Why to Take Care Of Parents ?

First, you should serve your parents who have given birth to you. Next, you should serve your guru. Service to one’s guru and one’s parents should definitely be done. By chance, if the guru is not genuine, then one should leave that service.

Questioner: At present, there are those who do not serve their parents, what about them? What life-form will they end up with?

Dadashri: A person who does not serve his parents will not be happy in this life. What is an example of the obvious benefi t of serving one’s parents? It is that you will not face any misery throughout your entire life. By serving your parents, you will not even have any difficulties [in life]! The ancient science of India was quite brilliant. That is why the scripture writers had laid it out in the scriptures that, ‘Serve your parents. By doing so, you will not have to face any financial difficulties throughout your entire life.’ Now whether this is valid or not is a different matter, but it is definitely worth serving your parents. This is because, if you do not serve them, then whose service will you receive? How will the next generation learn that you are worth serving? Children observe everything. They see that, ‘My father has in fact never served his own father!’ And so, these moral values will certainly not be instilled in them, will they!

Questioner: I meant to ask, what is the duty of a son towards his father?

Dadashri: Children should fulfill the duty towards their father; and if they do so, then how do the children benefit from that? The children who serve their parents will never fall short of money, they will receive all that is necessary for them, and those who serve their guru will attain liberation. However, people these days do not serve their mother, father or their guru at all, do they? So, all of those people will become unhappy.

The Greatest Obligations

A person who sees the faults of his parents will never amount to much. He may possibly be rich; however, he will never achieve spiritual advancement. One should never see the faults of his parents. How can you ever forget their benevolence If someone has served you tea, you should not forget their benevolence then how can you ever forget the benevolence of your parents? Have you understood? Yes… so you should be very grateful. You should serve them a lot. You should serve your father and mother a lot.

In this world, these three people have obliged you greatly. You should certainly not forget that benevolence That is, of your father, your mother and your guru! The benevolence of these three, who have put you on track, is such that it can never be forgotten.