Once when the Buddha was teaching in Rajagaha, he said to the monks, “There are two unwholesome deeds that have negative consequences in the present and cause one to fall into the hells. What are the two? The first is failing to support and respect your parents. The second is performing unwholesome deeds or committing a crime in your parent’s house.” He continued, “Conversely, there are two wholesome deeds that bring great blessings and lead to heavenly rebirth. The first is having filial piety: supporting and respecting your parents. The second is performing all wholesome deeds in the family home.”
The Buddha went on to tell a story. There was a parrot who lived on a cold mountain. His mother and father were blind with age and could not fend for themselves, so every day the parrot would forage for enough food to share between the three of them.
A farmer lived near the mountain. Sowing his crop one summer morning, he made a compassionate vow to share his harvest with all beings after it ripened. The parrot happened to overhear the farmer and thus often came to take grain from his fields. One day, the farmer happened to notice a few broken stalks in his crop. Out of annoyance, he set a trap for the trespasser.
The next time the parrot came, he found himself trapped in a net. Seeing the farmer approach, he called out, “Sir! Had you not vowed to share this crop with all beings I wouldn’t have dared to come. Why are you angry? These fields are like a mother, providing sustenance to countless creatures. The tiller is like a father, laboring to feed his children. For this, I will always be grateful and honor you in my heart.”
Touched by the parrot’s sincerity, the farmer asked, “Why are you taking the grain?” “I take this grain to support my parents,” the parrot replied. The farmer told the parrot, “From now on you can have as much as you like. I am willing to help you.”
After the Buddha finished his story, he told the monks, “I was the parrot in a previous life, while the farmer was Shariputra. The blind mother and father were King Suddhodana and Queen Maya.”
REFLECTION
An ancient Chinese saying holds filial piety to be the foundation of all virtues. In this story, both the parrot and farmer practice forms of filial piety. How do their actions demonstrate the importance of filial piety and performing wholesome deeds, especially towards our loved ones?