"Monks, I will teach you the level of a person of no integrity
and the level of a person of integrity. Listen & pay close
attention. I will speak."
"As you say, lord," the monks responded.
The Blessed One said, "Now what is the level of a person of no
integrity? A person of no integrity is ungrateful & unthankful.
This ingratitude, this lack of thankfulness, is advocated by rude
people. It is entirely on the level of people of no integrity. A
person of integrity is grateful & thankful. This gratitude,
this thankfulness, is advocated by civil people. It is entirely on
the level of people of integrity."
{II,iv,2} "I tell you, monks, there are two people
who are not easy to repay. Which two? Your mother & father.
Even if you were to carry your mother on one shoulder & your
father on the other shoulder for 100 years, and were to look after
them by anointing, massaging, bathing, & rubbing their limbs,
and they were to defecate & urinate right there [on your
shoulders], you would not in that way pay or repay your parents. If
you were to establish your mother & father in absolute
sovereignty over this great earth, abounding in the seven
treasures, you would not in that way pay or repay your parents. Why
is that? Mother & father do much for their children. They care
for them, they nourish them, they introduce them to this world. But
anyone who rouses his unbelieving mother & father, settles
& establishes them in conviction; rouses his unvirtuous mother
& father, settles & establishes them in virtue; rouses his
stingy mother & father, settles & establishes them in
generosity; rouses his foolish mother & father, settles &
establishes them in discernment: To this extent one pays &
repays one's mother & father."