Technology Governance Digha Nikaya 31

Sigalovada Sutta

The Six Directions: Ethical Framework for Digital Relationships

Modern Challenge

How do we create ethical relationships in digital communities? What reciprocal responsibilities do tech companies, users, employees, and society owe each other?

The Six Directions of Digital Relationships

Buddha's comprehensive framework for reciprocal relationships maps perfectly onto modern stakeholder capitalism and digital community ethics.

Digital Citizen East Digital Mentors Teachers, Leaders Your Duties: Respect Support Learning Gratitude Their Duties: Guidance Protection Wisdom Good Example South Digital Family Close Community Your Duties: Care Support Their Duties: Love Acceptance West Digital Partners Peers, Colleagues Your Duties: Loyalty Trust Sharing Cooperation Their Duties: Honesty Reliability Support Reciprocity North Digital Students Those You Guide Your Duties: Teaching Protection Patience Good Example Their Duties: Attention Respect Practice Gratitude Zenith Employers Platforms, Companies Your Duties: Diligent Work Honesty Reliability Skill Development Their Duties: Fair Wages Safe Environment Growth Support Respect Nadir Society Community Servants Your Duties: Respect Support Civic Engagement Community Care Their Duties: Protection Justice Education Public Service

East: Digital Mentors & Teachers

Those who guide your digital literacy and technological understanding.

Modern Examples: Tech educators, online course instructors, senior developers, digital literacy advocates

Your Responsibilities:

  • Show respect and gratitude for their knowledge
  • Support their teaching efforts
  • Be an active, engaged learner
  • Help maintain their reputation

Their Responsibilities:

  • Provide accurate, helpful guidance
  • Protect students from harmful practices
  • Share wisdom and experience freely
  • Model ethical technology use

South: Digital Family & Close Community

Your intimate digital relationships and close support network.

Modern Examples: Family group chats, close friend networks, intimate partner digital interactions, trusted inner circle

West: Digital Partners & Peers

Collaborative relationships in digital spaces and professional contexts.

Modern Examples: Work colleagues, project collaborators, professional networks, peer communities

North: Digital Students & Mentees

Those you guide and support in their digital journey.

Modern Examples: Junior colleagues, online students, community members you help, those you teach digital skills to

Zenith: Employers & Platforms

The digital platforms and organizations that employ or serve you.

Modern Examples: Tech companies, social media platforms, digital service providers, online employers

Nadir: Society & Community Servants

Public institutions and services that support digital infrastructure.

Modern Examples: Government digital services, public libraries with internet access, digital rights organizations, cybersecurity agencies

Digital Relationship Mapper

Map your own digital relationships and evaluate the balance of reciprocal responsibilities in each direction.

Map Your Digital Six Directions

Identify specific people or entities in each direction and assess the health of these relationships.

The Original Teaching

Sigala's Morning Ritual

Buddha encountered young Sigala performing a ritual taught by his father - bowing to the six directions (east, south, west, north, zenith, and nadir) each morning. When Buddha asked about this practice, Sigala explained he was honoring his father's memory but didn't understand the deeper meaning.

Buddha then revealed the true meaning of honoring the six directions - not through empty ritual, but through fulfilling reciprocal responsibilities in all our relationships. Each direction represents different types of relationships that require specific duties from both parties.

This teaching became known as the "layperson's code of ethics" - comprehensive guidance for creating harmonious relationships in family, work, and society through mutual respect and reciprocal responsibility.

Digital Age Applications

  • Stakeholder Capitalism: The six directions model provides a framework for balanced responsibility to all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
  • Digital Platform Ethics: Tech companies must consider their duties to users, employees, society, and future generations.
  • Remote Work Relationships: Clear digital boundaries and mutual responsibilities become crucial in virtual work environments.
  • Online Community Building: Healthy digital communities require reciprocal care and responsibility from all members.

Practice Exercises

Daily Direction Check

Each morning, like Sigala, consciously consider your responsibilities in each of the six directions for that day.

Relationship Audit

Evaluate the balance of giving and receiving in your most important digital relationships.

Digital Community Building

Apply the six directions framework to create healthier, more reciprocal digital communities.

Related Teachings

Cakkavatti Sihanada Sutta

Explore righteous leadership principles that complement relationship ethics

Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta

Learn speech that unifies communities rather than dividing them

Agganna Sutta

Understand social contract theory and legitimate authority in digital governance