhe Iirsl Teachers)
Sabrahmaka Suua
Anguuara Nikaya
CoN+iN+s
1. Lisl of IIales j
z. Inlroduclion ;
. Iorevord 11
. Aendix jo
j. ibIiograhy 61
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
j
Lis+ Oi Ii.+is
1. SigaIaka househoIder advised his son. zo
z. Young SigaIaka vorshied six direclions. z1
. One day lhe uddha mel young SigaIaka. zz
. The six eriIs from addiclion lo inloxicanls. z
j. The six eriIs from frequenling lhe slreels al
unseemIy hours. z
6. The six eriIs from haunling lhe fairs. zj
;. The six eriIs for him vho is infalualed vilh gambIing. z6
8. The six eriIs from associaling vilh eviI comanions. z;
. The six eriIs of lhe habil of idIeness. z8
1o. Annadahuhara: a raacious erson. z
11. Vaciparama: lhe man vho ays Ii-service. o
1z. Anuppiyabhani: auerer. 1
1. Apaya sahaya: lhe feIIov vasler. z
1. Upakaraka: lhe heIer.
6
1j. Samana sukha dukkha: lhe man vho is lhe same
in veaI and voe.
16. Ahakkhayi: lhe man vho gives good counseI. j
1;. Anukampaka: lhe man vho symalhises. 6
18. The dulies of chiIdren. ;
1. The dulies of arenls. 8
zo. The dulies of uiIs.
z1. The dulies of leachers. o
zz. The dulies of husbands. 1
z. The dulies of vives. z
z. The dulies of cIansman.
zj. The dulies of friends.
z6. The dulies of masler. j
z;. The dulies of emIoyees. 6
z8. The dulies of cIansmen. ;
z. The dulies of monks and brahmins. 8
o. The young SigaIaka became a uddhas foIIover.
;
IN+ouic+ioN
The uddha, lhe IuIIy InIighlened One found oul
lhe MiddIe Ialh by fuIhIIing Ierfeclions lhrough
a Iong eriod of innumerabIe ons vandering
in lhe cycIe of birlhs and dealhs. The malurily
He acquired by resorling lo raclise Ierfeclions,
uIlimaleIy Ied Him lo auain IuII InIighlenmenl al
lhe fool of lhe odhi lree al Gaya in India.
The Ialh vhich avoids lvo exlremes of SeIf-
induIgence and SeIf-morlihcalion is caIIed MiddIe
Ialh and is consliluled of eighl sles. Hence il is
olhervise knovn as NobIe IighlfoId Ialh, vhich is
a Ialh unheard before eilher by Gods or by men. Il
is lhe Ialh of Liberalion vhich Ieads lo elernaI eace,
Nibbana. The raclice of vhich as exounded by
lhe uddha is lvofoId in resecl of lhe erson vho
foIIovs il. The Ialh enuncialed for Iaily is caIIed
Mode of Righl Conducl for Laymen (Gihisamici
patipada) vhiIe lhe Ialh rescribed for monks vho
have Ieh lhe househoId Iife behind is caIIed Mode
of Righl Conducl for Monks (Samanasamici patipada).
8
MoraI conducl governing lhe MiddIe Ialh and
meanl for Iaymen, vho are bound by numerous
sociaI obIigalions, are lo be raclised biIaleraIIy and
recirocaIIy for lhe veII-being of sociely as a vhoIe.
There are of course, many canonicaI references
deicling lhe vays and means of uuing lhe
norms of righl moraI conducl inlo oeralion for lhe
urose of mainlaining heaIlhy sociaI reIalions.
One of lhose inslances is found vilh reference lo
Anathapindika, lhe miIIionaire, vhose exlravaganl
son vas asked lo go lo Iislen lo lhe uddha on
lhe condilion of giving a granl in goId coins on
his relurn. ul once he Iislened lo lhe uddha he
vas lhoroughIy convinced and managed lo buiId
u his characler by giving u his dissoIule vays
of Iiving aIlogelher and no Ionger asked for lhe
remuneralion.
In anolher inslance, Visakha, vho vas lhe foremosl
femaIe suorler of lhe disensalion vas inslrucled
on len oinls by her falher vhen she vas aboul
lo marry. y Iiving u lo lhese inslruclions given
by lhe falher she vas abIe lo converl her falher-in-
Iav Migara lo uddhism. In lhe same vay young
.
y vhich four molives, four Iaces he does no eviI
deed` IviI deeds are done from molives of arliaIily,
16
enmily, sluidily and fear. ul inasmuch as lhe
Ariyan disciIe is nol Ied avay by lhese molives,
lhrough lhem he does no eviI deed.
Then lhe uddha laughl lhe six channeIs for dis-
sialing veaIlh. They are: addiclion lo inloxicaling
Iiquors, frequenling lhe slreels al unseemIy hours,
haunling of fairs, induIgence in gambIing, associalion
vilh eviI comanions and lhe habil of idIeness and
lhe eriIs auached lo lhem. Iach one has six eriIs.
Then lhe uddha laughl aboul four kinds of faIse
friends aqd four kinds of lrue hearled friends
and
lheir quaIilies.
Then lhe uddha exIained hov lo use lhe amassed
veaIlh. WeaIlh musl be divided inlo four arls, one
orlion shouId be senl for daiIy exenses, lvo
arls lo be invesled lo conducl business and lhe
fourlh arl shouId be deosiled for fulure use
.
IinaIIy lhe uddha laughl SigaIaka lhe young house-
hoIder, lhe six quarlers lo be honoured by er-
forming lhe recirocaI dulies incumbenl on lhem.
Iarenls are lhe easl
6
, leachers are lhe soulh, vife
and chiIdren are lhe vesl, friends and comanions
1;
as lhe norlh, servanls and vork eoIe as lhe nadir,
reIigious leachers as lhe zenilh.
DelaiIs are lhen given vilh reference lo dulies lo be
erformed biIaleraIIy.
The discourse is an exosilion of vhoIe domeslic and
sociaI duly of a Iayman according lo lhe uddhisl
oinl of viev, and, as such, il is famous under lhe
name Gihivinaya, lhe disciIine of lhe Iaily.
In lhe asl, some eoIe beIieved lhal lhe rain, lhe
vind, lhe hiIIs as Gods and look refuges in lhem.
The uddha re|ecled lhose raclices. SigaIaka lhe
young househoIder vas in raclice of vorshiing
six quarlers of lhe earlh and lhe sky, lhe uddha
said lhal il is useIess and inslead He laughl lo
honour by erforming lhe dulies due lo arenls,
leachers elc.
The SigaIovada Suua, lhe SigaIa homiIy is usefuI lo
buiId u a eacefuI sociely. The uddhas doclrine
of Iove and goodviII belveen man and man is here
sel forlh in a domeslic and sociaI elhics vilh more
comrehensive delaiIs lhan eIsevhere.
, , 6
see Aendix
18
I lhoughl lo ubIish lhis SigaIovada Suua, lhe SigaIa
homiIy discourse in iclures because il is easy lo
undersland by aduIls as veII as by chiIdren, bul
here lhere are no iclures for lhe four vices and
four molives found in lhe discourse.
I am very gralefuI lo Ven. Dr. Iaravahera Iannananda
ChanceIIor of Ruhunu Universily of Sri Lanka, Ven.
Dr. Ialegama Gnanarama IrinciaI of uddhisl
and IaIi CoIIege of Singaore and Ven. Iandil
Obbegoda DhammaliIaka M.A. lhe Chief incumbenl
of IokunugaIa Iurana Vihara MonaragaIa Sri Lanka.
This book vas comiIed under lheir advice.
My sincere lhanks are aIso due lo Ven. Ihrakru
Si Ihalanakun abbol of Wal Nakrok angkok,
Ven. Ihrakru Seuakic Samahilo C.A. U.S.A., Ven.
WeIiilye Ralanasiri, Ven. Kandaudaanguve Nagila,
I. Dayaralne, S. S. Wiickramarachchi relired rinciaI
of AIuvihara VidyaIa MalaIe Sri Lanka, Ruvan
Iranendo, Miss IveIyn Yeo, K. W. }anaran|ana and
MudiyansaIage }ayaralna.
Sabba Danam Dhamma Danam }inali
(The gih of lhe Dhamma exceIs aII olher gihs)
Ven. K. Dhammasiri
1
]
]
zo
SigaIaka househoIder on his dealhbed said lo his
son, my dear son, aher my dealh, gel u earIy in
lhe morning and vilh vel hair and vel garmenls
you shouId vorshi lhe easl, soulh, vesl, norlh,
nadir and zenilh. You shouId do lhis vilhoul faiI.
This is my Iasl advice.
z1
SigaIaka young househoIder rising earIy vilh vel
hair and vel garmenls and cIased hands uIihed,
aid vorshi lo easl, soulh, norlh nadir and lhe
zenilh.
zz
IarIy in lhe morning lhe uddha enlered Ra|agaha
seeking aIms. Then he sav lhe young SigaIaka
vorshiing and asked him lhe reason for doing
lhal. Young SigaIaka reIied lhal his dead falher
had asked him lo do so. The uddha lhen laughl
him lhal, in lhe uddha's leaching loo lhere is
vorshi of six quarlers.
z
There are six eriIs from addiclion lo inloxicanls:
] acluaI Ioss of veaIlh
] Ioss of good characler
y
] increase of quarreIs
] indecenl exosure
8
] suscelibiIily lo disease
] imaired inleIIigence
y, 8
see Aendix
z
There are six eriIs by freqenling lhe slreels al
unseemIy hours.
] He himseIf is vilhoul guard or roleclion
] So aIso are his vife and chiIdren
] As is his roerly
] He is IiabIe lo be susecled of crimes
see Aendix
zj
There are six eriIs from lhe haunling of fairs.
] He is ever lhinking, vhere is lhere dancing`
] Where is lhere singing`
] Where is lhere music`
] Where are lhe recilalions`
] Where are lhe cymbaIs`
] Where lhe lam-lams, erformances`
z6
There are six eriIs for him vho is infalualed vilh
gambIing.
] As a vinner he begels halred
] As a Ioser mourns for his Iosl money
1o
] There is acluaI Ioss of veaIlh
] His vord has no veighl in a courl of Iav
11
] He is desised by friends and comanions
] He is nol soughl aher by lhose vho vouId give or
lake in marriage, for lhey vouId say lhal a man
vho is a gambIer cannol aord lo kee a vife.
1o, 11
see Aendix
z;
There are six eriIs by associaling vilh eviI com-
anions
1z
.
] gambIers
] Iiberlines
] drunkard
] chealer vilh faIse lhings
] svindIer
] men of vioIence
1z
see Aendix
z8
There are eriIs of lhe habil of idIeness
1
.
] He says il is loo hol and does no vork
] He says il is loo coId and does no vork
] He says il is loo earIy and does no vork
] He says il is loo Iale and does no vork
] He says I am loo hungry and does no vork
] He says I am loo fuII and does no vork
1
see Aendix
z
Annadahuhara a raacious erson. On four
grounds lo be reckoned as a foe in lhe Iikeness of a
friend.
] He is racious
] He gives IiuIe and execls much
] He gives a heIing hand onIy vhen he himseIf
is in danger
] He ursues his ovn inleresls.
o
Vaciparama lhe man vho ays Ii-service. On
four grounds lhe man of vords, nol deeds is lo be
reckoned as a foe in lhe Iikeness of a friend.
] He seaks lo you aboul a fair asl
] He seaks lo you aboul a fair fulure
] He lries lo gain your favour by emly sayings
] When lhe oorlunily for service has arisen
he avovs his disabiIily.
1
Anuppiya bham auerer. On four grounds lhe
auerer is lo be reckoned as a foe in lhe Iikeness of
a friend.
] He consenls lo your doing vrong
] He consenls lo your doing righl
] He raises you lo your face
] He seaks iII of you lo olhers.
z
Apaya sahaya lhe feIIov-vasler. On four grounds
lhe feIIov-vasler comanion is lo be reckoned a foe
in lhe Iikeness of a friend.
] He is your comanion vhen you induIge in
slrong drinks
] He is your comanion vhen you frequenl lhe
slreels al unseemIy hours
] He is your friend vhen you haunl shovs and fairs
] He is you comanion vhen you are infalualed
vilh gambIing.
see IaIi IngIish Diclionary, I. T.S. back
* Comy is an abbrevialion of commenlary.
j6
j. Wise man earns riches, veaIlh graduaIIy Iike a rov-
ing bee vho galhers honey, riches mounl u as anl-
hea groving high.
The earnings shouId be divided inlo four orlions.
WhiIe lhe hrsl orlion is lo be sel aarl for daiIy
exendilure, lhe second and lhird lo be invesled in
business enlerrises. The fourlh is lo be deosiled
and lo be laken in limes of need.
The hrsl can be used lo give gihs lo recIuses as veII
as deslilules and make aymenls lo servanls.
Whal, Tigerfool, is lhe even Iife` Herein a cIansman
vhiIe exeriencing bolh gain and Ioss in veaIlh,
conlinues His business sereneIy, nol unduIy eIaled
or deressed. Thinks he: Thus my income, aher
deducling lhe Ioss, viII sland (al so much) and my
oulgoing viII nol exceed my income.
}usl as one vho carries scaIes, or his arenlice
knovs, on hoIding u lhe baIance, lhal eilher by so
much il has died dovn or by so much il has liIled
u, even so, Tigerfool, a cIansman exeriencing
bolh gain and Ioss conlinues his business sereneIy,
neilher unduIy eIaled nor unduIy deressed, bul
reaIizes lhal aher aIIoving for lhe Ioss his income
viII sland al so much and lhal his oulgoings viII
nol exceed his income. If, Tigerfool, lhis cIansman
have bul smaII earnings and Iive on a grand scaIe,
il viII be rumoured of him, This cIansman eals his
j;
veaIlh Iike a hg-lree gIuuon. And if his earnings
be greal and he Iives meanIy, rumour viII say
of him: This cIansman viII die Iike a slarveIing.
Wherefore lhis cIansman conlinues his business
sereneIy knoving lhal his oul-goings-goings viII
nol exceed his income. This is caIIed lhe even Iife.
(Anguuara Nikaya Vyagghaa||a Suua VoI IV I. T.S.)
back
6. Iarenls are lhe easl, lhe symboIism is deIiberaleIy
chosen: as lhe day in lhe Iasl, so Iife begins vilh
arenls care leachers fees and lhe soulh are lhe
same vord. dakkhina, domeslic cares foIIov vhen
lhe youlh become man, as vesl hoIds lhe Ialer
dayIighl, Norlh is beyond, so by heI of friends
elc., he gels beyond lroubIes. (Digha Nikaya III,
DiaIogues of lhe uddha, by Rhys Davids foolnoles
g 18o I. T.S.) back
;. Drunkard quarreIs vilh molher and falher, beals
lhem as veII as seaks indecenl vords. He does
imroer lhings does nol do roer lhings and
soiI his characler himseIf, he begels iII-fame in
lhis vorId and in lhe nexl vorId because of his
drunkenness. Comy:
Debauchery in drinking is lhe channeI for lhe
oving avay of amassed veaIlh (Anguuara Nikaya
Vyagghaa||a Suua I. T.S.) back
j8
8. Drunkard never cares lo dress roerIy. He sub|ecls
himseIf lo indecenl exosure, Iives vilh bare body
and indecenl exosure. back
. Irequenling lhe slreels al unseemIy hours, he is
IiabIe lo be susecled of crimes. Crimes commiued
by a lhief or an aduIlerer are falhered on him. Comy.
back
1o. Jayamveram pammati dukkham seti parajito,
upasanto sukham seti hitva jaya parajayam
Viclory breeds halred, lhe conquered dveIIs in
sorrov. He vho has given u viclory and defeal, he
is caIm and Iives haiIy.
(The Dhammaada Sukha Vagga zo1) back
11. Who is infalualed vilh gambIing, his vords carries
no veighl in a courl of Iav. Men vouId say, lhis
man is induIgenl in gambIing donl accel his vord
in an assembIy. Comy. back
1z. Na bhaje papake mie Na bhaje purisadhame
Bhajetha mie kalyane Bhajetha purisuame
One shouId nol associale vilh friends vho are eviI-
doers nor vilh erson vho are desicabIe, associale
vilh friends vho are virluous, associale vilh lhe
besl of men.
(The Dhammaada Iandila Vagga ;8) back
j
1. The habil of idIeness, Iaziness is a cause of ones
dovnfaII. (Khuddka Nikaya Iarabhava Suua). back
1. My arenls fed me, lhey miIked me, vashed, balhed,
dressed, nursed me during my chiIdhood. Nov lhey
are oId, gone are lheir days having been suorled
by lhem, I viII suorl lhem in my lurn, so saying
chiId musl heI his arenls. ChiId shouId do lheir
dulies lovards lhe arenls, shouId suIy food,
cIolhes elc. Comy.
He, vhose molher and falher grovn oId, does nol
Iook aher lhem, lhal is a cause of his dovnfaII.
(Iarabhava Suua SuuaNiala)
Auending on lhe molher and falher is a highesl
bIessing.
(Suua Niala Maha MangaIa Suua).
The son vho obeys lhe arenls vord is lhe besl son.
(Samyuua Nikaya Iarl 1)
ChiIdren are mankinds basis and suorl. ib.
back
1j. HosilaIily lo kinsmen of bolh, il means reIalives of
husband and her reIalives. Comy.
Wife is lhe besl friend.
(Samyuua Nikaya Iarl 1)
The besl among vives she lhal besl minislers. ib.
back
6o
16. ShouId abslain from lhinking of anolher man excel
her ovn husband. Comy. back
1;. Conslanl reIaxalion so lhal lhey need nol vork
aII day and seciaI Ieave vilh exlra food and
adornmenl for feslivaI. Comy. back
18. AII dulies of Iayman are incIuded inlo lhis Dis-
course. Nolhing in lhe dulies of househoIder is
Ieh unmenlioned. This Suua is caIIed lhe Vinaya of
lhe Laily. Hence in one vho raclises vhal he
has been laughl in il, rogress is lo be Iooked for,
and nol degeneralion. Comy. back
61
iniioo.vnv
Dion. Nix.v., . IaIi SinhaIese.
by Ven. Agga Maha Iandila . Anandamailhreya
Di.iooiis Oi Tni iuun.. I.+ III I. T.S.
by T. W. and C. A. I. Rhys Davids.
Dic+ioN.v Oi iuunisx. (Thai IngIish)
by Ven. Ihra Ra|avaramuni (Irayulh Iayuuo)
Dic+ioN.v Oi I.ii Iovi N.xis.
by G. I. MaIasekara, Ih.D.
Di+iis Oi I.iN+s
by Ven. Ihra Hoe.
Giiui To Tivi+.x.
by Uko Lay, urma Iilaka Associalion, urma.
M.No.+n.vi.Ni uddhgosas Commenlary
on Anguuara Nikaya (IaIi) I. T.S.
by Max WaIIeser, Ih.D.
6z
In.si++.N+.vi+ox (Thai )
by Kromkarnsasana, Krasuvans-ksadhikan.
S.xvi++. Nix.v., Goiviu Si++.s I.+ 1 I. T.S.
by Mrs Rhys Davids M.A.
Ti.cniNos Oi Tni iuun. (1)
by Ven. K. Dhammasiri
Tni Gi.+ oox Oi Io+ic+ioN
by LioneI LokuIiyana
Tni Six.No.i.vii.siNi, uddhagosas
Commenlary on Digha Nigha Nikaya (IaIi) I. T.S.
by W. Slede Ih.D.
Tni Dion. Nix.v., Voi III (I.ii) I. Y.S.
by }. IslIin Carenler, D.Lil.
Tni Iiuis Visis Tni G.+n. I.+ 1. I. T.S.
by K. R. Norman.
Tni Dn.xx.v.u. (IaIi IngIish)
by S. Radhakrishnan.
]