Jove Jim Aguas

Modern life is convenient, efficient and comfortable— thanks to the advancement in technology in the modern society. But it is also problematic, complicated and sometimes meaningless and it breeds complacency, greed and discord. So the question that confronts us today is: how do we live or conduct ourselves is modern society with all its trappings and yet preserve our sense of dignity and simplicity? How do we live a life that is comfortable and meaningful, efficient and contented, convenient and natural? To get some insights we turn to the past and look for some lessons from two important thinkers and masters from the Western tradition—St. Augustine and the Eastern tradition—Lao Tzu. They are two prominent thinkers who came from different cultures, different religious orientations and times. The society and time they came from may be different from ours but they can still offer us some lessons how to live a simple and meaningful life in a modern society. Lao Tzu tells us that we need to go back to nature, follow the way of the Tao and be guided by the wu-wei. St. Augustine advices us that while we are physical and mortal creatures, we need to rediscover our moral and spiritual nature and live according to our divine image. Indeed the wisdom of the past both from the East and West can definitely guide us and give us valuable lessons.

One of the noblest of all professions is teaching, in fact all the other professions depend on the profession of teaching. Teaching is a channel of knowledge and the teacher acts as an instrumental cause in the acquisition of knowledge of others. At the center of the learning process and teaching profession is not the teacher, but the student – the human person to whom teacher concentrates his entire energy and effort, the reason and end of the learning process. The teacher however is an indispensable agent in the formation of the lives and careers of his students; he helps in cultivating the natural talents and abilities of his students. He plays a critical role in the molding of one’s character and personality. He guides and creates a learning atmosphere for the students to develop their own potentials and talents. The dialogical relation between the student and the teacher is anchored on certain elements: namely, the trusting reciprocation between the student and teacher; the exemplary integrity of the teacher; his concern for the personal well-being of the student and his confirmation of the student’s potentiality for self-fulfillment and personhood. Teaching as a dialogue, provides an opportunity for continual learning and growth.