The
Duties as shown In Singalovada Sutta
Singalovada Sutta means the discourse preached by the Buddha to a young
man named Singala. In this sutta, the Buddha explained the social duties for
all human beings and they include the duties of parents, the duties of sons and
daughters etc … If one fails to observe these duties one encounters a
declination in prosperity in addition to the misfortune of being reborn in
woeful abodes after death. If one observes these duties, one enjoys prosperity
and high dignity in the present abodes after death. So, all human beings should
observe these social duties with due respect and firm conviction. These duties
are stated in brief as follows : ---
Five
Kinds of Duty for Sons & Daughters
1. Sons and daughters must
attend closely to their parents in order to provide them with all the
requisites in life.
2. They must carry out the
social affairs of the business matters of their parents.
3. They must maintain their
parents’ properties, their parents’ nationality, their parents’ religious
duties, and try to straighten their parents’ religious view if they have a
wrong view. They must also maintain the good name of their parents and their
lineage.
4. They must obey their
parents and make themselves worthy of the parents’ heritage.
5. On their parents’ death
they should do good deeds in dedication to them and share the merits with them.
Five
Kinds of Duty for Parents
1. Parents must prevent their
sons and daughters from misconduct.
2. They must show their sons
and daughters the way to good conduct.
3. They must make their sons
and daughters learn arts and sciences.
4. They must give them in
marriage to suitable persons.
5. They must give them their
inheritance at the proper time.
Five
Kinds of Duty of a Pupil
1. He must stand up and
welcome his teach when he sees the teacher coming.
2. He must attend upon his
teacher.
3. He must obey the words of
the teacher with proper attention and respect.
4. He must serve his teacher
and supply his needs.
5. He must learn carefully
and respectfully what is taught or instructed by his teacher.
Five
Kinds of Duty of a Teacher
1. A teacher must teach his
pupils good behavior.
2. He must impart knowledge
to him in such a manner that the pupil may thoroughly grasp the subject.
3. He must train his pupil
without any discrimination.
4. He must entrust his pupil
to a good teacher.
5. He must protect his pupils
from danger.
Five
Kinds of Duty of a Husband
1. A husband must be kind to
and adore his wife.
2. He must not treat his wife
in an insolent manner.
3. He must not engage in
sexual misconduct with other women.
4. He must give her control
and authority over domestic matters.
5. He must provide his wife
with clothing and ornaments.
Five
Kinds of Duty of a Wife
1. A wife must arrange chores
of the household well and run it smoothly.
2. She must distribute gifts
fairly between her relatives and her husband’s relatives.
3. She must not engage in sexual
misconduct with other men.
4. She must keep and maintain
in an orderly manner all things that are handed over by her husband.
5. She must be skillful and
diligent in all her housework.
Five
Kinds of Duty of a Good Friend
1. A man must give his
friends all necessary things as much as possible.
2. He must speak pleasantly
to them.
3. He must do his best for
the benefit of both his friends and himself.
4. He must treat them as his
equal.
5. He must be true to his
words and promises.
Five
Kinds of Duty of a Beneficiary
1. A beneficiary must protect
his friend when his friend is inebriated.
2. He must guard over his
friend’s properties when he is inebriated.
3. He must be a refuge for
his friend when the latter is in trouble.
4. He must not forsake his
friend when he is in distress.
5. He must help the
descendants.
Five
Kinds of Duty of a Master
1. A master should make his
employees work in accordance with their capability and strength.
2. He must provide his
employees with food and pay them sufficiently.
3. He must give them medical
treatment when they are ill and sick.
4. On receiving delicious
food, he must share it with his employees.
5. He must allow them to work
at appointed times and let them enjoy leisure at other times for rest and
relaxation.
Five
Kinds of Duty of a Servant
1. A servant must rise before
the master.
2. He must go to sleep after
his master.
3. He must take only what is
given to him by his master.
4. He must try his best in
his master’s work.
5. He must always speak of
the virtues of his master.
Five
Kinds of Duty of Laymen
1. A layman must minister to
the Bhikkhus with affection in action.
2. He must minister to the
Bhikkhus with affection in speech.
3. He must show them
affection on thought, wishing them well at all times.
4. He must always keep his
house open to the Bhikkhus.
5. He must provide them with
material requistics.
Six Kinds
of Duty of BHikkhus
1. A Bhikkhu must restrain
his lay disciples from doing evil deeds.
2. He must exhort them to do
good deeds.
3. He must protect them with
loving-kindness.
4. He must preach them what
they have never heard before.
5. He must explain to them
what they have already heard before.
6. He must show them they way
to the realm of devas.
Six Kinds
of Duty of a Leader
1. He must be more industries
than others.
2. He must be vigilant in
order to lead others.
3. He must be kind to his
subordinates.
4. He must forebear and
forgive others.
5. He must be considerate and
reasonable whatever he does.
6. He must be wise and
foresighted in doing things.
.....................................................................................................
From a Book Called “The Teachings Of the Buddha"
by Ven. Bhikkhu Vidya Nanda
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