LETTER | Teach our young awe, wonder, systhesis

LETTER | After my usual brisk walk in the late evening along Padang Ipoh, I usually spend some time observing pigeons and the tall trees and old buildings surrounding the area.

These pigeons inhabit the hollow parts of the exterior of buildings around Padang Ipoh.

The coexistence of humans and birds in this context enlightens the environment, even though too many of them could be disruptive to the normal functioning of the urban landscape.

Charles Darwin, the author of the theory of evolution, once said that the ability to adapt to the environment determines the survival of a species.

What is amazing is that pigeons, as a universal urban species, have shown resilience in adapting to the urban physical landscape by using inherent intelligent life energies bestowed by the mysterious author of creation.

I feel a sense of wonder as to how these creatures contribute to the preservation of the ecosystem.

Reflecting on this, I see quite a number of books in the market for the young on animal and plant species.

The question is, do we teach our kids the contemplative dimension of observing birds, animals, plants, and trees?

Contemplation is about observing things as they are, synthesising their relationship to larger dynamics in the ecosystem and reflecting on their potential origins, which have a mysterious dimension.

The mysterious dimension teaches that we are not in control of all things and need humility to learn and appreciate the spiritual dimension of human living.

This would also help to appreciate the diverse nature of our ecosystem and reflect on the importance of respecting diversity in our human relations. 

Today, the world is suffering from an environmental crisis because the ecosystem has been regarded as a play tool for economic profits, and the world is struggling to restore what was lost.

This is due to the ideology of education where science is merely used for economic profits while losing the contemplative wonder of creation and its mysterious dimension that builds adaptability and resilience, as reflected in the behaviour of pigeons mentioned above.

It is time that young Malaysian students are educated on how to have a contemplative view of reality so that the future generation is ready to assume the responsibility of preserving our environment through wonder and synthesis.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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