40

THE B U D D H I S T T R A D I T I O N

W h en my father lay dying, Singala replied, he told me

to worship the quarters thus. I honor my fathers words, and
respect and revere them , and so I always get up early and
worship the quarters in this way.
But to worship the six quarters thus is not in accordance
with noble conduct.
How then. Sir, should they be worshiped in accordance
with noble conduct? W ill the Lord be so good as to tell me?
Listen then, said the Lord, and I ll tell you. Mark well
what I say!
I will. Sir, Singala replied. And the Lord spoke as
follows:
If the noble lay-disciple has given up the four vices of
action, if he does no evil deed from any of the four motives,
if he doesnt follow the six ways of squandering his wealth,
if he avoids all these fourteen evils then he embraces the
six quarters, he is ready for th e conquest of both worlds, he
is fortunate both in this world and the next, and when his
body breaks up on his death he is reborn to bliss in heaven.
W h a t are the four vices of action th at he gives up? 'They
are injury to life, taking w hat is not given, base conduct in
sexual matters, and false speech. . .
^ATiat are the four motives of evil deeds which he avoids?
Evil deeds are com m itted from partiality, enmity, stupidity,
and fear.
And what are th e six ways of squandering wealth? They
are addiction to drink, the cause of carelessness; roaming the
streets at improper times; frequenting fairs; gambling; keep
ing bad company; and idleness.
There are six dangers in addiction to drink: actual loss of
wealth; increased liability to quarrels; liability to illness; loss
of reputation; indecent exposure; and weakened intelligence.
'There are six dangers in roaming the streets at improper
times: the m an who does so is unprotected and unguarded;
so are his wife and children; and likewise his property; he
incurs suspicion of having com m itted crime; he is the subject
of false rumors; in fact he goes out to m eet all kinds of
trouble.
"There are six dangers in frequenting fairs: the m an who
does so becomes an insatiable addict of dancing; singing;
music; story-telling; jugglers; or acrobats.