Spoken By Supreme Master Ching Hai, Raising Center, Cambodia
July 21,1996 (Originally In Chinese)

When we help people, we may not be doing them good. Conversely, we could be ruining their sense of independence. Relying on others, they become weak. It is best for us to rely on ourselves.

People in the world are adverse to children working. They think this is abusing children. The truth is, children who work at an early age have high IQs, according to the scientists. Not that we deliberately force children to work, but they have no choice under the circumstances. They are forced into becoming smart, and to fight for their living. When the situation requires, they cannot say that they are children, and they don't know what to do. No one else will think for them, so they have to think for themselves.

Therefore, the homeless and wandering children are always clever, and can do things very fast! Of course, occasionally they might do something bad, but it is only because they have to fight for their existence. They are so smart that they are astute at even stealing. Our children are no match for them. (Laughter) The best they can do is to steal from us. (Master laughs.)

Therefore, you should train your children when they are still young. Let them share in the chores, teach them the value of money, and educate them by giving them rewards -- that it is an honor to be able to work well and fast. When they grow up, they will associate the work with glory, the heartwarming feelings, and love and praise of their parents. It will become their habit when they grow up. If they are not trained in childhood, it is impossible to do it when they become adults. It will be too late to train them after they reach thirty -- really impossible. They do not deliberately want to dilly-dally or to be sluggish, but they just can't adapt to it. It is a very slow process rectifying their system from the root.