Subsequently, the young man visited his hometown to attend a function. Looking for his old home, he discovered that a letter had been left for him by his mother, who had since passed. In it, she related how proud she was of him, and how sorry she was that she had been a burden on account of her appearance. She also recounted the reason for her disfigurement. Her son had an accident in his infancy and lost one of his eyes. Unable to bear the thought of her child not being able to see the world fully, she gave him one of hers. 

Wracked with guilt and remorse, the son returned home. He yearned to reconcile with his mother, but it was too late. We must take care to honor loved ones, especially parents, while they are still with us! 

Filial piety not only benefits offspring, but also builds cohesion within communities. Grace and kindness towards parents can be extended to neighbors, coworkers, friends, and society at large. We are grateful to Bhante Theravamsa and the Dhamma for reminding us of its importance. 

Bhante then led the congregation in a five-minute meditation on loving-kindness and left us with this uplifting thought: 

“If your mind is beautiful and clean, the world appears beautiful and clean”.