In the secular world, many people often say that I want to become a monk or that I want to become a monk when encountering any setbacks or blows. In fact, most people simply don't understand the true meaning of becoming a monk. Many people mistake the temple for a refuge and consider becoming a monk as a relief. In fact, the heart is clean everywhere, and peace of mind is safe everywhere! It's no use being a monk if your heart is unclean and your heart is unclean. Just a mindless monk, but it's also in vain. Becoming a monk is a kind of belief, from the heart. Becoming a monk is to seek Buddha, not to avoid setbacks and troubles.
Becoming a monk is a kind of filial piety and a supreme move. It's not what people in the world think. Being a monk is as cold as ice and cruel to people. Some people will misunderstand monks and nuns, and break off the relationship with their six relatives and their families when they leave home, which is a sign of disloyalty to their parents. In fact, this is a misunderstanding, a serious misunderstanding. Here, I want to correct this misconception: when the Buddha said "break", he told you not to cling to emotional delusions, not to break your parents, and not to break everything. If everything is cut off, that is the way to cut off. If there is no way, what family can learn Buddhism? It's no use practicing. What's the point of practicing this again? Repairing this is heartless, and repairing this is as meaningless as rotten wood. The Buddha told you to be smart and never forget your gratitude to your parents. After the Buddha became a Buddha, he went back to filial piety to support his father and aunt. His father is ill. Teach him Buddhism. After his father died, he personally helped him carry the coffin. Look at Buddha's practice. Can you say you are unfilial? Let's look at the old monk Xu Yun. In order to repay his parents' kindness, he once walked from Putuo Mountain in Zhejiang Province to Xiangwutai Mountain for three years, rain or shine, and returned all his merits to his late parents. Can you tell me that his family is unfilial?
Only people who don't know Buddhism will misunderstand that Buddhism doesn't value filial piety. In fact, Buddhism attaches the most importance to filial piety. How to attach importance to filial piety? People who are unfilial to their parents can't even do well in human nature. How can they practice heaven? How can you practice Buddhism? Buddha wants to become a monk, be merciful, be a bodhisattva, be self-interested, benefit all sentient beings, and even take care of bugs and ants. Don't your parents care about them? So monks and nuns are filial to their parents.
Becoming a monk is for more beings. In order to achieve greater success, it is not others who become monks. If they leave home, they will not take care of their parents. Your parents raised you and sent you to become a monk. As a result, you have no feelings at all. Which one is right? Being a basic person also knows how to honor his parents, not to mention being an indomitable monk and a natural talent! When you become a monk, you should take care of your parents and be filial to them as usual. How can you take care of them? It is to take care of Buddhism, practice and contribute, and return all the merits and demerits of "giving, keeping precepts, enduring humiliation, striving, prajna and meditation" to parents and all sentient beings. As the saying goes, "one person gains the Tao, and nine families ascend to heaven." This is the real filial piety!
Every monk and nun must obtain the consent of his parents before becoming a monk, and the teacher also requires his disciples to have their parents' signatures before shaving their heads. In addition, when Buddhism makes you become a monk, the tutor will ask if your parents are taken care of. If you are an only child and your parents are left unattended, you can't become a monk. What if parents are left unattended? In other words, your parents are taken care of, and your family is not in debt, so you meet the requirements of becoming a monk and are allowed to become a monk. This is clearly recorded in the precepts of becoming a monk.
Therefore, becoming a monk is for the benefit of all sentient beings and is an achievement of Buddhism and Taoism. It is not to escape from reality and avoid disaster, nor to run away from home and abandon parents. Being a monk is affectionate, not heartless. I am clear here! There is no amitabha in the south!