Parents, in their tum, should do five things for
their children avoid doing evil, set an example
of good deeds, give them an education, arrange
for their marriage, and let them inherit the
familywealth at a proper time. If the parents
and child follow these rules, the family will
always live in peace.
Husband and wife
The relation of husband and wife is not
designedfor their convenience. It has a deeper
significance than the mere association of two
physical bodies in one house. Husband and wife
should take advantage of the intimacies of their
association to help each other in training their
minds in the holy teaching.
The Buddha said there are four types of homes:
- Home where a male ghost lives with a
female ghost - Home where a male ghost lives with a
goddess - Homewhere a god lives with a female ghost
- Home where a god lives with a goddess.
The first home is where both the husband and
wife break the Five Precepts, often quarrel, lose
temper often, arid use harsh words. They are
both wicked and narrow-minded, not
understanding each other's problems, whims
and fancies, and they do not forgive and forget
each other's mistakes.
The second home is where the husband has all
the vices mentioned above but the wife refrains
from them. She is tolerant', patient, kind and
understanding, wise, broad-minded and
observes the Five Precepts. She loves her
husband and children, forgiving and forgetting
their short-comings.
The third home is where the husband does all
the good deeds mentioned while his wife has all
the vices.
A home where both partners do all good deeds
belong to the fourth category the ideal Buddhist
home. It is where members live according to
Buddhist principles such that it generates an
atmosphere of happiness, love, peace and
harmony.A husband should treat his wife with respect,
courtesy and fidelity. He should not interfere
with her housekeeping and provide for her
needs. At the same time, a wife should take
pains with her housekeeping, manage the
servants wisely, maintain her virtue as a good
wife should. She should not waste her
husband's income and should manage the
house properly and faithfully.Use of wealthCare is needed to meet the family's expenses.
Every member must work diligently and not rely
on the industry of others when he is perfectly
capable of working.A man may invest the money earned in his
business, spend for his daily expenses and save,
but he must not consider what he has earned as
totally his own. He must share some of it with
his family, friends and relatives, save some for
emergency, set some for the needs of the
community and the nation, and devote some to
the needs of his religious teachers.One should always remember that nothing in
the world can strictly be called "mine". What
comes to a person is the result of a combination
of causes and conditions. Temporarily it is his,
therefore, he must not use it for selfish or
unworthy purposes.The Buddha advised that one should lead a
balanced life and live within one's means, being
neither too extravagant nor too stingy. One
should not engage in debauchery, drunkenness,
indulge in gambling, and maintain good
friendship with evil doers. These four activities
can dissipate one's wealth as fast as water is6