Vu Lan Festival: Filial piety has no season

Taking place on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month, Vu Lan festival has a profound humanistic meaning, reminding each person of their filial duty, maintaining filial piety towards their parents, remembering their ancestors, and remembering the birth and upbringing of their parents. On this occasion, perhaps each person has deep feelings about the two words Vu Lan and the story of the word "filial piety" in modern times.

Vu Lan festival scene at Cat Tuong pagoda, Thanh Mieu ward

Filial piety has no season

According to a lecturer, filial piety has permeated every Vietnamese person, originating from the first lessons of respecting and supporting parents while they are alive and remembering them when they have passed away. Filial piety is the duty of every child, not just in a season or on a certain occasion. The Buddha taught: "Even if you carry your parents on your shoulders around Mount Sumeru, for hundreds of thousands of lifetimes, you still cannot repay your parents' kindness."

Performances on the theme of filial piety and family affection

This teaching shows that, while we still have the chance, we must continue to show filial piety, because the kindness of our parents is something we can never repay enough. July is called “filial piety season” simply for everyone to review and remember this kindness, associated with the story of Maudgalyayana saving his mother, a beautiful tradition passed down through many generations.

The atmosphere of the ceremony was solemn and respectful.

The most practical way to show filial piety at present is to do specific things to bring happiness to parents, both materially and spiritually. It can be providing necessary items with your own efforts, taking care of them when they are sick, or simply calling them regularly, talking, obeying and fulfilling their wishes. No matter what you do, what parents need most is not material wealth, but a filial heart, unconditional love from their children. The love of parents for their children is also like that, never calculating, so the filial heart of children is the most important thing.

Children were brought to Vu Lan ceremony by their parents.

In addition, filial piety is also the act of advising parents when they see them doing wrong things, helping them avoid creating bad karma. For young people who are also Buddhists, they will realize that all actions, words, and thoughts are based on the law of cause and effect. Therefore, advising parents to do good deeds and avoid evil deeds is a way to make parents happy not only in the present but also in the future. Although in life, there are still unfilial children, Buddhism believes that people always have a good part inside. Everyone has a hidden seed of filial piety, just need to be awakened, they can still change to be better every day.

Children are instructed to clasp their hands respectfully, showing filial piety and politeness.

Filial piety in modern times

For Ms. Le Thi Thuy Nga, in Minh Ha 1 area, Thanh Mieu ward, Viet Tri city, Vu Lan is not only a holiday season but also an occasion for her family to bond and turn to their roots. She confided with eyes sparkling with joy: "Every year, I take my children to the temple on this occasion. I hope my children can listen to lectures and share stories about the birth and upbringing of their grandparents and parents. From there, they will have a more filial heart and live a more loving life." Each story and each explanation about filial piety has planted seeds of kindness in the children's hearts, so that they understand that love and gratitude are not something far away, but start from their own home.

Le Thi Thuy Nga and her three children attended Vu Lan ceremony

Feelings about filial piety are not just a story for adults. Nguyen Minh Tien, 15 years old, in Viet Tri ward, with a sincere face, confided: "Vu Lan is an occasion for me to go to the pagoda to pray for peace, wishing my parents to live a long life and be healthy. I really want to give the best things to my parents." The boy's simple words simply expressed his love and gratitude for his parents. That is filial piety, the appreciation of moments with family without having to wait for big holidays.

The teachings of the monks and the confessions of the people and Buddhists touched the hearts of those attending the ceremony.

Thus, “filial piety has no season” is not only a philosophy but also a way of life. Even the smallest actions in daily life, from a greeting, a handshake, or simply listening, being filial... each action is gratitude and boundless love. Vu Lan festival may pass, but filial piety remains forever, permeating and permeating every breath of life.

Thuy Trang

Source: https://baophutho.vn/cam-niem-vu-lan-bao-hieu-khong-co-mua-239243.htm