Debts of Gratitude
Dear Su Yi,
almost all the female medical students after witnessing their first natural childbirth in the OG posting comes back a bit shell shocked, and when asked will declare "I am NOT going to give birth!" This is a natural response as it is the poor girls initiation into a scene of blood and pain which was over and beyond most peoples expectations.
I will instead advise that this exposure to a physiological process ( Yes , my Professor used to hammer into us that childbirth is an entirely natural physiological process in which the doctors role is 'Masterly Inactivity' ) teaches and reminds us of the fundamental process with which all of us start life, a painful and traumatic experience for both mother and child.
I will instead advise that this exposure to a physiological process ( Yes , my Professor used to hammer into us that childbirth is an entirely natural physiological process in which the doctors role is 'Masterly Inactivity' ) teaches and reminds us of the fundamental process with which all of us start life, a painful and traumatic experience for both mother and child.
The First Noble Truth includes 'Birth' as dukkha - pain, suffering, distress... and you have seen it clearly. Clearly it also reminds us of the debts that is owed to one's father and mother; you have witnessed what your mother had to endure to give you life. Of course doctors now try our best to relieve pain. As for your parents in this lifetime, they not only gave you life through the birth process, they also sent you to medical school, gave you the best education that they can afford, got me to GRILL you and most importantly they taught you about the Dhamma as well.
We have much to be grateful for including the debts of gratitude of the following:
We have much to be grateful for including the debts of gratitude of the following:
1. The debt of gratitude that one owes to all living beings; if they were not there you will have NO rice on the table, no burger to eat, no lup cheong for CNY and certainly NO veggies. We survive because of the net of connectivity, from the simple hard working farmer to the market stall proprietor to the man who checks the water level at the reservoir.
2. The debt of gratitude that one owes to one’s parents is obvious to all. I provide a FAM (Father and Mother ) scholarship to my 2 daughters, trust me I know!
3. The debt of gratitude that one owes to one’s sovereign. Yup, its is true for without an effective administration, no one will collect rubbish, maintain roads, build bridges, run schools or provide General Hospitals for all! Anarchy will take place overnight.
4. The debt of gratitude that one owes to the Triple Gems. The Buddha is the Teacher who taught us the Dhamma that He discovered, and the Sangha preserves the Dhamma for the present and the Future.
We frequently hear that we must truly appreciate and honour our parents. Showing our debt of gratitude to our parents means to support them and sincerely devote ourselves to them.
It is a fact that, in this world, there is nothing more profound than the bond of love between parents and child. In our lives, we form various relationships, such as the bonds between boyfriend and girlfriend, teacher and student, master and disciple, between husband and wife, and between parent and child. The bond between master and disciple can be severed by excommunication. The bond between husband and wife can be cut by divorce. However, the bond between parent and child can never be broken. This relationship between parent and child represents a profound kammic bond.
What can we do to repay these debts of gratitude to our parents? The filial duties are divided into the supreme, the middle, and the low priorities.
The low priority refers to the offering of clothing and food to our parents.
The middle priority signifies our efforts to bring joy and comfort to our parents. An example of this may be a soothing shoulder massage that we can give them when their muscles are tense. This type of filial duty refers to our sincere efforts to consider what would bring great joy to our parents and to take the needed action.
While the low and medium types of filial duty are extremely important, they represent manifestations of gratitude that are temporary and limited, they all signify presentations of temporary joy to our parents. All gifts of cash and material goods would eventually be consumed and disappear in time. Those who want to repay their debt of gratitude to their parents should help them learn the Dhamma.
In this lifetime, laughter, material goods and money are temporary and finite. However, the benefits amassed through practising the Dhamma will continue into and transcend all future existences. This is what they truly need.
2. The debt of gratitude that one owes to one’s parents is obvious to all. I provide a FAM (Father and Mother ) scholarship to my 2 daughters, trust me I know!
3. The debt of gratitude that one owes to one’s sovereign. Yup, its is true for without an effective administration, no one will collect rubbish, maintain roads, build bridges, run schools or provide General Hospitals for all! Anarchy will take place overnight.
4. The debt of gratitude that one owes to the Triple Gems. The Buddha is the Teacher who taught us the Dhamma that He discovered, and the Sangha preserves the Dhamma for the present and the Future.
We frequently hear that we must truly appreciate and honour our parents. Showing our debt of gratitude to our parents means to support them and sincerely devote ourselves to them.
It is a fact that, in this world, there is nothing more profound than the bond of love between parents and child. In our lives, we form various relationships, such as the bonds between boyfriend and girlfriend, teacher and student, master and disciple, between husband and wife, and between parent and child. The bond between master and disciple can be severed by excommunication. The bond between husband and wife can be cut by divorce. However, the bond between parent and child can never be broken. This relationship between parent and child represents a profound kammic bond.
What can we do to repay these debts of gratitude to our parents? The filial duties are divided into the supreme, the middle, and the low priorities.
The low priority refers to the offering of clothing and food to our parents.
The middle priority signifies our efforts to bring joy and comfort to our parents. An example of this may be a soothing shoulder massage that we can give them when their muscles are tense. This type of filial duty refers to our sincere efforts to consider what would bring great joy to our parents and to take the needed action.
While the low and medium types of filial duty are extremely important, they represent manifestations of gratitude that are temporary and limited, they all signify presentations of temporary joy to our parents. All gifts of cash and material goods would eventually be consumed and disappear in time. Those who want to repay their debt of gratitude to their parents should help them learn the Dhamma.
In this lifetime, laughter, material goods and money are temporary and finite. However, the benefits amassed through practising the Dhamma will continue into and transcend all future existences. This is what they truly need.
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