SOME FEATURES OF FILIAL PIETY IN BUDDHISM

Abstract

Buddhism is a religion of deep as well as profound content, discussing about human life and, based on that, to liberate people by showing them the path of perfecting personal morality, including Filial Piety. Filial Piety in Buddhism is the Buddhist concept of gratitude and favour-return to parents, human beings, the King and the Three Refuges on the way to liberation. On the basis of analysis and comparison of the content of Filial Piety in Buddhism with the Filial Piety in Confucianism, this study obtained several features of Filial Piety in Buddhism as follows: Firstly, Filial Piety in Buddhism was built on basis of Law of Cause and Effect and the theory of Karma Retribution; Secondly, Filial Piety in Buddhism shows spirit of equality and forgiveness more than Filial Piety in Confucianism and traditional Filial Piety; Thirdly, Filial Piety in Buddhism is a flexible way of practicing Filial Piety, is not dogmatic or mechanical; Fourthly, Filial Piety in Buddhism is a means of morality for liberation, in which parents and children support each other in their practice towards enlightenment and liberation on the path of practicing the Dharma of Buddha; Fifthly, the path of practicing Filial Piety in Buddhism is idealistic and utopian.