Parents' Words of Wisdom

Good Heart Is Worth More Than Money

As government employees or in private firm you have to be fully committed to your work and make yourselves well worth the money you receive. If you work harder than you really ought to, that will be even better. Do not work just for the sake of earning salary or just to have it finished, but you must work to achieve good results.

Working harder than it is required means that working with good intention. Even though it seems they loose some of their valuable time, but they have performed their duty very well. These people are happy and have satisfaction in their job. This happiness is the essence of life, and it cannot be bought by money, but it can only be the result of your good heart.

People with good heart are those that are generous and their mind is free from jealousy. People without good heart do not have satisfaction in their job, and their mind is dry like a rice-field without water.

Train yourselves to be people with good heart, and do not feel that you are not on equal footing or not good at all. Remember that a good will always produces a true and long-lasting working cooperation, and in the long run good heart is worth much more than any amount of money.

Parents' Words of Wisdom

Hardship Has Its Value

Parents are not different from other people; they do neither want to have hard times for themselves, nor for their children. No parents wish to see their own children facing hardship but in certain conditions their children cannot escape it because it is impossible for parents to prevent it from happening.

In this situation, you have to bear in mind that hardship is not too bad for people to endure it. If we consider it in the field of education or in other matters, the good side of it or the benefit of having hardship is that it turns us into tougher and most enduring people. It makes us powerful thinkers and even become leaders in the same way as forging iron and turning it into a much harder one.

It is hard to teach people to be strong in helping oneself because it requires from them to be tough in overcoming the hardship first. There are many people who become good as a result of being tough in facing hardship. They are the one who abide to the Cambodian saying: “hardship is followed by good time”. It means having patience and perseverance, which are between hardship and the bright time.

In contrast, there are a lot of people who know only how to enjoy their life; and do have never encountered hard times and difficulties. Whenever, they have to face hardship, they hardly can help themselves, cannot do anything, cannot stick to one thing and they even cannot cope with any kind of work. They can hardly survive. Some of them cannot face the hardship and they finally die, therefore don’t be afraid of hardship. You have to remember that ‘hardship’ is your trainer.

Dear children, you have to face hardship with patience, you must benefit from hardship, gain virtues from it and take hardship as a lesson that you have to study and think that you will not return to face the hardship again.

The following is the rendering of a Khmer poem into English:

An inferno can burn all trees in a forest, but it can make the steel harder.

In the same way suffering burns people and deprive them of refuge, but it makes determined people to realize the truth. Nothing is better than virtue, and patience is required in struggling. The content of water in a small container can only soak something small, but with perseverance it can make a large container full.

Viro means courageous people, who dare facing the suffering with patience, perseverance, and trained mind. They help to overcome tremendous suffering as well as bring in virtues. Benefit from work is the human value, and working hard can help avoiding mishaps. It helps overcoming obstacles and it bring in virtues, which are the treasure for life. Persons who are tough like steel are not stubborn. They try hard to eliminate conceit. They become gentle and kind, but strong in character and hard as iron in observing their honesty.

Parents' Words of Wisdom

You Should Be Honest

Honesty can be compared to water that

nourishes plants to keep them alive. Similarly, your life will prosper as a result of your own honesty.

When we stay or work with someone, it is better to be loyal to him, be honest in your work and also be frank and sincere in your speech.

Honesty is the confidence of your mind. It means you speak truthfully and people are fond in listening to you. You should be honest in your words and mind, as well as in your profession.

Beloved children, you should keep firmly to your honesty and make it a foundation for your actions. Never abandon this noble principle no matter how tiny the return you will get. For those people who think that being crooked or trying to gain the upper hand by dirty means is a clever way, let them behave as they wish. They may say you are stupid and ignorant but you remain our clever children who can always help yourselves out of unwholesome actions. If you are not honest to yourself and you do wrong things and get caught; those people who said that you were stupid because you were honest, and those who urged you to commit wrong doings; they never come to rescue you. You are solely responsible for your own actions. If you persevere on taking honesty as your best policy, at first, you may experience some hardship but you will be happy, and in the long run you will have continuing happiness.

Parents' Words of Wisdom

Supreme Wishes of Parents

You do not yet know of the supreme wishes of your

parents. Whenever they are sick, they want to see the faces of their children. Their children’s care, respect and attendance at their parents’ bedside are the most effective medicine. When parents become old and not able to do what they could do before, they need their children’s support more than ever. Your parents understand that you are busy with your daily work that you cannot afford your time to see them but they still insist upon seeing you and receiving your services.

Apart from the above-mentioned wishes, parents have other supreme wishes to see their children prosper, have achieved their aims in life, and have a bright livelihood and happiness. Parents are not jealous of your achievements. Indeed, we are very pleased to see you fulfill your aims in life. We strive so hard in bringing you up and supporting you in achieving your aims. All parents will forget their hardship if they see their children become good, able and clever people, who have a steady jobs and achieve their aims in life.

Beloved children, bear in mind neither to hurt your parents’ feelings nor to make them disappointed.

Blessing 7

Skill in Knowledge

Being skillful in knowledge refers to individuals who possess a wise ranging intelligence and are knowledgeable.

* They are usually highly educated and hold learning as an essential part of life.

* They only choose to learn subjects that they believe are the most important and which will be of most benefit.

* Their knowledge will lead them to success in their professional and personal life.

Differences between the Wise and the Skillful in Knowledge

The Wise are those who perform good deeds and display positive behavior. Regardless of their level of knowledge themselves and provide assistance to others. The wise are those whose good actions bring positive outcome.

The skillful in knowledge is those who have extensive knowledge, yet they may not always behave well. Sometimes they make wrong decisions that will have an impact on their next life.

Types of Knowledge of Those Who Gain Skillful in Knowledge

1. In-Depth Knowledge: Refers to fully understanding the topics we are learning. For example, medical doctors who have to gain a deep knowledge of their field will be able to tell their patients what diseases they are suffering from, and will also be able to understand the contributory factors of their illness.

2. Width of Knowledge: Refers to the broad knowledge we all need to be informed about the world, for example, prominent people, politics, economics, the environment and climate.

3. Thorough Knowledge: Refers not only to knowledge around us, but also to know and understand in detail and how it is connected to other issues and topics in society and globally.

4. Long-Sighted Knowledge: Refers to thinking ahead of the current situation and considering what will probably happen in the future. This may include knowing the consequences of economic factors on society and the issues of climate change.

Characteristics of Those Who are Skillful in Knowledge

1. Appreciate learning, reading and researching.

2. Have a good memory and understand the issues.

3. Have excellent commutation skills and know what to say without having to open their notes, especially the Dhamma, which never changes.

4. Reflect deeply on issues and problems. Always try to understand the reasons for their happening.

5. Always use knowledge in any situation and fully understand each situation in terms of theory and practice.

Characteristics of Those Who are not Skillful in Knowledge

1. They enjoy praising themselves, love compliments; pay increasing attention and care to their appearance, give excessive attention to everything else, so that they no longer have time to study.

2. They easily become angry, irritated, and vengeful all time.

3. They forget things easily and do not pay attention to the things they do. Their mind is not stable, has negative thoughts, and doubles the true existence of the Dhamma.

4. They lack confidence in themselves and are too scared to do anything. This is because they fear criticism and only want to be followers, not leaders.

5. They are excessively drawn to wealth. They believe that wealth is more important than knowledge.

6. They do not take things they do seriously.

7. They like to drink alcohol, get drunk, lose their senses, as well as their chance to learn.

8. They lack responsibility. They like to have fun all the time, like small children.

Ways for People to Gain Skillfulness in Knowledge

1. Be intelligent and only learn what is necessary for wholesome spiritual and worldly development.

2. Be diligent and study hard in their chosen fields.

3. Be eager to acquire more knowledge.

4. Gain Dhamma knowledge along with the worldly knowledge.

5. Be able to remember everything they learn and put their knowledge to practice right away.

Warnings

1. If the knowledge we possess can only be used in the world and not in the Dhamma, there will always be an increased risk for us to take the wrong steps.

2. Therefore, we need to learn about the teaching of Dhamma along with worldly knowledge. The Dhamma acts as candlelight to help us decide what is right and what is wrong.

The Benefits of Being Skillful in Knowledge

1. Can rely on oneself.

2. Become a respectable leader.

3. Become courageous in any situations.

4. Attain an honorable position, wealth and happiness.

5. Receive respect and praise from others.

6. Maintains their intelligence and knowledge in their future lives.

7. Good basic for creating skills, aptitudes, abilities and talents.\

8. Easily attain the path to Nibbana.