English
Thus have I heard. At one time the Blessed One was staying in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Place. Now at that time, Siṅgālaka, a householder's son, having risen early, had gone forth from Rājagaha, wet-clothed, wet-haired, with joined hands, was paying homage to the various directions: the eastern direction, the southern direction, the western direction, the northern direction, the lower direction, the upper direction. Then the Blessed One, in the morning, having dressed, and taking his bowl and robe, entered Rājagaha for alms. The Blessed One saw Siṅgālaka, the householder's son, having risen early, gone forth from Rājagaha, wet-clothed, wet-haired, with joined hands, paying homage to the various directions: the eastern direction, the southern direction, the western direction, the northern direction, the lower direction, the upper direction. Having seen Siṅgālaka, the householder's son, he said to him: "Why, householder's son, having risen early, gone forth from Rājagaha, wet-clothed, wet-haired, with joined hands, do you pay homage to the various directions: the eastern direction, the southern direction, the western direction, the northern direction, the lower direction, the upper direction?" "My father, venerable sir, when he was dying, told me this: 'My dear, you should pay homage to the directions.' So I, venerable sir, respecting, revering, honoring, and worshipping my father's words, having risen early, gone forth from Rājagaha, wet-clothed, wet-haired, with joined hands, pay homage to the various directions: the eastern direction, the southern direction, the western direction, the northern direction, the lower direction, the upper direction." The Six Directions "Householder's son, in the discipline of the Noble Ones, the six directions are not to be paid homage to in this way." "But how, venerable sir, in the discipline of the Noble Ones, are the six directions to be paid homage to? It would be good for me, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in such a way that in the discipline of the Noble Ones, the six di..." the six directions should be honored.” “Then, young householder, listen well, pay careful attention, I will speak.” “Yes, venerable sir,” the young householder Sigalaka replied to the Blessed One. The Blessed One said this: “When, young householder, the noble disciple has abandoned the four defilements of action, and does not commit evil deeds due to four causes, and does not frequent the six channels for the dissipation of wealth, then, thus freed from these fourteen evil things, covering the six directions, he is set on the path to conquer both worlds. This world is embraced by him, and the other world too. After the breaking up of the body, after death, he reappears in a good destination, a heavenly world. The Four Defilements of Action “Which are the four defilements of action that are abandoned by him? Taking life, young householder, is a defilement of action; taking what is not given is a defilement of action; sexual misconduct is a defilement of action; false speech is a defilement of action. These four defilements of action are abandoned by him.” This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this: “Taking life, taking what is not given, And false speech is spoken of; And going to another’s wife, The wise do not praise.” The Four Causes “Due to which four causes does he not commit evil deeds? Going by way of desire, one commits evil deeds; going by way of hatred, one commits evil deeds; going by way of delusion, one commits evil deeds; going by way of fear, one commits evil deeds. When, young householder, the noble disciple does not go by way of desire, does not go by way of hatred, does not go by way of delusion, does not go by way of fear; due to these four causes he does not commit evil deeds.” This is what the Blessed One said. Having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this: “Whoever, from desire, hatred, fear, delusion, Transgresses the Dhamma; His fame declines, like the moon in the dark half. “From desire, from hatred, from fear, from delusion, whoever does not transgress the Dhamma, his fame increases, like the moon in the bright half.” Six Ways of Ruin 247. “Which six ways of ruin for wealth does he not frequent? Addiction to intoxicating drinks and heedlessness, young householder, is a way of ruin for wealth. Frequenting streets at unseasonable times is a way of ruin for wealth. Frequenting public shows is a way of ruin for wealth. Addiction to gambling is a way of ruin for wealth. Association with evil companions is a way of ruin for wealth. Addiction to idleness is a way of ruin for wealth. Six Dangers of Intoxicating Drinks 248. “Indeed, young householder, there are six disadvantages in addiction to intoxicating drinks and heedlessness. Visible loss of wealth, increase of quarrels, a breeding ground for diseases, a cause of ill repute, indecent exposure, and weakening of wisdom is the sixth point. These, young householder, are the six disadvantages in addiction to intoxicating drinks and heedlessness. Six Dangers of Frequenting at Unseasonable Times 249. “Indeed, young householder, there are six disadvantages in frequenting streets at unseasonable times. He himself is unguarded and unprotected. His children and wife are unguarded and unprotected. His property is unguarded and unprotected. He is suspected of evil deeds. False rumors spread about him. He is exposed to many painful things. These, young householder, are the six disadvantages in frequenting streets at unseasonable times. Six Dangers of Frequenting Public Shows 250. “Indeed, young householder, there are six disadvantages in frequenting public shows. Where is the dancing? Where is the singing? Where is the music? Where is the recitation? Where is the hand-clapping? Where is the drum-beating? These, young householder, are the six disadvantages in frequenting public shows. Six Dangers of Addiction to Gambling Six, householder's son, are these dangers in addiction to gambling. Winning breeds enmity, the loser grieves for his wealth, there is visible loss of property, his word is not accepted in the assembly, he is despised by friends and associates, he is not sought after for marriage – 'this person is a gambler, he is not fit to support a wife.' These, householder's son, are the six dangers in addiction to gambling. Six dangers in bad companionship Six, householder's son, are these dangers in following bad companions. Those who are cheats, those who are drunkards, those who are thirsty (for pleasure), those who are deceivers, those who are swindlers, those who are violent. They become his friends, they become his companions. These, householder's son, are the six dangers in following bad companions. Six dangers in idleness Six, householder's son, are these dangers in addiction to idleness. 'It's too cold,' he does not work, 'it's too hot,' he does not work, 'it's too late,' he does not work, 'it's too early,' he does not work, 'I'm too hungry,' he does not work, 'I'm too full,' he does not work. Living thus, full of excuses for not working, wealth not yet arisen does not arise, and wealth already arisen goes to ruin. These, householder's son, are the six dangers in addiction to idleness. This the Blessed One said, having said this, the Fortunate One, the Teacher, further said this – There is a drinking companion, there is a companion of mere acquaintance; But he who, when troubles arise, is a helper, he is a true friend. Sleeping until sunrise, serving another's wife, breeding enmity and unprofitability; bad friends and stinginess, these six things destroy a man. A bad friend, a bad companion, one whose conduct is evil, from this world and the next, such a man is ruined in both. Dice, women, strong drink, song and dance, sleeping by day, wandering about at unseasonable times; bad friends and stinginess, these six things destroy a man. They gamble with dice, they drink strong Thus, The woman who is dear as life to others, Associates with the lowly, not with the wise, Declines like the moon in the dark fortnight. He who is a drunkard, a wanderer, without possessions, Thirsty, drinking, having come to a watering place; He plunges into debt like water, He will quickly make his family destitute. By one who is habitually sleeping by day, And dislikes rising at night, Always intoxicated, a drunkard, A house cannot be maintained. "Too cold," "too hot," "It is too late in the evening," Thus, to those who abandon their duties, Opportunities pass by. He who here, cold and heat, Considers no more than a blade of grass, Performing a man's duties, He does not fall away from happiness. Friends in Disguise 254. These four, young householder, are to be known as enemies in the guise of friends. The plunderer is to be known as an enemy in the guise of a friend, the one who pays lip-service is to be known as an enemy in the guise of a friend, the flatterer is to be known as an enemy in the guise of a friend, the companion in dissipation is to be known as an enemy in the guise of a friend. 255. Indeed, young householder, in four ways the plunderer is to be known as an enemy in the guise of a friend. He is a plunderer, He desires much for little, He performs duties out of fear, He associates for his own gain. Indeed, young householder, in these four ways the plunderer is to be known as an enemy in the guise of a friend. 256. Indeed, young householder, in four ways the one who pays lip-service is to be known as an enemy in the guise of a friend. He makes friendly talk about the past, he makes friendly talk about the future, he tries to win over with meaningless things, he shows his inability in present tasks. Indeed, young householder, in these four ways the one who pays lip-service is to be known as an enemy in the guise of a friend. 257.