Question 57: FILIAL PIETY IS A CHERISHED ASPECT OF EASTERN CULTURE, AND ARGUABLY OF CULTURES WORLDWIDE. HOW SHOULD LAY PRACTITIONERS UNDERSTAND FILIAL PIETY?

Question 57: FILIAL PIETY IS A CHERISHED ASPECT OF EASTERN CULTURE, AND ARGUABLY OF CULTURES WORLDWIDE. HOW SHOULD LAY PRACTITIONERS UNDERSTAND FILIAL PIETY?Answer: Parents instinctively love their children unconditionally, often dedicating their entire lives to their children's well-being. However, children don't naturally reciprocate this love to the same degree. They tend to focus their love on their own offspring, a phenomenon our ancestors described as "TEARS ROLLING DOWNWARD," meaning love typically flows from older generations to younger ones.The greatest joy of aging parents is often being surrounded as their affection for their children and grandchildren keeps growing. However, modern life's demands frequently separate families, with children moving away to pursue careers and start their own families. This has led to an increasing number of elderly parents experiencing loneliness and isolation.Our ancestors, especially Confucianism, placed great importance on filial piety, considering it a fundamental human virtue. Those who lack filial piety are viewed as falling short of true humanity. While the natural tendency is for love to flow from parent to child, we must consciously cultivate filial piety as a moral obligation. We should make deliberate efforts to care for our aging parents, bring them joy, and guide them in their Buddhist spiritual practice.In the Buddhist tradition, the Ullambana Festival is a significant event honoring filial piety. This festival serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting our parents and preserving this essential virtue for future generations