Cultivating Mindfulness and Moral Foundations in Families : หน้า 171/207

their families to have control over themselves at a young age, the grandparents instilled them with generosity through alms offerings to the monks and daily observance of the five precepts. These wholesome deeds transform into a moral foundation and discipline for the children. When they are able to refrain from exploiting themselves and others, through the observance of precepts, the very best can be created in themselves. 3) Eliminating ignorance by regularly practicing meditation. As our ancestors studied and practiced the Dhamma, they knew that one's mind could be easily trapped by the five forms of sensual desire: visual images, tasty foods, aromatic scents, melodious sounds, and objects soft to the touch. For instance, when one sees a good looking person or an attractive image, tastes delicious food, smells an aromatic scent, hears melodious sounds, and touches soft objects, one will have the desire to possess them. Being trapped by the channels of the eye, nose, tongue, body and mind, one can easily mistake wrong for right and be convinced to do evil deeds. Later, one will be miserable when the consequences bear fruit. Training ourselves to be mindful will save our minds from being trapped by those channels. Mindfulness is being aware of what one is doing at the present moment, and being able to differentiate and make a judgment about what is right or wrong, good or bad, wholesome or unwholesome, appropriate or inappropriate. Mindfulness protects one from recklessness. Our ancestors were well aware of these truths, which is why they taught themselves to be mindful when they were young. They believed and followed the Lord Buddha's teaching that the temple is a source of moral knowledge for the people. The Lord Buddha taught the way to be mindful though a practice called meditation. Meditation is the method to eliminate a wrong view by training one's mind to come to a standstill until it becomes clear, pure, and radiant, enabling one to be firm in righteousness. Our ancestors had trained themselves to be mindful before they got married; they continued to practice this as part of their routine in their old age. These three practices are: 1) Studying Dhamma every day. 2) Teaching Dhamma to their family every day. 3) Practicing meditation every night. The Warm Hearted Family 340 Blessing Our Descendants The Warm Hearted Family 341 Blessing Our Descendants