SECTION THREE

SECTION THREE PEOPLE AND PEOPLE

14. THE KEEPER OF THE LINEAGE (A good head of family) A head of family, in addition to practicing in accordance with the qualities and principles already mentioned, for example by knowing how to make a living, should also abide by certain principles concerning responsibility for his family in the following ways:

A. Ensuring the stability of the family line by practicing according to the principles for sustaining family prosperity, or causes for a family's prosperity and longevity, known as the four kula-ciratthiti-dhamma :
        1. Nattha-gavesana: when things are lost or used up, he replenishes them.
        2. Jinna-patisankharana: when things are old and damaged, he restores and repairs them.
        3. Parimita-panabhojana: he knows moderation in eating and using.
        4. Adhipacca-silavanta-thapana: he places a moral and virtuous woman or man in charge of the household.

(A.II.249)

B. Honoring the people who are like fire : the following people are like fire-if one behaves toward them properly, great benefit can arise, but if one relates to them wrongly great harm can result, like burning oneself with fire. Thus one should act [toward them] as the ancient fire worshippers who took pains to tend the fires they worshipped caringly, cautiously, attentively and properly, out of respect and awe. These people are called aggi-paricariya (fires to be tended: people who must be worshipped by giving them attentive care and the respect proper to their position, like the fire of a fire worshipper):
        1. Ahuneyyaggi-"the fire deserving of offerings": father and mother.
        2. Gahapataggi-"the fire of the householder": wife, children and dependents.
        3. Dakkhineyyaggi-"the fire worthy of gifts": virtuous priests or monks, who teach and uphold righteousness, who practice rightly, and who are not heedless or deluded.

(D.III.217)

C. Attending to one's children : as a parent, one should be aware of the three kinds of children, and arrange education and training for them in order to ensure that they develop in the best way. They are:
        1. Abhijata-putta: the child who excels his or her parents, and is superior to them.
        2. Anujata-putta: the child who follows his or her parents, and equal to them.
        3. Avajata-putta: the child who falls short of his or her parents, who drags the family down into ruin.

(It.62)

D. Maintaining the duties of a parent : helping children according to the principles of conduct for parents, who are described as the "forward direction," by:
        1. Cautioning and protecting them from evil.
        2. Nurturing and training them in goodness.
        3. Providing an education.
        4. Seeing to it that they obtain suitable spouses.
        5. Providing allowances and bequeathing the inheritance to them at the proper time.

(D.III.191)

E. Being a good citizen : the family is the basic social unit and is a factor for social and national prosperity and security. Thus, a good head of family should also be a good citizen by conducting himself according to the principles outlined in Chapter 12, point E.

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