26  Thus the Lord spoke.
The friend who is a helper and
The friend in times both good and bad,
The friend who shows the way that's right,
The friend who's full of sympathy:
These four kinds of friends the wise
Should know at their true worth, and he
Should cherish them with care, just like
A mother with her dearest child.
The wise man trained and disciplined
Shines out like a beacon-fire.
He gathers wealth just as the bee
Gathers honey, and it grows
Like an ant-hill higher yet.
With wealth so gained the layman can
Devote it to his people's good.
He should divide his wealth in four
(This will most advantage bring).
One part he may enjoy at will,
Two parts he should put to work,
The fourth part he should set aside
As reserve in times of need.
27. 'And how, householder's son, does the Ariyan disciple protect the six directions? These six things are to be regarded as the six directions. The east denotes mother and father. ­The south denotes teachers,"' The west denotes wife and children. The north denotes friends and companions, the
nadir denotes servants, workers and helpers. The zenith denotes ascetics and Brahmins.
28. There are five ways in which a son should minister to his mother and father as the eastern direction. [He should think] Having been supported by them, I will support them.
I will perform their duties for them. I will keep up the family tradition. I will be worthy of my heritage. After my parents’ deaths, I will distribute gifts on their behalf And there are five ways in which the parents, so ministered to by their son as the eastern direction, will reciprocate: they will restrain him from evil, support him in doing good, teach him some skill, find him a suitable wife and, in due time, hand over his inheritance to him. In this way the eastern direction is cover­ed, making it at peace and free from fear.

29. There are five ways in which pupils should minister to their teachers as the southern direction: by rising to greet Them, by waiting on them, by being attentive, by serving by mastering the skills they teach. And there are five ways in which their teachers, thus ministered to by their pupils as the southern direction, will reciprocate: they will give thorough instruction, make sure they have grasped what should have duly grasped, give them a thorough grounding in all skills, recommend them to their friends and colleagues and provide them with security in all directions. In this way the southern direction is covered, making it at peace and free from fear.

30. There are five ways in which a husband should minister to his wife as the western direction: by honouring her, by not disparaging her, by not being unfaithful to her, by giving authority to her, by providing her with adornments. And
There are five ways in which a wife, thus ministered to by her husband as the western direction, will reciprocate: by proper­ly organising her work, by being kind to the servants, by not being unfaithful, by protecting stores, and by being skilful and diligent in all she has to do. In this way the western direction is covered, making it at peace and free from fear.

31. There are five ways in which a man should minister to his friends and companions as the northern direction: by gifts, by kindly words, by looking after their welfare, by treating them like himself, and by keeping his word. And there are five ways in which friends and companions, thus ministered to by a man as the northern direction, will reciprocate: by looking after him when he is inattentive, by looking after his property when he is inattentive, by being a refuge when he is afraid, by not deserting him when he is in trouble and by showing concern for his children. In this way the northern direction is covered, making it at peace and free from fear.
32. 'There are five waysin which a master  should minister to his servants and workpeople as the nadir: by arranging their work according to their strength, by supplying them with food and wages, by looking after them are ill, by sharing special delicacies with them, and letting them off work at the right time. And there are five ways in which servants and workpeople, thus ministered to by their master as the nadir, will reciprocate: they will get up before him, go to bed after him, take only what they are given, do their work properly, and be bearers of his praise and good repute. In this way the nadir is covered, making it at peace and free from fear.

33. 'There are five ways in which a man should minister to ascetics and Brahmins as the
 zenith by kindness in bodily deed, speech and thought, by keeping open house for them by supplying their bodily needs. And the ascetics and Brahmins, thus ministered to by him as the zenith, will reciprocate in six ways: they will restrain him from evil, encourage them to do good, be benevolently compassionate towards him, teach him what he has not heard, and point out to him the way to heaven. In this way the zenith is covered, making it at peace ­and free from fear.' Thus the Lord spoke.
34. And the Well-Farer having spoken, the Teacher added
'Mother, father are the east,
Teachers are the southward point,
Wife and children are the west,
Friends and colleagues are the north.
Servants and workers are below,
Ascetics, Brahmins are above.
These directions all should be
Honoured by a clansman true.
He who's wise and disciplined,
Kindly and intelligent,
Humble, free from pride,
Such a one may honour gain.
Early rising, scorning sloth,
Unshaken by adversity,
Of faultless conduct, ready wit,
Such a one may honour gain.
Making friends, and keeping them,
Welcoming, no stingy host,

A guide, philosopher and friend,

Such a one may honour gain.
Giving gifts and kindly speech,
A life well-spent for others' good,
Even-handed in all things,
Impartial as each case demands:
These things make the world go round
Like the chariot's axle-pin.
If such things did not exist,
No mother from her son would get
Any honour and respect,
Nor father either, as their due.
But since these qualities are held
By the wise in high esteem,
They are given prominence
And are rightly praised by all.'
35. At these words Sigalaka said to the Lord: 'Excellent, Reverend Gotama, excellent! It is as if someone were to set up what had been knocked down, or to point out the way to one who had got lost, or to bring an oil-lamp into a dark place, so that those with eyes could see what was there. Just so the Reverend Gotama has expounded the Dhamma in various ways, May the Reverend Gotama accept me as a lay-follower from this day forth as long as life shall last!'

From: Walsh, Maurice - The Long Discources of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya,Boston, Wisdom, 1995.

See Also - Standards For A Happy Life -Di Zi Gui

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