| Just as Buddhist monks have the monks' discipline to observe to be virtuous, so Buddhists in general have the lay people's discipline to keep as code of standards. |
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| aying a Firm Foundation for Life |
| Buddhists are supposed to lead good live and contribute to the growth and stability of society in accordance with the lay people's discipline [gihivinaya] as follows Law 1: Refraining from 14 kinds of evils.
A. Refraining from the for kinds of kammakilesa [evil deeds that defile one's life] namely: |
| 1. One does not do bodily harm or take life [i.e.abstaining from panatipata]. |
| 2. One does not steal or violate property rights[i.e.abstaining from adinnadana |
| 3.One does not commit sexual misconduct [i.e. abstaining from kamesumicchacara.] |
| 4.One does not speak falsely, lie or deceive [i.e. abstaining from musavada]. |
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| B. Refraining from the four kinds of agati[bias or deviant conduct],namely: |
| 1. One is not biased on account of like [i.e. being without chandagati]. |
| 2. One is not biased on account of hate [i.e. being without dosagati]. |
| 3. One is not biased on account of fear [i.e. being without bhayagati]. |
| 4. One is not biased on account offolly [i.e.being without mohagati]. |
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| C. Refraining from the six kinds of apayamukha [channels to th ruin of property and life], namely: |
| 1. One is not addicted to dring or drugs. |
| 2.One does not revel, oblivious to time. |
| 3. One is not bent only on entertainment. |
| 4. One does not indulge in gambling. |
| 5. One does not consort with evil friends. |
| 6. One does not constantly laze around. |
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| Law 2: Preparing resources for life on teo fronts. |
| A. Choosing the people with whom one is to associate. |
| One should associate with people who will guide one's life along apath that is prosperous and constructive, by avoiding false friends and associating only with true friends as follews: |
| 1.Recognizing the four kinds of false friends or enemies in the guise of friends [mitta-patirupaka]: |
| 1] The out-and out robber, who only takes from his friend, has four features |
| [1] He thinks only of taking. |
| [2] He gives just alittle only to gain alot. |
| [3] Only when he himsolf isin danger does he help his friend out. |
| [4] He associates with his friend only for his own sake. |
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| 2] The smooth talker has four features: |
| [1] He talks only of what is done and gone. |
| [2] He talks only of what has not yet come. |
| [3] He offers help that is of no use. |
| [4] When his friend has some business in hand, he always makes excuses. |
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| 3] The flatterer has four features: |
| [1] He consentd to [his friend's] doing wrong. |
| [2] He consents to his doing right. |
| [3] He praises him to his face. |
| [4] He disparages him behind his back. |
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| 4] The leader to ruin has four features: |
| [1] He is a companion in drinking. |
| [2] He is a companion in nightlife. |
| [3] He is a companion in frequenting shows and fairs. |
| [4] He is a companion in gambling. |
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| 2. Knowing of the four kinds of true friends or friends at heart [suhadamtta]: |
| 1] The helping friend has four features: |
| [1] When his friend is off guard, he guards him. |
| [2] When his friend is off guard, he guards his property. |
| [3] In times of danger, he can be a erfuge. |
| [4] When some business needs to be done, he puts up more money than requested. |
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| 2] The friend through thick and thin has four features: |
| [1] He confides in his friend. |
| [2] He keeps his feiend's secrets. |
| [3] He does not desert his friend in times of danger. |
| [4] He will give even his life for hes friend's sake. |
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| 3] The good counselor has four features: |
| [1] He restrains his friend from doing evil or harm. |
| [2] He encourages him in goodness. |
| [3] He makes known to his friend what he has not heard before. |
| [4] He points out the way to happiness, to heaven. |
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| 4] The loving friend has four features: |
| [1] When his friend is unhappy, he commiserates. |
| [2] When his friend is happy, he is happy for him, |
| [3] When others criticize hts friend, he comes to his defense. |
| [4] When others praise his friend, he joins in their praise. |
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| B. Allocating the wealth one has acquired through right livelihood as follows: |
| Stage 1: One should be diligent in earning and saving just as bees cllect nectar and pollens. |
| Stage 2: When one's wealth accrues like a termites' mound, expenditure should be planned thus. |
One portion tobe used for supporting oneself, supporting one's family,taking care of one's dependents and doing good works. |
Two portions to be used for one's career, eaming one's living. |
One portion to be put aside as a guarantee for one's life and business in time of meed. |
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| Law 3: Maintaining one's relations towards the six directions. |
| A. Rendering all the directions secure and peaceful by performing the duties towards the people related to one in due accordance with their six respective positions: |
| 1st direction: As a son or daughter, one should honor one's parents, who are likened to the "forward direction, " as follows: |
| 1.Have been raised by them, one looks after them in return. |
| 2. One helps them in their business and work. |
| 3. One continues the family line. |
| 4. One conducts oneself as is proper for an heir. |
| 5. After their passing away, one makes offerings, dedicating the merit to them. |
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| Parents help their children by: |
| 1. Cautionintg and protecting them from evil. |
| 2. Nurturing and training them in goodness. |
| 3. Providing them with an education. |
| 4. Seeing to it that they obtain suitable spouses. |
| 5. Bequeathing the inheritance to them at the proper time. |
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| 2nd direction: As a student, one should show reverence to one'steacher, who is likened to the "right direction," as follows: |
| 1. One rises to greet the teacher and shows respect to him. |
| 2. One approaches the teacher to attend him, serve him, consult him, query him, receive advice from him,etc. |
| 3. One hearkens well so as to cultivate wisdom. |
| 4. One serves the teacher and runs errands for him. |
| 5. One learns the subject respectfull and earnestly, giving the task of learning itsdue importance. |
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| A teacher supports his students by: |
| 1. Teaching and training them to be good, |
| 2. Guiding them to thorough understanding. |
| 3. Teaching the subject in full. |
| 4. Encouraging the students and praising their merits and abilities. |
| 5. Providing a protection for all directions; that is, teaching and training them so that they can actually use their learning to make a living and know how to conduct themselves well, having a guarantee for smoothly leading a good life and attaining happiness and prosperity. |
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| 3rd direction: |
| 1. One honors her in accordance with her status as wife. |
| 2. One does not look down on her. |
| 3. One does not commit adultery.As a husband, one should honor and support one's wife, who is likened to the "rearward direction," as follows: |
| 4. One give her control of household concerns. |
| 5. One gives her occasional gifts of ornaments and clothing. |
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| A wife supports her husband by: |
| 1. Keeping the household tidy. |
| 2. Helping the relatives and friends of both sides. |
| 3. Not committing adultery. |
| 4. Safeguarding any wealth that has been acquired. |
| 5. Being diligent in all her work. |
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| 4th direction: As afriend, one should conduct oneself towards one's friends, who are likened to the "left direction," as follows: |
| 1. One shares with them. |
| 2. One speaks kindly to them. |
| 3. One helps them. |
| 4. One is constant through their ups and downs. |
| 5. One is faithful and sincere. |
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| Friends reciprocate by: |
| 1. Protecting their friend when he is off guard. |
| 2. Protecting their friend's property when he is off guard. |
| 3. Being a refuge in times of danger. |
| 4. Not deserting their friend in times of hardship. |
| 5. Respecting their friend's family and relatives. |
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| 5th direction: As an employer, one should support one's servants and employees, who are likened to the "lower direction," as follows: |
| 1. One assigns them work in accordance with their atrength, sex, age and abilities. |
| 2. One pays them wages commensurate with their work and adequate for their livelihood. |
| 3. One grants them fringe benefits by, for example,providing medical care in times of sickness. |
| 4. One shares with them a portion of any extra gain. |
| 5. One gives them appropriate holidays and time to rest. |
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| A servant or employee helps his empleyer by: |
| 1. Starting work before him. |
| 2. Stopping work after him. |
| 3. Taking only what is given by his employer. |
| 4. Doung his job well and seeking ways to improve on it. |
| 5. Spreading a good reputation about his empleyer and his business. |
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| 6th direction: As a Buddhist, one shoulld show reverence to the monks, who are like to the "upper direction," as follows: |
| 1. One acts towards them with goodwill. |
| 2. One speaks to them with goodwill. |
| 3. One thinks of them with goodwill. |
| 4. Onereceives them willingly. |
| 5. One supports them with the four erquisites [almafood,eobes,shelter and medicine]. |
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| Monks help lay people by: |
| 1. Enjoining them from evil actions. |
| 2. Enjoining them in goodness. |
| 3. Assisting them with kind intentions. |
| 4. Making known to them things not heard before. |
| 5. Explaining and clarifying things they have already heard. |
| 6. Pointing out the way to heaven, teaching them the way to happiness and prosperity. |
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Note: The Buddhist's Discipline
By Phrapromkunaporn [P.A. Payutto] |