Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika
The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom
Suppose a foolish baby boy lying on his back were, owing to the careless of his nurse, to put a stick or a stone into his mouth. His nurse would immediately attend to the matter and remove it. And if she could not get it out immediately, she would hold the child’s head with her left hand, and with the finger of her right hand, she would get it out, even if she had to draw blood.
And why? Because such a thing is a danger to the child, harmless by no means. Also, the nurse would do such a thing out of love for the child’s benefit, out of kindness and compassion.
But when that boy is older and more wise, then the nurse need no longer look after him, thinking: “The boy can look after himself, he is done with foolishness.”
In the same way, if, due to lack of faith, conscientiousness, fear of blame, energy and wisdom, good things are not practiced by one, then one must be watched over by me. But when good things are practiced, then I need not look after one, thinking: “He can now look after himself; he is done with foolishness.”