Householder (Buddhism)

In canonical Buddhism, householder refers to a particular strata of society whose individuals are typified by having a home life and family. In contemporary Buddhist communities, householder is often used synonymously with "laity."

The Buddhist notion of householder is often contrasted with that of ascetics (Pāḷi: samana) and monastics (bhikkhu and bhikkhuni), who would not live (for extended periods) in a normal house and who would pursue freedom from attachments to houses and families.

Lay disciples (upasaka and upasika) are householders and other laypersons who take refuge in the Triple Gem (the Buddha, his teaching and his community) and practice the Five Precepts. In southeast Asian communities, lay disciples also give alms to monks on their daily rounds and observe weekly uposatha days.

In some traditional Buddhist societies, such as in Thailand, people transition between householder and monk and back to householder with regularity and celebration. One of the evolving features of Buddhism in the West is the increasing dissolution of the traditional distinction between monastics and laity.^[1]

Theravada perspectives

In traditional Indian society, a householder (Sanskrit, grihastha) is typically a settled adult male with a family.

In terms of the Pali canon, a variety of Pali words and phrases have been translated into the English-language "householder," including the Pali words:

• gahattha - "a householder, one who leads the life of a layman."^[2]
• gahapati - "the possessor of a house, the head of the household, pater familias," often with a social status similar to high-ranking personages (Pali, khattiyā) and brahmins.^[3]
• gihin - "a householder, one who leads a domestic life, a layman."^[4]
• agārika - "having a house..., householder, layman," juxtaposed with anagārika. Similarly, agārikā is translated as "housewife."^[5][6]

Householder Vinaya

While there is no formal "householder discipline" in the Vinaya, Buddhaghosa has referred to the "Sigalovada Sutta" (DN 31)^[7] as "the Vinaya of the householder."^[8] This sutta includes:

• an enumeration of the Five Precepts
• an analysis of good-hearted (Pali: su-hada) friends
• a description of respectful actions for ones parents, teachers, spouse, friends, workers and religious guides.

Similarly, in the "Dhammika Sutta" (Sn 2.14),^[9] the Buddha articulates the "layman's rule of conduct" (Pali, gahatthavatta),^[10] as follows:

• the Five Precepts
• the Eight Precepts for Uposatha days
• support of ones parents
• engaging in fair business.

Elsewhere in the Sutta Pitaka the Buddha provides moral instruction to householders and their family members^[11] on how to be good parents, spouses and children.^[12]

Householders & Nibbana

The Anguttara Nikaya (AN 6.119 and AN 6.120^[13]) identifies 19 householders (gahapati)^[14] who have "seen deathlessness" (Pali, amata) and "realized the highest" (Pali, niṭṭhamgata) through their "unwavering faith" (Pali, aveccappasādena) in six things:

• The Buddha
• the Teaching (Pali, Dhamma)
• the Community of bhikkhus (Pali, Sangha)^[15]
• noble discipline (Pali, ariyena sīlena)
• noble knowledge (Pali, ariyena ñānena)
• noble release (Pali, ariyāya vimuttiyā)

Prominent householders in the Pali canon

The following are examples of individuals who are explicitly identified as a "householder" (Pali, gahapati) in multiple suttas:

• Anathapindika, is referenced for instance in AN 1.14.249 as "the householder Sudatta, the foremost lay devotee."^[16]
• Citta, referenced for instance in AN 1.14.250 as "the [foremost] householder for explaining the Teaching."^[17] In SN 17.23, Citta is one of two male lay disciples identified for emulation by the Buddha.^[18]
• Nakulapita and Nakulamata, referenced for instance in AN 1.14.257 and AN 1.14.266, respectively, as "the best confident" and the foremost "for undivided pleasantness."^[19]

Other individuals who are not explicitly identified in the suttas as "householder" but who, by contemporary standards, might be considered a householder include:

• Ghatikara was a potter in the time of Buddha Kassapa. He was an Anagami and the chief supporter of Buddha Kassapa (MN 81).

Canonical householder sections

Within the Pali canon, there is a "Householder section" (Gahapativagga) in the following nikayas:

• the Majjhima Nikaya (MN 51 to MN 60)^[20]
• the Samyutta Nikaya (SN 12.41 to SN 12.50)^[21]
• the Anguttara Nikaya (AN 8.3).^[22]

Mahayana perspectives

In the Zen tradition, Vimalakīrti and Páng Yùn were prominent householders/laypersons who achieved enlightenment.<p>Dogen recommended that householders meditate five minutes each day.^{[citation needed]}

Vajrayana perspectives

The Vajrayana tradition has produced many prominent householders, from Milarepa to Dromton Gyalwa Jungne, the heart son of Atisha; Padmasambhava to mention a few. The ngakpa (not to be confused with ngakpang, a term used by the false tulku organisation Ar'o ter) is a householder with certain vows that make them the householder equivalent of an ordained bikshu. As such, we can see the prominence of householders in the Vajrayana tradition. One can, however, be a householder without taking the vows of a Ngakpa. Simply holding the five precepts, bodhisattva vows and the tantric vows while practising diligently can result in enlightenment.

Contemporary Buddhist householder practices

The table on the right below summarizes common contemporary lay Buddhist practices. Some of these practices — such as taking Refuge and meditating — are common to all major schools. Other practices — such as taking the Eight Precepts or the Bodhisattva Vows — are not pan-Buddhist.

See also

• Practices:

• Alms (Buddhism), Dana (Buddhism)
• Householder vows
• Uposatha

• Buddhist disciples:

• Bhikkhu, Bhikkhuni (Buddhist monastic disciples)
• Upasaka, Upasika (Buddhist lay disciples)

Notes

1. ^ See, for instance, Wallace (2002), p. 35, who writes:

   "For all the diversity of Buddhist practices in the West, general trends in the recent transformations of Buddhist practice ... can be identified. These include an erosion of the distinction between professional and lay Buddhists; a decentralization of doctrinal authority; a diminished role for Buddhist monastics; an increasingspirit of egalitarianism; greater leadership roles for women; greater social activism; and, in many cases, an increasing emphasis on the psychological, as opposed to the purely religious, nature of practice."

2. ^ PTS (1921-25), p. 247, entry for gaha with mention of use with the suffix -ttha.
3. ^ PTS (1921-25), p. 248, entry for gahapati. See also Buddhadatta (2002), p. 96, where "gaha-ttha" is defined as "a layman; householder" and "gaha-pati" is defined as "master of a house."
4. ^ PTS (1921-25), p. 251, entry for gihin.
5. ^ PTS (1921-25), p. 3, entry for agārika.
6. ^ In the Pali canon, the aforementioned terms for "householder" can be combined with some other appellations. For instance, in the Sāleyyaka Sutta (MN 41), the Buddha is addressed by sāleyyakā brāhmana-gahapatikā which, for instance, is translated by Bhikkhu Bodhi (2005, p. 156) as "brahmin householders of Sālā."
7. ^ DN 31 is translated in Narada (1996).
8. ^ Buddhaghosa's epithet is recorded in Narada (1995) and referenced in Law (1932-33), p. 85, n. 1, and Bodhi (2005), p. 109.
9. ^ Ireland (1983).
10. ^ PTS, p. 247, under the entry for "gaha (1)"
11. ^ For example, in DN 31, the Buddha addresses "Sigalaka the householder's son" (Bodhi, 2005, pp. 116-8).
12. ^ See, for instance, additional examples in Narada (1995) and in Bodhi (2005)'s chapter, "The Happiness Visible in this Present Life," pp. 107-142.
13. ^ In an on-line English-language Sinhalese Tipitaka, these suttas are identified as AN 6.12.3 and 6.12.4 respectively, and are available at http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara4/6-chakkanipata/012-samannavaggo-e.html. An on-line Pali-language version of these Sinhalese suttas, identified as AN 6.2.17 through 6.2.34 (with a separate verse for each gahapati), are available at http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara4/6-chakkanipata/012-samannavaggo-p.html.
14. ^ Nyanaponika & Hecker (2003), p. 365, state that AN 6.120 refers to 21 "eminent lay disciples." The actual Pali text itself explicitly identifies 18 householders (gahapati) and three lay disciples (upasaka; see also, savaka); nonetheless, many of these identified householders are also identified as "foremost" (agga) lay disciples in AN 1.14.[1] Tangentially, Bodhi (2005), p. 226, notes that a lay disciple is able to achieve the state of nonreturner but is not able to achieve arahantship unless upon death or, after realizing such, they immediately become monastics.
15. ^ These first three objects of faith -- the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Sangha -- are known in Buddhism as the Triple Gem.
16. ^ In an on-line English-language Sinhalese Tipitaka, see http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara1/1-ekanipata/014-Etadaggapali-e.html. Also see, Nyanaponika & Hecker (2003), pp. 337-62.
17. ^ In an on-line English-language Sinhalese Tipitaka, see http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara1/1-ekanipata/014-Etadaggapali-e.html. Also see, Nyanaponika & Hecker (2003), pp. 365-72.
18. ^ Bodhi (2000), p. 688. This sutta is entitled, "Only Son," and in it the Buddha states:

    "A faithful female lay follower, rightly imploring her only son, dear and beloved, might implore him thus: 'Dear, you should become like Citta the householder and Hatthaka of Alavaka — for this is the standard and criterion for my male disciples who are lay followers...."

19. ^ Also see AN 4.55 in Bodhi (2005), pp. 121-2, 433 n. 3. Note that, technically, Nakulapita is identified as the "householder" and, his spouse, Nakulamata as the "householder's wife."
20. ^ See Nanamoli & Bodhi (2001), pp. 441-519.
21. ^ See Bodhi (2000), pp. 578-86, and, in the Sinhalese Tipitaka, http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/3Samyutta-Nikaya/Samyutta2/12-Abhisamaya-Samyutta/05-Gahapativaggo-e.html.
22. ^ See, in the Sinhalese Tipitaka, http://www.metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/4Anguttara-Nikaya/Anguttara5/8-atthakanipata/003-gahapativaggo-e.html.
23. ^ Kapleau (1989), p. 191.
24. ^ Daily chanting among Mahayana Buddhists can be found, for instance, among Nichiren and Pure Land practitioners.
25. ^ Examples in the Pali canon where the Buddha extols the practice of the Five Precepts includes in the Dhammika Sutta and in the Sigalovada Sutta.
26. ^ In the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, the Buddha states that devotees can do pilgrimages to his birthplace, the place of his Awakening, the place of his first teaching and the place of his death. Other sites have also been traditionally recognized by Theravada practitioners. For more information, see Pilgrimage (Buddhism).

References

• Bodhi, Bhikkhu (trans.) (2000). The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-331-1.
• Bodhi,Bhikkhu (ed.) (2005), In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Somerville, MA: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-491-1.
• Buddhadatta Mahathera, A.P. (2002). Concise Pali-English Dictionary. Delhi:Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 81-208-0605-0.
• Ireland,John D. (trans.) (1983). Sn 2.14, Dhammika Sutta: Dhammika (excerpt). Available on-line at http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.14.irel.html.
• Kapleau, Philip (1989). Zen: Merging of East and West. NY:Anchor Book. ISBN 0-385-26104-7.
• Law, Bimala Churn (1932-33), "Nirvana and Buddhist Laymen" in the Annals of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Vol. 14, 1932-1933, pp. 80-86. Available on-line at: http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-ENG/lawn.htm.
• Ñāṇamoli, Bhikkhu (trans.) & Bhikkhu Bodhi (ed.) (2001). The Middle-Length Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Majjhima Nikāya. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-072-X.
• Narada Thera (1995). Everyman's Ethics: Four Discourses of the Buddha. Available on-line at: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/narada/wheel014.html.
• Narada Thera (trans.) (1996). DN 31, Sigalovada Sutta: The Discourse to Sigala, The Layperson's Code of Discipline. Available on-line at: http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html.
• Nyanaponika Thera & Hellmuth Hecker, Bhikkhu Bodhi (ed.) (2003). Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, their Works, their Legacy. Somerville, MA:Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-381-8.
• Pali Text Society (PTS) (1921-1925). The Pali Text Society's Pali-English dictionary. London: Chipstead. Available on-line at: http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/pali/.
• Wallace,Alan (2002). "The Spectrum of Buddhist Practice in the West" in Charles Prebish & Martin Baumann (eds.), Westward Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Asia. Berkeley:University of California Press. ISBN 0-52022-625-9. Also available on-line at: http://www.alanwallace.org/The%20Spectrum%20of%20Buddhist%20Practice.pdf.

External links

• "Gahapati" and "Gaha-ttha" - two PTS Pali-English Dictionary (PED) entries related to "householder."
• "Lay Buddhist Practice: The Shrine Room, Uposatha Day, Rains Residence", by Bhikkhu Khantipalo (Wheel No. 206/207, 1982)
• "The Eightfold Path for the Householder", by Jack Kornfield
• "How would Buddha handle your kids?", by John Bullitt (The Buddhist Channel, April 14, 2005)
• "A Seamless Process: Practice On and Off the Cushion", an IMS interview with Kamala Masters & Steve Armstrong.

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