Moral conducts such as well-behaved, well-disciplined, obedient, hardworking, responsible, honest, compassionate, helpful, filial, thoughtful, friendly, loving, kind-hearted, persevering and many others more are commonly recognized in our society. One who possesses these strengths will be greatly admired and highly honored. However, these strong points would turn into weaknesses if we attach to them too much........Being too much attached to one's strong points will become a threat to one's life and might even bring lots of troubles or disasters into one's life. It will gradually blind one's mind too, and eventually, one will get lost and become such confused and ignorant in identifying between the right and wrong, and those strengths will then be exploited by others as a tool to deceive, to harm and even to ruin one’s life.
The moral conduct standards established by mankind and religions, or derived from the societies and traditions are not absolutely practicable in all situations, for instance, being obedient doesn't mean that we are always doing the right things. If we insist in doing some things which are against our will or some things that do not seemed quite reasonable or applicable just because we want to be obedient, then we will be placed in a dilemmatic position, and we will have to struggle and suffer for the decision to be made!
Thus, we should make use of our strengths wisely but not being tied down by them!
1 comment:
Hello Liu Yi! So happy that you can share this issue on the blog. Allow me to speak my views?
The teachings and moral values that have been derived from generations of educators and optimistic commoners must have seen the greater good that moral values can bring for better living.
As I grow, I've grown more sensitive to the differences with values that are set to impress fellow neighbours (relatives, friends, and strangers alike) as compared to values that are pleasing in the eye of the Creator.
Your opinion of the potential threats and harms that can be caused by one's attachment to his own strong points echoes, too, in my heart. I agree with it to the extent whereby these "strong points" are rooted of this world, and of that person's personal understanding of virtue. However, as virtue is precious in terms of divinity, as it is wise to guard them from being tarnished, like attaching gold ring on a pig's snout.
My point is, the virtues that are seemingly valued by the society who have been suggesting it, is of the root of the same society. We as children have been brought up to subconsciously believe that this set of "rules" set by a group of educators who wrote our textbooks are the rules that can lead to happy lives with our neighbours.
To what extent is well-behaveness, well? To what extent is kind, kind? And to what extent is generous, generous? It must have been tough for the textbook authors to draw a line on that.
A rich man who travels in BMW makes a donation of RM 5000, and a widow who lives in cardboards and paper boxes contributes RM 100. Which of the two is more generous? In this society which taught us all those "textbook virtues", which of two will receive praise? And, despite our need for support and encouragement, is it that important to seek approvement from this earthly society?
Liu Yi, you have been a good example of a role model for many of what it's like to be a "good" person, but as measured with the measuring tape of this world. Surely isn't easy. Liu Yi, I wish to prove to you that there is hope, and by grace of God, I shall prove it with my way of living. All we need is a solid, True foundation to lay our trust.
Love,
Your nephew yi xiang
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