Chapter 2, Verse 6

Meng Wu Po asked about being filial. The Master said, 'Give your father and mother no other cause for
anxiety than illness.' Lau [2:6]

I remember when I was still in my junior high school years, I often go home late at night.
Sometimes because of school projects, but oftentimes because I hang out with friends until almost
midnight. Some of those days, I would see my parents on the street near our house, anxious of where I
have been. With them is a tall bamboo stick that I already expected when I am on my way home. “They
will spank me again.”

At first, I thought that what they were doing was to stop me from enjoying and finding
happiness in my youth. While it is their obligation to look after me, why not be patient in waiting for me
because I am sure that I can still reach our home unharmed. They should support my happiness because
it is the only way that I can cope with the day full of academic pressure. But then I realized, the mistake
was not in them, but in me. Beforehand, they allowed me to go out with friends, but with rules that I
must not go home late. They reminded me to ask permission and to tell them where I am going so that
they would know where to find me when it is already late. But I failed to comply with these. I was
disobedient because my thought of being filial is not just a shallow one, but an erroneous one. I gave
them anxieties without me realizing it. Disobedience is not a noble act, and disobedience diminishes
respect and love towards our elders, parents, or even the people around us. And I realized that instead
of going out with friends at night, why not spend my time with my family?

But then, the pandemic came and I was at home the whole time because I was still a minor back
then. There I realized that it is indeed better to stay at home because when we lose time with our
families, we will be wasting the precious moments and lessons that they should’ve imparted on us. I
realized that being with my parents is a good way of bonding than being with friends.