"Thank you for giving birth to me, and thank you for raising me." The children loudly expressed their gratitude to their parents and grandparents – so began a foot-washing lesson that touched parents and made them happy at Siddhartha Primary School in Lumbini, Nepal.

In Lumbini, most parents are farmers and put their livelihood above their children's education. However, since the primary school's headmaster, Altaf Husen Khan, learnt of Tzu Chi, he has been determined to introduce its humanistic values into the school. As a way of conveying the concept of filial piety, he arranged a lesson for the students to help their parents "wash their feet."

Siddhartha Primary School Headmaster, Altaf Husen Khan, determined to introduce Tzu Chi's humanistic values into the school. (Image from Da Ai TV; 2023) 

During the lesson, the teacher led the students in loudly expressing their gratitude to their parents and grandparents: "Thank you for giving birth to me, and thank you for raising me." The children then squatted down to massage and wash the feet of their parents and grandparents. As they did so, mothers gently stroked their children's heads, and parents shed touching tears. Infinite love flowed between them.

At Siddhartha Primary School, a foot-washing lesson touched parents and made them happy. (Image from Da Ai TV; 2023) 

Teacher Qilan was deeply moved and said: "My daughter massaged my feet which touched me very much, and also reminded me of the regret of not being able to take care of my parents when I left my original family."

Teacher Puja agreed: "Although I am currently single, when my students helped me wash my feet, it made me think of my parents' hard work." Thinking of them, she could not help but burst into tears.

Teacher Puja was deeply moved by the foot-washing lesson; when thinking of her parents, she could not help but burst into tears. (Image from Da Ai TV; 2023)

The ceremony helped the students understand the importance of filial piety and respecting their teachers in a timely manner. Student Anuska said: "I used to think that the teacher wasn't teaching seriously, but now I think the teacher is teaching with great care, and we are learning very well."

The concept of doing good and being filial is slowly spreading out from the campus, and we hope that Lumbini will have a new and better face.

Student Anuska now thinks the teacher is teaching with great care. (Image from Da Ai TV; 2023) 

A Jing Si Aphorism says: "There are two things in the world that cannot be delayed -- one is doing good and the other is being filial."

Doing good and being filial are the forces that make the world a better place.

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