善生经—家庭和社会的关系

善生经—家庭和社会的关系
　　ADVICE TO SIGALA
　　（Domestic and Social Relations）
　　（Sigalovada-sutta）
　　（Abridged）
　　Thus has I heard. The Blessed One was once staying near Rajagaha at the Squirrels’ Feeding –ground in the Bamboo Wood.
　　Now at this time Sigala, a householder’s son, rising early, went our of Rajagaha. With wet hair, wet garments and his clasped hands uplifted, he performed the rite of worship to the several quarters of earth and sky: to the east, south west, and north, to the nadir and the zenith. 1.
　　Early that same morning, the Blessed One dressed, took bowl and robe and entered Rajagaha seeking aims. Haw Sigala at his rite of worship and spoke to him thus:
　　‘Why, young householder, do you, rising early and leaving Rajagaha, you’re your hair and raiment wet, worship the several quarters of earth and sky?
　　‘Sir, my father, when he was on his death-bed, said to me : “Dear son, you should worship the quarters of earth and sky.” So I, sir, honouring my father’s word, reverencing, revering, holding it sacred, rise early and, leaving Rajagaha, worship in this way.’
　　‘But in the Discipline of the Arya （Noble One）, young house-holder, the six quarters should not be worshipped in this way,’
　　‘How then, sir, in the Discipline of the Arya, should the six quarters be worshipped ? It would be an excellent thing, if the Blessed One would so teach me the way in which according to the Discipline of the Arya, the six quarters should be worshipped.’
　　‘Hear then, young householder, reflect carefully and I will tell you.’
　　‘Yes, sir.’ responded young Sigala. And the Blessed One said:
　　‘Just as, young householder, the Aryan disciple has put away the four vices in conduct; just as he does no evil actions from the four motives; just as he does not make towards the six doors of dissipating wealth; avoiding these fourteen evil things, he is a guardian of the six quarters, is on his way to conquer both worlds, is successful both in this world and in the next. At the dissolution of the body, after death, he is reborn to a happy destiny in heaven,
　　‘What are the four vices of conduct that he has put away? The destruction of life, stealing, adultery, and lying. These are the four vices of conduct that he has put away.
　　‘By which four motives does he do no evil actions? Evil actions are does from motives of partiality, enmity, stupidity and fear. But as the Aryan disciple is not led away by these motives he does no actions through them.
　　‘And which are the six doors of dissipating wealth? Drink; frequenting the streets at unseemly hours; haunting fairs; gambling; associating with evil friends; idleness.
　　‘There are, young householder, these six dangers of drink: the actual loss of wealth; increase of quarrels; susceptibility to disease; an evil reputation; indecent exposure; ruining one’s intelligence.
　　‘Six, young householder, are the perils a man runs through frequenting the streets at unseemly hours: he himself is unguarded or unprotected and so too are his wife and children; so also is his property (wealth); in addition he falls under the suspicion of being responsible for undetected crimes; false rumours are attached to his name; he goes out to meet many troubles.
　　‘There are six in haunting fairs: A man keeps looking about to see where is there dancing? Where is there singing? Music? recitation? cymbal playing? The beating of tam-tams?
　　‘Six, young householder, are the perils of gambling: if the man wins, he is hated; if he loses, he mourns his lost wealth; waste of wealth; his word has no weight in an assembly (a court of law); he is despised by his friends and companions; he is not sought in marriage, for people will say that a man who is a gambler will never make a good husband.
　　‘There are six perils of associating with evil friends: any gambler, any libertine, any tippler, any cheat, any swindler, any man of violence becomes his friend and companion.
　　‘There are six perils in idleness: A man says, it is too cold, and does no work. He says, it is too hot, and does no work; he says, it is too early…too late, and does no work. He says, I am too hungry, and does no work…too full, and does no work. And while all that he should do remains undone, he makes no money, and such wealth as he has dwindles away.
　　‘Four persons should be reckoned as foes in the likeness of friends: the rapacious person; the man who pays lip-service only to a friend; the flatterer; the wastrel.
　　‘Of these the first is to be reckoned as a foe in the likeness of a friend on four grounds: he is rapacious; he gives little and expects much; he does what he has to do out of fear; he pursues his own interests.
　　‘On four grounds the man who pays lip-service only to a friend is to be reckoned as a foe in the likeness of a friend: he makes friendly professions as regards the past; he make friendly professions as regards the future; the only service he renders is by his empty sayings; when the opportunity for service arises he shows his unreliability.
　　‘On four grounds the flatterer is to be reckoned as a foe in the likeness of a friend: he approves your bad deeds, as well as your good deeds; he praises you to your face, and in your absence he speaks ill of you.
　　‘On four grounds the wastrel is to be reckoned as a foe in the likeness of a friend : he is your companion when you go drinking; when you frequent the streets at untimely hours; when you haunt shows and fairs; when you gamble.
　　‘The friends who should be reckoned as good-hearted (friends) are four: the helper; the friend who is constant in happiness and adversity; the friend of good counsel; the sympathetic friend.
　　‘The friend who is a helper is to be reckoned as good-hearted on four grounds: he protects you when you are taken unawares; he protects your property when you are not there to protect it; he is a refuge to you when you are afraid; when you have tasks to perform he provides twice as much help as you may need.
　　‘The friend who is constant in happiness and adversity is to be reckoned as good-hearted on four grounds: he tells you his secrets; he does not betray your secrets; in your troubles he does not forsake you; for your sake he will even lay down his life.
　　‘The friend of good counsel is…good-hearted on four grounds: he restrains you from doing wrong; he enjoins you to (do what is) right; from him you learn what you had not learnt before; he shows you the way to heaven.
　　‘The friend who is sympathetic is to be reckoned as good-hearted on four grounds: he does not rejoice over your misfortunes; he rejoices with you in your prosperity; he restrains those who speak ill of you; he commends those who speak well of you.
　　‘And how, young householder, does the Aryan disciple protect (guard) the six quarters? 2. The following should be looked upon as the six quarters: parents as the east; reachers as the south; wife and children as the west; friends and companions as the north; servants and employees as the nadir; recluses and brahmins (the religieux) as the zenith.
　　‘A child should minister to his parents as the eastern quarter in five ways (saying to himself): Once I was supported by them, now I will be their support; I will perform those duties they have to perform; I will maintain the lineage and tradition of my family; I will look after my inheritance; and I will give alms (perform religious rites) on behalf of them (when they are dead).
　　‘Parents thus ministered to by their children as the eastern quarter, show their love for them in five ways: they restrain them from evil; they direct them towards the good; they train them to a profession; they arrange suitable marriages for them; and in due time, they hand over the inheritance to them.
　　‘In this way the eastern quarter is protected and made safe and secure for him.
　　‘A pupil should minister to his teachers as the southern quarter in five ways: by rising (from his seat, to salute them); by waiting upon them; by his eagerness to learn; by personal service; and by respectfully accepting their teaching.
　　Teachers, thus ministered to as the southern quarter by their pupil, show their love for their pupil in five ways: they train him well; they make him grasp what he has learnt; they instruct him thoroughly in the lore of every art; they introduce him to their friends and companions; they provide for his security everywhere.
　　‘In this way the southern quarter is protected and made safe and secure for him.
　　‘A wife as western quarter should be ministered to by her husband in five ways: by respecting her; by his courtesy; by being faithful to her: by handing over authority to her; by providing her with adornment (jewellery, etc.).
　　‘The wife ministered to by her husband as the western quarter, loves him in these five ways: by doing her duty well; by hospitality to attendants, etc.; by her fidelity; by looking after his earnings; and by skill and industry in all her business dealings.
　　‘In this way the western quarter is protected and made safe and secure for him.
　　‘In five ways a member of a family should minister to his friends and companions as the northern quarter: by generosity; by courtesy; by benevolence; by equality (treating them as be treats himself); and by being true to his word.
　　‘Thus ministered to as the northern quarter, his friends and companions love him in these five ways: they protect him when he is in need of protection; they look after his property when he is unable to; they become a refuge in danger; they do not forsake him in his troubles; and they respect even others related to him.
　　‘In this way the northern quarter is protected and made safe and secure for him.
　　‘A master ministers to his servants and employees as the nadir in five ways: by assigning them work according to their capacity and strength; by supplying them with food and wages; by tending them in sickness; by sharing with them unusual delicacies; and by giving them leave and gifts at suitable times.
　　‘In these ways ministered to by their master, servants and employees love their master in five ways: they wake up before him; they go to bed after him; they take what is given to them; they do their work well; and they speak well of him and give him a good reputation.
　　‘In this way is the nadir protected and made safe and secure for him.
　　‘A member of a family (a layman) should minister to recluses and brahmins (the ueligieux) as the zenith in five ways: by affectionate acts; by affectionate words; by affectionate thoughts; by keeping open house for them; by supplying them with their wordly needs.
　　‘In this way ministered to as the zenith, recluses and brahmins show their love for the members of the family (laymen) in six ways: they keep them from evil; they exhort them to do good; they love them with kindly thoughts; they teach them what they have not learnt; they correct and refine what they have learnt; they reveal to them the way to heaven.
　　‘In this way is the zenith protected and made safe and secure for him.’
　　When the Blessed One had thus spoken, Sigala the young householder said this: ‘Excellent’ Sir, excellent! It is as if one should set upright what had been turned upside down, or reveal what had been hidden away, or show the way to a man gone astray, or bring a lamp into darkness so that those with eyes might see things there. In this manner the Dhamma is expounded by the Blessed One in many ways. And I take refuge in the Blessed One, in the Dhamma and in the Community of Bhikkhus. May the Blessed One receive me as his lay-disciple, as one who has taken his refuge in him from this day forth as long as life endures.’
　　（Digha-Nikaya, No. 31）
　　1. Performing the rite of worship of the different quarters of the external world, invoking, for protection, the mighty spirits or gods inhabiting them, was an old ritual according to the Vedic tradition . The Buddha, who disapproves and condemns such superstitious, old practices, gives them new meanings and interpretations, according to the persons to whom he speaks. Of .’The Parable of the Piece of Cloth’ where be speaks to a brahmin of the ‘inner bath’ instead of ‘sacred baths in holy rivers’.(p. 108)
　　2. Now the Buddha explains to Sigala what the six quarters are and bow to ‘worship’ them according to the ‘Discipline of the Arya (Noble One)’ by way of performing one’s duties and obligations towards them, instead of performing the ritual worship according to the old Brahmanic tradition. If the ‘six quarters’ are ‘protected’ in this way, they are made safe and secure, and no danger would come from there. Brahmins too worshipped the quarters of the external world to prevent any danger coming from the spirits or gods inhabiting them.
　　善生经
　　家庭和社会关系
　　[ 摘要 ]
　　如是我闻：当时，世尊正住在王舍城（Rajagaha）附近、一个竹林内的松鼠饲养埸。
　　一次，一个管家的儿子名叫施嘉那。他很早起床，走出王舍城。当时，他的头发
　　衣服都湿了。他高举合十的手掌，向东方、向南方、向西方、向北方，以及天底和天顶膜拜 注1。
　　那天清早，世尊穿了衣服、拿着衣钵，正要进入王舍城去乞讨布施，看见施嘉那还在膜拜，于是对施嘉那说：
　　“年轻的管家，为什么你要那么早走出王舍城，使到头发、衣服都湿了地向天地各方膜拜呢？
　　“ 先生，当家父弥留的时候，他对我说：‘亲爱的儿子，你一定要膜拜天地各方。’先生，为了实践家父的嘱咐，所以我便恭恭敬敬地这样子很早起床，走出王舍城向天地各方膜拜。”
　　“年轻的管家，按照雅利安贵族的规律，天地各方是不能这样膜拜的。
　　“先生，那么按照雅利安贵族的规律，天地各方应该怎能样膜拜呢？如果圣者可以指导我按照雅利安贵族的规律，天地各方应该怎能样膜拜，就好极了！”
　　“那么，年轻的管家，好好地聆听和考虑。我要开始啦！”年青的施嘉那响应 “好啊，先生！”
　　世尊说了以下的话：“年轻的管家，就像雅利安贵族规律的子弟已经舍弃了行为中四类恶习；没有做由四类动机引发出来的恶行；也没有走向挥霍的六度门；一位雅利安子弟能够避开这十四种恶行，他其实已经是这六度门的看守人，已经踏上征服两个世界的大道，也可以在这个和未来那个世界都能够取得成就。当他死后，躯体融化时，他已再生到天堂的极乐。
　　“什么是他已经舍弃的行为中四类恶习呢？自杀、偷窃、通奸、说谎，这些就是他已经舍弃的行为中四类恶习。
　　“他没有做恶行，什么是引发这些恶行的四类动机呢？恶行被偏袒、敌意、愚昧、恐惧引发出来。既然这位雅利安子弟没有让这些动机诱惑，所以他没有做由它们引发出来的恶行。
　　“而什么是走向挥霍的六度门昵？饮酒、不适时在街上留连、耽溺欢场、赌博、结交损友、懒散。
　　“年轻的管家，饮酒可以带来六种危害：财产的实际损失、争吵的增加、疾病的感染、名誉的损坏、猥亵的暴露、智力的损毁。
　　“六种，年轻的管家，总共有六种危害，如果一个人不适时在街上留连：不但自己没有保障，连妻儿，以致财产都没有保障；而且会被怀疑与未侦破的罪案有关连；自己的名字与谣言牵连；也碰上很多麻烦。
　　“这些就是因为耽溺欢场而带来的危害：一个人不断地打听看看那里有跳舞？那里有唱歌？音乐？说书？玩铙钹？打锣鼓？
　　“六种，年轻的管家，总共有六种因为赌博而带来的危害，如果一个人赢了、他被人憎恨；如果输了、他感到哀痛而又虚耗了财富；在法庭里，他的话再不被人看重；他被朋友和伙伴鄙视；无人会嫁他，因为所有人都说赌徒永远做不成好丈夫。
　　“结交损友带来六种危害：任何赌徒、无赖、酒鬼、骗子、冒名者、暴徒变成他的朋友和伙伴。
　　“懒散带来六种危害：他说：天气太冷了，他便什么也不做。他说：天气太热了，他便什么也不做。太早了……太迟了，他便什么也不做。他说：太饿了，他便什么也不做……太饱了，他便什么也不做。当他发觉所有应该做的，他都没做，也没赚钱。于是他的财产便渐渐减少。
　　“有四种人，他们看来好像朋友，其实却是敌人：贪婪的人、口惠而实不至的人、拍马屁的人、挥霍无度的人。
　　“其中，可以从四个角度去确定谁是第一个看来好像朋友，其实却是敌人：他贪婪，付出少、需索却多，做什么都是因为惧怕、他只追求自己的兴趣。
　　“可以从四个角度去确定口惠而实不至的人是看来好像朋友，其实却是敌人：谈及以前，他装作很熟络；谈及将来，他装作很熟络；但能够帮忙的只是空言；当真正需要他的帮忙时，他便露出靠不住。
　　“可以从四个角度去确定拍马屁的人是看来好像朋友，其实却是敌人：他赞同你的坏行为、以及好行为；他就在你的面前称赞你、却在你不在的时候诋毁你。
　　“可以从四个角度去确定挥霍无度的人是看来好像朋友，其实却是敌人：他陪你去饮酒、不适时在街上留连、耽溺欢场以至赌博。
　　“有四种人，他们是善良的朋友：乐于助人的人、不论在顺境或逆境都能保持稳定的人、提出忠告的人、有同情心的人。
　　“可以从四个角度去确定谁是乐于助人的朋友：当你冷不防被人乘机时，他会保护你。当你不能在场保护财物时，他会保护它。当你害怕的时候，他给你慰藉。当你需要执行任务时，他会给你需要帮忙的两倍。
　　“可以从四个角度去确定谁是不论在顺境或逆境都能保持稳定的朋友：他告诉你他的秘密、他不会出卖你的秘密、当你有困难时，他不会离弃你、为了你，他会牺牲自己的生命。
　　“可以从四个角度去确定谁是提出忠告的朋友：他防止你做坏事、他叮嘱你去做好事、从他的身上，你可以学到以前没学过的东西、他指示你通去天堂的路。
　　“可以从四个角度去确定谁是有同情心的朋友：他不会向你幸灾乐祸、他为你的成功而欢欣、他防止别人诽谤你、他表扬称赞你的人。
　　“年轻的管家，雅利安子弟是怎样看守那六个方位呢 注2.？这些应该看作六个方位：双亲作东方、老师作为南方、妻儿作为西方、朋友和伙伴作为北方、雇员作为天底、隱士和婆罗门作为天顶。
　　“子女应该用五种方法奉侍双亲作为东方（对自己说）：他们曾经养育我、现在我会供养他们，他们应该执行的职责、我会代他们执行，我会维系家族的嫡系和传统，（当他们过世后）我会以他们的名义捐献（作宗教礼仪）。
　　“双亲既由子女奉侍作为东方，双亲应该用五种方法表达他们的慈爱：防止他们做坏事；指导他们向善；给他们专业训练；为他们安排适合的配偶；而且在适当的时候，把家产传袭给他们。
　　“就这样这位雅利安子弟已好好地保护东方，使它变得安全和稳固。
　　“学生应该用五种方法尊敬老师作为南方：（从座位）起立（并致敬礼）、服侍、认真学习、照顾起居、恭敬地接受教诲。
　　“老师既由学生尊敬作为南方，老师应该用五种方法表达他们的慈爱：好好地训练他；使他好好地掌握学到的东西；教他透彻地认识每个学科；给他介绍朋友和伙伴；处处给他提供保障。
　　“就这样这位雅利安子弟已好好地保护南方，使它变得安全和稳固。
　　“丈夫应该用五种方法照顾妻子作为西方，尊敬她、礼待她、忠于她、给她权力、送她首饰。
　　“妻子既由丈夫照顾作为西方，妻子应该用五种方法表达她的亲爱：好好地实践责任；善待仆从；忠贞；小心管理他的收入；技巧和勤奋地处理交易。
　　“就这样这位雅利安子弟已好好地保护西方，使它变得安全和隐固。
　　“在家人应该用五种方法照顾朋友和伙伴作为北方：慷慨、有礼、善心、公平（对待他们一如自己）、守信。
　　“朋友和伙伴既由在家人照顾作为北方，朋友和伙伴应该用五种方法表达他们的敬爱：有需要时保护他；他当他不能照顾自己的财物时，为他照顾财物；当他有危难时，给他庇护；当他有麻烦时，不会舍弃他；尊敬他的亲人。
　　“就这样这位雅利安子弟已好好地保护北方，使它变得安全和稳固。
　　“雇主应该用五种方法照顾雇员作为天底：因应他们的能力安排工作、给他们供应食物和薪水、当他们病了，给他们照料、与他们分享特别的奇珍、经常给他们假期和礼物。
　　“雇员既由雇主这样照顾作为天底，雇员应该用五种方法表达他们的敬爱：比他更早起床；比他更迟上床；接受所有供给他的东西；为他说好话；给他一个好名誉。
　　“就这样这位雅利安子弟已好好地保护天底，使它变得安全和稳固。
　　“一个普通人应该用五种方法供养隐士和婆罗门作为天顶：温柔的动作、温柔的说话、温和的想法、为他们看守家门，因为他们的家是大开中门的、供应他们一切所需。
　　“隱士和婆罗门既由普通人这样照顾作为天顶，隱士和婆罗门应该用五种方法表达他们的敬爱：保障他们免受邪恶威胁；劝勉他们做好事；为爱护，所以关怀他们；教导他们未懂的事情；改善他们已懂的事情，向他们显露到天国的路。
　　“就这样这位雅利安子弟已好好地保护天顶，使它变得安全和稳固。
　　当世尊说法完毕，年青的管家施嘉那立即对世尊说：“真好，先生，真好！这番说法就像扶正倒下了的东西、显现遮蔽了的东西、指引迷了途的人、带盏灯到黑暗的地方，好使有视力的人能够看见。就这样，圣者用各种方法说明佛法。我要归依到圣者、佛法、信徒团体那里去。请圣者接纳我作为在家信徒，就像一个人自此受到庇护直至躯体能够延续。”
　　（ 长部 31.）
　　注1. 膜拜外方世界的各个方位以祈求住在那里的神灵保护他们，这是很古老的吠陀（Vedic）习俗。佛陀不赞同这习俗，更谴责它是迷信、古老。佛陀为不同的对象把它赋与新的阐释。就像（布的寓言）里，向一位婆罗门讲解 ‘内心洗净’，而不是 ‘在圣河洗澡’。
　　注2. 佛陀向施嘉那解释六个方位是什么，如何按照雅利安贵族的规律，‘礼拜’ 它们。其实应该做自己的职责，而不是依照古老的婆罗门习俗去做崇拜仪式。如果那 ‘六个方位’ 这样 ‘保护’，它们已经变得安全和稳固，再不会有什么危害。婆罗门教徒膜拜外方世界的各个方位；因为常有危害来自住在那里的神灵，所以教徒祈求避免它们。