Hey Leo,

I am from an Asian type background too in terms of family culture and ties. Here are my two cents:

Put yourself in your parents shoes. How would you feel if they really thought of you like this and treated you accordingly: “I just want their importance to me to not be any more than the importance of a stranger.” There is a huge difference in the importance we give to a stranger and to a loved one.

It seems very glamorous to think in these philosophical circles and think all this theory – but the reality is this – whatever the case, they loved you, looked after you and did their best. How would you feel if your sibling suddenly became distant like that and just left? And when you ask why they are behaving like that, they say this whole circumstantial logic, oh the monks dont care too…Can you imagine how much it would hurt you and your family? You say you dont want to treat them like crap but by treating them like they mean nothing is equivalent to that only.

And FYI, all monks aren’t like that – some in fact take up monk-hood to get financial support from their governments, for example in Bhutan. The very motive thus is to look after their family. Please look into why you really want to let go of this attachment – is something else bothering you? Are you disillusioned with the way you have been treated by someone?