The Filial Peity Sutra: 3 of 6

“The 1st verse of praise: The kindness of giving protection to the fetus. Only after many kalpas of rebirth can a man obtain a human form.”

“Besides, as he has affinity with the present parents, he is born into the world.”

“At about five months, the internal organs are formed. At the beginning of the 6th month, the six senses are opened.”

“The mother’s body becomes as heavy as a mountain.”

“The fetus kicks and struggles. So the mother feels as though she is experiencing earthquake and swirling wind.”

“The mother’s only thought is her child. She neglects her look and even the fine clothes and mirrors gathers dust.”

“The 2nd verse of praise: The kindness to endure labouring. After ten months of pregnancy, the process of labouring is approaching.”

“Meanwhile, each morning the mother is seriously ill. And everyday she is drowsy and sluggish.”

“Her fear and agitation are difficult to describe. She is always tearful and grief – stricken.”

“Sadly she tells her relatives and friends about her worries that death may befall her child.”

“The 3rd verse of praise: The kindness of forgetting the suffering after the delivery. Because of over exerting her strength, her internal organs seem to be torn apart.”

“She struggles painfully and the blood flows out like slaughtering a lamb.”

“Yet, upon hearing that the child is healthy …”

“She is doubly filled with joy …”

“But after experiencing the joy, again she is enveloped in pain and suffers great agony.”

“The fourth verse of praise: The kindness of taking the bitter and giving the sweet. The kindness of parents is profoundly deep. They take care of their children devotedly.”

“They will never be displeased with their children. The parental love is indescribable.”

“The parents are willing to undergo hunger and cold. But they will make sure their children get their fill.”

“The 5th verse of praise: The kindness of making sure that the child is dry and secured without thinking of her own comfort. When a child wets the bed, ..”

.”… Mother willingly moves him to a dry place while she remains at the wet spot!”

“As long as her child can sleep soundly, she is willing to endure discomfort.”

“She breast-feeds the children so that they will feel the love and grow up healthily.”

“Covering them with her sleeves, she protects them from wind and cold.”

“Parents take good care of children hoping that they will grow to maturity happily. And the kind mother seldom seeks solace for herself.”

“The 6th verse of praise: The kindness of feeding and nurturing. The kind mother resembles the great earth which nurtures all kinds of growth.”

“The stern father is like the heaven that protects and nurtures all sentient beings pervasively. Parental love is equal without differentiation.”

“The kindness of parents is such that they will never despise their children no matter how ugly they may be.”

“And will never be displeased even if the child is born crippled.”

“Instead, parents will always give greater love and protection for the disabled child.”

“The 7th verse of praise: The kindness of washing away the filth. Once the mother was a pretty girl with adorned body and a beautiful face.”

“She was vibrant with energy. Her eyebrows were like fresh green willows.”

“And her complexion would have put a red rose to shame.”

“But with kindness, she over exerts herself in taking care of the children and forgoes a beautiful face.”

“Because of washing away the filth, her hands are coarse and covered with wounds.”

“The kind mother acts solely for the sake of her sons and daughters, and willingly allows her beauty to fade.”

“The 8th verse of praise: The kindness of remembering the child when he travels afar. It is indeed sad to endure the death of loved ones.”

“But separation is also painful, when the child has to travel afar.”

“Parents are constantly mindful of their child. They seek the help of The Buddha so that he will come home safely.”

“Some children left their parents without sending them any news. The poor old parents look forward to seeing them and are extremely sorrowful.”

“Just like the old ape in the forest that cries for losing her beloved child, her heart is broken into pieces.”

“The 9th verse in praise of the deep parental love towards their children. Their deep kindness is difficult to repay.”

“When the child undergoes great suffering, the kind mother will always seek to suffer on this behalf …”

“If the child toils, the parents are uncomfortable.”

“When a child has to travel afar, mother will always worry about his comfort.”

“The mother will be so distressed if she knows that her children have to undergo any slight suffering.”

“The tenth verse of praise: The kindness of showing ultimate concern over the children. The loving kindness of parents resembles the light of the sun and moon that will forever shine pervasively on the great earth.”

“From the moment the awake each day, their thoughts are with their children.”

“Even if a mother lives for a hundred years, she will constantly worry about her eighty-year-old child!”

“Do you wish to know when such kindness and love ends? It doesn’t even begin to dissipate until her life is over.”