It is most difficult for us to lead those closest to us – our wives, husbands, sons, daughters, and parents – to the Law of the Buddha. If we try to guide them merely by what we say, we can never be completely successful. We have no alternative but to influence them through our practice in our daily lives. If our conduct is ignoble and selfish most of the time, being good only on rare occasions, it will not influence others. Unless we constantly set a good example to the members of our families, they cannot possibly follow us. Sakyamuni Buddha was alluding to this in his teaching.