Bow Before It's Too Late: Elders, Rebirth, and the Price of Disrespect
A World Turning Its Back on the Wise
In today’s fast-moving, digitally obsessed world, respect has become a rare currency. More than ever, people are glued to their screens, chasing likes, followers, and trends. In the middle of all this noise, something deeply valuable is fading away respect for elders. While countries in Southern Asia like Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, and Bhutan still hold on to this tradition, many others are forgetting why respecting elders was ever important. This article explores why this shift is dangerous, how it's affecting generations, and why we must return to valuing the wisdom of age not just for this life but for the next.
The Meaning of Respect: More Than Just Manners
What Is True Respect?
Respect is more than just standing up when an elder walks into the room. It's not just bowing your head or offering a chair. True respect is recognizing value, understanding wisdom, and acknowledging experience.
Respect Is Not About Age Alone
A person doesn’t have to be old to deserve respect. A young Buddhist monk, a teacher, a community leader if their thoughts, actions, and hearts are pure they deserve respect. Age alone doesn’t guarantee wisdom, but wisdom and righteousness do.
Southern Asia’s Ancient Wisdom on Respect
A Cultural Heritage of Reverence
In countries like India and Sri Lanka, children are taught from birth to greet elders with a bow or the gesture of "Ayubowan" or "Namaste". Touching the feet of elders in India is more than symbolic it’s a way of absorbing blessings.
Why Do They Bow?
They bow not because someone is superior, but because they understand the law of karma that good actions create good results. And respecting elders is a powerful form of good karma.
The Shift: What’s Going Wrong Today?
Tit-for-Tat Talk: Children Answering Back
Nowadays, many children answer back to their parents without hesitation. They question advice, mock traditions, and challenge authority. "You can’t tell me what to do!" has replaced "Yes, Amma" or "Yes, Thaththa".
When Rules Make Elders Helpless
In many countries now, teachers and even parents are legally restricted from disciplining children. A teacher who raises their voice risks losing their job. A parent who punishes their child can be accused of abuse. This has created a dangerous power imbalance.
Digital Generation: Rude, Ruling, and Restless
No Boundaries, No Discipline
The younger generation, growing up with social media and unlimited access to information, often believes they know everything. Respect is seen as outdated. Obedience is "weak". Gratitude is "old school".
Trends Over Tradition
Children know how to use technology better than their grandparents. But is technical knowledge more important than life experience? Sadly, many think so.
The Ugly Side of Disrespect
When Children Turn Violent
There have been rising global incidents of children attacking or even killing parents and elders out of frustration, greed, or rebellion. These are not just crimes; they are signs of a spiritual sickness infecting societies.
Skipping Responsibilities
In many families, the young ones refuse to care for aging parents. They abandon them in nursing homes or hospitals, chasing careers and freedom. Duty has turned into burden.
Karma: The Circle That Never Misses
You Reap What You Sow
If you disrespect your parents today, prepare to face the same from your children tomorrow. That’s karma. What you give, comes back often harder.
A Cycle of Suffering
The child who skips their duty today might be the elder crying alone tomorrow. The pattern is real, and it's spreading like wildfire.
Rebirth and Caste: The Buddhist Perspective
Rebirth in Lower Castes
According to Buddha’s teachings, your next birth depends on your karma. Disrespecting those who deserve honor especially elders, monks, and parents creates negative karma. And one dangerous result? Being reborn into a low caste.
Caste Matters in Many Places
Even though many modern societies claim caste doesn't matter, in parts of India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, it still decides opportunities, marriage, and respect. Buddha knew this truth, and that’s why even before his final birth as Siddhartha Gautama, he examined:
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The time
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The island
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The land
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The caste
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The mother
He carefully selected each, knowing that the right environment was necessary for his mission of enlightenment.
Suffering of the Lower Castes
Life Is Not Equal
People born into lower castes often face abuse, disrespect, and discrimination. They live difficult lives, sometimes not even given a chance to improve. Imagine suffering just because of your birth! That’s the karma result of past disrespect.
Skin Color and Suffering
In many societies, darker skin is unfairly looked down upon. But again, skin color too can be the result of past karma. It’s not a punishment it's a reflection. If you want to be born with beauty, dignity, and opportunity, create good karma now.
High Births and Good Karma
The Privileged Are Not Lucky - They’re Reaping Rewards
Children born into rich families, noble castes, with healthy bodies and minds they are not just lucky. They have earned it through past respect, generosity, and humility.
Respect Brings Respect
When you offer respect today, you open doors in future lives. It’s like making a spiritual bank deposit. It may not give interest today, but one day, it’ll return with blessings.
Respect Beyond Age: Who Deserves It?
Not All Elders Are Equal
Respect doesn’t mean blindly honoring everyone older. Some elders may not be wise or kind. But even then, basic human respect should remain.
When a Monk Is Younger Than You
Age doesn’t matter when it comes to purity and discipline. A young monk is still worthy of deep respect. Bowing to such a person creates immense merit.
It Costs Nothing to Respect
Smile, Bow, Speak Kindly
You don’t need money to show respect. It’s a gesture, a word, a tone. A humble heart is richer than a proud bank account.
Drop Your Ego
Put away your pride. Whether you’re a CEO or a teenager, learn to bow. Real strength is in humility.
How to Build a Culture of Respect Again
Start at Home
Teach children that elders are not outdated they are living libraries of life experience. Model respect so they learn by watching.
Teach Karma, Not Just Rules
Instead of scaring kids with rules, teach them about karma and consequences. Help them understand that actions echo into the future.
Conclusion: A Return to Reverence
The world is changing fast. But in this storm of speed and selfishness, we must hold tightly to ancient values. Respect is not weakness. It is wisdom. When you honor your elders, listen to your parents, smile at your teacher, and bow to a monk, you are not just doing a social gesture you are planting the seeds of a brighter, higher future.
If you don’t want to be born into a life of suffering, start respecting those who deserve it today. Because karma never forgets. And the way we treat others now decides who we become next.
FAQs
1. Why should I respect elders even if they’re not kind?
Namo Buddhaya!
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