If men can be more man, that alone will suffice....

Learning Point No 419

Have we wondered why man is better than animal and yet far from being immortals? 

Men and animals have pack loyalty. But men can think and can understand doctrine. Animals cannot. Men can go beyond loyalty and hero worship but animals cannot. Men respect elders and parents more so when the elders are old and infirm. 

Animals like hamsters can be cruel to elders and parents. They enforce subservience and fear of those weaker than them. They can maim and kill those which are sick and old, more so the old. 

In a human society with ageing population, if the old have to work as cleaners and dish washers despite being frail and old, it is both good and not so. Why not so? It is not a good reflection of that society unless society can accord dignity to the job. 

But often their supervisors are young and may even yell at them to get job done at hawker and food centers  This they say is being pragmatic and how to ensure cost effectiveness. But if there are young children around, what impressions will this create in the young minds. 

In a temple or a church, if younger men have to yell at the old who were previous leaders or pioneers and take them to task for their wrong, something is seriously wrong or simply just not right. Where has the morality and spirituality gone to? Some temples run by the younger generation even expel the elder founder pioneers. 

They are in a way like pack of animals such as hamster packs. How shocking and unbelievable can this be? 

If in a family when the children are young, the parents patiently teach and coach young children in school work, such as spelling and mathematics. But when they grow up, it is difficult for the elderly parents to get the help of the grown up children to teach them how to handle computer. Isn't this an eye opener that human society has backslided and no longer as human as before and perhaps more like animals. 

Men should be better than animals and one clear distinction lies in man's respect for elders and parents. 

No wonder, monks in temples of old used to say that before men can learn to be immortals and be in Heaven, they must first learn to be men and not be like animals. In fact, some animals are more lovable than some men and they put many men to shame. 

In a growing nation, if the population can degrade the old retired statesmen for some sore points of contention when these elder statesmen have done wonders for nation building, what has become of society? 

The young should take over the good work of the old and add on to the good work. They should not discredit the old and credit themselves for the good work of the old. 

Man is innately better than animal and can even be immortals but some men cannot even be man and behave more like animals. Some animals can be so lovable and loyal and can even put some men to shame.

The precept of respect for elders  and the precept of respect of what belonging to neighbors in the universal precepts of the mission of Lord Bo Tien are to ensure that men will be better than animals. Some men have no qualms and would not even blink an eye when committing adultery or incest. If this happens in a house of God, what an eye opener?

If they cannot be good men and even behave like animals towards elders and neighbors, how can they be immortals and saints? If men can be more man, that alone will suffice for now. 

No need for them to try to be immortals and saints. Better be good mortals, of course more man than animal.... 

As good mortals, they should not mortalise and cause hurt but rather immortalise the elders and pioneers in temple, in society and in the nation for their contributions towards the good of many generations of men and women.