บุตตธารัช จะ สังคะโห ความบำรุงบุตรธิดา

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Taking care of children

June 11, 2021

Meaning of children.

The Thai word for children came from Pali and Sanskrit languages “Putra” and it has two meanings.

– Person who has purified his family.

– Person who has filled his or her parents’ hearts with joy and happiness.

Children can be classified into three groups according to their level of morality.

1. Children of higher morality than their parents

These are noble children who bring prosperity to their families.

2. Children of same morality as their parents

These children still cannot maintain their families

3. Evil children which undermine their families

They bring disgrace to their families.

There are two ways to take care of children

1. Taking care of children according to worldly matters

2. Taking care of children according to Dharma (Buddhist principles)

Parents should completely take care of their children both ways.

Ways to take care of children according to worldly matters which means teaching children to have seven qualities of righteous, good men.

1. Knowing causes, truths, rules of cause and effect, and knowing how to analyze the situation and principle which bring about effect

2. Knowing results, objectives, and outcomes of behaviors

3. Knowing oneself which means knowing one’s social status, circumstance, gender, energy, knowledge, ability, aptitude, and morality

4. Having modesty in receiving and consuming the four basic needs of life, being modest in spending money, knowing one’s capability to work. Government is modest in collecting taxes and spending budget in governing the country

5. Knowing the right time and period to work on a mission such as completing work punctually

6. Knowing society means knowing people, groups of people, community, and ways to behave towards such society

7. Knowing people means knowing differences among people and knowing their traits, abilities, and morality whether one should befriend with such people. Knowing how to criticize, admire, or teach such people

In addition, parents should teach their children to be humble, hard-working, social-responsible, selfless, sincere, and eager for knowledge.

How to teach children about morality

1. Taking children to temples to learn about Buddhist teachings and principles

2. Leading children to pray every night

3. Leading children to make merits such as giving alms to monks and observing Buddhist precepts

4. Leading children to practice mindfulness and meditation

5. If parents have sons, they may let their sons ordained as novices or monks. Then, their sons can practice mindfulness and meditation and study the Scriptures according to their capability

Factors for parents to have good children

Parents must be good people. If parents have made merits, good children will be born with them. Similarly, trees of good breed will result in good fruits and yields.

Children will have inborn morality at the similar level of their parents during the time they are born. If parents want to have good children, they must try to do a lot of good deeds before mothers become pregnant, while they are pregnant, and after they give birth. The more parents make merits, the higher chance they will have good children.

Taking care of children well would result in following outcomes.

1. Parents will be proud of their children.

2. Their families will be peacefully happy.

3. Country will have good people

4. They are role models for the society for a long time.

5. Parents pay back to the country because their children are moral and beneficial for the country and the society.

This is the most auspicious factor in one’s life.

Buddha Isara