Who Will Feed the Mice?

Who Will Feed the Mice?

?The early teachers? is a term for mother and father. ?The early deities? is a term for mother and father. ?Those worthy of worship? is a term for mother and father. And why? Parents are of great help to their children, they bring them up, feed them and show them the world.
Anguttara Nikaya 4.63

The following is based on a talk given on March 29, 2003, at Abhayagiri Monastery, Redwood Valley, California.

This is probably the last Saturday night talk that I?ll be giving for quite a while. As the resident community is aware, but visitors probably are not, I received news from my sister in England that our mother is extremely ill, and the signs are that she won?t live for more than a few months. So I plan to be flying to England in a week.

The Buddha once said that if you were to carry your parents around with you for their whole lives?your father on one shoulder and your mother on the other?even to the point where they are losing their faculties and their excrement is running down your back, this would not repay your debt of[?]

Excerpt From: Ajahn Amaro. ?Who Will Feed the Mice?.?