question_answer

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Buddhism in Practice

This is an excerpt from the Sutta Pitaka, and contains the advice given by the Buddha to a wealthy householder named Sigala:

In five ways should a master look after his servants and employees ... by assigning them work according to their strength, by supplying them with food and wages, by tending them in sickness; by sharing delicacies with them and by granting leave at times...... In five ways should the clansmen look after the needs of samanas (those who have renounced the world) and brahmanas: by affection in act and speech and mind, by keeping open house to them and supplying their worldly needs.

There are similar instructions to Sigala about how to behave with his parents, teacher and wife.

(i) In what ways should a master look after his servants and employees?

(ii) In what ways should the clansmen look after the needs of samanas?

(iii) Explain the main aspects of Buddhist philosophy.

Answer:

(i) There are five ways to look after the servants and the employees: assigning them work according to their strength, supplying them with food and wages, tending them in sickness, sharing delicacies and granting leaves at times.

(ii) The clansman should look after the needs of samanas in the following ways: by affection in act and speech and mind, by keeping open house to them, supplying their worldly needs.

(iii) According to the Buddhist philosophy the world is transient and constantly changing, it is also soulless as there is nothing permanent or eternal Within this transient world sorrow is intrinsic to human existence. It is by following- the path of moderation between severe penance and self - indulgence that human beings can rise above these worldly troubles.