A number of years ago a friend observed to me, "I don't understand people who don't acknowledge a response to E-Mail." I agreed with the sentiment of my friend then and now. When someone takes the time to write a person, the decent thing to do is to at least say that you received it. Yet, today, I find that a lot of correspondence that I submit electronically doesn't get acknowledged.
I have another friend who is financially helping their family. My friend will submit an electronic transfer of money into their relative's account and then my friend will not receive a response. Later, my friend will make a follow-up phone call only to find out that the relative will belatedly acknowledge that they received the money with a " Oh, I meant to call you." response.
Why is it that rudeness has become so tolerated in our society ? When did people become so entitled ? Where has gratitude gone ? Modernity has presented the challenge for people to worker faster, worker smarter, all of which is good and yet, at times, there appears to be less kindness.
The Dalai Lama is his book " Ethics for the New Millennium" is addressed to a general audience. It presents a moral framework based on universal rather than religious principles. It rests on the observation that those whose conduct is ethically positive are happier and more satisfied and the belief that much of the unhappiness we humans endure is actually of our own making. Its ultimate goal is happiness for every individual, irrespective of religious belief.
Though the Dalai Lama is himself a practicing Buddhist, his approach to life and the moral compass that guides him can be of use to each and every one of us - Muslim, Christian, Jew, Buddhist or atheist - in our quest to lead a happier, more fulfilling life.
According to the Dalai Lama our survival has depended and will continue to depend on our basic goodness as human beings. In the past, the respect people had for their religion helped maintain ethical practice through a majority following one religion or another. Today, with the growing secularization and globalization of society, we must find a way that transcends religion to establish consensus as to what constitutes positive and negative conduct, what is right and wrong and what is appropriate and inappropriate. Ethics for the New Millenium.
Maybe what exists between entitlement and gratitude is the notion of what it means to be an ethical person, someone who strives to do positive things in the world. You could argue that it's inappropriate not to respond to E-Mails or to phone calls. You could say that its hurtful when family members don't say thank you for money that you have given them.
We need to remember that showing kindness and vulnerability isn't a sign of weakness, you're not a wuss if you are kind;, but rather it a great sign of strength. How we model our behavior in life says a lot about who we are and what we value.
The apostle Paul wrote "when I am weak, I am strong" (II Corinthians 10: 12).Implicit in this koan is the notion that strength and character can be projected through kindness and fortitude. We lose a lot, as a society, when he subscribe to the idea that only the ruthless, cutthroat, manipulative and devious survive.
Jesus said "Be as wise as a serpent and innocent as a dove"
( Matthew 10:16 ). You can be powerful and also be caring. May we remind ourselves of this this day and always.
May it be so.