Family & Honouring Parents

Giving and righteous conduct, kindness to relatives, blameless deeds: this is the highest blessing.

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Master said, "The years of parents may by no means not be kept in the memory, as an occasion at once for joy and for fear."

Be ye not parted; dwell ye here reach the full time of human life. With sons and grandsons sport and play, rejoicing in your own abode.

And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.

This is the road to it: to serve the Gurus and the old (teachers), to avoid throughout foolish people, to apply oneself earnestly to study, and to ponder zealously on the meaning of the Sûtras.

Hearken unto thy father that begot thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.

They are not said to be husband and wife, who merely sit together. They alone are called husband and wife, who have one light in two bodies.

The Prophet said: "He who deserts his wife and children is like a runaway slave; till he returns to them none of his fasts or prayers will be accepted by God." …

When the Great Tao (Way or Method) ceased to be observed, benevolence and righteousness came into vogue. (Then) appeared wisdom and shrewdness, and there ensued great hypocrisy. When harmony no longer prevailed throughout the six kinships, filial sons found their manifestation; when the states and clans fell into disorder, loyal ministers appeared.