Human Values and Human Capacity
"What I look for in men and women is capacity
-Sathya Sai Baba
Behaviours the Five Human Values
It is easier to discern human values by examining behaviour.
- Actions are based on choices
- Choices are made by the mind
- The mind is guided by what it values
- Values are the guidelines for behaviour
Our values are our principles, that which guides our actions. Values are our codes of internal conduct, the principles upon which we run our lives and make our decisions. Our first values are given to us by our parents, and these are added to by those values given to us by our peers, our teachers, the wider community. Our moral values are often sourced from our faith systems. It is from these that we select the principles which rule our lives and our behaviours.
Our values often include universal principles such as truthfulness, honesty, fairness, justice, honour, etcetera, etcetera. These principles are often essential for our personal and social survival. Putting things back to front, we can often work out what values are present when we analyse either ourselves or others, for behaviour reveals choices, and choices are based on our values. We always choose what is best for us, and best for others. We do this when we are being selfless, putting the good of all first, ahead of our own wishes and desires. This is how social values come into existence and are known.
Our brains are hard-wired to seek the Truth. No matter what blueprints are laid down by our families, education and work, we are seekers of ultimate truth. What words we put on this varies in time and place, culture and society, but we are all seekers of peace and truth. In saying this, we are not saying we are seekers of pleasure and comfort; we are not creatures who seek to reduce others or life to units of rest, pleasure or satisfaction. Ultimate universal concepts drive our lives to discover and embody those concepts within ourselves.
Sub Values of Human Values
What are Human Values? Human Values are those universal concepts, drivers of action which are found in all cultures, all societies, all tims 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.
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Human values have an inherent energy and dynamism. Human values do not follow the laws of physical science. They cannot be depleted. Normally, when we spend energy our resources we become drained of energy to the extent of our expenditure. But human values multiply as they are applied, used, expressed and acted out. They benefit both the giver and the recipient.
So we can understand that human values have an inherent energy that gathers strength and multiplies as they are used. We can use the metaphor of opening a bank account, a credit of energy which is built up, establishing a wealth of energy within, upon which we can make withdrawals at any time. The fruit of these withdrawals is that they attract more energy as they are spent!
We could call this our values bank, which also attracts deposits in our character bank. Values are present and quickly identified when we act with unity between what we think, say and do. That unity, of thought, word and deed is called integrity.
Human values do not follow the inverse square law. They do not undergo diminution with time and space. A good action performed today remains a good action forever.
There is an overlap between behaviour and values; behaviour is always based on choices; choices are based on values; i.e., guides to action and behaviour. Values are dynamic and fluid; they are not discrete units, they are multi layered, multi-contextual, muti-faceted. The do not have rigid boundaries and apply across all compartments of behaviour, choice and motivation. Values are also linked to emotion; e-motion is simply the energy, the outward going momentum of the mind expressed as feeling and action.
So before we go analysing behaviour and attributing motives and choices, we know that action and behaviour are based on thoughts, which express wants and desires. Values are a dynamic force that operate on the ego, mind and will, enabling connectivity to intellect, conscience, discrimination; values empower the reflection between the impermanent and permanent aspects of action and behaviour, reality and desire, want and choice. Thus, human values have an inherent dynamism which carries the human being forward through all the domains of the person to the exercise and application of knowledge, skill, balance, insight and identity.
Sathya Sai Baba says that dharma (right conduct) can be spotted and analysed in a single act. This is the fruit of self control, self discipline, which leads to self respect, and then gives self satisfaction. These are the fruits of the practice of human values. Inherent qualities are elicited and displayed. These are the inherent capacities within the human person:
| Value | Qualities contained therein |
| TRUTH |
The person is self aware, in touch with his or her feelings, thoughts and values. They are truthful, honest, possess integrity and a sense of fair play and justice. They are connected to their family and with a network of friends and relatives. They are aware of his or her cultural traditions and religious heritage. The person knows his or her own truth, is self aware and capable of managing his or her mental life. |
| RIGHT- CONDUCT |
The person is competent, striving, committed and hard-working. He or she is capable and responsible for his or her self and for their own choices. He or she is disciplined in all their undertakings. The person is capable of managing all his or her actions in accordance with Right Conduct (dharma). |
| PEACE |
The person is happy, peaceful, free of anxiety, tension, stress and fear. He or she possesses skills of negotiaion and problem solving. He or she is capable of generating and maninting peace within the family and a circle of friends. The person is capable of managing his or her emotional life. |
| LOVE |
The person is loving, kind, considerate, gentle, compassionate, generous, understanding and dedicated. He or she knows how to generate and multiply his or her inner wellspring of love, joy and harmony. The person is capable of managing his or her personal and social life. |
| Non-Violence |
The person is self-restrained, balanced, does not violate themselves or others through thought, speech or action. He or she is aware of themselves and of the environment and the need to relate to the whole of creation. He or she has an appreciation of arts, aesthetics and beauty. He or she is clear about their purpose in life. He or she views the world as the expression of all-embracing Divinity. The person is capable of managing his or her spiritual life. |