(Clearwisdom.net) At a recent experience-sharing gathering with fellow practitioners, we talked about the topic of filial piety. There were several touching examples that I would like to share with everyone.
Two fellow practitioners, a husband and wife, live in a rural area. Over the years, their family has experienced difficult times due to persecution by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Making matters worse, their father had a stroke, and needed help using the restroom. The couple was not only busy with their field work and caring for their children, but also cared for their elderly parents.
During the hot summer, they often washed their father, and fed him with great care and attention. Their patience and gentle attitude touched their family and friends. Every day for more than four years, they served their father. After he passed away, one of the common comments from the villagers was, "There are too few people like you showing filial piety these days. Now, you can take a break."
However, not long after their father passed away, their elderly mother suddenly became paralyzed. Her paralysis lasted six years. The two practitioners cared for her without any resentment. They also practiced, studied the Fa, and clarified the truth every day without exception. After their mother passed away, stories of their filial conduct spread, "Hey, you see their family's son and son-in-law show good filial conduct. They did well in respecting and caring for the elderly!" "That couple practices Falun Gong. They are really different from others." The way they respected and treated their elders served as a means of truth-clarification. The villagers not only respect them, but also believe in Dafa.
The baseline of human morality is indeed very low at this time, and many people don't know how to show filial piety. I have often heard of and seen people scolding and reprimanding their parents. Under the CCP's rule, it is difficult to find young people showing filial piety from their hearts, but Dafa practitioners are different. Our benevolent Teacher told us that we should respect our parents. During our cultivation process, I feel strongly that respecting our parents is something that every Dafa practitioner must do well. We should not dislike or shun the elderly, but be more concerned about them. We need to be considerate of the spiritual and practical needs of the elderly, and we should make our conduct a good example for others.
I know a female practitioner whose mother has a very bad temper. Sometimes, her mother scolds her and mistreats her in various ways. After scolding her, her mother often demands an apology. This practitioner frequently buys gifts for her mother to make her happy and to put her at ease. When confronted by her mother, she accepts all the blame, until her mother eventually laughs.
Every time she visited her mother-in-law, she always washed her hair, cut her nails, and did other tasks. Her good deeds have earned prestige in her family. During the worst days of persecution, her family supported her Dafa study. Her sister-in-laws said, "Why are you not afraid of mother? We don't want to get close to her." She said, "I practice Falun Dafa. Showing filial piety for the elderly is perfectly justified. There are many fellow practitioners doing better than I."
One male practitioner's father is a retired officer. His father could not care for himself for more than six years. At the beginning, the older man could use restroom unaided, but he gradually lost control of his bodily functions and could also no longer speak clearly. The practitioner and his family members took turns looking after him. Every time when the practitioner was on duty, he took special care of him. I have seen many times that he washed his father's bed sheets and clothes. He showed no resentment, and his peaceful attitude moved me. I once visited their home and saw the practitioner helping his father slowly move to a sofa. He then tied a rope around his chest. I asked, "What's that for?" "I am afraid he may fall down if he is not careful." At 9:00 p.m., he prepared another meal for his father. Before eating, the practitioner took out a piece of paper with the words, "Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance are good. Falun Dafa is good." He then smiled and asked his father: "What is this? Please read." His father was very serious, and with an unclear voice, he said, "Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance are good. Falun Dafa is good." He repeated this three times.
I asked, "Your family has so many people to look after him. Does he know who is good?" The practitioner said, "He knows. Every time I am on duty, my father is very happy! Sometimes, he says: 'You are good. They ... are not good.'" This practitioner has a busy job, and he also does very well at the three things. Additionally, his filial conduct is widely recognized and praised by his family. He is also respected by fellow practitioners. When his father passed away, many practitioners visited him. I thought, "His father was blissful--he had such a good son. If it were I, could I do as well as he did?"
I saw my shortcomings. For example, I have a slight sense of resentment toward my elderly father. I do not like him living in my home. When he was sick, I lacked the compassion to care for him, and I even complained sometimes that he wanted too much pocket money. I thought my father was too selfish. In fact, this attitude was a reflection of my character, and it showed that I had not eliminated my attachment to selfishness. In this last phase of Fa-rectification, every Dafa practitioner should do well in respecting and caring for the elderly, especially their parents. This is because we are human lives walking on the path to Godhood.
