COMMENTARY
THONGBAI THONGPAO
In Chapter 19:16-24 of Matthew's Bible, a rich young ruler asked Jesus: "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." Then the young man asked, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honour your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbour as yourself." The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
It has to happen. The situation in Thailand today has reached a boiling point. Politicians are seizing every opportunity to tell us how they love the nation and the people in the hope of winning our support. All of them want to achieve their ends regardless of the means so long as they can bring them victory.
All laws are written to create sustainable peace. In the absence of them or where they are exploited, disaster and oppression will ensue immediately.
Seeing the fervent determination of the political groups today, their unyielding resolve to get things their ways, we ordinary people with no voice can only contemplate the old warning passed on to us by our wise ancestors: "When elephants fight one another, the grass will be trashed."
I wonder whether this saying has ever crossed the minds of the confronting politicians. We often see some corrupt people who have built their enormous wealth from state coffers visit several temples to pay respect to monks all over the country so that they could seek blessings from them. Every time I see them doing so, I can't help but wonder whether they have ever asked the monks the same question the rich man asked Jesus in the Bible: what should they do to get rid of all sufferings and obtain eternal life?
I would like to urge those who call themselves politicians who pledge to have sacrificed and love the country so much to travel far and wide, but not in search of blessings from all respected monks so they can be free from all pains and dangers, loved by everyone, get whatever they desire and have eternal life. Instead, I would recommend them to seek advice from them, just like the rich man did thousands of years ago.
Because if they do, chances are they will at last find a true monk who really understands the ways the world works, one who can really point to them the secrets to eternal happiness and peace and to the means of ending the brewing violence and confrontations in our country. And when this happens, the people can be rescued from the mounting dangers.
Two weeks ago, someone brought a snack box to the country's highest court, telling the clerks there he had just returned from an overseas trip and had brought them some snacks to share.
The court clerks opened the box and, to their shock, found that it was packed with 1,000-baht banknotes totalling two million baht. The clerks and the court could not touch this "sin money" because a court must uphold justice and may not sin by accepting bribes or any reward of any kind that may compromise it.
But the man who tarnished the court with that sin should have known better. He should have understood that justice could not really be bought and that there is no more disgusting thing than justice bought.
This is because a victory that is bought through bribery is the most disgusting of all, not unlike an athelete who cheats on his competitors by using amphetamines. Such victory, while real, can prove transient and be deprived of to the utmost shame of the wrongdoer.
History has shown us that victory acquired corruptly would undermine the credulity of the person who manipulated it and the judge who deliberates his case.
So, rich men, both young and old, contemplate the aforementioned Jesus's teaching carefully if you want to go to Heaven.
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