[eBook] The Essence of Filial Piety: The First Lesson to a Happy Life

[eBook] The Essence of Filial Piety The First Lesson to a Happy Life

Introduction

Dharma Master Cheng Yen frequently makes filial piety a central theme of her teachings, such as the stories in this book. While this concept of filial piety seems foreign to some readers, it can be understood as an extension of "Honor your father and mother." To be filial, we start by recognizing and being grateful for the hardship and dedication that our parents have experienced in bringing us into the world and raising us into adulthood. This includes the great pain of childbirth and all the sacrifices that parents make to raise their children. If we always keep their tremendous sacrifice and dedication in mind, we will remain grateful and honor our parents.

Filial piety is to serve our parents well and, on a grander scale, to serve the world well. When we do good deeds for society, have correct values, and walk on the right path, we will eventually reach the ultimate truth.

About Author

Dharma Master Cheng Yen was born in 1937 in a small town in Taichung County, Taiwan. When she was twenty-three years old, she left home to become a Buddhist nun, and was instructed by her mentor, Venerable Master Yin Shun, to work “for Buddha’s teachings, for sentient beings.” In 1966, she founded a charity, which later turned into the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, to “help the poor and educate the rich”—to give material aid to the needy and inspire love and humanity in both givers and recipients.


In recent years, Master Cheng Yen’s contributions have been increasingly recognized by the global community. In 2011, she was recognized with the Roosevelt Institute’s FDR Distinguished Public Service Award and was named to the 2011 TIME 100 list of the world’s most influential people. In 2014, she was presented with Rotary International’s Award of Honor in recognition of her humanitarian efforts and contributions to world peace.