Vol. 11 · pages 476–480

PART V Vinaya for the Laity 1. Vinaya for the Wealthy. 2. Vinaya for the Householder. 3. Vinaya for Children. 4. Vinaya for Pupil. 5. Vinaya for Husband and Wife. 6. Vinaya for Master and Servant. 7. Conclusions. 8. Vinaya for Girls.

459 VINAYA FOR THE LAITY § 1. Vinaya for the Wealthy (i) 1. The Blessed Lord did not elevate poverty by calling it a blessed state of life. 2. Nor did he tell the poor that they may remain content for they will inherit the earth. 3. On the contrary, he said riches are welcome. What he insisted upon is that the acquisition of riches must be subject to Vinaya. (ii) 1. Once Anathapindika came to where the Exalted One was. Having come, he made obeisance to the Exalted One and took a seat at one side and asked, “Will the Enlightened One tell what things are welcome, pleasant, agreeable, to the householder but which are hard to gain.” 2. The Enlightened One having heard the question put to him said,—“Of such things the first is to acquire wealth lawfully. 3. “The second is to see that your relations also get their wealth lawfully. 4. “The third is to live long and reach great age. 5. “For a true householder for the attainment of these three things, which in the world are welcome, pleasant, agreeable but hard to gain, there are also four conditions precedent. They are the blessing of faith, the blessing of virtuous conduct, the blessing of liberality and the blessing of wisdom. 6. “The blessing of faith and belief consist in the supreme knowledge of the Tathagata which teaches ‘ This is He, the Exalted One, the Holy One, the Supremely Awakened One, the perfect in Knowledge and in Conduct, the Auspicious, the Knower of all the worlds, the Incomparable Trainer of men, the Teacher of Devas and men. 7. “The blessing of virtuous conduct which abstains from taking life, thieving, unchastity, lying and partaking of fermented liquor. 8. “The blessing of liberality consists in the V

460 DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR : WRITINGS AND SPEECHES householder living with mind freed from the taint of avarice, generous, open-handed, delighting in gifts, a good one to be asked and devoted to the distribution of gifts. 9. “Wherein consists the blessing of Wisdom? Ye know that a householder who dwells with mind overcome by greed, avarice, ill-will, sloth, drowsiness, distraction and flurry, commits wrongful deeds and neglects that which ought to be done, and by so doing is deprived of happiness and honour. 10. “Greed, avarice, ill-will, sloth and drowsiness, distraction and flurry and doubt are stains of the mind. A householder who gets rid of such stains of the mind acquires great wisdom, abundant wisdom, clear vision and perfect wisdom. 11. Thus, to acquire wealth legitimately and justly, earned by great industry, amassed by strength of the arm and gained by sweat (of the brow) is a great blessing. The householder makes himself happy and cheerful and preserves himself full of happiness; also make parents, wife and children, servants and labourers, friends and companions happy and cheerful, and preserves them full of happiness.” § 2. Vinaya for the Householder On this matter the Buddha’s thoughts are embodied in his discourse with Sigala. 1. At one time the Exalted One was in the Squirrels’ Feeding-ground in Velu Vana in Rajagraha. 2. Now at this time young Sigala, a householder’s son, rising betimes, went forth from Rajagraha, and with wet hair and wet garments and clasped hands uplifted, paid worship to the several quarters of earth and sky—to the east, south, west and north, to the nadir and the zenith. 3. And the Exalted One early that morning dressed himself, took his bowl and robe and entered Rajagraha seeking alms. He saw young Sigala worshipping and asked him, “ Why do you worship the several quarters of earth and sky?” V

461 VINAYA FOR THE LAITY 4. “My father, when he was dying, said to me : ‘Dear son, you should worship the quarters of earth and sky. So I, sir, honouring my father’s word worship in this wise.’” 5. “But how can this be the true religion of a man of the world” asked the Blessed One. “ What else can be the religion of man,” replied Sigala. “ If there is, it would be an excellent thing if the Exalted One would tell me what it is.” 6. “Hear then young householder, give ear to my words and I will tell you what it is.” “ So be it, Sir,” responded young Sigala. And the Exalted One said : 7. “A religion to be a religion of man must teach him to shun bad conduct. The destruction of life, the taking of what is not given, licentiousness and lying speech are the four vices, of conduct which he must avoid. 8. “Know ye, Sigala, evil deeds are done from motives of partiality, enmity, stupidity and fear. If he is not led away by these motives, he will do no evil deed. 9. “A religion to be religion of man must teach him not to dissipate his wealth. Dissipation of wealth results from being addicted to intoxicating liquors, frequenting the streets at unseemly hours, haunting fairs, being infatuated by gambling, associating with evil companions, the habit of idleness. 10. “There are, Sigala, six dangers which follow from being addicted to intoxicating liquors, actual loss of wealth, increase of quarrels, susceptibility to disease, loss of good character, indecent exposure, impaired intelligence. 11. “Six are the perils from frequenting the streets at unseemly hours : he himself is without guard or protection and so also are his wife and children, so also is his property, he, moreover, becomes suspected as the doer of undiscovered crimes, and false rumours fix on him, and many are the troubles he goes out to meet. 12. “Six are the perils from the haunting of fairs: V