The Filial Piety Sutra: 1 of 6

At one time, The Buddha dwelt at Shravasti, in the Jeta Grove of the Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and Solitary, together with two thousand and five hundred Great Bhikshus and thirty-eight thousand great Bodhisattvas.

At that time, the World Honored One led the great assembly on walk toward the south. Suddenly they came upon a pile of bones beside the road.

The World Honored One turned to face them, placed his five limbs on the ground, and bowed respectfully.

Ananda and all the disciples did not understand why he was doing this?

Ananda put his palms together and asked the World Honored One, “Tathagatha is the Great Teacher of the Triple Realm and the compassionate father of beings of the four kinds of births. He has the respect and reverence of the entire assembly.”

“What is the reason that he is now bowing to a pile of dried bones?”

The Buddha told Ananda compassionately, “Good indeed, Ananda. You are all my foremost disciples and have been cultivating for a long time. Yet there are things that you do not understand.”

“This pile of bones could have been my ancestors or parents from former lives. How could I not pay respect to them?”

“That is the reason why I bow to them.”

The Buddha said, “Ananda! Now, you can divide the bones into two parts. If the bones belong to the men, they are white and heavy; while the women’s bones are dark and light in weight.”

Ananda said to the Buddha, “World Honored One, when men are alive in the world they adorn their bodies with robes, belts, shoes, hats and other fine attire, so that they clearly assume a male appearance.”

“When women are alive, they adorn their bodies with powder, cosmetics and perfume. So they clearly assume a female form.”

“Yet, once men and women are dead, all that remains are their bones. How could one tell them apart? Please teach us how to distinguish them.”

The Buddha told Ananda, “When men are in the world, they listen to explanations of Sutras and Vinaya texts, make obeisance to the Triple Jewel and recite The Buddha’s names, then when they die, their bones will be heavy and white in color.

“Most women in the world have little wisdom. They do not listen to Sutras or bow to The Buddha. They indulge in love and feel that their sole duty is to give birth to children and bring them up.”

“Each child relies on his mother’s milk for growth and nourishment. And the milk is transformed from mother’s blood. Each child drinks more than eight stones of milk. Then how could she not become weak and haggard?”

“That is why after their death, the bones are dark and light in weight.”

When Ananda heard these words, he felt a pain in his heart, as if he had been stabbed. He cried uncontrollably and said, “World Honored One, how can I repay the virtuous kindness of my mother?”