Last night,really fortunate to be able to meet a nun from Sri Lanka. We call her mother as she is very compassionate. I brought my son who has allergy rhinitis to meet her.She placed her palm on top of my son head and I told the reverence that my son have severe block nose which influence his concentration on study and sleep.She told me 'not to say any negative words in front of kids Instead should give positive compliment to them as whatever we said ,they will keep in their mind'. She advised me to whisper positive words to him while he is asleep. The reverence also asked me to do chanting(praying) before he sleep every night. It is better if he can chant too. Also do more dana. The reverence asked me 'not to be angry and let go'.

The reverence also mentioned if we set good example for our kids, our kids won't go astray. The way is by keeping the 5 precepts
1. Do not kill
2. Do not steal
3. Do not indulge in sexual misconduct
4. Do not make false speech
5. Do not take intoxicants

Do more dana(giving/offering) and practising more meditation.

It is true that if we practise the five precept and cultivate our samadhi/concentration(either via meditation or chanting or charity works etc), we are able to have wisdom to do and see lots of things. Eg I know a brother who is teaching Di Zi Gui.Despite he is english educated.He is able to read and comprehend chinese character.He attribute this ability to keeping precept,chanting sutta which give him wisdom to do something which we think is impossible.

If we practise these, we will find self inner peace, later extend to the family, the society and the whole world.

Who to be blame?

I joined the Tzu Chi Da Ai Ma ma ( a group of mothers who volunteer to school to tell/show moral stories based on Jing Si Aphorism).

One day we showed a group of standard 4 students about a story on filial piety. The story is about how a mother crow took care of young crow.When the young crow has grown up,it went to find food for its mother instead.When the jungle on fire,it rescued the mother from the fire scene,despite others discouragement.

After the performance of story,during the Q &A session. We asked a girl,how could she repay her parents when she has grown up. Her answer is 'I will go to work and send my parents to old folk homes.'

Points to ponder;

Is she wrong by giving that answer? (whereas she may just immitate from adults nearby? If we said she is wrong,is it means those who are sending their parents to old folks homes also wrong? ....