His Majesty’s greatest legacy: strive to be useful

A week after the United Nations held a special session honouring His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the country is still buzzing about it, in the streets and on the social media. People were particularly impressed with the moving speeches made by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the representatives of Africa, Eastern and Western Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific region. Their well-chosen words demonstrated a good understanding of Thais’ love and respect for the monarch.
Most impressive of all were the remarks by the United States’ permanent representative to the UN, Samantha Power, who evoked the King’s address to a joint session of Congress during his visit to America in 1960. Power said His Majesty made it clear to the lawmakers that the tradition Thais value above all others is commitment to their families. 
“The King was speaking about the bonds and generosity among members of Thai families,” Power said, “but in retrospect his words can just as easily be applied to the way he lived his life – a life of always looking for ways to be useful to those in need, a life of giving, and of serving every single day. Not to earn praise, not to get something in return, but rather because that is what one does for family. And His Majesty considered all the people of Thailand to be his family. 
“How fortunate the Thai people were to have had His Majesty as a member of their family. And how fortunate we are to be able to learn from the way this remarkable king chose to live his life.”
Power recalled that nearly two decades ago a journalist asked the King how he wished to be remembered. “He replied that he cared very little about how history remembered him. He said, ‘If they want to write about me in a good way, they should write how I do things that are useful.’” 
In conveying to the world these truths so well known among Thais, Power precisely explained why King Bhumibol deserves our unending love and loyalty. Far from being due merely to his lofty status, that love was earned through hard work and countless contributions to the country’s wellbeing. As one citizen in mourning memorably told a CNN reporter the day the King died, Thais regard the King as their father – not a “living god” or “demigod”, as he is so often described in the Western media.
The extent to which His Majesty selflessly worked for the good of the nation ought to inspire others in power, both in Thailand and elsewhere. It is not too much to expect his meritorious traits to be passed on as an enduring legacy, or for his exemplary deeds and behaviour to be emulated by leaders as well as ordinary citizens. In particular, anyone with the ability to have an impact on society should consider the King’s modest stance of wishing to be remembered as “useful”, surely a far nobler ambition than wanting to be known as the richest, the longest serving or even the best in any particular occupation.
If Thais in positions of influence sincerely love and respect the late King, they must recognise the benefits of what he did for the country and the way he did it. Usefulness has no measure. It is not gauged in the quantity of beneficial contributions or even their quality. His Majesty bestowed upon us a great deal of wise advice that can be applied in the pursuit of unity, justice, fiscal 
sufficiency and a fundamental adherence to the modest middle path. To always benefit others instead of oneself should be the King’s lasting legacy.