Wenda20170203 00:51
(Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program)
(An Excerpt)
ATTITUDE TOWARDS FILIAL PIETY
Caller: Hi Master, I would like to ask about certain aspects of filial piety towards our parents. Some parents do not practise Buddhism. Hence, as children, what we can do is to offer Little Houses and perform life liberation for our parents but we hardly get in touch with them. Can this be considered as being filial to our parents?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, of course. Take a look at the monastics, they may be physically apart from their parents, but they can pray for blessings and good health for their parents; and bestow strength on them. They can even transfer some of their meritorious blessings to their parents.
There are many ways to exercise filial piety, you do not necessarily have to be by their side to take care of them. Most parents would want to see their children turn out successful, ambitious and noble.
There you are, by their side doing all the work that can actually be done by the nurses and you consider that an act of filial piety? If you can recite the Buddhist scriptures for them and help relieve them from pain and suffering, it is far better than having you by their side, tending to their needs, like doing massage for them and bringing them towels when they are in excruciating pain. On the other hand, you can alleviate their pain by reciting Buddhist scriptures and offering Little Houses for them. Which do you think is a better gesture of filial piety?
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