Sngi U Blei Laitia ba Phra

Jingpuson na ka Gospel u Mathius 6:24-34

Kawei ka jingiathuh khana kaba baroh na ngi tip bha ka long shaphang ki dkhiew bad u puit. Haba u dkhiew u bun kam ban lum jingbam, hynrei u puit pat u shu shongkai bad u shu rynsied kai. Haba ka sngi jong u slap u la wan, ki dhiew ki shong kai bad ki syaid, bad u don shibun ki jingbam, hynrei u puit u iap ha ka jingthngan bad ha ka jingkhriat.

Kane ka jingiathuh khana ka ai ia ngi ka jingsneng ba ngi dei ban long ki bastad bad kiba iohi lypa—ban lait na ka aiom jong u slap, ngi ong. Ka long kaba dei ba ka jingiaroh  bam ioh bad ban iada, bad ban ioh ka jingkoit jingkhiah, ban pynkhreh ruh ia kaei kaei ka jinglong ha ka ka ban sa wan. Mynta kumne, ki briew ki la buh lypa ia ka jingkynshew ka baheh na ka bynta ka seng. Kam don kaei kaei ka jingbym dei ia ka ne – tad ha duh ba ngi dang kynmaw ba ka don ka jing im hadien. Ka jingeh ka long ba ki briew ki la pynkhreh lypa na ka bynta ka lashai, hynrei tang ha kane ka pyrthei khlem da pyrkhat ia ka jingim lawei. Man ka por, ngi iohi ia ki briew ki leh bakla, jingia leh thma tang ban ioh shibun ka pisa bad ban ioh im pahuh pahai. u Trai u la maham, “ kam myntoi aiu ia u briew lada u ioh ia ka pyrthei baroh kawei, hynrei yn duh ei ia ka jingim”(Mt 16:26)

Ka don kawei ka jingiathuh khana shaphang u wei u briew u ba ioh spah da ka um syep bad ka jingtrei shitom jong u hi. Te kunta, ha kaba khatduh ha ka jingim jong u, u kylla long u ba riew spah bha. U kut jingmut ban pynkylla ia ka jingdon jong u sha u mawlynnai bad kiwei kiwei ki maw kordor. Te u buh ia u ta ha iwei i pla ibarit bad ka kham suk ia u ban rah kat shaba u leit. Hadien katto katne por, u ioh pang, hynrei u bat ia i ta i pla haduh ba yn da iap. Ha ka ba khatduh u wan ha khmat jong ka jingkhang jong ka bneng, bad u dang bat ia kata ka pla barit, U Petrus bakhuid u ia kynduh ia u bad u ong, “ phi long u briew u ba bha ha ka pyrthei. Phi lah ban rug bad phi hap ban ieh ia kato ka pla barit habar,” “kaei”uta u briew u la ong, “ kane ka dei u soh jong ka jingbha jong nga. Ngam lah ban ieh ia ka hadien,” “te”, U petrus bakhuid u ong, “ te phim lah ban rung ha bneng. Phi lah ban leit sha kawei pat ka jaka,” hynrei sngewbha,” u la kyrpad, “ to ai ba ngan wan rah lang bad nga shapoh. Ngam lah ban ia khlad na ka”  “ym don jaka “U Petrus bakhuid u la pyneh. “ phi hap ban jied: ka bneng khlem ka pla ne to don bad phi kato ka pla ha dujok. Hynrei nga don khyndiat ka jingkwah tip. To ngan peit don aiu hato ha poh pla.” U peit hangta , bad u iohi ia u ta u mawlynnai bad kawei kiwei ki maw kordor, “phi kwah ban leit sha dujok tang namar ki shyaip bad ki maw ki barit?” “kaei ka jingmut?” u ta u briew u kylli,” to peit hi,” U petrus bakhuid u la batai , “ki shyiap bad ki maw rit ha bneng ki dei ki mawlynnai bad kai kiwei kiwei ki maw kordor sha sla pyrthei.

Uei u ba don kam ia ka ksiar bad ka rupa ha ka hima bneng?” bad harud, kaei kaba ngi lah ban iohi ha bneng ka ba jngai na ka jingpyrkhat briew jong ngi? Kane ka long kaei ka ba u Paulus bakhuid u ong, “ka khmat kam iohi, ka skhor kam shu iohsngew, lymne u briew yn ju poi pyrkhat ia kata kaba u Blei u la pynkhreh ia kito ki ba ieid ia u”(I kor 2:6-10) kane ka pynpoi sa ka jingkut “ ngam khein snep ei ei ia wat ki jingjynjar ba mynta haba ia nujor ia ki bad ka burom ba yn sa pynpaw ha ngi”(Rom 8:18).

Ha ka jingpule mynta ka sngi, u Jisu u pynshlur ia ngi ban kyntait ia shibun ki jingteing, jinglehrain bad ki jingartatien. U khot ia ngi ban shu ngeit ia ka jingieid jong u kpa u ba ha bneng. U Blei u pynbiang. Ym ju duna. Kumba u prophet Isaiah u kdew, watla ka kmie ka klet ia la i jong i khun lajong, u Blei ym juh klet ia ngi. U Paulus bakhuid u ong, “uta u bym shem la bynnud wat ia la u khun lajong, hynrei u la aiti ia u na ka bynta jong ngi baroh hato un ym ai ruh ha ngi ia kiei kiei baroh lem bad u?”(Rom 8:32)

 Haba ngi don jingngeit tang khyndait shaphang ka jing iohi lypa ia ka jingieid jong u Blei, kam don ka jing artatien shaphang, ki dak ki shin jong ka jingduna ka jingngeit. U Jisu u la pynshai ia ngi: “ym don u briew u ba lah ban shakri ar kynrad, … phim lah ban shakri ia u Blei bad ia ka spah (mammon)” ka kyntien mammon ka juh khot ba ka dei ka pisa, hynrei ka don ruh shibun jingmut. Ha ka kyntien Hebru kane ka ktien ka mut, “ban shaniah” Mammon ka wan ka jingmut , “ha kaba u briew u buh ka jingshaniah”. Ka ieng ha ka jong ka tien kai, u blei u bym dei Blei. U briew u ba buh ka jingshaniah ha u Mammon u don hapdeng ka jingartatien bad ka jinglehrain, da kaba tip ba kine ki tiar kim neh junom.

Ka jingartatien ruh kalah ban wanrah ia ka jingpyrkhat bakla ia ka kamram jong ka jingim. Ngim don ha kane ka pyrthei bankynshew spah bad jingjop. Kum ka Mother Terasa bakhuid ka ong, “ u Blei ym khot ia nga ban long ka nongjop; u khot ia nga ban don ha ka jingngeit ,” kane ka long kaei ka ba u Paulus bakhuid u pynpaw ha ka jingpule kaba ar, da kaba pynkynmaw ia ngi kum ba “ngi long ki shakri jongu Khrist bad ki nongialeh jong ka jingmaia jong u Blei .” te kumta ngi kwah ban shakri ia u Blei, bad ym ia u mammon – baroh kaba ngi don –naka bynta ka jingngeit ha u Blei.

Ha ka sngi u Blei mynstep, ha shuwa ban leit sha ka mass, u Teddy u ioh ar tylli ki pisa na ka kmie. Ka batai ia u “ shiteng ka dei naka bynta u Blei. Buh ha ka pla jingkynshew. Shiteng pat na ka bynta u ice cream ynda la wai ka mass,” haba u Teddy bad ki paralok jongu ki dang ia iaid, u ialeh kai bad kata ka pisa, da kaba kynteng ia ki shalor bad kem biang ia ka. Ha kawei ka sien u lait ban kem ia ka bad ka tyllun sha nylla jong ka surok. “Oh Shiss!” u ong. ”mynta ngam don ei ei ban ai ha ka pla jingkynshew, kato ka dei ia u Blei”.

Ka jingsbun ka la lyndet ia u briew u ba dap tang da ka jingartatien. U Trai u khot ia ngi ban shaniah tylli ha u kpa bneng, ka jingshaniah ha ka jingmaia jong ka jingieid jong u. u kwah ia ngi ban kmen ha jingsuk jong ka jingim. U Augustine u lap ba ka jingsuk bad u ong, “phi la pynlong ia nga namar jong me, ko Trai bad ka mynsiem jong nga kam shongsuk lymda ka shong bad me” haba ka jingpynshoi bad ka jingeh ka wan, to ngin ia peit sha u Blei bad ong ia lade sha ka pyrthei mynta "Ka mynsiem jong nga ka shongthait ha u Blei marwei”. (typeset/iMac/inbuiltmic) 

Respect, the need of the hour

I am compelled to write this short article after the inauguration of our academic year 2017 held last 6^th February. Called it an inspiration that a thought chanced upon me to invite Shri Robert G. Lyngdoh the VC of Martin Luther Christian University as the chief guest for the august gathering, indeed it was a blessing. While receiving him at the entrance for the function, he told me that he would deliver his speech on ‘Respect’. I nod my head and patiently waited what he would say. When his turn to address the students came, I turned on the record button of my phone and recorded every word he uttered. To me his speech is a wake up call that every citizen in our country, particularly in our state needs to hear. I am not authorized to reproduce his speech on a paper like this, but I am glad to share my thoughts on what our chief guest spoke; ‘Our state has gone down (let me add my own words; gone down to the dogs) because we have lost the essence of Respect’. We have lost our sense of self-respect, respect to our friends, neighbors, parents and even God. And all the events that took place in our society arose from the lack of respect. A corrupt politician or minister of today is because he/she was not respecting him/herself while a student, he/she copied during the exams, he/she passed the exams by unfair means – self disrespect. I totally agree with him. This need to be stopped.

On the contrary, imagine how a few kind words can light up another person’s day. The librarian was cold and arrogant when Shemphang approached her for assistance. Unperturbed, he remained courteous, and when he got his book, he was genuinely grateful: “Khublei mo Kong,” he said, “you have such an interesting job. You help students like me a lot. Thank you very much!” The librarian was silent for a while. Then she smiled, and in a suddenly friendly tone told Shemphang about the length of time she had been working as a librarian. The student must have made her feel that she was, after all, a kindly, respectable person, rather than the automaton some library visitors must have made her feel to be.

Like this simple gestures of respect can sow seeds of goodwill with untold value in the hearts of appreciative folk. The respect we give and receive, as well as our self-respect, affirms our human identity. Respect is giving others the dignity they deserve as human beings, regardless of age, gender, physical looks, vocation, race, religion, political persuasion, and socioeconomic status. A gem of a virtue, respect is made up of various facets of kindness, courtesy, politeness and considerate words. Teaching our children the high moral value of respect can only be effective when parents, teachers, church ministers and public servant-leaders set good examples.

In the Holy Bible we read, that the first of God’s commandments promises: “Honor your father and mother so that you will live a long time in the land that the Lord your God is going to give you” (Exodus 20:12). But it sad to say that some young people, however, have yet to imbibe the value of respect for elders. A sample incident that took place on 11^th February Saturday: A group of teenagers were walking behind an elderly couple as we climbed up the stairs to the VIP seats on JN stadium to cheer the match between our Shillong Lajong versus the DSK Shivajians. The boys tried to get past them but couldn’t because the staircase was narrow. One of them thought of easing their impatience by mimicking the way the old lady was limping. His companions roared in boisterous laughter. I got a little frustrated to see this sort of behavior, as I calm myself down a thought came to me that such disrespectful attitude stems from bad breeding, pride, frustration, envy or anger. Some people who suffer from a feeling of insecurity or inferiority use insolent words or behavior as an armor to feel superior and in control. Disrespect often conveys prejudice and discrimination.

I am reminded of Ruth Reichl, a noted restaurant critic, wielded so much influence such that restaurants she visited treated her like royalty. One time, wanting to know how a particular restaurant would receive an insignificant-looking customer, she dressed as an aging, plain-looking woman. The restaurant staff gave her a taste of how it was to be marginalized: They made her wait a long while to be seated and served, and ignored some of her requests. This story is found in her book “Garlic and Sapphires: The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise.” But this is the way our world is going.

Shri Robert G Lyngdoh said, ‘many of the world’s conflicts are caused by disrespect’ and it is true. This human vice has ruined marriages, families, friendships, alliances and other forms of relationship. “Without respect,” Confucius wondered, “what is there to distinguish between men and beasts?” I want to add here that disrespect begets disrespect. A breakdown of civility can create a culture of oppression and violence. And this is what is taking place in our society today. If self respect is cultivated, there would be no corruption, no rape cases, no drugs so powerful to destroy our society. 

Most of us Khasis use the terms “Bah” or “Mama’ and “Kong” and the traditional gesture “lowering our heads when we passed in front of people” in expressing deference to elders and even strangers. In this age of electronic communication, these may be viewed as outdated and dispensable. But what a refreshing relief to hear many of the liberal-thinking millennial still using these words of respect and perpetuating their value. There is yet hope that respect as a trait will make our identity (as Khasis or Garos or who ever) more Human-being-like—and our state more peaceful and stable.

Sngi u Trai laitia ba hynniew

Jingpuson na ka Kospel u Matthius 5:38-48

Ha kawei ka sngi u phadar u la hikai ha lor ka phang jingieid bad u la kylli jingkylli sha ki nongsngap “Mano napdeng jong phi ki bym don nongshun?”U briew ba la kham tymmen u la rah ia ka kti bad u phadar u la sngewkmen “Peit ia u ,u long ka nuksa jong ka jingieid  ia thuh ia ngi kaei kaba phi leh? U ta u briew u la jubab “ nga khlem leh ei ei ngam don nongshun shuh namar baroh ki la iap”

Mano ba sngewtynnad ia ki nongshun? Baroh na ngi,ngi kwah ba kin iap bad jah,lada kam long kumta ngi kwah ban ioh ia kaba ngi kwah.Kane ka dei jingmut shadien jong ka ain “ka khmat namar ka khmat ,kabniat namar ka bniat”ba ka iathuh da u Jisu ha ka kospel mynta ka sngi u Trai .Kane ka dei ka ain ba la rim ba la thoh da u briew u ba kyrteng Hammurabi 4,300 snem mynshuwa .Tangba jngai na ka jingpynshlur jong ka jingpynhiar kput ,ka wad ban pynduna ia ka .Shuwa kane ka ain ka dustur ban pynduh jaiat lut ia ki kynhun jong ki briew namar ka jinglong basniew jong u wei na pdeng ka kynhun .Hammurabi u ong ba dei tang ia uwei ban pynshitom kata ia u basniew tam,bad pynlait lut iabaroh ,bad ka jingpynshitom jong u ka long katkum ka jingleh jong u briew,bad u nongpynshitom un nym ioh ban buh ia ka ain ha kti jong u bad ka jingpynhiarkput.U nongbishar un hap ban rai.

Kane ka ain ka long kaba khuid bad ka bym shah shiliang.Hynrei na ka bynta u Jisu  kane kam long kaba khuid .Ka ain “Ka khmat namar ka khmat ,ka bniat namar ka bniat” kan ialam bad pynlong ia ki briew baroh kiba matlah bad kiba khlem bniat.Ka jingpynhiarkput bad ka thma kam dei ka jingthmu jong ki Khristan.Ka jinglong khristan ka thuhsied ha ka jingieid.Ha ka jingshisha lada ngi peit ia ka bible baroh kawei ngin iohi tang kawei ka kyntien  ka jingieid.Ka kyntien jingieid ka paw haduh 500 sien bad u Vincent de paul bakhuid u ong “Nga don tang kawei ka jingiathuhkhana bad nga pynlong bad kyllain ia ka haduh shihajar sien”kata ka jingiathuh khana kadei ka jingieid.

U Jisu barabor u kren halor kane ka hukum ieid ia u Blei bad ia la u paramarjan na ka bynta ki lai tylli ki daw.Ha kaba nyngkong ka daw ka long ba u Blei u dei ka jingieid,namar u no u no u briew u ba don ka jingieid u ia syriem ia u Blei.U  buh ia ngi da ka lynti ba pyrshah ia ngi lyngba kine ki kyntien “To long kiba janai naba u kpa jong nga u  ba ha bneng u long u ba janai”.Kaba ar namar ba u Jisu u la tip katno ka long kaba donkam ha ka jingim jong ngi ha kane ka pyrthei.Katkum ka dustur haba u Ioannis apostol u la tymmen u kren ia kijuh ki kyntien ha ki nongbud jong u “Ko khun jong nga ieid iwei ia iwei pat”bad ynda ki la kylli ia u balei ba u kren kijuh ki kyntien sha ki nongbud jong u,u batai kumne “Namar kine ki kyntien ki dei ki hukum jong u Blei lada phi la leh kala biang”.Kaba khatduh u Trai u pynshlur bad kren halor jong ngi  namar ba u tip kam long kaba suk na ka bynta jong ngi ban ieid.Ngi donkam barabor ban don ba pynkynmaw ia ngi lyngba kine ki kyntien.

Kane ka sngi u Trai,u Blei u kren kham jylliew bad janai ha ka jinghikai jong u shaphang ka jingieid jong u paramarjan.U hukum ia ngi ban gin ieid wat ia u nongshun u briew u ba pynjynjar ia ka jingim jong ngi .Khlem pep ki briew ki khein ba ka long kaba biej ia kane ka jingmut.Ki nongshun jong ngi ki dei ban shah isih,kim dei ban ioh jingieid,tangba u Jisu u kren “Ieid ia la u nongshun,dwai ia kito kiba lehbein bad tyrwa khlem jingpyrshah ia u briew u ba sniew” u don ka hok ban ong ia kine namar u da lade u leh kuba u la pynpaw da kaba shah shitom bad shahiap halor ka diengphna.

U Trai u ong ia ngi ban ieid ia ki nongshun bad ym ban pyrthuhbud lane ban long kum maki.Ka don ka jingong “Lad phim lah ban pynrem ia ki,iasnoh bad ki”.Kane kam iahap bad ka jinglong Khristan.Ka lynti kaba lah ban pynrem ia u nongshun ka long ym da kaba bud ia ki ktien “ka khmat namar ka khmat,ka bniat namar ka bniat”hynrei da ka jingieid jong ngi ia ki,ngi pynpaw shisha ia ka nuksa jong u Jisu.Ka jingong ka iaid kumne “Ieid ia ki nongshun .kane kan sa pynklumar ia ki” bunsien ngi bishar katkum ka jinglong jong ka pyrthei.Lda u briew u thap ia ngi ,ngi ruh ngi pynphai kylliang,bad ngin sa long kiba khaweit bad kiba tlot.Kane kadei kaei ba ka pyrthei ka hikai iangi mynta,tangba ka jingpyrshah ia ki nongshun jong ngi kan nym pynsangeh ia kin a ka jinglong nongshun,kumba ka jingpyrshah lane thang ia ka ding da ka ding, ka don ka jingbymlah shaniah ia ka jingstad bad ka jingshisha ha kaban pyndonkam ia ka jingieid ban pynsangeh ia ki nongshun jong ngi ,kumba u nongpynlipding u pyndonkam da ka um ban pynlip ia ka ding.

U Blei u kwah ia ngi ban gin long kiba pher na ka pyrthei da kaba bud bad leh ia ki jinghikai jong u.Kum ki khristan ngim dei jong kane ka pyrthei.Ka daw ka ong ba bun na ki khristan ki kylla long ki bymshaniah bad ki bym lerkam haka imlang sahlang  mynta namar ki shu bud tyrneng ia ka pyrthei.Ka long kaba suk ban lap ia u Muslim bad ia u Buddhistha surok lyngba ka rukom riam jong ki bad ka jingdwai jong ki ha lynti synkieng,tangba ka long ka ba jynjar ban ong na ka bynta ki khristan .Ka jingeh labuh ha shwa jong ngi ngi dei ban long kiba pher kum ka jingshai haba dum bad ka mluh ha ka jingbam,ban long kiba ki nongrah khubor ba khlain jong ka jingkylla bad ka jingpynim, bad kaba donkam ia ngi ka long ka jingieid “Lyngba kane ki briew kin tip ba phi long ki nongbud jong nga iaieid markylliang”

Kane ka mat ka pynshai kdar ia ka nuksa jong u thermometer bad thermostat.Haba phi wanrah ia u thermometer hapoh ka kamra,ka thew ia ka jingkhriat lane jingshit jong ka kamra.Ka kylla da lade ban pyndem sha ka mariang,katba u thermostat u long da khongpong,haba phi buh ia u thermostat ka jinglong jong ka lyer lane ka jingkhluid jong ka kamra,,hadien khyndait por ka jingthew jong ka temperature jong u thermostat ka iaid beit,kam ju bud ia ka jinglong jong ka mariang tangba ka kylla.

Kum ki khristan ngim dei ban long tang u thermometer hynrei ngi dei ruh ban long ki thermostat jong ka pyrthei,ka bneng jong ka imlang sahlang,ka jingshai jong ka pyrthei,da kaba im bad long ruh ki nongsakhi ia ki jinghikai u Jisu,ngi dei ban long ki nongkhring bad ki nongthrang ia ka dohnud jong ki briew bad ruh ban long ki nongrah khubor ba trei shitom jong ka jingkylla bad jingpynim,bad ruh ban long kiba kloi ban pynroi bad pyniar  ia ka jingwan jong ka hima u Blei sha kane ka pyrthei.

Kane ka hukum ka buh jingeh ia ngi ban mih sha ka pyrthei da ka lynti lajong,ban long kiba pher,bad ruh ban ngam jylliew jong kaba na sla bad kaba ha pdeng.Lada ngi ieid tang ia kito kiba ieid ia ngi, kaei ka jingmyntoi ba ngi ioh? Ngi hap ban tip kumno ban ieid kumba u Blei u ieid ia ngi,lyngba kane ki briew kin sa tip ia ngi kum ki nongbud bashisha jong u Jisu Khrist.