The True Meaning of Filial Piety

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Changren, who reflects on the true nature of filial piety and the significance of Mother's Day. This discussion was recorded by the disciple Shi Faxi on May 12, 2019, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Venerable Changren speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. In this world, every individual is born of parents, and in time, most will become parents themselves. The deepest, most profound wish of a parent is to see their children grow up safe, healthy, and happy. However, the love that children hold for their parents is not always equal to the love they receive in return. This love is often asymmetrical. Because this love is entangled with the heart of familial ties, many parents do not even realise whether their children’s hearts are truly sincere, or if they are merely receiving a one-sided, selfless devotion.

I have witnessed far too many of these worldly situations. Raising children in this world without the guidance of Buddhist education is truly a terrifying prospect. Without the wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings, the shifting tides of the human heart are truly difficult to tame and transform."

The Trap of Worldly Filial Piety

"I am aware that there are many children in this world who strive to be filial. However, these worldly acts of filial piety cannot lead to ultimate liberation. True filial piety must be capable of leading one's parents to liberation, helping them to leave suffering behind. It is not about maintaining deep, heavy emotional entanglements with one's parents. Such attachments only cause both parties to become stained by the dust of the world once again, ensuring that neither can truly escape.

This is not true filial piety. It only serves to bind both parties with emotional entanglements, forcing them to continue in the cycle of rebirth and increasing the suffering they must endure together. If we remain trapped in these cycles, we are only adding fuel to the fire of our mutual pain."

The Path of Great Filial Piety

"If one wishes to practise 'Great Filial Piety,' one must lead one's parents to liberation, helping them to leave suffering behind and be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. That is the only path that is truly real. Only then will we not waste the precious opportunity of having obtained a human body in this lifetime. The fact that we have met in this life and share a familial relationship is the result of deep, profound Causal Conditions from the past. We must not squander this rare opportunity.

We must ensure that both we and our parents can be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. That is the only true expression of filial piety and filial conduct. I know that during this season of gratitude for mothers, many people’s hearts will inevitably turn to their parents, especially the mothers who have endured such hardship and toil to raise them. This sense of filial duty should be transformed into a heart of diligent practice. By doing so, we can gain the ability to find our true self-nature and achieve accomplishment, thereby saving our parents and helping them to leave suffering behind."

Transcending Roles and Saving Sentient Beings

"The identity of a 'parent' is, in truth, merely a role. In reality, all sentient beings are suffering while caught within their respective roles. Those who can awaken to this truth should know that they must make a vow to save these beings who are lost within their roles, leading them to liberation and helping them to leave suffering behind. That is the only path that is truly real.

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a magnificent and rare place to encounter. Everyone should be diligent in their practice and understand the reality of these teachings. Let us be grateful for the compassion of the Buddha and the compassion of Grandma. Namo Amituofo."