Littell's Living Age/Volume 129/Issue 1660/A Sermon of Buddha
From The Contemporary Review.
A SERMON OF BUDDHA.
TRANSLATED FROM THE PALI VERSION OF THE SUTRA PITAKA.
Thus I have heard. On a certain day Buddha dwelt at Rajagaha in a grove called Veluvana. And the same day the young house-holder Sigâla rose early in the morning, and went forth from Râjagaha, and standing with wet hair and streaming garments, and clasped hands uplifted, worshipped the various quarters, the east, the south, the west, the north, the nadir, and the zenith. And Buddha rose early in the morning and put on his raiment, and taking his bowl and robe went to Râjagaha to seek alms. And the Blessed One beheld the young house-holder, as with streaming hair and garments and clasped hands uplifted he worshipped the various quarters, and beholding he thus addressed him: —
Wherefore, young man, dost thou rise betimes, and leaving Râjagaha, with wet hair and streaming garments dost worship the various quarters — the east quarter, the south, the west, and the north, the nadir and the zenith?
Master, my father when he lay on his death-bed said to me, My son, do thou worship the quarters. Honouring therefore my father's words, reverencing, revering, and holding them sacred, I rise early in the morning, and going forth from Râjagaha, with wet hair and streaming garments, and clasped hands uplifted, I worship the various quarters — the east, the south, the west, and the north, the nadir and the zenith.
Not thus, young man, should the six quarters be worshipped according to the teaching of holy sages.
How then, Master, should the six quarters be worshipped? May it please thee, Master, so to teach me thy truth that I may know how the six quarters should be worshipped according to the teaching of the holy sages.
Hear then, young man, give heed to my words and I will speak.
And the young householder Sigala answered, Even so, Lord; and thus the Buddha spoke —
Young man, inasmuch as the holy disciple has forsaken the four polluting actions, inasmuch as he is uninfluenced by four evil states to commit sin, inasmuch as he eschews the six means of dissipating wealth, therefore freed from fourteen evils, and guarding the six quarters, he walks victorious over both worlds; for him this world is blest and the next also, and on the dissolution of the body after death he is reborn in heavenly mansions.
What are the four polluting actions forsaken by him? The destruction of life is a polluting act, theft is a polluting act, impurity is a polluting act, lying is a polluting act — these four polluting actions are forsaken by him.
And what are the four evil states that tempt men to sin? Through partiality men commit sin, through anger men commit sin, through ignorance men commit sin, through fear men commit sin. But inasmuch as the holy disciple lives uninfluenced by partiality, or wrath, or folly, or fear, therefore these four evil states tempt him not to sin. Whoso from partiality, wrath, folly, or fear is tempted to pervert justice, his glory shall fade like the waning moon. But whoso untempted by these refrains from perverting justice, his glory shall be made full, like the glory of the increasing moon.
And what are the six means of dissipating wealth? Strong drink, young man, and theatre-going, and evil companions, and dicing, and wandering about the streets at night, and idleness — these six bring a man to poverty.
There are six evils, young man, in being addicted to strong drink — poverty, strife, disease, loss of character, shameless exposure of the person, and impaired faculties.
Six evils attend on him who wanders about the streets at night. His life is in danger, his wife and children are uncared for, his property is unguarded, he falls under the suspicion of frequenting places of evil resort, false rumours circulate concerning him, and sorrow and remorse follow in his train.
Six evils wait upon him who thirsts after worldly amusements. He is ever crying, Where is there dancing? where is there singing? where is there music? where recitation, where conjuring, where public shows?
Six evils wait upon the gambler. If he win, he begets hatred; if he lose, his heart is sorrowful. His substance is wasted, his word has no weight in a court of ustice, his friends and his kinsmen despise him, and he is looked upon as ineligible for marriage — for men say, A gambler is unfit to support a wife.
Six evils attend on him who associates with bad companions. Every gambler, every libertine, every cheat, every rogue, every outlaw is his friend and companion.
Six evils attend upon the sluggard. He says it is too cold, and does not work; he says it is too hot, and does not work; he says it is too early, and does not work; he says it is too late, and does not work; he says, I am hungry, and does not work; he says, I am full, and does not work; and while he thus lives ever neglecting his duties, he both fails to acquire new property, and that which he possesses dwindles away.
Some friends are only boon companions, some are hollow friends; the true friend is the friend in need.
Sleeping after the sun has risen, adultery, revenge, malevolence, evil communications, and avarice — these six things bring a man to ruin.
He who has sinful friends and sinful companions, who is devoted to sinful practices, the same is ruined in this world and the next.
Gambling, debauchery, dancing and singing, sleeping by day and wandering about at night, bad companions, and avarice — these six things bring a man to ruin.
Woe to the dicers, to them that drink strong drink, that go in unto their neighbour's wife: whoso follows wickedness and honours not the wise, he shall fade like the waning moon.
He that drinks strong drink is needy and destitute, ever thirsting with unquenchable thirst; he plunges into debt as one plunges into water, and will quickly bring his family to nothing.
He who sleeps by day and rises at night, who is ever full of whoredoms, is unfit to maintain a family.
Poverty overtakes him who says, 'Tis too cold, 'tis too hot, 'tis too late, and neglects his daily work; but he who, performing his manly duties, recks not a straw for heat or cold, his happiness shall not decay.
There are four, young man, who, seeming to be friends, are enemies in disguise — the rapacious friend, the man of much profession, the flatterer, and the dissolute companion.
In four ways the rapacious man may be known to be a false friend: he enriches himself at your expense; he expects much in return for little; he does what is right only under the impulse of fear; and he serves you from self-interested motives.
In four ways the man of much profession may be known to be a false friend: he boasts of what he meant to have done for you; he boasts of what he means to do for you; he is profuse in unprofitable compliments, but in the hour of need he protests his inability to serve you.
In four ways the flatterer may be known to be a false friend: he assents when you do wrong; he assents when you do right; he praises you to your face, and speaks ill of you behind your back.
In four ways the dissolute companion may be known to be a false friend: he is your friend if you follow after strong drink, if you wander about the streets at night; he is your companion in theatre-going, he is your companion in dicing.
The rapacious friend, the insincere friend, the friend who speaks only to please, and he who is a companion in vicious pleasures — recognizing these four to be false friends, the wise man flies far from them as he would from a road beset with danger.
These four, young man, are true friends — the watchful friend, the friend who is the same in prosperity and adversity, the friend who gives good advice, and the sympathizing friend.
In four ways the watchful friend may be known to be a true friend: he protects you when you are off your guard; he watches over your property when you are careless; he offers you an asylum in time of danger; and when work has to be done, he gives you the means of doubling your wealth.
In four ways the friend who is the same in prosperity and adversity may be known to be a true friend: he confides to you his own secrets; he faithfully keeps yours; he forsakes you not in trouble; and he will lay down his life for your sake.
In four ways the good counsellor may be known to be a true friend: he restrains you from vice; he exhorts you to virtue; he imparts instruction, and points the way to heaven.
In tour ways the sympathizing friend may be known to be a true friend: he grieves over your misfortunes; he rejoices in your happiness; he restrains those who speak ill of you; he applauds those who speak well of you.
The watchful friend, the steadfast friend, the good counsellor, and the sympathizing friend — recognizing these four to be true friends, the wise man cleaves to them as the mother cleaves to her infant son.
The wise man, endowed with righteousness, shines like a flaming fire. He who gathers wealth as the bee gathers honey, his wealth shall accumulate as the ant's nest is built up; and with wealth thus acquired, he will bring no dishonour upon his family. Let him apportion his property into four, and so let him cement friendships. With one portion let him maintain himself; with two let him carry-on his business; the fourth let him treasure up; it will serve him in time of trouble.
But in what way does the disciple of holy sages guard the six quarters? Know, young man, that these are the six quarters. Parents are the east quarter, teachers are the south quarter, wife and children are the west quarter, friends and companions are the north quarter, spiritual pastors are the zenith, and servants and dependents are the nadir.
In five ways, young man, a son should minister to his parents, who are the east quarter. He should say, I will support them who have supported me, I will perform their duties, I will guard their possessions, I will make myself worthy to be their heir, and when they are gone I will pay honour to their memory. And in five ways the parents show their affection for their son. They keep him from vice, they train him in virtue, they provide him with a good education, they unite him to a suitable wife, and in due time make over to him the family heritage. And thus is the east quarter guarded and free from danger.
In five ways the pupil should honour his teachers, who are the south quarter. By rising in their presence, by ministering to them, by obeying them, by supplying their wants, and by attentively receiving their instruction. And in five ways the teachers show their affection for their pupil. They train him up in all that is good, they teach him to hold fast knowledge, they instruct him in science and lore, they speak well of him to his friends and companions, and protect him from danger in every quarter.
In five ways should the wife, who is the west quarter, be cherished by her husband. By treating her with respect, by treating her with kindness, by being faithful to her, by causing her to be honoured by others, and by furnishing her with suitable apparel. And in five ways the wife shows her affection for her husband. She orders her household aright, she is hospitable to kinsmen and friends, she is a chaste wife, a thrifty housekeeper, and skilful and diligent in all her duties.
In five ways should the honourable man minister to his friends and companions, who are in the north quarter. By liberality, courtesy, and benevolence, by doing to them as he would be done by, and by sharing with them his prosperity. And in five ways do they in their turn show their attachment for their friend. They watch over him when he is off his guard, they watch over his property when he is careless, they offer him a refuge in danger, they forsake him not in misfortune, and show kindness to his family.
In five ways the master should provide for the welfare of his servants and dependents, who are the nadir. By apportioning work to them according to their powers, by supplying them with food and wages, by tending them in sickness, by sharing with them unusual delicacies, and by granting them occasional relaxation. And in five ways do they in return testify their affection for their master. They rise before him, and retire to rest after him, they are content with what is given them, they do their work thoroughly, and they speak well of their master.
In five ways should the honourable man minister to his spiritual masters who are the zenith. By friendly acts, by friendly words, by friendly thoughts, by giving them a ready welcome, and by supplying their temporal wants. And in six ways do they show their affection in return. They restrain him from vice, they exhort him to virtue, they are kindly affectioned towards him, they instruct him in religious truth, clear up his doubts, and point the way to heaven.
Parents are the east quarter, teachers are the south, wife and children are the west, friends and companions the north, servants and dependents are the nadir, the zenith are spiritual pastors; let a man worship these quarters, and he will bring no dishonour upon his family.
The wise man who loves a virtuous life, gentle and prudent, lowly and teachable — such a one shall be exalted. If he be resolute and diligent, unshaken in misfortune, persevering and wise, such a one shall be exalted. Benevolent, friendly, grateful, liberal, a guide, instructor, and trainer of men — such a one shall attain honour.
Liberality, courtesy, benevolence, unselfishness, under all circumstances and towards all men — these qualities are to the world what the linchpin is to the rolling chariot. And when these qualities are wanting, neither father nor mother will receive honour and support from a son. And because wise men foster these qualities, therefore do they prosper and receive praise.
When Buddha had thus spoken the young householder Sigâla addressed him as follows: — It is wonderful, Master! it is wonderful, Master! 'Tis as if one should set up again that which is overthrown, or should reveal that which is hidden, or should direct the wanderer into the right path, or hold out a lamp in the darkness — so that they that have eyes to see shall see. Yea, even thus has the Blessed Lord made known the truth to me in many a figure. And I, even I, do put my trust in thee, and in thy law and in thy church — receive me, Lord, as thy disciple and true believer from this time forth as long as life endures.