There are Buddhists who do not treat their parents with appropriate respect and do not try to bring their parents to learn Buddhism. This is not correct.
Evil View No. 12: Acknowledging that cutting off self-attachment entails cutting off feelings for one’s parents. For the purpose of cutting off attachment to self, there are sons and daughters who do not even recognize their relationship with their parents. There are also sons and daughters who ignore the feelings of their parents when their parents sadly cry over the decision of their son or daughter to become a monastic. Such sons and daughters even think that in so doing they are cutting off attachment to self. In reality, such filial disobedience is an evil view. Cutting off attachment to self entails benefiting living beings, caring about living beings, and putting one’s own interests second to those of living beings. It does not entail disregarding the feelings of one’s parents and cutting off one’s relationship with them.
Evil View No. 22: Acknowledging it is acceptable for one to show reverence to the Buddhas and one’s master but not show filial respect and obedience toward one’s parents. Some people are very respectful toward their master and the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. However, they talk back or speak defiantly to their parents and act against the wishes of their parents. They do not show filial piety toward their parents and even leave their parents to go to a faraway place, where they totally ignore their parents. This reflects an evil view.
Erroneous View No. 41: Acknowledging that sons or daughter need not kindly guide their parents toward correct views. Sons and daughters sometimes encounter the situation where their parents do not want to learn Buddhism. Since the sons and daughters are at a loss as to what to do, they simply give up and let their parents do what they want. This is wrong. Sons and daughters should do all they can to show filial piety toward their parents, to make them happy, edify them, and kindly guide them. They should cause their parents to adopt right views gradually and step onto the path of the Buddha-dharma. Sons and daughters must diligently and kindly guide their parents toward adopting correct views. They should lead their parents toward happiness. They cannot just let go and give up.
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