The right values

Phajo Nidup, a former monk, has been asked to refund around Nu 1 bn to banks and private individuals for cheating them.

This does not even cover the several officials he bribed and put in trouble across multiple agencies.

Anima Damchoe, a nun, has been imprisoned for 15 years for robbing the Buddha and avoiding taxes.

There are plenty of cases where former monks have gotten into trouble with the law.

When one looks at the ACC and RAA reports there is no shortage of corrupt and illegal activities by public officials.

The above leads one to ask the question if religious and cultural training and conditioning is enough for our society.

While we are a very religious and culturally rich country it remains to be asked if we are a moral society guided by values.

It is high time that our education system also starts focusing on inculcating the right moral values in children apart from just religious and cultural training.

We can come up with all the rules and regulations but if we do not fix our moral values then they will be bypassed or ignored.

While the ACC, RAA, media and others can play its role the real change must start in the hearts and minds of the people.

We must not only start young and influence the next generation to have better moral values but this campaign must also involve the older generations as well.

One may ask if it is possible to transform an entire society and the way of doing things but here the advantage for Bhutan is our small size which makes it easier to affect such changes.

Right now, most of our moral values is lip service but it is not there in the heart.

The start can be small but one day it can be a much wider movement and the new normal.

It is high time that we stress not just on the style but also the content and the right values can go a long way in taking the country forward.

When your values are clear to you, making decisions becomes easier.
Roy E. Disney