Householder (Buddhism)
In English translations of Buddhist literature, householder denotes a variety of terms. Most broadly, it refers to any layperson, and most narrowly, to a wealthy and prestigious familial patriarch. In contemporary Buddhist communities, householder is often used synonymously with laity.
The Buddhist notion of householder is often contrasted with that of wandering ascetics (Pāḷi: samaṇa; Sanskrit: śramaṇa) 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.
Theravada perspectives
| People of the Pali canon | |
| Pali | English |
| Community of Buddhist Disciples | |
| Monastic Sangha | |
| Bhikkhu, Bhikkuṇī | Monk, Nun |
| Laity | |
| Upāsaka, Upāsikā | Lay devotee (m., f.) |
| Related Religions | |
| Samaṇa | Wanderer |
In the Pali canon, householders received diverse advice from the Buddha and his disciples. Some householders (who were also lay disciples) were even identified as having achieved nibbana.
Core householder practices include undertaking the Five Precepts and taking refuge in the Triple Gem. In addition, the canon nurtures the essential bond between householders and monastics still apparent today in southeast Asian communities.
What is a householder?
In traditional Indian society, a householder (Sanskrit, grihastha) is typically a settled adult male with a family.
In the Buddhist Pali canon, various Pali words have been translated into the English word "householder" including agārika, gahapati, gahattha and gihin. Vocations most often associated with householders in the Pali canon are those of guild foreman, banker and merchant (Pali, seṭṭhi) but other vocations are mentioned such as farmer and carpenter. Other people in the canon who are sometimes identified as "householders" in contemporary translations are simply those individuals who dwelt in a home or who had not renounced "home life" (Pali, agārasmā) for "homelessness" (Pali, anagāriya)।
Householder ethics
While there is no formal "householder discipline" or "code of ethics" in the ancient Buddhist Code of Ethics (Pali, Vinaya), the "Sigalovada Sutta" (DN 31) has been referred to as "the Vinaya of the householder."sutta includes:
- an enumeration of the Five Precepts
- an analysis of good-hearted (Pali: su-hada) friends
- a description of respectful actions for one's parents, teachers, spouse, friends, workers and religious guides.
Similarly, in the "Dhammika Sutta" (Sn 2.14), the Buddha articulates the "layman's rule of conduct" (Pali, gahatthavatta),[9] as follows:
- the Five Precepts
- the Eight Precepts for Uposatha days
- support of one's parents
- engaging in fair business.
Other suttas in the canon likewise underline keeping the precepts, maintaining virtuous friends, homage to one's benefactors and earning one's wealth honestly.
Elsewhere in the Sutta Pitaka the Buddha provides moral instruction to householders and their family members on how to be good parents, spouses and children।
Householders & future lives
In the Pali canon, the pursuit of Nibbana (Skt: Nirvana) within this lifetime usually starts with giving up the householder life. This is due to the householder life's intrinsic attachments to a home, a spouse, children and the associated wealth necessary for maintaining the household. Thus, instead of advising householders to relinquish these and all attachments as a prerequisite for the complete liberation from samsara in this lifetime, the Buddha instructed householders on how to achieve happiness in this and future lives in a spiritually meaningful way.
In Buddhism, a householder's spiritual path is often conceived of in terms of making merit (Pali: puñña). The primary bases for meritorious action in Buddhism are generosity (dāna), ethical conduct (sīla) and mental development (bhāvanā). Traditional Buddhist practices associated with such behaviors are summarized in the table below.
| Lay Theravada Practices: For a Fortunate Rebirth | ||||
| FAITH (Saddhā) | GIVING (Dāna) | VIRTUE (Sīla) | MIND (Bhāvanā) | WISDOM (Paññā) |
| Buddha · | Charity · | 5 Precepts · | Metta · | 4 Noble Truths · |
| Based on: Dighajanu Sutta, Velama Sutta, Dhammika Sutta. |
| |||
Householders & Nibbana
The Anguttara Nikaya (AN 6.119 and AN 6.120]) identifies 19 householders (gahapati) 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)
- noble moral 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."
- Citta, referenced for instance in AN 1.14.250 as "the [foremost] householder for explaining the Teaching."In SN 17.23, Citta is one of two male lay disciples identified for emulation by the Buddha.
- 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."
Other individuals who are not explicitly identified in the suttas as "householder" but who, by the aforementioned broader critera, 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).
Mahayana perspectives
In the Zen tradition, Vimalakīrti and Páng Yùn were prominent householders/laypersons who achieved enlightenment.
Dogen recommended that householders meditate five minutes each day.[citation needed]
Vajrayana perspectives
The Vajrayana tradition has produced many prominent householders, from Marpa to Dromton Gyalwa Jungne, the heart son of Atisha; Padmasambhava to mention a few. The ngakpa is an ordained Tantrica, sometimes a householder with certain vows (dependent upon Lama and Lineage) that make them the householder equivalent of an ordained bikshu. The path of a Tantrica or Ngakpa (mas.) or Ngakma (fem.) is a rigorous discipline whereby one "enjoys the sensefields' as a part of one's practice. A practioner utilizes the whole of the phenomenal world as one's path. Marrying, raising children, working jobs, leisure, art, play etc. are all means to realize the enlightened state or Rigpa, non-dual awareness. A Ngakpa or Ngakma does not need to be a householder particularly, but is still encouraged to 'immerse oneself' in the world at large. The Ngakpa tradition is unfortunately not widely known due to the prominence of monastic Buddhism (especially in Tibetan Buddhism). At times the Ngakpa/ma path is even disparged by those who misunderstand the symbolism and structure of the path.
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
Below common contemporary lay Buddhist practices are summarized. 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.
Theravada practices
For Theravada Buddhists, the following are practiced on a daily and weekly basis:
Daily practice: prostrations to the Triple Gem, taking refuge in the Triple Gem, taking the Five Precepts, chanting other verses, meditating, giving and sharing (Pali: dana).
Uposatha (sabbath) practices: practicing the Eight Precepts, studying Buddhist scriptures, visiting and supporting Buddhist monks, visiting and supporting Buddhist monasteries.
Other practices: undertaking a pilgrimage.
Mahayana practices
Daily practices: Chanting sutra, Buddha's name, meditating, prostrations, cultivating compassion and bodhichitta.
Special day practices: 8 precepts, listening to teachings, supporting Sangha, performing offering ceremonies.
Other practices: Bodhisattva vows.
Vajrayana practices
Daily practices: Tantric sadhanas, prostrations, refuge, cultivating compassion and bodhichitta.
Special day practices: 8 precepts, listening to teachings, offering ceremonies.
Other practices: Studying texts, receiving initiations.
| Lay Buddhist practices by school | ||||
| Theravada | Mahayana | Vajrayana | ||
| D | Prostrations | daily | dokusan | daily |
| Chanting | daily | regularly | mantra | |
| Take Refuge | daily | daily | daily | |
| P | Five Precepts | daily | daily | daily |
| Eight Precepts | Uposatha | — | — | |
| Bodhisattva Vows | — | daily | daily | |
| Meditation | vipassana, | zazen, | samatha and vipassana, | |
| Study scriptures | Uposatha | — | regularly | |
| Support monastics | Uposatha | regularly | regularly | |
| Pilgrimage | several sites |
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