Sutta Vibhanga Course Lesson Four: Parents and Children Conducted by Ven. K. Rathanasara Organized by

Parents & Children 2

3 Buddha says

4 Buddha points out:-

Who is the Creator God? 5

6 Immeasurable Love - Mettā Our mother and father start to love us even before we are born to this world.

7 Immeasurable Love - Mettā

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9 What about Father’s love? Once King Suddhodana said to Buddha… “The love of a father towards a son cuts through the skin, the flesh, the sinew, the bone and the marrow.” [Buddhist Legends Part 1 pg. 219]

Compassion is that which makes the heart of the good move at the pain of others. It crushes and destroys the pain of others; thus, it is called Compassion as it shelters and embraces the distressed. 10 Great Compassion - Karunā

11 Appreciative Joy – Muditā The chief characteristic of Muditā is happy acquiescence in others’ prosperity and success (anumodanā). Appreciative Joy embraces all prosperous beings and is congratulatory attitude of a person. It tends to eliminate any dislike (arati) towards a successful person. [Buddha and His Teachings, P637]

Equanimity - Upekkhā 12 Upekkhā discards clinging and aversion. An impartial attitude is its chief characteristic. He who practices Equanimity is neither attracted by desirable objects nor is averse to undesirable objects. [Buddha and His Teachings, P640]

It’s our Parents; for the first time in our life, teach us…  what is Right and Wrong, Good and Bad,  what is To Be Done and Not To Be Done. They are the ones who introduce us… the culture, manners, language, family members, relatives and friends. 13 Who are the First Teachers in our Life? pubbācariya

14 Who are our Protective Deities pajāya anukampakā Parents protect children from all dangers and provide security from the right beginning of their lives. They grant children boons they ask and work for the Happiness of them out of great Compassion like Protective Deities.

15 Āhuneyya is a term for the noble community of Monks (Arahants). They are ‘worthy of offering, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gift, worthy of reverential saluations, being incomparable field of merits for the world.’ Who are the Worthy Ones? āhuneyya

16 Exactly in the same manner, Parents are worthy of offering, hospitality, gifts and reverential salutation of the Children. Who are the Worthy Ones? āhuneyya

17 Buddha says “Monks, I declare that there are two persons one can never repay. Which two? - One’s Mother and Father. For what reason? Parents are of great help to their children, they bring them up, feed them, and show them the world.”

…such a one; monks, does enough for his parents: he repays them and more than repays them for what they have done.” 18 “But, monks, one who encourages…  his Unbelieving parents, settles and establishes them in Faith  his Immoral parents, settles and establishes them in Moral Discipline  his Stingy parents, settles and establishes them in Generosity  his Ignorant parents, settles and establishes them in Wisdom

19 Duties of Parents towards Children… 1.Restrain them from evil 2.Support them in doing good 3.Teach them some skills 4.Arrange suitable marriage for them 5.Hand over the inheritance to them In Sigālovāda Sutta...

20 Duties of Children towards Parents… 1.support them 2.perform their duties for them 3.keep up the family tradition 4.be worthy of their heritage 5.after parents' deaths, distribute gifts on their behalf. In Sigālovāda Sutta...

21 [Maṅgala Sutta]

22 In Vasala Sutta – The discourse of Outcast

23 Buddha categorizes children into Three groups: 1.Avajāta Those who are inferior to their parents in every aspect. 2.Anujāta Those who are on par with their parents. 3.Atijāta Those who excel their parents in every way.

24 1.Parents are inherited with great virtuous qualities - immeasurable love, great compassion, appreciative joy and equanimity. Parents are our Creator God. 2.Parents bring us up, introduce us the world and present us to the world. Parents are our First Teachers in our life. 3.Parents protect us from dangers right in the beginning of our life and grant us our boons. Parents are our Protective Deities.

25 4.Parents are Sacred and Noble. They should be considered and treated like we treat Arahants. Parents are the Worthy Ones. 5.Children are indebted to Parents to a greater extent. They will never be able to repay Parents for what they have done for them. 6.A child who can encourage and establish unbelieving, immoral, stingy and ignorant Parents in Faith, Moral discipline, Generosity and Wisdom, that child repays Parents more than what the Parents have done.

26 7.Parents and Children should perform their duties towards each other with Love, Care and Concern, to have a Happy Family. 8.Taking care of one’s parents is a Great Blessing. 9.One who does NOT take care of one’s old aged parents, being affluent; is an outcast. 10.Three types of Children, namely – Inferior, Equal and Superior to Parents.

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28 Let’s Share the Dhamma By Asking Questions