This story about Old Man Tiow is more than just a story about an old man. This story seems very simple, in fact it is filled with many deep meanings, which touch on complex issues surrounding human emotions, actions and ethics, as well as moral values ​​and religious beliefs.

This story sends an important message to our world today—a world filled with selfishness, greed, violence, crime, and war.
Humanity's achievements in science and technology have partially failed and made us truly happy. Indeed, we should return to our old family values ​​and practice moral restraints to bring peace and harmony to our chaotic and violent world.

Similar ideas, like those of Old Man Tiow—having a son inherit the family clan and actually being able to preserve the lineage, and carry on the family business—are very much at odds with the desire of the only son, who felt called to be a monk and lived his whole life celibate.

Through the development of this conflict between father and son, readers are expected to consider conventional moral values: filial piety, respect for elders, humility, moral restraint, and sincere intentions to do good and avoid evil.
Readers are led to better understand some aspects of Theravada Buddhism and the 'Law of Karma'. In fact, the message conveyed is to do good and avoid evil because virtue produces good. While evil produces suffering. This understanding is needed by our untidy world.

No matter what religious belief we profess, we should be able to appreciate good deeds and avoid evil ones. The story message of this book encourages readers who are entering the new millennium with extraordinary Dharma wisdom. So that we and future generations can live.