This week's sharing we discussed about parents love and how much we should appreciate them. They are the ones who bring us to this world. They are the ones who gave us a chance to become a human to get in touch with the dharma and generate merits. They are the ones who showed us unconditional love.
From the start, when your mum is pregnant she start to carry extra weight in her womb. She ate nutritious food so that you can grow well inside. Your parents protect the fragile little embryo/ foetus that is inside the womb by not making any vigorous movement. Your father does all the vigorous chores n work. Your mum got to bear with all the discomfort and inconvenience during pregnancy just for YOU… They pray day and night for your safety n wellness...
During giving birth, she suffers lots of pain and uses all her might... Hoping that you come out safe n sound… Her mental and physical strength are depleted. However, upon seeing you safe and sound, she is overjoyed. She seems to be suffering from no pain at all for the moment even thought she is pale from losing lots of blood. You are the lucky ones who have survived. Many have never made it to this stage of life. You should be grateful that you have made it through with your parents’ love and care and that you are still here reading this blog.
Life doesn’t stops there, it continues. Your mum will take months to recover. It is a dangerous period of her life too. There are mothers who never make it to see her child during labour. Some only get the first and only glance. At your first few months after birth, your parents give you love, care and protection. They love u no matter how ugly you are or what deficiency you are suffering from. They show you no less love and care. They send you to specialist when ever you are sick and no matter how late at night it maybe. They look after you day n night. Feeding, cleaning, changing your diapers and bringing joy to you. They give you the best things they can afford giving you nice clothes and bed to sleep in. Some sang lullabies to coax you to bed. They never fail to attend to you when ever you cry. Where can you get so much care and love?
They send you to school hoping that you get educated any become a good person who can survive in the society. They worry day and night about your welfare and academic. They celebrate the first few birthdays and walked you the first few most crucial moments of life.
Have you ever think of what you parents like to eat? Fish head or fish tail? Well guess most of you will think that will parents will prefer to eat fish head. Your parents eat fish head and stomach area because they want you to eat the fleshy and easily extractable meat of the fish. The stomach area has lots of bones and they are dislocated easily. There is a high chance of swallowing them if they are not careful. The fish head does not have much meat as compared to its tail.
Your parents punish you when you do wrong. They want you to be good and be successful in life. You guys may not know that seeing you suffering or crying, your parents are hurt too. When your father canes you, your mother usually cries in pain. When she can’t take it anymore, she will ask your father to stop and help you rub ointments. They ask you not to do it again.
Buddha once said that we can never repay our parents even if we carry them on our shoulder and serve them for 100 years. Not even if they excreted on your shoulders. Not even by giving them all the wealth and treasures in the world would we be able to repay them. We are in great debt. And now how many times have we ever done things that had hurt our parents? How are we going to repay them? The Buddha said that by getting them to practice the dharma we will be able to clear our debts one day. How will your parents practice the dharma? Well, first it will come from you. When they see that you have changed into a better after practicing the dharma, they too will believe and start to practice and follow the dharma.
However, you must know that no one is perfect. There is no son as well as perfect parents. Sometimes there maybe situation that may point to say that you didn’t do anything wrong. Just forgive them and do what they one first. I know it is tough but take it that you are repaying them. You can negotiate later. They are no perfect people after all. They maybe make mistake so forgive them. Show to them that you love and appreciate their presents. When they see that you are so filial child they too are happy and will treat you better and better. When tough times come, forgive and forget, tell yourself that this too will past. If you wait long enough good things will come your way.
-VC-
Vincent