The Buddhist scripture "Sutra of Good Life" teaches harmony between husband and wife.
A husband should respect and provide for his wife in five ways:
1. Cherishing the wife: A husband should always remember with love the hard work his wife puts into household chores and raising children.
2. Not belittling: A husband should not be arrogant towards his wife because he earns more money, has a higher education, or is more handsome. He should avoid being overly masculine.
3. Providing jewelry and adornments: A husband should buy jewelry and clothes for his wife so she can dress beautifully and gracefully.
4. Granting freedom at home: Household matters should be decided by the wife, giving her a sense of security within the home.
5. Respecting the wife's family: A husband should not only respect his wife but also her family members, such as father-in-law, mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law, showing concern for her extended family.
A wife should honor her husband in thirteen ways:
1. Showing deep respect and affection: Emotional focus is crucial for family harmony. From the wife's perspective, if she had boyfriends or male classmates before marriage, she should maintain a certain level of transparency with her husband to avoid misunderstandings.
2. Providing proper care: A husband should ensure his wife is dressed fashionably, while the wife should take care of her husband's diet and clothing, keeping them clean and tidy so that he is not disrespected in public.
3. Thinking kindly of her husband: A wife should often consider how hard her husband works outside the home, especially when he is on business trips where regular meals and rest may not be possible.
4. Managing household affairs: The wife should maintain the household and prevent its decline.
5. Caring for the husband’s family: She should respect her in-laws and maintain good relationships with all members of her husband's family.
6. Serving elders: The wife should regularly visit and serve her husband's elders to show filial piety.
7. Showing respect while walking behind: When her husband's elders are walking, she should follow behind to show respect.
8. Speaking honestly: She should speak truthfully and straightforwardly.
9. Welcoming guests without restriction: When guests come, she should welcome them warmly without restrictions, allowing her husband's parents and relatives to visit freely.
10. Praising guests upon arrival: Not only should she not restrict visitors, but she should also express joy and say welcoming words to make guests feel at home.
11. Preparing seating: When guests arrive, she should prepare comfortable seating arrangements.
12. Offering delicious food: She should not be stingy with food and offer guests fine meals to make them feel warm and welcomed, showcasing her kindness and hospitality.
13. Supporting monks and scholars: If monks or religious figures come knocking on the door, she should offer them what they need, whether it's a small amount of money or other items, treating them respectfully as representatives of the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha).
If a husband can compassionately care for his wife, their relationship will flourish without decline.