Question

A young chinese boy living in the middle ages tells his parents, who are good Confucians, that he wants to join a Buddhist monastery. How are his parents likely to react?

Answer 1

Answer:

They would be sad and disappointed with their son.

Explanation:

Although Buddhism is an influential religion in China and the parents, shown in the question above, are good Confucians, who are likely to correct Buddhist teachings in their daily lives, they would be very sad and disappointed if their son decided to enter a Buddhist monastery.

This is because, to do this, the son would have to leave his family and live in the service of time and religion. This was not what families preached to be the right behavior for their children. Children should work and be responsible primarily for their families, helping parents and taking care of them when the time comes, a Buddhist monk could not bear that responsibility.