Do you go for courses?
Attend seminars, forums etc?
Have you ever wonder what's the purpose of pursuing all these certifications or higher education?
Is it so that you can climb the corporate ladder, get that promotion, show that you're smart, intelligent, boost your ego?
Or is it so that with higher education, you'll be able to hopefully think and become more discerning and a better person?
I look at the world today and wonder what's the point of having all these awards, certification, achievement, accolades or what have you,
When we don't even have the decency or sense to give way to others, say 'Excuse me', 'Please' and 'Thank you'.
Take a very obvious example :
People in their professional and executive gear and make-up, crowd round the MRT doors and push their way in despite alighting passengers;
Or, not even have the sense to move in to the middle of MRT cars leaving the area around the doors clear so that people can board/alight easily.
It's funny we're so highly educated, intelligent and full of certificates with so many awards and achievements to our name,
Yet we don't have the sense to be patient, to wait or give way.
Take another example :
A friend brother got married some time back.
Both the brother (in his 30s) and wife (in her 20s) are from the top 2 local universities which pride themselves of academic excellence, and both are holding professional jobs, one in the government sector, and another in private sector.
One day, the brother called my friend and asked, "We tried frying chicken wings today, how come the chicken wings got no taste, ah?"
My friend asked the brother if they marinated the chicken with some salt or sauces before frying.
The exact reply from the brother was, and I quote, "You mean must one ah?"
Strange isn't it?
The creme de la creme of the country/society, the nation's pride - does not know that chicken ( or any meat for that matter ) needs to be marinated first before it can have taste.
We're so proud of our intelligence and achievements and certifications that we even include certificates as the first in our 7Cs of must-have.
We have the sense to study for certs/awards etc; sense to work for money, make money, sense to dress ourselves in branded beautiful clothes and drive big beautiful expensive cars, to make a name for ourselves, to look rich and beautiful, to be rich and famous etc.
We have the sense to do ALL of the above.
Yet there's one very important sense we do not have, and that's very much lacking -
"Cow-sense" (i.e. common sense).
"The whole world is in a state of confusion and unrest even though everyone studies and searches for knowledge.
But this knowledge does not bear any usefulness except only in using it to burn oneself,
For these types of knowledge are not permeated with Dhamma."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
"And for ignorant minds, vanity and self-delusion always do them a world of harm.
Their greatness lies in body, birth, name, rank or self-importance.
But NEVER did their wisdom grow correspondingly large so that it would be conducive to bliss and peace,
Both for themelves and for others.
Worse still, wisdom is neglected and forgotten.
This is why there is so much trouble and turmoil everywhere."
- Venerable Ajahn Mun
.
.
"Acariya Pannavaddho told me that he had one regret.
He said that it was a shame that Westerners ( * Maitre-light : and to me, the whole world ), who are so clever when it comes to worldly affairs, are so stupid when it comes to spiritual ones.
Even though The Buddha's Teaching is ( far ) superior to everything that the world has to offer, very few Westerners ( and the whole world ) make an effort to learn about it.
He felt that this was their own Kamma, their own misfortune.
When people use their intelligence solely for material purposes, they remain ignorant of matters of real substance - spiritually they are very stupid.
This he felt was their own misfortune.
And he was exactly right.
It is impossible to equate worldly intelligence with the wisdom of Dhamma.
The kilesas ( defilements ) are one thing, and Dhamma is another.
Acariya Pannavaddho told me he wanted to see intelligent people turn away from the world and turn their attention to the practice of Buddhism ( Buddha's Teachings ).
If those people would practise Buddhist Meditation ( as taught by The Buddha ), they could greatly benefit the world we live in.
His main regret was that so few showed an interest.
He saw them as very intelligent in one way and very stupid in another."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa's eulogy for Venerable Acariya Pannavaddho, taken from,
"Wisdom Develops Samadhi - A Guide To The Practice of the Buddha's Meditation Methods." written by Acariya Maha Boowa Nanasampanno, page 38-39
"Riches destroys the foolish;
But NOT those who seek the other shore ( i.e. Nibbana )
By his craving for riches,
The fool destroys himself,
As he would destroy others."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 355
.
.
"That which is made of iron, wood or hemp,
Is not a strong bond, say the wise;
The longing for jewels, ornaments, children and wives/husbands,
Is a far greater attachment."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 345
.
.
"For the person who is perturbed by evil thoughts,
Who is exceedingly lustful/greedy/covetous,
Who contemplates pleasant/pleasurable things,
Craving increase more and more.
Surely, he makes the bond of Mara - the evil one, stronger."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 349
.
.
"When a knowledgeable person turns to evil ways,
He or she is liable to cause more strife and trouble to the country than the uninformed person who does the same thing.
An ignoramus who doesn't do evil
Is better than a learned man who uses his knowledge for evil means."
- Ajahn Tate
.
.
"The society whose material development has outstripped its mental development is sure to experience turmoil, crimes of violence, corruption, cheating etc.
Progress in the knowledge or the increase of gadgets for bodily comfort are but the increase of the fires that serve only to burn those who feed them."
- Ajahn Maha Boowa Nanasampanno
.
.
"Anyone in possesion of great wealth but unable to deal with it properly,
Is in the same position as someone holding a firebrand.
The fire will inevitably burn down from the ignited end to scorch the hand that grasps it."
- Ajahn Tate
.
.
"Good scholars should only explore and enquire for knowledge that is concerned with weighty, significant issues that may lead to the enrichment of people's lives.
They shouldn't be aiming for knowledge to increase their social position or status."
- Ajahn Tate
..
* Read "The Society and Its System" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2008/04/society-and-its-system.html
