Faith in the Three Jewels and compassion for all beings are the most precious treasures one can possess.
Sutra in Which the Buddha Speaks on Fathers and Mothers’ Kindness Being Difficult to Repay
From the tender fragility of infancy to the independence of adulthood, our lives are shaped by the selfless love of our parents. In this cherished scripture from the Tripitaka, translated into Chinese by the esteemed monk An Shigao in the first century CE, the Buddha offers a profound reflection on the depth of parental love. In this lecture, Khenpo Sodargye brings the Buddha’s timeless teachings to life, explaining why it is essential to repay our parents’ kindness and providing practical guidance on how to do so, with special emphasis on the transformative power of faith.
To illustrate the vastness of parental compassion, the Buddha paints a vivid scenario: even if one were to carry one’s father on one shoulder and the mother on the other, serving them devotedly for a thousand years—even if they were to relieve themselves upon one’s back—without harboring the slightest resentment, such a person would still fall short of repaying their parents’ innumerable kindness.
The sutra presents five meaningful ways to repay parental kindness, each rooted in core Buddhist virtues that bring joy, peace, and liberation in this life and beyond:
- Help parents develop faith in the Three Jewels by sharing the radiant qualities of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
- Encourage them to uphold precepts, such as the lay vows or the eight one-day precepts.
- Invite them to listen to and study the Dharma, deepening their understanding of the path.
- Inspire them to practice generosity, beginning with simple acts of giving, such as making small offerings or engaging in life release.
- Guide them toward wisdom by helping them contemplate essential teachings, such as impermanence and emptiness.
Ultimately, Khenpo reminds us that genuine true begins with recognizing our parents’ kindness and extends to all sentient beings, each of whom has, in countless past lives, been our mother or father. By cultivating faith and virtue within ourselves and inspiring them in others, we not only repay our parents’ care but also honor the interconnected kindness of all beings.
If more people embrace the principle of repaying parental kindness, a ripple of warmth will spread from families to communities and to the wider world—infusing every place with love, virtue, and harmony.
Audio Recording (with simultaneous English translation)
Video (with simultaneous English translation)
Guiding one’s parents to develop faith in the Dharma helps them abide in tranquility. The Dharma is exceedingly profound and brings fruition within this very life. Experiencing its depth through practice is richly meaningful.
