THE SIX DIRECTIONS

While the Buddha was staying at the Bamboo Grove or Veluvana, near the city of Rajagaha, he met Sigala, a householder who was clasping his hands, turning to the four directions of the world, then looking above, and then down below. And the lord Buddha asked Sigala, “ why do you perform these strange ceremonies?” Sigala replied, “ I perform this to honour, revere, and keep sacred the word of my father.” The Blessed one said, “ You do well, O Sigala. It is your duty to protect your home, your wife, your children, and your children against the harmful influences of evil spirits.
“ I see no fault with the performance of your father’s rites, but I think your do not understand the ceremony. Let the Tathagata, who now speaks to you as a spiritual father and loves you no less than did your parents, explain to you the meaning of the six directions in Buddhism.

And then the Master said, “ Mother and father are the Eastern Direction or puratthimadisa. Teacher are the Southern Directions or Dakkhinadisa. Wife and children are the Western Directions or pacchimadisa. Friends and kin are the Northern Direction or utteradisa. Servants and working folk are the direction below or hetthimadisa. Monk are recluses are the direction above or uparimadisa.”
In this class however, we will study only purathimadisa and dakkinadisa.

1. Paratthimadisa- the Eastern Direction means mother and father to whom their child should minister in five ways:

1. they have looked after and brought up their child, so he should repay this by looking after them.
2. He should help look after their affairs.
3. He should maintain the lineage and tradition of his family
4. He should make himself worthy of their heritage
5. When his parents die, he should make merit for the deceased in their names.

When his parents have been ministered to in the above ways, both of them should help their child in five ways:
1. by retraining him from evil,
2. by encouraging him to do good,
3. by training him in the arts and sciences.
4. by finding a suitable wife for him,
5. by handing over their wealth to him at the right time.

2. Dakkhinadisa- the southern Direction means the teacher to whom this pupils should minister in five ways:
1. by standing up to receive him when he comes.
2. By going to his room and standing and waiting upon him.
3. By eagerness to lean (paying attention to what he says)
4. By personal service,
5. By paying attention to his teaching.

When the teacher has been ministered
to in the above five ways, he should then help his pupils in five ways:
1. by training them in what he has been trained, and by advising them in what they ought to do,
2. by taking care in teaching them what they ought to know
3. by telling them all about the subject that he is teaching without keeping any of it secret.
4. by praising them among friends.
5. by providing for their security on all occasions ( so that in whatever direction they go they will always be well looked after)
Vocabulary

Direction n. ทิศ, ทาง, คำสั่ง
Householder n. คหฤบดี, เจ้าบ้าน, พ่อบ้าน
Clasp v. กำแน่น, รวมเข้าไว้แน่น
Blessed One n. พระผู้มีพระภาคเจ้า, พระพุทธเจ้า
Harmful adj. มีอันตราย, เต็มไปด้วยอันตราย
Influence n. อิทธิพล
Spirit n. ภูตผี, มารร้าย
Tathagata n. พระตถาคต
Spiritual adj. ทางด้านจิตใจ
Recluses n. สมณะ, นักบวช
Lineage n. เชื่อสาย,ชาติตระกูล
Tradition n. ประเพณี, ธรรมเนียม
Heritage n. ทรัพย์มรดก
Eagerness n. ความอยาก, ความสนใจ
Companions n. เพื่อน
Maintain v. รักษาไว้, ป้องกัน, เก็บไว้
Brought up v. เลี้ยงดู
Worthy of adj. สมควรแก่, มีค่า
Realize n. เข้าใจชัด, เข้าใจแจ่มแจ้ง
Benefit v. ได้รับประโยชน์
Attract v. ก่อความประทับใจ, ล่อใจ
Utter v. กล่าว, สวด
Verse n. คาถา, คำร้อยกลอง