THE STORY OF SIGALA

Sigala was the son of a multi-millionaire in the ancient city of Rajagaha in Northern India. His parents were strong followers of the Buddha but they could not control their son who was materialistic, liberal minded and stub-born. Sigala had no faith in the Buddha or his disciples.  His parents could not persuade him to go to temple to listen to the Dhamma and to see the Buddha.

When Sigala was asked to go to temple, he used to say that he had nothing to do with temples. If he were to go there, he said that he would have to pay homage to the Buddha or his disciples and have to sit down on the floor. If he were to make friendships with them, he would have to invite them to his house and give them offerings. In that case he might lose money and so thinking, Sigala was reluctant to go to temples.

His father was not happy at all with the attitude of his son. All his efforts were of no avail when he persuaded him to follow the religious way of life. He thought that after his departure his son might go astray without proper guidance. He would be a source of misery, ill fame and disaster to his family line. Within a few years his wealth and property would dwindle away if he mixed up with undesirable elements. When the father was thus thinking, he had neither peace nor rest in his mind.

One day the millionaire fell ill. It was not a minor case. He suffered not only from physical illness but also from mental ailments. His days were numbered because all efficient physicians gave up their hopes for his survival. The millionaire himself knew already that his last moment was not far off.

Even at the last breath he had not given up his hope to change his son’s mind towards the religion. He thought that this was the best time that any hard hearted son or daughter would definitely listen to the words of his or her father on the latter’s death bed.

So the compassionate father called upon his son Sigala to his death bed and asked him whether he would like to listen to his farewell address. Certainly, my dear father, said the sorrow-stricken Sigala. Very well, my dear son, everyday after your morning bath worship the six quarters. This is my only final advice to you, said the father who then passed away.

After the death of his father, Sigala carried out his father’s advice though he could not understand its hidden meaning. Sigala thought that worshipping the six quarters means paying homage to the Gods of six directions. During the Buddha’s time at the sixth Century B.C.; it was a common practice to worship the various Gods in different quarters.

Many of these worshippers were led to believe that the different deities and spirits who were thus being pleased, would favour and bestow upon them good luck, happiness and prosperity.

But the attitude of Sigala’s father was different from the common practice. He did not reveal what the six quarters meant, but he knew that one day the compassionate Buddha would explain the real fact to his son.

It is the custom of every Buddha, during the last watch, to spend his time on attaining the great compassion of concentration and surveying the world with his super normal vision to render spiritual assistance to whosoever needs it. If there were to be any worthy case, he would go even to a far distance and give the necessary assistance. One day the Buddha saw Sigala with his divine eyes, and decided to give him proper guidance to enlighten him.

On the following day, in the early morning, the Master met Sigala and questioned him what he was doing.  He replied that he was following the advice of his father.  The Buddha then explained to him the true meaning of the advice. The Buddha emphasized that, if Sigala wanted to honour his father, he should not blindly salute the six quarters without knowing the reason and should not do something that was contrary to the advice of his father.

Then Sigala was very anxious to know the real intention of his father and asked the Master to reveal what the six quarters mean. Thereupon the Blessed One delivered this Sigalovada Sutta which contained the code of discipline for layman.