A Brief Explanation Of The Five Human Values In essence, Truth is that which is in perfect accord with reality, and it is the life-principle within each of us. The natural laws are that Truth in action. In the ethical sense, it manifests as truthfulness of speech and harmony between our thoughts, words and deeds. Speaking the truth is an indispensable ethical discipline, which should be regarded as a social obligation and a necessity. Untruthfulness corrupts the mind, destroys its tranquillity, and pollutes the environment and society. Truth in action is Right Conduct. Sathya Sai Baba explains that it is “the disciplining of the human will to do right action always.” All actions take place in the physical domain, but every action is a response to an inner prompting – a response to a thought. We may merely act in response to some sensual impression or desire – “I see, I want, I must have…” Or it can be undertaken in the light of knowledge and for the wellbeing of all. If the action is appropriate, it will hurt no one and appears to be for the general good, then it is right conduct. Peace is the end purpose of all human endeavour. Whether a person makes right decisions or wrongs, the motivation is always for achieving peace and happiness. However, this goal would be much more easily achieved if one were to understand more clearly which domain of the personality is involved. It is only when there is emotional equilibrium that one experiences peace. It is when we allow our internal emotional system to become disturbed, that we become subject to anxiety and confusion. Peace of mind is, in effect, a state of equilibrium. Love is often thought of as emotion, but it is not, itself an emotion. It can produce an emotion. Love is actually a form of energy, which affects all forms of life. It is psychic force, which each individual transmits and receives. Children need love; so do animals – even plants respond to love. The absence of love inhibits, and can even kill. At eh sub-atomic level, it is a force that bonds the universe. In people, it manifests as selflessness. Sathya Sai Baba says, “Love lives by giving and forgiving, selfishness by getting and forgetting.” Love grows with sharing. Children need to develop in a loving environment. Eventually, it should make a person realise the universal brotherhood of Man and one’s kinship with all life. Non-Violence is not merely refraining from doing harm. Non-Violence manifests when love enters the deeper levels of one’s consciousness. At that level, it permeates all one’s thoughts, words and deeds. It leads to an all-encompassing sense of oneness with all beings and all things. It manifests as respect for all life, as care for the environment and the recognition of he rights of others. A non-violent person is a peaceful person, a loving person, and a person who will refrain from wrongdoing, because unrighteous behaviour destroys harmony and hurts others. They practise non-violence in thought, word and deed. |
