Advice to Sigāla

        Thus have I heard. Once the Blessed One was staying at the Bamboo grove close to the Squirrel's Sanctuary in Rājagaha. At that time Sigāla, the young householder (lit. householder's son), rising early went out to Rājagaha, his clothes and hair all wet, and with his joined-palms raised on the forehead, began paying homage to the different directions: to the east, to the south, to the west, to the north, to the nadir and the zenith.

Now the Blessed One, having robed himself at forenoon and taking his alms-bowl, went to Rājagaha on alms-round. He saw the young householder Sigāla, rising early and going out to Rājagaha, his clothes and hair all wet, and with his joinedpalms raised on the forehead, paying homage to the different directions: to the east, to the south, to the west, to the north, to the nadir and the zenith.

Seeing Sigāla paying homage thus, the Lord asked him: "Young householder, rising early and going out to Rājagaha, your clothes and hair all wet, and with your joined-palms raised on the forehead, why are you paying homage to the different directions?"....