What are the Universal Human Values?
There are five stem values and many sub-values, or virtues that come from these. Together they make up the tapestry that forms an individual of character. They contain all that makes a human being noble, caring, and kind.
If mankind is to live up to its name, it must be kind. Reflect on these values and ask yourself, ‘Can I live up to at least some of these, and are these the values that I would like in my child?’
When one value is truly understood and practiced then, the other values will also be understood, for they are interlinked and flow from a common source, the Spirit within. For this reason many of the sub-values or virtues are common to more than one value.
It has been said that nothing exists for itself only. The axe is useful so long as it cuts, the tree so long as it bears fruit, the cow so long as it gives milk. This rule applies to everything in the natural world, for all is interrelated. It also applies to we humans. We are useful so long as we practice human values. When we fail to do this, we are a danger to ourselves and to the planet and the other life forms that dwell here.
The Five Universal Values from which the other values and virtues stem are:
Right Conduct – (Using
the tool of the body)
Information is received through the five senses i.e. smell,
taste sight, touch and hearing. When this information is referred
to the conscience, the resulting action will be beneficial. Every
action is preceded by thought. If the thought is consciously seen
and noted, aims to help and is unselfish, the action will be good
for oneself and others. If our mind is busy, or we are daydreaming,
the action may be useless, clumsy or harmful to ourselves or others.
The Programme, through developing the powers of discernment
and greater alertness, helps the young person to become more pro-active,
making inner choices rather than simply acting from habits or familiar
customs, which they have never questioned.
Three aspects of life skills are identified:
- self help skills, such as caring for self;
- social skills, such as good manners, helpfulness and service in the community;
- ethical skills, such as courage and dependability.
Right conduct is also concerned with how we look after and use our bodies. The body needs careful maintenance to be strong, healthy and well co-ordinated to serve us in performing the tasks of life. Students need to understand the importance of exercise, such as gymnastics, yoga and sports combined with good rest. Good thoughts and good company (which includes everything imbibed by the five senses) are essential for healthy and well-balanced development. Right conduct is taught through: Silent Sitting, Story telling and Group Activities.
Values Associated With Right Conduct
Self Help Skills
Care of Possessions
Diet
Hygiene
Modesty
Posture
Self reliance
Tidy appearance
Social Skills
Good behaviour
Good manners
Friendship
Helpfulness
Not wasting
Ethical Skills
Code of conduct
Courage
Dependability
Duty
Efficiency
Ingenuity
Perseverance
Punctuality
Resourcefulness
Respect for all
Responsibility
Self-acceptance
Self-confidence
Self-control
Self-esteem
Sense control
Surrender
Understanding
Virtue
Peace (Using the tool of the
mind)
We smile when we are happy and contented. Contentment is gained
when we cease to want for ourselves all the apparent 'good' things
conveyed to us through our five senses. When our willpower is sufficiently
strong to enable us to discern the difference between real needs
and superfluous desires, we cease to be driven by the urge to own
more and more things. Inner agitation stops and we are left feeling
peaceful. When there is peace in the individual, there will be peace
in the family. When there is peace in the family, there will be
peace in the community. In order to learn, self-esteem, calmness
and freedom from anxiety are necessary. These qualities are fostered
by two of the Programme's components, namely silent sitting and
the self-reflective exercises in some of the group activity sessions.
Values associated with Peace
Attention
Calm
Concentration
Contentment
Dignity
Discipline
Equality
Equanimity
Faithfulness
Focus
Focus
Gratitude
Happiness
Harmony
Humility
Inner silence
Optimism
Patience
Reflection
Satisfaction
Self-discipline
Truth
(Using
the power of discrimination and intellect))
The desire to know truth has prompted mankind to ask some
of the great questions such as: Who am I? What is the purpose of
life? How can I know my inner self/ God/ the Creator of the universe?
How can I live fully in the present moment? Learning to speak the
truth is a first and vital step in the formation of a strong character.
Voicing an untruth is an anti-social act and causes confusion in
the mind of both the speaker and listener and leads to anti-social
behaviour. Telling lies hurts ourselves as well as others in a subtle,
but very real way. One great distinction between humankind and the
rest of the animal kingdom is the ability to choose how to behave,
rather than just to follow the lower instincts (the law of the jungle).
A human being is also able to recognise past, present and future
and to take note of changes occurring over time.
A quotation used in the lesson to stimulate thought and questions, may later come to mind to provide guidance and choice in a life situation. Short Term Pain for Long Term Gain: Choosing to refer to this higher level of awareness and to consciously exercise moderation in our behaviour leads to better health and greater contentment. The value of truth can also be taught through story telling which promotes curiosity, optimism, fairness to all and noble ideals. It also aids the understanding of the value of honest speech and self-analysis.
Values associated with Truth
Accuracy
Curiosity
Discernment
Fairness
Fearlessness
Honesty
Integrity
Intuition
Justice
Optimism
Purity
Quest for knowledge
Reason
Self-analysis
Self-awareness
Sincerity
Spirit of enquiry
Synthesis
Trust
Truthfulness
Determination
Unity of thought, word and deed
Love
(Using the power of
energy)
Love is not an emotion, affected by the sub-conscious
mind, but is a spontaneous, pure reaction from the heart. It is
the power of love which causes one person to wish happiness for
another and take pleasure in their well-being. A beneficial energy
(love) is directed towards the other person. As this energy flows
through our own body first, it also enhances our own health. Love
is unconditional, positive regard for the good of another. It is
giving and unselfish. Love is essential if children are to grow
up healthy in mind and body. Love is the unseen undercurrent binding
all the four values.
Thinking with love
is truth
Feeling with love is peace
Acting with love is right conduct
Understanding with love is non-violence
-Sathya Sai
When the mind is turned away from selfishness, the 'heart' opens, and love flows. Love is an energy, not an emotion, and is inherent in every breath. It is the motive force of the physical body and is enhanced through breathing exercises. The component of group singing in the Programme promotes harmony, co-operation and joyfulness. In singing a child may experience the sweetness of love. Love may also be fostered through story telling and activities, which provide young people with the opportunity to care for other people, animals, plants and objects.
Values associated with Love
Acceptance
Affection
Care
Compassion
Consideration
Dedication
Devotion
Empathy
Forbearance
Forgiveness
Friendship
Generosity
Gentleness
Humaneness
Interdependence
Kindness
Patience
Patriotism
Reverence
Sacrifice
Selflessness
Service
Sharing
Sympathy
Thoughtfulness
Tolerance
Truth
Non-Violence (Awakening to
the Spirit within ourselves and within all)
For the non-violent person, the whole world is his family When the
former four values are practised (i.e. the conscious mind is keenly
aware, love is flowing, there is peace and actions are right) life
is lived without harming or violating anything else. It is the highest
achievement of human living encompassing respect for all life -living
in harmony with nature, not hurting by thought, word or deed. The
Programme recognises two aspects of non-violence:
i) Psychological: such as compassion for all
ii) social: such as appreciation of all cultures and religions, and caring for the environment.
Non-violence can be described as universal love. When truth is glimpsed through intuition, love is activated. Love is giving, rather than grasping and in allowing our stream of desires to subside, inner peace develops and right conduct is practised. This results in non-violence i.e. the non-violation of the natural laws which create harmony with the environment. Non-violence relates to the Spiritual or Universal aspect of Being. Living in a way which causes as little harm as possible to oneself, other people, animals, plants and the planet, is a sign of a well-integrated, well-balanced personality. Such a person is well tuned to the spiritual aspect of humanity and is in touch with an inner happiness which is permanent and part of one's real nature.
It is through our universal or spiritual aspect that we may experience:
- a feeling of awe and wonder for the universe
- a feeling of the unity of all
- the desire to improve the quality of life for everyone
- a sense of being part of a larger whole
- a feeling of oneness of the planet and love for everything on it
- an awareness of an underlying order to Creation
- love and respect for the diversity of the human family
Non-violence is taught through quotations, story telling and group activities. True knowledge is that which establishes harmony and synthesis between science on the one hand and spirituality and ethics on the other.
Values associated with Non Violence
Psychological
Benevolence
Compassion
Care of others
Consideration
Forbearance
Forgiveness
Good manners
Happiness
Loyalty
Morality
Universal Love
Social
Appreciation of other cultures and religions
Brother/sisterhood
Care of the environment
Citizenship
Equality
Harmlessness
National Awareness
Perseverance
Respect for property
Social justice
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At the end of the Second World War, in one of his famous speeches, Sir Winston Churchill said that now the threat imposed by the war had been averted, “Mankind can walk in the sunny uplands of human existence”.
If he could see the riots over a game of soccer, the rapidly rising crime and suicide rates, and in the number of lives terminated in the wombs of unmarried mothers; he would look in dismay at the freedom purchased at the price of so many men and women cut down in their prime.
What have we done with the freedom so dearly purchased? And how do we rise to those hallowed sunny uplands?
We believe that by understanding and living the values listed above, this world can become a place of great beauty and the human family can live at peace in joy filled communion with one another and with nature.
