Relationships as the six directions (Siṅgālasutta / DN 31)

The six directions in the context of the Siṅgālasutta (DN 31) refer to the east, west, south, north, above and below. Each of the directions corresponds to a particular relationship, namely:

“And how, householder’s son, does a noble disciple cover the six directions? These six directions should be recognized: parents as the east, tutors as the south, partner and children as the west, friends and colleagues as the north, bondservants and workers as beneath, and ascetics and brahmins as above.

To enumerate:

1. Parents, east
2. Tutors, south
3. Partner and children, west
4. Friends and colleagues, north
5. Bondservants and workers, below
6. Ascetics and brahmins, above

 Parents

The sutta states the following for parents:

A child should serve their parents as the eastern quarter in five ways, thinking: ‘I will support those who supported me. I’ll do my duty for them. I’ll maintain the family lineage. I’ll take care of the inheritance. When they have passed away, I’ll make an offering on their behalf.’ Parents served by the children in these five ways show sympathy to them in five ways. They keep them from doing bad. They support them in doing good. They train them in a profession. They connect them with a suitable partner. They transfer the inheritance in due time. Parents served by their children in these five ways show sympathy to them in these five ways. And that’s how the eastern quarter is covered, kept safe and free of peril.