Q. Should we not include among these ten sins the use of intoxicants?
A. The use of intoxicants is included in the evil indulgence of the bodily passions, since intoxicants cause such evil indulgence.

Q. What are the Ten Fetters which bind us down to successive re-births, which we must cast off in order to attain Nirvăna?
A. They are as follows:

1. Sakkăyaditthi: the Delusion of Self.
2. Vicikicchă: Doubt.
3. Silabbata-parămăsa: Believing that purification comes from the observance of vows and penances, which have been condemned by the Buddha.
4. Kămarăga: Passions arising from the senses.
5. Vyăpăda (or Patigha): Anger.
6. Rűparăga: Desire for life in a world of form.
7. Arűparăga: Desire for life in a formless world.
8. Măna : Pride.
9. Uddhacca : Inability to concentrate the mind.
10. Avijjă : Ignorance.

Q. What are the principal causes which help sin to arise?
A. They are three: greed, anger and ignorance.

Q. What must we do to escape from sin?
A. We must overcome and cut off the roots of greed, anger and ignorance, by following the Noble Eightfold Path.

To Increase Good

Q. What are the meritorious acts which we must perform?
A. They are ten:

1. Charity.
2. Observing the Precepts.
3. Meditation.
4. Giving an opportunity to others to partake in one’s own good actions.
5. Taking delight in the meritorious acts done by another.
6. Attending upon others.
7. Honouring those worthy of honour.
8. Explaining the Doctrine.
9. Listening to explanations of the Doctrine.
10. Going for refuge to the Three Treasures which are the Buddha, the Doctrine, and the Brotherhood of the Noble Ones.

Q. What are the duties to be performed by parents towards children?
A.

1. To keep them back from sin.
2. To keep them in good conduct, like the observation of the Precepts, and such others.
3. To instruct them in the arts and sciences.
4. To provide them with suitable wives or husbands.
5. To give them sufficient wealth for their needs.

Q. What are the duties to be performed by children towards parents?
A.

1. To protect father and mother.
2. To perform the duties owing to them.
3. To uphold the honour of the family.
4. To perform the proper funeral-rites on their death.

Q. What are the duties to be performed by pupils towards teachers?
A.

1. To rise from the seat on seeing the teacher.
2. To attend upon him.
3. To obey him.
4. To supply his wants.
5. To learn with diligence.

Q. What are the duties to be performed by teachers towards pupils?
A.

1. To train them diligently.
2. To teach them well the sciences.
3. To instruct the pupils without distinction in the arts.
4. To praise their virtues to their friends and superiors.
5. To protect them.

Q. What are the duties to be performed by a man or woman towards friends and others?
A.

1. To give them presents
2. To speak kindly to them.
3. To do suitable acts for them.
4. Not to dispute with them.

Q. What are the duties of friends towards a man or woman who is their friend?
A.

1. To protect him or her when careless.
2. To guard his or her property under such circumstances.
3. To give a refuge in danger.
4. Not to desert him or her in misfortune.
5. To help the children and relations of such a person.

Q. What are the duties to be performed by us towards a Buddhist monk?
A.

1. To do things for him with affection.
2. To speak to him with affection.
3. To think of him with affection.
4. To be always ready to offer hospitality to him.
5. To give him the gifts of four kinds: robes, food, furniture and medicine.

Q. What are the duties of a monk towards a layman?
A.

1. To restrain him from sin
2. To establish him in charity and virtue.
3. To teach the Doctrine to him clearly.
4. To remove doubts about the Doctrine learnt by him.
5. To show him the right path to beatitude.

Q. What are the duties of a man towards his wife?
A.

1. To speak to her with respect.
2. Not to reproach her.
3. To be faithful to her.
4. To put his property at her command.
5. To give her ornaments and other things according to his power.

Q. What are the duties of a wife towards a husband?
A.

1. To do her household work diligently.
2. To be hospitable to his friends and relations.
3. To be faithful to him.
4. To protect his property.
5. To show skill in her duties.

Q. What are the duties of masters towards their servants?
A.

1. To apportion work to them according to their strength.
2. To give them food and wages regularly.
3. To help them in sickness.
4. To share with them unusual delicacies.
5. To give them presents on suitable occasions.

Q. What are the duties of a servant towards his master?
A.

1. To rise before him in the morning.
2. To retire later to rest.
3. To take only what the master gives.
4. To work well.
5. To praise him as a good master. [ All the duties mentioned in these twelve questions (10—19b) were explained by the Buddha in His sermon named Sigălovăda Sutta, of the Sutta Pitaka.

Q. In what good actions ought a good Buddhist to spend the days set apart for religion?
A.

1. In giving alms to the monks and beggars.
2. In observing the Precepts.
3. In meditation, and others.

Q. What is the form of taking the vows of the Eight Precepts?
A. We first ask a monk or novice, who has been previously informed, to repeat to us the Eight Precepts.

Q. How do you ask him?
A. We say to him in Păli: Okăsa, karuńńam katvă tisaranena saddhim atthăngasilam detha me, bhante. Aham, bhante, saranasilam yăcămi, Dutiyam’pi . . . Tatiyam’pi . . ."

Q. What is the meaning of this?
A. The meaning is: "Sir, please give me the Eight Precepts with the Three Refuges. Sir, I ask for the Three Refuges and the Morality. A second time I ask . . .A third time I ask . . ."

Q. After that what does the monk say?
A. He says: "Evam vadehi."

Q. Give its meaning.
A. "Repeat this"; and when the person has bowed down, the monk establishes him in the Refuges.

Q. After establishing him in the Three Refuges, does the monk say anything?
A. Yes, sometimes he says: "Saranăgamanam— That is entering into the Refuges."

Q. What is the answer to this?
A. "Âtma, bhante—Yes, Sir."

Q. What begins at the end of this?
A. Then begins the repeating of the Eight Precepts.

Q. What are they?
A. They are as follows:

1. Pănătipănă veramani sikkhăpadam samădiyămi
2. Adinnădănă vermani sikkhăpadam samădiyămi.
3. . Abrahmacariyă veramani sikkhăpadam samădiyămi.
4. Musăvădă veramani sikkhăpadam samădiyămi.
5. S u r ă-meraya-majja-pamăda-tthănă vermani sikkhăpadam samădiyămi.
6. Vikălabhojană veramani sikkhăpadam samădiyămi.
7. Nacca-gita-vădita-visűkadassana-mălă-gandha-vilepana-dhărana-mandana-vibhűsana-tthănă veramani sikkhă-padam samădiyămi.
8. Uccăsayana-mahăsayană veramani sik-khăpadam samădiyămi. [The first five of these eight (excepting the third) are the same as the Five Precepts mentioned in Part 1 of the Catechism. The third Precept here is only a stricter form of the rule of the former third Precept. The meanings of the first, second, fourth and fifth Precepts are given in the answers to questions 43, 45, 49 and 51 of Part 1.]

Q. What do you understand by the Third Precept?
A. A person repeating it promises to refrain from all sexual intercourse.

Q. What do you understand by the Sixth Precept?
A. A person repeating it promises not to take food at unseasonable times, that is, after midday.

Q. What do you understand by the Seventh Precept?
A. By this Precept one promises to refrain from dancing, singing, beating drums, looking at improper shows, using flowers, scents and ointments, wearing ornaments and decorations.

Q. What do you understand by the Eighth Precept?
A. By this Precept one promises not to use high, large and luxurious seats and beds.

To Purify the Mind

Q. What is the advice given by our Lord Buddha to purify the mind?
A. He preached the Truth containing it to the Brotherhood (Sangha) gathered together in the Kűtăgăra Hall in the city of Vesăli.

Q. Of what did He there say that the Truth consisted?
A. He said that the Truth He proclaimed was about:

1. The Four Earnest Contemplations.
2. The Four Great Efforts.
3. The Four Requisites for obtaining transcendental powers.
4. The Five Mental Organs.
5. The Five Moral Powers.
6. The Seven kinds of Understanding leading to Divine Wisdom.
7. . The Noble Eightfold Path.

Q. What are the Four Earnest Contemplations?
A. They are:

1. Kăyănupassană: contemplation on the impurities which form the body.
2. Vedanănupassană: contemplation on all sensations as sorrow.
3. Cittănupassană: contemplation on the mind, which is impermanent.
4. Dhammănupassană: contemplation on all existing things as non-substantial.

Q. What are the Four Great Efforts?
A. They are the four chief exertions.

Q. What are they?
A. They are the efforts:

1. To do no fresh evil.
2. To get rid of evil done.
3. To produce goodness not previously existing.
4. To increase goodness already existing.

Q. What are the Four Requisites for obtaining transcendental powers?
A. They are:

1. Chandiddhi-păda: the will to acquire them.
2. Viriyiddhi-păda: the energy to realise Nirvăna.
3. Cittiddhi-păda: controlling the mind.
4. Vimamsiddhi-păda: investigation.

Q. What are the mental Organs and the Moral Powers?
A. The Mental Organs are:

1. Saddhindriya: strong faith.
2. Viriyindriya: strong energy.
3. Satindriya: strong remembrance.
4. Samădhindriya: earnest contemplation.
5. Pańńindriya: great wisdom.

The Moral Powers are:

1. Saddhăbala: power of faith.
2. Viriyabala; power of energy.
3. Satibala: power of remembrance.
4. Samădhibala: power of concentration.
5. Pańńbala: power of wisdom.

Q. What are the seven Bojjhangas?
A. They are the seven aids to the obtainment of the knowledge belonging to the state of Arhat.

Q. What are they?
A. These are the aids which help a person to obtain the knowledge belonging to the state of Arhat:

1. Sati-sambojjhanga: purification of remembrance.
2. Viriya-sambhojjhanga: increasing energy.
3. Dhammavicaya-sambhojjhanga: discriminative knowledge.
4. Piti-sambhojjhanga: purification of joy.
5. Passaddhi-sambhojjhanga: tranquility of the body and mind, because the sins are destroyed.
6. Samădhi-sambhojjhanga: concentration of the mind.
7. Upekkhă-sambhojjhanga: serenity [The next division, the Noble Eightfold Path has been explained in Part l.]

Q. What are the Four Paths?
A. They are: 1. Çrota-ăpatti, 2. Sakridăgămi, 3. Anăgămi, and 4. Arhat.

Q. What is Çrota-ăpatti?
A. It is the first stage of the Path entered upon a person attaining Nirvăna.

Q. What are the Fetters that have been cast off when a person attains to the fruition of this first stage of the Path?
A. They are Sakkăyaditthi, Vicikicchă, and Silabbata-parămăsa. (See Q. 6 of Part II for meanings.)

Q. What is Sakridăgămi?
A. It is the second stage of the Path on which a person enters who is on the road to Nirvăna.

Q. When a person has obtained the fruition of this stage, how many times will he be born again in this world?
A. He will be born only once more in this world. * [It should be noticed that no Fetters are cast off at this stage.]

Q. What is Anăgămi?
A. It is the third stage of the Path to Nirvăna.

Q. What are the Fetters cast off at the Anăgămi stage?
A. They are Kămarăga and Patigha.

Q. Will a person who has obtained the fruition of the Anăgămi stage be born again in this world?
A. No, he will never be born again in any Kămaloka, that is, not in any world below the Rűpa and Arűpa Brahmalokas.

Q. What is the stage of Arhat?
A. It is the fourth stage of the Path to Nirvăna.

Q. From what Fetters is a person on the Arhat stage free, when he has obtained the fruition of that stage?
A. He is free from Rűparăga, Arűparăga, Măna, Uddhacca, and Avijjă.

Q. What is the disposition of one who is an Arhat?
A. He is free from all sin, he fully understands the impermanency of all things; he has compassion equally on all, he desires to give the utmost happiness to all beings; and he is free from rebirth.

Q. Are these thirty-seven divisions of the Doctrine (see Q 35) mundane (Laukika) or transcendental (Lokuttara)?
A. The whole Doctrine, except Sankappa [Sankappa is the same as Right Thought of the Noble Eightfold Path (See Q 65, Part I).] (aspiration) and Piti (joy), is transcendental. Aspiration and Joy also, when accompanied by Purity of Wisdom, [Purity — visuddhi — is of seven kinds. They are the purities of 1. Sîla, conduct; 2. Citta, thought; 3. Ditthi, belief; 4. Kankhăvitarana, conviction; 5. Maggămaggańăna, certainty about the existence of the Way; 6. Patipădańăna, progress; 7. Jńana, the Wisdom belonging to the first stage of the Path. (Note by M. Ńănissara.)] are transcendental; but when accompanied by the other six Purities are sometimes transcendental and sometimes mundane.

This is the Teaching of the Buddhas

Q. Mention the names of the twenty-eight Buddhas in order.
A. 1. Tanhankara, 2. Medhankara, 3. Saranankara, 4. Dipankara, 5 Kondńńa, 6. Mangala, 7. Sumana, 8. Revata, 9. Sobhita, 10.Anomadassi, 11. Paduma, 12. Nărada, 13. Padumuttara, 14. Sumedha, 15. Sujăta, 16. Piyadassi, 17. Attadassi, 18. Dhammadassi, 19. Siddhattha, 20. Tissa, 21. Phussa, 22. Vipassi, 23. Sikhi, 24. Vessabhű, 25. Kakusandha, 26. Konăgamana, 27. Kassapa, 28. Gotama.

Q. What is the name of the Buddha who will appear next?
A. His name is Maitreya (Păli, Metteyya), "the Compassionate".

Q. Did all the Buddhas proclaim the same Truth?
A. Yes, all the Buddhas proclaimed the same Truth. The qualities of all the Buddhas are the same.

Q. Repeat the Păli words which declare the virtues of the Buddha.
A. "Iti ‘pi So Bhagavă Araham Sammăsam-buddho Vijjăcanasampanno, Sugato Lokavidű Anuttaro Purisadammasărathi Satthă Devamanussănam Buddho Bhagavă ‘ti."

Q. Explain it.
A. "Iti ‘pi So Bhagavă," He is the Lord, "Araham, the Saint, "Sammăsambuddho," who is perfect in knowledge, ‘ Vijjăcaranasampanno," Who possesses the knowledge [of the eight kinds and Who has accomplished the fifteen holy practices’], "Sugato," Who has come [the good journey which led to the Buddhahood], "Lokavidű," Who knows the three words, ‘Anuttaro," the Unrivalled, "Purisadammasărathi," the Teacher of men to be subdued [by the Doctrine], "Satthă Devamanussănam," the Teacher of Gods and men, "Buddho Bhagavă" He is the Lord Buddha.

Q. Repeat in Păli the praises of the Truth.
A. "Svăkkhăto Bhagavată Dhammo sanditthiko akăliko ehipassiko opanayiko paccatam veditabbo vińńűhi ‘ti’ ."

Q. Explain it.
A. "Svăkkhăto Bhagavată Dhammo,’ it is the Truth which was fully explained by the Buddha, "sanditthiko," producing immediate effects, "akăliko," which produces results without delay, "ehipassiko," inviting all comers, "opanayiko," which leads to [Nirvăna], "paccattam veditabbo vińńűhi," to be understood by the wise for themselves.

Q. Repeat in Păli the praises of the Brotherhood of the Noble Ones.
A. "Supatipanno Bhagavato Săvakasangho, ujupatipanno Bhagavato Săvakasangho, ńăyapatipanno Bhagavato Săvakasangho, sămicipatipanno Bhagavato Săvakasangho, yadidam cattări purisayugăni atthapurisapuggalŕ esa Bhagavato Săvakasangho, ăhuneyyo păhuneyyo dakkhineyyo ańjalikaraniyo anuttaram puńńakkhettam lokassă ‘ti."

Q. Explain it.
A. "Esa Bhagavato Săvakasangho," it is the Order of the disciples of the Buddha, ‘ supatipanno," who live a holy life, "ujupatipanno," who live an upright life, "ńăyapatipanno," who live in the way of wisdom, "sămicipatipanno," who live a life fulfilling their duties, "yadidam cattăripurisayugăni atthapurisapuggală," the four pairs of persons who form the eight kinds of the Noble Ones, "ăhuneyyo," worthy of offerings, "păhuneyyo," worthy of hospitality, "dakkineyyo," worthy of gifts, "ańjalikaraniyo," worthy of respectful salutation, "anuttaram puńńakkettam lokassa," who are the best sowing ground for meritorious deeds [by the people].

Q. What must we do to revere the Three Treasures?
A. We must keep the Three Treasures — the Buddha, the Truth and the Brotherhood of the Noble Ones — in our minds always, and venerate and revere them with all our hearts.