An Introduction to Human Values

Flower with the five human valuesWhat are Human Values? Human Values are those universal concepts, drivers of action which are found in all cultures, all societies, all times and in all places where human beings eke out their lives. The five human values, which can be found in all cultures, all societies and in all religions, are Truth, Right Conduct, Love, Peace and Non-Violence. These values are eternal; they are eternal essences, which elevate human life to its highest expression, its highest capacity.


Human Values build the connections between the individual, the family, the society, and the world we live in.

The guiding principles understanding and living with Human Values are:

(a) divinity is love, and it is the undercurrent of all human values;
(b) The function of education is to bring out the pre-existing human values in the child and translate them into action in daily life;
(c) the goal of education is for living a fully human and spiritual life;
(d) the end of education is character and character manifests itself as the unity of thought, word, and action.

That’s a lot to take on board. We hand over our children to schools and leave it to them to teach them the three R’s … reading, writing and arithmetic. Many give over their stake / responsibility in raising their children and forming them into adults capable of taking their place in society to the school. There has to be a connect between the living and values of the parents and the values taught and elicited by the school. Practice, rehearsal, interaction, relationships and reinforcement are necessary to raise the practice of human values to the inner integration and outer expression of human life and human flourishing.

Truth

There is one ultimate and universal Truth, which may be expressed in a multitude of ways. Truth is found via many paths, names, and forms, but Truth is always only One. The different religions and spiritual orientations offer a rich variety of approaches, giving people the ability to choose on the basis of their inclination. For example, Truth can be approached through the path of wisdom (rational thought and knowledge). It can be approached through the path of intense devotion towards a Divine incarnation or Teacher and it can be approached through selfless service.

Truth also finds expression in nature, art, music, poetry, ancient scriptures of all faiths, and through scientific discipline. Truth is principally known in speech – one teaches a child to “tell the truth’. Reflection reveals to us that truth existed before this child was born; truth is in ‘now the open moment’ and truth will exist in the future. From this we learn that truth is eternal, in the past, present and future. Truth is found within.The pursuit of Truth requires discrimination, intuition, and introspection. Truth does not change; it is the same in the past, present and future.

Right Conduct

Right conduct has echoes of righteousness, right action, right behaviour, doing the right thing, following our conscience, the repository within that distinguishes between right and wrong. This is not a rigidity, not an iron-clad way of behaving, with strict external and internal injunctions to behaviour or boundaries. Right conduct is a range of actions, motivations, presences, even attitude. Right conduct is best characterised the Sanskrit word, Dharma. Though Dharma has no literal translation in English, it may be said to encompass the sum total of codes of ethics, ethical behaviour, and moral self-control. The injunction, “do good, see good, and be good,” captures the essence and intent of this value. It is rooted in attitudes and habits inculcated from early childhood that mature into respect and adherence to the duties and responsibilities that come with one’s life circumstances.

Peace

Peace is what exists within you when you live a life of “do good, see good, and be good”.

In the outer world, there are only pieces. Not peace.

Peace requires the capacity for introspection and self-awareness. Self-awareness enables one to become mindful of his or her thoughts, words and deeds. When self-awareness becomes a habit, the individual begins to monitor and modify the habitual patterns of thought that obstruct the peace within.

Love

When we are young, Love often resembles intimacy, passion and desire. Perhaps this is the “feeling” side of Love, what I perceive I need to make my life complete. Love in fact “makes space” for the other. We give them our time, our talents and our resources – in order to give a place of total security to the other in our lives, a protected space of kindness, caring, empathy and compassion. It is in this space, bounded by the walls of love, that children are born and raised. And as many, many parents in this world will attest, children test the limits and kick against the walls, the boundaries of this secure space called love. The stronger the walls, the more loving and secure the lives of their children will be. So the human value of love is something that is bounded by self-sacrifice, self-respect, self-confidence and self-control. All this – and more – is Love.

Nonviolence

Non-violence is shown by compassion, concern for others, consideration, forbearance, forgiveness, respect for property, citizenship, care for the environment, being a good citizen, and appreciation of other religions. Nonviolence is a state of mind that recognises the unity within the apparent diversity. It manifests as nonviolation of the laws of nature and respect for law and order. It calls for restraint from the doing of harm to others and to nature in general. Nonviolence is rooted in forbearance, morality, and integrity.

Summary:

What are Human Values? Human Values are those universal concepts, drivers of action which are found in all cultures, all societies, all times and in all places where human beings eke out their lives. The five human values, which can be found in all cultures, all societies and in all religions, are Truth, Right Conduct, Love, Peace and Non-Violence. These values are eternal; they are eternal essences, which elevate human life to its highest expression, its highest capacity. Click the image below to view full size in a new window.

 

Grid showing the five Human Values

Human Values and Ascension

When we look to Ascension and all it brings in its retinue, the central point is the embodied human soul. And the thoughts, attitudes, behaviours, beliefs that are attendant to the embodied soul. There are the habits that one has, the food that one eats, the environment that we are in and the thoughts that we think – all these add up to the person we are, the health we have, the purpose we have for living.

When we look to Ascension we could consider the Akashic records, Angels, Archangels, Arcturians, Sirians, Pleiadians, Hathors, Ascended Masters, Ascension body changes and Astral travel. These are all elements of what we have been reading, discussion, chatting about on Whats App and Facebook groups. However, we cannot expect to have the long-hoped-for experience of Ascension and all that is in its retinue unless we are people of good character, human beings practising the five human values and thus embodying human flourishing. Human life takes many forms in this world, and in the worlds that surround our galaxy, our universe. The universe, we have been told, is literally ‘teeming with life’.

That life is human life, whatever its form. Human life – whatever its form – has capacity for introspection, self-awareness and the practice of values that guide behaviour – which lead to true humanness. When we encounter the star sisters and brothers who come to visit us, we bring our human values of truth, love, peace, right conduct and non-violence with us. This is true humanness, this is excellence in character, this is evidence of human integrity – unity of thoughts, words and actions.

 

 

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