Part II - Pairs of Obligations

The obligations are described in the Sigalovada Sutta of Pathika Vagga in Dhiga Nikaya.

 

1. Parents and Children

In the Pali texts the Buddha states that parents are like brahmas. They are filled with metta, karuna, mudita and upekkha. Like brahmas parents also have these characters for their children. Parents are also the primary teachers. They teach their children how to speak, walk, eat, drink, etc. The Buddha stated that a child should minister to his/her parents in five ways:

(1) look after them as they have looked after for you,
(2) be dutiful,
(3) keep the family tradition,
(4) make oneself worthy of  one’s inheritance,
(5) offer alms in honor of the departed relatives.

           

In five ways, the parents must show their compassion to their children:

(1)   restrain them from evil,

(2) encourage them to do good,
(3) train them for a profession,
(4) arrange a suitable marriage,
(5) hand over their inheritance to the children at the appropriate time.

 

The Story of Kala, son of Anathapindika

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (178) of this book, with reference to Kala, son of Anathapindika, the well renowned rich man of Savatthi.

Kala, son of Anathapindika, always kept away whenever the Buddha and his company of bhikkhus came to their house. Anathapindika was afraid that if his son kept on behaving in this way, he would be reborn in one of the lower worlds (apayas). So, he enticed his son with the promise of money. He promised to give one hundred if the youth consented to go to the monastery and keep sabbath for one day. So, the youth went to the monastery and returned home early the next day, without listening to any religious discourses. His father offered him rice gruel, but instead of taking his food, he first demanded to have the money.

The next day, the father said to his son, "My son, if you learn a stanza of the Text from the Buddha I will give you one thousand on your return." So, Kala went to the monastery again, and told the Buddha that he wanted to learn something. The Buddha gave him a short stanza to learn by heart; at the same time he willed that the youth would not be able to memorize it. Thus, the youth had to repeat a single stanza many times, but because he had to repeat it so many times, in the end, he came to perceive the full meaning of the Dhamma and attained Sotapatti Fruition.

Early on the next morning, he followed the Buddha and the bhikkhus to his own house. But on that day, he was silently wishing, "I wish my father would not give me the one thousand in the presence of the Buddha. I do not wish the Buddha to know that I kept the sabbath just for the sake of money." His father offered rice gruel to the Buddha and the bhikkhus, and also to him. Then, his father brought one thousand, and told Kala to take the money but surprisingly he refused. His father pressed him to take it, but he still refused. Then, Anathapindika said to the Buddha, "Venerable Sir, my son is quite changed; he now behaves in a very pleasant manner." Then he related to the Buddha how he had enticed the youth with money to go to the monastery and keep sabbath and to learn some religious texts. To him the Buddha replied, "Anathapindika! Today, your son has attained Sotapatti Fruition, which is much better than the riches of the Universal Monarch or that of the devas or that of the brahmas."

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 147: Far better than sovereignty over the earth, or far better than going to the abodes of the devas, or far better than ruling supreme over the entire universe, is (the attainment of) Sotapatti Fruition.

[The above translation is from…. Daw Mya Tin (1986). The Dhammapada. Rangoon: Burma Pitaka Association. http://www.nibanna.com

 

 

2. Teachers and Students

A pupil should minister to a teacher in five ways:

(1) treat with respect and acknowledgment,
(2) attend on him/her,
(3) eager to learn,
(4) carry out personal assistance,
(5) pay attention to the instructions.

Teachers should respond with compassion to their pupils in five ways:

(1) train them in the best discipline,
(2) see that they grasp their lessons well,
(3) instruct them in the arts and sciences,
(4) introduce them to their friends and associates,
(5) provide for their safety in every quarter.

 

Husband and Wife

A husband should minister to his wife in five ways:

(1) be courteous to her,
(2) not despise her in any way,
(3) be faithful,
(4) hand over authority,
(5) endow her with adornments.

The wife shows her empathy to her husband in five ways:

(1)   by performing her duties well,

(2)   hospitable to relations and attendants

(3)   be faithful,

(4)   protecting what he brings,

(5)   diligent and fulfilling her duties with skill.

Between Friends

A friend care for to his friends and associates in five ways:

(1) being liberal,
(ii) being courteous,
(iii) being helpful,
(iv) being impartial,
(v) being sincere.

The friends and associates should respond in five ways:

(1) check him when he is careless,
(2) check his assets when he is neglectful,
(3) safeguarding him when he is in danger,
(4) not forsaking him in times of trouble,
(5) show consideration for his family.

Ghatikara and Jōtipala

There was a potter named Ghatikara of Vebhalinga village, who was a faithful devotee of Kassapa Budha. Ghatikara had a friend named Jōtipala. Although they were friends Ghatikara was of a lower caste and Jōtipala was from a higher caste. One day Ghatikara told Jōtipala to go see Kassapa Budha but he refused to go because he thought that there was no benefit. Ghatikara tried to persuade Jōtipala several times but to no avail. One day the two friends went to the river for their bath. Ghatikara said to Jōtipala to go see Kassapa Buddha as the monastery was close by. Again Jōtipala refused so Ghatikara grabbed the girdle and urged his friend to go saying it was good to meet with an enlightened Buddha. The unwilling friend released the hold. Jōtipala loved his friend dearly and he was frustrated by the stubbornness of his friend and did the unthinkable. He grabbed Ghatikara by the hair which he had just washed in the river. Jōtipala was surprised as Ghatikara, being of lower caste should not touch his hair. He realized the significance of Jōtipala’s persistence. They went to the the monastery together and after hearing the teachings of Kassapa Buddha, Ghatikara became a monk. [Ghatikara Sutta, Majjhima Nikaya, Raja Vagga.]

Master/ Boss and Servant/Employee

A master should attend to his servants and employees in five ways:

(1) assigning work according to their ability,
(2) supplying them with food and with wages,
(3) tending them in sickness,
(4) sharing with them any delicacies,
(5) granting them leave at times.

The servants and employees should respond to their master in five ways:

(1) should rise before him,
(2) go to sleep after him,
(3) take only what is given,
(4) perform their duties well,
(5) uphold his good name and fame.

Monks and Laymen

A householder attend to monks and ascetics in five ways:

(1) by amiable deeds,
(2) by amiable words,
(3) by pleasant thoughts,
(4) by keeping open house to them,
(5) by supplying their material needs.

Monks and ascetics and show their compassion towards laymen in six ways:

 

(1) they restrain him from evil,
(2) they persuade him to do good,
(3) they love him with a kind heart,
(4) they make him hear what he has not heard,
(5) they clarify what he has already heard,
(6) they point out the path to a heavenly state.