我的超棒爸媽

這一兩年來，外公身體開始老病，媽媽在身兼數職的狀況下仍堅持擔起照顧的責任，常常往返探望外公，或者為外公拿藥，載著外公北上就診。臨時無法接送外公時，媽媽也仔細聯繫其他兄弟姊妹代為照料，溫柔地搭起家人們互動的橋樑。看著媽媽的行誼，讓我體會《大方廣佛華嚴經》〈淨行品〉中「孝事父母、當願眾生：善事於佛、護養一切」的內涵。而這些都是媽媽認真學習廣論、學習真如老師教誡的成績單……透由媽媽的分享，讓我在面對自己的習氣上，有了一個向上踴躍突破的榜樣，真心感恩媽媽的身教！

說起爸爸，就又是另一個傳奇了。從前，爸爸為了陪伴到住宿學校就讀的我們，他開始抽空到我們學校從事義診。自此，爸爸的生命有了一百八十度的大翻轉，從關愛家人孩子，到持續學習《廣論》、認真聞思佛法、到寺院當義工，現在更不時耳聞爸爸在家中會體貼地做家事、晾衣服，把好吃的東西留給媽媽……，點點滴滴的善行，雖然有時帶著三分勉強，但他為了子女，總是加緊腳步，在修道的路途上勤懇前行，有這麼棒的老爸，內心實在與有榮焉。

幾年來，家中三個孩子都在僧團裡成長，覺得父母那份真誠的支持、期許，是對於想修行報父母恩的我們最有力的後盾！老爸老媽，您們超棒的！期盼在未來的修行道上，我們相互加油打氣、相互關照、直至成佛！

In these two years, my grandpa is getting old and sick. My mom insists on taking care of him even though she wears more than one hat. She often drives back and forth to visit Grandpa, gets his medicine from the clinic and drives him up North to see the doctor. When she is unavailable to pick up Grandpa, she would contact her siblings and ask them to the job for her. By doing that, she actually built a bridge between Grandpa and other members of the family.

Mother’s virtuous deeds remind me of a verse in the Chapter on Purifying Practice in the Flower Ornament Sutra: “While serving one’s parents, one shall wish for all beings to serve the Buddha, protecting and nourishing everyone.” Mom’s good deeds are the result of her studying of Lamrim and Master Zhen-Ru’s teachings. I am grateful that Mom sets a good example for me and shows me how to bravely fight with my habitual tendencies and to get rid of afflictions.

Dad is another legend to tell. Ever since we were young, he started to offer free medical consultation in our local school community just to accompany us during our boarding school days. From then on, I’ve seen lots of changes in him – other than caring for the family, he continues to study Lamrim, learns and contemplate Buddha’s teachings diligently and takes up various volunteering work at the monastery. Moreover, he is willing to help with housework, do the laundry or saving good food for Mom. Little by little, Dad tried very hard to practice good deeds though reluctantly in the beginning. For his child, he is speeding up his Buddhist practicing diligently. I am so proud to have such a super dad.

Over the past few years, my two siblings and I have grown in the monastery. Together we witnessed the obvious spiritual growth in our parents’ lives and felt their never-changing love and dedication for us. Their whole-hearted support and expectations have become the most powerful backing of our Buddhist practicing, through which we want to repay what they’ve devoted to us.

Dear Mom and Dad, you are awesome parents! Let’s move on side by side, encouraging and taking care of one another, till the day we all attain Buddhahood!