Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation

A little girl knelt before her mother's feet, carefully wiping them with a towel. In Bodh Gaya, India, the place where Buddha attained enlightenment, Tzu Chi volunteers not only held a Buddha Day Ceremony but also organized a foot-washing activity, to encourage children to express gratitude to their parents.

A Warm Reminder

Every year, Buddha Day is also Mother's Day, reminding everyone to remember the kindness of their parents. From birth to adulthood, parents selflessly shower their children with love and care and ask for nothing in return. But the recognition of this parental kindness is, unfortunately, rare. Therefore, it is crucial constantly to educate and remind ourselves of the gratitude we owe our parents.

Tzu Chi volunteers from Singapore and Malaysia embody the teachings of Buddhism by bringing the Dharma to Nepal and India, the countries where the Buddha was born and lived. They express gratitude to everyone who wholeheartedly and lovingly contributes. They diligently follow the Bodhisattva Path -- to benefit all beings, and repay the blessings of the Buddha.

A Triple Celebration

Tzu Chi volunteers brought the concept of filial piety to Bodh Gaya. It was the first time Tzu Chi organized a triple celebration of Buddha Day, Mother's Day, and Tzu Chi Day in that sacred place. Students who had previously been taught Tzu Chi's Jing Si Aphorism were accompanied by their parents.

Although the basins were empty of water, the children demonstrated their deep filial piety. They not only wiped their parents' feet but also massaged their legs and shoulders. These thoughtful actions brought tears of joy to the parents' eyes.

Tzu Chi volunteer Sim Beng Kin (辛秉兼) said that, during the foot-washing, the parents were deeply moved. Almost every mother shed tears. The combination of music and the parents' emotions brought tears to her own eyes too.

The children's filial piety improves the parent-child relationship. Towards the end of the event, the children eagerly approached the teachers to wash their feet -- this touched and delighted the teachers.

Ripples of Love

By inviting people to wash their parents’ feet, Tzu Chi volunteers have inspired those who have forgotten their parents’ kindness. Be they adults or children, they have been awakened to their parents’ love.

Master Cheng Yen said: “Some might cry out only because their children show filial piety by washing their feet for them, but also because they repent. They might have never thanked their parents since youth until now, when they have their own families. Now, while their children have been inspired and are washing their feet, they repent not having done the same for their parents.”

Whatever their feelings, the attendees were all very touched and grateful to Tzu Chi volunteers – they have come from afar to serve, even though they did not know local people.

The volunteers are inspiring the people in Buddha's birthplace to express gratitude for his compassion. They continue to fulfill the Buddha's compassionate aspirations by sowing the seeds of love in every place in the world where it is needed.

A Jing Si Aphorism says: "Nurturing filial piety can create a cycle of love and goodness. "

Join Tzu Chi. Let us fill the world with love and goodness.

Story by Xin-yan Jiang, Wen-hui Yang, Vivek Kumar, Amar from India