‘Matru Devo Bhava’ ‘Pitru Devo Bhava’ these are among the primary teachings of Hinduism. It means: Mother is God; Father is God. These teachings are found in the fundamental commandments of all religions in the world. Mother and father are Gods as they are the physical tools of creation of life on earth. The mother bears the child in her womb for nine and half months and gives birth to the infant. The baby lives on her blood and nutrients in the womb and on her milk and care after birth. She undergoes tremendous pain while giving birth and also loses on her comfort and rest for the sake of taking care of her child and his welfare. The father takes care of the mother and child and attends to all their material needs, comforts and safety. He works and maintains a home with all necessary comforts to make life as good as possible for his wife and child. The parents attend to the needs and requirements of the child all their lives and have only good intentions and loving wishes for their progressive future and safety. Yet some parents are not honoured and taken care of in all places in the world.
Many argue that their parents have misused their status, power and position and have abused and hurt their children in ways that cannot be described. They have caused irreparable pain and damaged to their children. The bitterness of the relationship remains throughout life scarring the souls and lives of the children. Such issues do not get resolved easily. But the dictum – honour thine parents – is not about whether the parents are worthy of honour or not. It is honouring them as they have given us life and given us an opportunity to live in this world and gain knowledge and wisdom. So they must be honoured regardless. There are three partners in the birth and life process – mother, father and God. The father and mother are the ones who provide the physical body but God provides the soul and the Kundalini energy which gives life to the body. Honouring the parents means also honouring God and being thankful for the gift of life given through God. Here we do not take into consideration how our parents are. Our parents gave us the most precious gift of life. So when we honour them, we honour God and we are able to live a life of peace, happiness and prosperity. Our life is meaningful. We must remember that in any situation, we have control over our responses and we must do the right thing irrespective of the behaviour of others – including our parents.
We must teach our children to honour their parents. It is done primarily by our personal example. When we honour, respect, revere, obey and take care of our parents, our children will learn to do the same by our example. A child learns almost everything by instinct and example. Words, language, grammar, eating, bathing and other actions are taught by example and the child is made to practice. Almost everything learnt at the younger age is done by watching the elders. Children instinctively love and respect their parents. This behaviour must be enforced by further example set by parents.
Children should be taught to honour their parents through love. It means we must shower so much love on our children that they have no choice but to love us deeply. We must teach our children to listen to us. It also means that we should hear what our children have to say. By our example of how we treat our parents, we should teach our children to obey their parents and respect the father and mother who gave them life and love them. The parents grow old and are not able to respond as they did once. The respect and honour given by children should always grow. Children should be taught to obey the parents as parents always have the welfare of their offspring in their mind. And we should also consult our parents however old they are and respect and obey them. Children should be taught to help their parents at home. This shapes them to accept responsibility and grow into worthy adults, workers, parents and citizens. Children should also learn to honour their parents by enjoying being with them and doing activities with them. This is possible only when there is understanding and acceptance of each other as they are. Also when there is love and mutual trust.
Honour thy parents – this is a way of life and a way of good life on earth and also attaining God.
