Yesterday while at work I found out through a coworker that my birth father is having severe health problems. My father and I haven't spoken in about a decade he was a very abusive man to both his wife and children when I was growing up. Now I know in the Dharma we are tought
One should take care of the parents, work for the sake of the parents, protect the family lineage, inherit the family property, and hold memorial service for the ancestors.
My heart has comion for this man in the same way that i don't like seeing anyone suffering and I will say Medicine Buddha Mantra for him this morning during my daily practice but at the same time I can't help but recall what it was like growing up with this man he did not promote good deeds, he did not avoid wrong doing, did not like when his children showed any kind of knowledge that went above his own, and didn't even attend my wedding, and he lost the family property due to his spending habits....from the Buddhist viewpoint he was a terrible parent. Where do I stand with my responsibilities towards him now? I just don't know what to do and could use some advise from others.
Comments (2)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama says that we should forgive, but that doesn't mean we forget or accept bad behavior. i think it's best to have comion from afar. you don't have to welcome him into your life. reciting mantras is an excellent thing to do right now
I would say he took its own decisions and its okay if you feel comion. He is suffering, so just send healing and do mantras for him.