法苑珠林 49.9

49.9

Moreover, the Ekottarika Āgama says: At that time, the World-Honoured One addressed the monks: 'There are two dharmas that grant an ordinary person great merit and accomplish great retribution. First, making offerings to parents. Second, making offerings to a bodhisattva bound to one last birth. Giving to these two persons obtains great merit and receives great retribution. Furthermore, if a person were to bear their father upon the left shoulder and their mother upon the right shoulder for tens of millions of years, providing clothing, bedding, food, couches, sickbed medicines, and even if they were to discharge feces and urine right upon the shoulders, one still could not repay their kindness. You should know that parental kindness is weighty. When they nourish and raise you, they protect you without missing the proper season. Offer them support and be filial and obedient.'