A young man named Sigala used to worship the six cardinal points of the
heavens--east, south, west, north, nadir and zenith--in obeying and
observing the last advice given him by his dying father. The Buddha told
the young man that in the "noble discipline" of his teaching, the six
directions were different. According to his "noble discipline" the six
directions were: east; parents; south: teachers; west: wife and
children; north: friends, relatives and neighbors; nadir: servants,
workers and employees; zenith: religious men.
"One should worship these six directions," said the Buddha. Here the
word "worship" is very significant, for one worships something sacred,
something worthy of honor and respect. These six family and social
groups mentioned above are treated in Buddhism as sacred, worthy of
respect and worship. But how is one to "worship" them? The Buddha says
that one could "worship" them only by performing one's duties toward them.
-- Walpola Rahula, in /What the Buddha Taught/
from /Everyday Mind,/ edited by Jean Smith, a /Tricycle/ book
