Creating the Best in Oneself : หน้า 169/207

On the contrary, those who had once been selfish, angry, or jealous, and then reversed their conduct by improving themselves, will possess positive thoughts, speech, and actions. When good deeds are accumulated, bad habits will turn into positive ones and they will be creating more of the very best in themselves. Both adults and children can do this; it just takes determination and conscientious practice. The way to create the very best in oneself The Lord Buddha taught the way to create the very best in oneself by eliminating greed, anger, and ignorance through the accumulation of merit. The elements of this way are: 1) Eliminating greed by regular acts of generosity. A good example can be seen in our ancestors. In those days, our ancestors would rise before dawn, and then wake their family to prepare the alms meal for the monks. The entire family had to get up and contribute. When the monks came to receive the alms offering, the grandparents would lead the children to put the meal offering into the monks' alms-bowls. After the offering, the grandparents would show their children how to transfer the merit to deceased relatives by pouring the water of dedication. In doing so, the children would be instilled with gratefulness and compassion. The Warm Hearted Family 336 Blessing Our Descendants