For anyone who holds a senior or leading role within their family or household, a birthday — when children and grandchildren gather together — presents a wonderful opportunity to offer meaningful guidance and heartfelt advice to one’s own sons, daughters, and grandchildren.
That day carries a special sanctity. It is sacred because, on that occasion, we both accumulate merit and make merit on behalf of our parents, while also inviting our children and grandchildren to join in the merit-making. It becomes a day in which the entire family and lineage abide together in goodness.
Even the guardian angels and celestial beings who watch over our home and family will come together in harmony to bestow their blessings and offer their protection. All of these elements combine to make the occasion increasingly auspicious.
Therefore, we ourselves must prepare blessings to give to our children and grandchildren who have come to make merit on our birthday. And if there are any among them who are presently making mistakes or going astray, we should prepare well-chosen words and appropriate teachings — words intended both to awaken mindfulness and to offer encouragement.
Awakening mindfulness alone is not sufficient. Mindfulness is given so that one may turn oneself around, but encouragement must also be given for that person to begin anew — and blessings offered alongside. In this way, our family will remain steadfast and strong.
19 January 2018
