Clarifying Doubts About the Pure Land (II)
淨土釋疑(二)
Answer to Q45: (continued 2 /3)
There is another point. Children have eyes as clear as glass. From the time they are little until the present, their eyes are like cameras, recording the conduct of their parents through body, speech, and mind in their memories. Thus, they grow up watching their parents’ behavior.
Confucius said: “When his own conduct is upright, he acts without being ordered to do so; when his own conduct is not upright, even if he is ordered to act, he will not follow.”
He also said: “If the son takes the lead in upright conduct, who would dare not be upright?”
If we conduct ourselves properly and uprightly, we will naturally influence others. This is why living examples are more important than verbal instruction. In raising children, leading by example is especially important. If we ourselves have not conducted ourselves properly and merely lecture and admonish our children with words, the effect will naturally be much weaker.
Of course, children have their own blessings and their own karmic obstacles. There are some karmic obstacles that, no matter how spiritually exalted their parents may be, the parents cannot influence them. At such times, we rely on the power of Amitabha, and this is why we should diligently recite Namo Amitabha Buddha.
(to be continued tomorrow)
第45問：
答45：(2/ 3)
另外，孩子的眼睛都是雪亮的，從小時候到現在，他們的眼睛就像攝影機，把 父母的三業行為都攝入他的腦海中，所以他們是看著父母的行為長大的。孔 子說：「其身正，不令而行；其身不正，雖令不從」，又說：「子率以正，孰敢不 正。」我們如果做得端正的話，自自然然會影響他人，這就是身教重於言教， 所以在教養子女方面，以身作則是比較重要的。如果自己沒有做好，單單在 語言上督促他，這樣效果會比較差。當然，兒女有兒女的福報，兒女也有兒女 的業障，有的業障即使父母再怎麼神聖都影響不了他，這時候就是藉佛力， 就是要勤於念佛。
Namo Amituofo!
