dn31:0.1Long Discourses 31
dn31:0.2Advice to Sigālaka
dn31:1.1So I have heard.
dn31:1.2At one time the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground.
dn31:1.3Now at that time the householder’s son Sigālaka rose early and left Rājagaha. With his clothes and hair all wet, he raised his cupped palms to revere the various quarters—
dn31:1.4east, south, west, north, below, and above.
dn31:2.1Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms.
dn31:2.2He saw Sigālaka revering the various quarters
dn31:2.4and said to him,
dn31:2.5“Householder’s son, why are you revering the various quarters in this way?”
dn31:2.7“Sir, on his deathbed my father said to me:
dn31:2.8‘My dear, please revere the quarters.’
dn31:2.9Honoring, respecting, and venerating my father’s words, I rose early and left Rājagaha and, with my clothes and hair all wet, raised my cupped palms to revere the various quarters—
dn31:2.10east, south, west, north, below, and above.”
dn31:2.11.01. The Six Directions
dn31:2.12“Householder’s son, that’s not how the six directions should be revered in the training of the Noble One.”
dn31:2.13“But sir, how should the six directions be revered in the training of the Noble One?
dn31:2.14Sir, please teach me this.”
dn31:2.15“Well then, householder’s son, listen and apply your mind well, I will speak.”
dn31:2.16“Yes, sir,” replied Sigālaka.
dn31:2.17The Buddha said this:
dn31:3.1“Householder’s son, a noble disciple gives up four corrupt deeds, doesn’t do bad deeds on four grounds, and avoids six drains on wealth. When they’ve left these fourteen bad things behind they have the six directions covered.
dn31:3.2They’re practicing to win in both worlds, and they succeed in this world and the next.
dn31:3.3When their body breaks up, after death, they’re reborn in a good place, a heavenly realm.
dn31:3.4.02. Four Corrupt Deeds
dn31:3.5What four corrupt deeds have they given up?
dn31:3.6Killing living creatures, stealing, sexual misconduct, and lying: these are corrupt deeds.
dn31:3.7These are the four corrupt deeds they’ve given up.”
dn31:3.8That is what the Buddha said.
dn31:3.9Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
dn31:4.1“Killing, stealing,
dn31:4.2telling lies,
dn31:4.3and committing adultery:
dn31:4.4astute people don’t praise these things.”
dn31:5.03. Four Grounds
dn31:5.1“On what four grounds do they not do bad deeds?
dn31:5.2One does bad deeds prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice.
dn31:5.3When a noble disciple is not prejudiced by favoritism, hostility, stupidity, and cowardice,
dn31:5.4they don’t do bad deeds on these four grounds.”
dn31:5.5That is what the Buddha said.
dn31:5.6Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
dn31:6.1“If you act against the teaching
dn31:6.2out of favoritism, hostility, cowardice, or stupidity,
dn31:6.3your fame shrinks,
dn31:6.4like the moon in the waning fortnight.
dn31:6.5If you don’t act against the teaching
dn31:6.6out of favoritism, hostility, cowardice, and stupidity,
dn31:6.7your fame swells,
dn31:6.8like the moon in the waxing fortnight.”
dn31:7.04. Six Drains on Wealth
dn31:7.1“What six drains on wealth do they avoid?
dn31:7.2Habitually 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.
dn31:8.05. Six Drawbacks of Drinking
dn31:8.1There are these six drawbacks of habitually consuming intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.
dn31:8.2Immediate loss of wealth, promotion of quarrels, susceptibility to illness, disrepute, indecent exposure; and weakened wisdom is the sixth thing.
dn31:8.3These are the six drawbacks of habitually consuming intoxicants of beer, wine, and liquor.
dn31:9.06. Six Drawbacks of Roaming the Street Markets at Night
dn31:9.1There are these six drawbacks of roaming the street markets at night.
dn31:9.2Yourself, your partners and children, and your property are all left unguarded. You’re suspected of bad deeds. Untrue rumors spread about you. You’re at the forefront of many things that entail suffering.
dn31:9.3These are the six drawbacks of roaming the street markets at night.
dn31:10.07. Six Drawbacks of Festivals
dn31:10.1There are these six drawbacks of frequenting festivals.
dn31:10.2You’re always thinking: ‘Where’s the dancing? Where’s the singing? Where’s the music? Where are the stories? Where’s the applause? Where are the kettledrums?’
dn31:10.3These are the six drawbacks of frequenting festivals.
dn31:11.08. Six Drawbacks of Gambling
dn31:11.1There are these six drawbacks of habitually gambling.
dn31:11.2Victory breeds enmity. The loser mourns their money. There is immediate loss of wealth. A gambler’s 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:
dn31:11.3‘This individual is a gambler—they’re not able to support a partner.’
dn31:11.4These are the six drawbacks of habitually gambling.
dn31:12.09. Six Drawbacks of Bad Friends
dn31:12.1There are these six drawbacks of bad friends.
dn31:12.2You become friends and companions with those who are addicts, carousers, drunkards, frauds, swindlers, and thugs.
dn31:12.3These are the six drawbacks of bad friends.
dn31:13.010. Six Drawbacks of Laziness
dn31:13.1There are these six drawbacks of habitual laziness.
dn31:13.2You don’t get your work done because you think: ‘It’s too cold! It’s too hot. It’s too late! It’s too early! I’m too hungry! I’m too full!’
dn31:13.3By dwelling on so many excuses for not working, you don’t make any more money, and the money you already have runs out.
dn31:13.4These are the six drawbacks of habitual laziness.”
dn31:13.5That is what the Buddha said.
dn31:13.6Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
dn31:14.1“Some are just drinking buddies,
dn31:14.2some call you their dear, dear friend;
dn31:14.3but a friend in times of need
dn31:14.4is a comrade indeed.
dn31:14.5Sleeping late, adultery,
dn31:14.6making enemies, harmfulness,
dn31:14.7bad friends, and avarice:
dn31:14.8these six grounds ruin a person.
dn31:14.9With bad friends, bad comrades,
dn31:14.10bad behavior and alms-resort,
dn31:14.11a man falls to ruin
dn31:14.12in both this world and the next.
dn31:14.13Dice, women, toddy, song and dance;
dn31:14.14sleeping by day and roaming at night;
dn31:14.15bad friends, and avarice:
dn31:14.16these six grounds ruin a person.
dn31:14.17They play dice and drink beer,
dn31:14.18and consort with women loved by others.
dn31:14.19Associating with the worse, not the better,
dn31:14.20they diminish like the waning moon.
dn31:14.21One who is broke and destitute due to toddy,
dn31:14.22thirsty, drinking in the bar,
dn31:14.23drowning in debt,
dn31:14.24will quickly lose their way.
dn31:14.25When you’re in the habit of sleeping late,
dn31:14.26seeing night as time to rise,
dn31:14.27and always getting drunk,
dn31:14.28you can’t keep up the household life.
dn31:14.29‘Too cold, too hot,
dn31:14.30too late,’ they say.
dn31:14.31When the young neglect their work like this,
dn31:14.32riches pass them by.
dn31:14.33But one who considers heat and cold
dn31:14.34as no more than blades of grass—
dn31:14.35he does his duties as a man,
dn31:14.36and happiness never fails.”
dn31:15.011. Fake Friends
dn31:15.1“Householder’s son, you should recognize these four enemies disguised as friends:
dn31:15.2the taker, the talker, the flatterer, the spender.
dn31:16.1You can recognize a fake friend who’s all take on four grounds.
dn31:16.2Your possessions end up theirs.
dn31:16.3Giving little, they expect a lot.
dn31:16.4They do their duty out of fear.
dn31:16.5They associate for their own advantage.
dn31:16.6You can recognize a fake friend who’s all take on these four grounds.
dn31:17.1You can recognize a fake friend who’s all talk on four grounds.
dn31:17.2They’re hospitable in the past. They’re hospitable in the future. They’re full of meaningless pleasantries. When something needs doing in the present they point to their own misfortune.
dn31:17.3You can recognize a fake friend who’s all talk on these four grounds.
dn31:18.1You can recognize a fake friend who’s a flatterer on four grounds.
dn31:18.2They support you equally in doing bad and doing good. They praise you to your face, and put you down behind your back.
dn31:18.3You can recognize a fake friend who’s a flatterer on these four grounds.
dn31:19.1You can recognize a fake friend who’s a spender on four grounds.
dn31:19.2They accompany you when drinking, roaming the street markets at night, frequenting festivals, and gambling.
dn31:19.3You can recognize a fake friend who’s a spender on these four grounds.”
dn31:19.4That is what the Buddha said.
dn31:19.5Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
dn31:20.1“One friend is all take,
dn31:20.2another all talk;
dn31:20.3one’s just a flatterer,
dn31:20.4and one’s a comrade who spends.
dn31:20.5An astute person understands
dn31:20.6these four enemies for what they are
dn31:20.7and keeps them at a distance,
dn31:20.8as they’d shun a risky road.”
dn31:21.012. Good-Hearted Friends
dn31:21.1“Householder’s son, you should recognize these four good-hearted friends:
dn31:21.2the helper, the friend in good times and bad, the counselor, and the one who’s sympathetic.
dn31:22.1You can recognize a good-hearted friend who’s a helper on four grounds.
dn31:22.2They guard you when you’re negligent. They guard your property when you’re negligent. They keep you safe in times of danger. When something needs doing, they provide you with twice the money you need.
dn31:22.3You can recognize a good-hearted friend who’s a helper on these four grounds.
dn31:23.1You can recognize a good-hearted friend who’s the same in good times and bad on four grounds.
dn31:23.2They tell you secrets. They keep your secrets. They don’t abandon you in times of trouble. They’d even give their life for your welfare.
dn31:23.3You can recognize a good-hearted friend who’s the same in good times and bad on these four grounds.
dn31:24.1You can recognize a good-hearted friend who’s a counselor on four grounds.
dn31:24.2They 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.
dn31:24.3You can recognize a good-hearted friend who’s a counselor on these four grounds.
dn31:25.1You can recognize a good-hearted friend who’s sympathetic on four grounds.
dn31:25.2They don’t delight in your misfortune. They delight in your good fortune. They keep others from criticizing you. They encourage praise of you.
dn31:25.3You can recognize a good-hearted friend who’s sympathetic on these four grounds.”
dn31:25.4That is what the Buddha said.
dn31:25.5Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
dn31:26.1“A friend who’s a helper,
dn31:26.2one the same in both pleasure and pain,
dn31:26.3a friend of good counsel,
dn31:26.4and one of sympathy;
dn31:26.5an astute person understands
dn31:26.6these four friends for what they are
dn31:26.7and carefully looks after them,
dn31:26.8like a mother the child at her breast.
dn31:26.9The astute and virtuous
dn31:26.10shine like a burning flame.
dn31:26.11They pick up riches as bees
dn31:26.12roaming round pick up pollen.
dn31:26.13And their riches proceed to grow,
dn31:26.14like a termite mound piling up.
dn31:26.15In gathering wealth like this,
dn31:26.16a householder does enough for their family.
dn31:26.17And they’d hold on to friends
dn31:26.18by dividing their wealth in four.
dn31:26.19One portion is to enjoy.
dn31:26.20Two parts invest in work.
dn31:26.21And the fourth should be kept
dn31:26.22for times of trouble.”
dn31:27.013. Covering the Six Directions
dn31:27.1“And how, householder’s son, does a noble disciple cover the six directions?
dn31:27.2These six directions should be recognized:
dn31:27.3parents 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.
dn31:28.1A child should serve their parents as the eastern quarter in five ways, thinking:
dn31:28.2‘I will support those who supported me. I’ll do my duty for them. I’ll maintain the family lineage. I’ll take care of the inheritance. When they have passed away, I’ll make an offering on their behalf.’
dn31:28.3Parents served by the children in these five ways show sympathy to them in five ways.
dn31:28.4They 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.
dn31:28.5Parents served by their children in these five ways show sympathy to them in these five ways.
dn31:28.6And that’s how the eastern quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril.
dn31:29.1A pupil should serve their tutor as the southern quarter in five ways:
dn31:29.2by rising for them, by serving them, by listening well, by looking after them, and by carefully learning their profession.
dn31:29.3Tutors served by their pupils in these five ways show sympathy to them in five ways.
dn31:29.4They make sure they’re 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.
dn31:29.5Tutors served by their pupils in these five ways show sympathy to them in these five ways.
dn31:29.6And that’s how the southern quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril.
dn31:30.1A husband should serve his wife as the western quarter in five ways:
dn31:30.2by 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.
dn31:30.3A wife served by her husband in these five ways shows sympathy to him in five ways.
dn31:30.4She’s well-organized in her work. She manages the domestic help. She’s not unfaithful. She preserves his earnings. She’s deft and tireless in all her duties.
dn31:30.5A wife served by her husband in these five ways shows sympathy to him in these five ways.
dn31:30.6And that’s how the western quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril.
dn31:31.1A gentleman should serve his friends and colleagues as the northern quarter in five ways:
dn31:31.2giving, kindly words, taking care, equality, and not using tricky words.
dn31:31.3Friends and colleagues served by a gentleman in these five ways show sympathy to him in five ways.
dn31:31.4They guard him when they’re negligent. They guard his property when they’re negligent. They keep him safe in times of danger. They don’t abandon him in times of trouble. They honor his descendants.
dn31:31.5Friends and colleagues served by a gentleman in these five ways show sympathy to him in these five ways.
dn31:31.6And that’s how the northern quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril.
dn31:32.1A master should serve their bondservants and workers as the lower quarter in five ways:
dn31:32.2by 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.
dn31:32.3Bondservants and workers served by a master in these five ways show sympathy to him in five ways.
dn31:32.4They get up first, and go to bed last. They don’t steal. They do their work well. And they promote a good reputation.
dn31:32.5Bondservants and workers served by a master in these five ways show sympathy to him in these five ways.
dn31:32.6And that’s how the lower quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril.
dn31:33.1A gentleman should serve ascetics and brahmins as the upper quarter in five ways:
dn31:33.2by loving deeds of body, speech, and mind, by not turning them away at the gate, and by providing them with material needs.
dn31:33.3Ascetics and brahmins served by a gentleman in these five ways show sympathy to him in six ways.
dn31:33.4They 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’s already learned. They explain the path to heaven.
dn31:33.5Ascetics and brahmins served by a gentleman in these five ways show sympathy to him in these six ways.
dn31:33.6And that’s how the upper quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril.”
dn31:33.7That is what the Buddha said.
dn31:33.8Then the Holy One, the Teacher, went on to say:
dn31:34.1“Parents are the east,
dn31:34.2tutors the south,
dn31:34.3wives and child the west,
dn31:34.4friends and colleagues the north,
dn31:34.5servants and workers below,
dn31:34.6and ascetics and brahmins above.
dn31:34.7By honoring these quarters
dn31:34.8a householder does enough for their family.
dn31:34.9The astute and the virtuous,
dn31:34.10the gentle and the articulate,
dn31:34.11the placid in manner and the amenable:
dn31:34.12they’re the kind who win glory.
dn31:34.13The diligent, not lazy,
dn31:34.14those not disturbed by troubles,
dn31:34.15those consistent in conduct, the intelligent:
dn31:34.16they’re the kind who win glory.
dn31:34.17The inclusive, the makers of friends,
dn31:34.18the bountiful, those rid of stinginess,
dn31:34.19those who lead, train, and persuade:
dn31:34.20they’re the kind who win glory.
dn31:34.21Giving and kindly words,
dn31:34.22taking care here,
dn31:34.23and treating equally in worldly conditions,
dn31:34.24as they deserve in each case;
dn31:34.25these ways of being inclusive in the world
dn31:34.26are like a moving chariot’s linchpin.
dn31:34.27If there were no such ways of being inclusive,
dn31:34.28neither mother nor father
dn31:34.29would be respected and honored
dn31:34.30for what they’ve done for their children.
dn31:34.31But since these ways of being inclusive do exist,
dn31:34.32the astute do regard them well,
dn31:34.33so they achieve greatness
dn31:34.34and are praised.”
dn31:35.1When this was said, Sigālaka the householder’s son said to the Buddha,
dn31:35.2“Excellent, sir! Excellent!
dn31:35.3As 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’s there, the Buddha has made the teaching clear in many ways.
dn31:35.4I go for refuge to the Buddha, to the teaching, and to the mendicant Saṅgha.
dn31:35.5From this day forth, may the Buddha remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”