Cardinal Human Values

by Ac Shambhushivananda Avt

The collective psychology of each age reflects certain values. Values are
those psychic projections which form the basis of human thoughts, attitudes,
behaviours and actions. They define the range of human expressions and are a
key to understanding the status of individuals and the pulse of a collective
body (society). A value is a reflection of what we are, of what we live by.
It is a kind of unwritten collective agreement or understanding on what is
worthwhile and necessary for the well-being of a person, relationship,
community and a culture.

The list of values is an endless one but the core values capitulate the
trends of events of every age.

Vidya and Avidya

The values are primarily of two types:

1. Vidya-related: Those which lead us to the realm of Divinity.

2. Avidya-related: Those which keep us tied to the noose of material world.

The word 'vidya' means 'self-knowledge', that is knowledge which leads human
beings towards Divinity. Knowledge which leads human beings towards mundane
objects is called 'avidya'. Vidya is essential. Avidya, however, serves
minor purposes and is not to be completely rejected. Avidya as mundane
knowledge includes material science. Vidya means spiritual science. Here
vidya does not mean knowledge that you get through books, but vidya means
the movement of the mind towards the Divine.

So in this universe two forces are functioning simultaneously.  One is
vidya, the other is avidya.  Vidya is the 'centripetal force' and avidya is
the 'centrifugal force'.  Vidya is the centre-seeking force; that is the
force helping everybody in their movement towards the Supreme Nucleus.  And
the other force is avidya, which takes one away from the Supreme Nucleus.

Our life is a constant effort to maintain a dynamic equilibrium between the
forces of vidya and avidya. Neither can we negate the avidya which is the
basis of our physical existence nor can we undermine the vidya which propels
and inspires us towards the divine stratum. Hence, we need a new paradigm of
values which lead us towards a healthy balance between vidya and avidya,
between centripetal and centrifugal forces, between introversial and
extroversial movement. Only such values which may be termed as
neo-humanistic values could be considered truly authentic. These values will
remain a perennial source of inspirational energy giving a purpose and
meaning to our individual and collective existence. However, neo-humanistic
values are not to be treated as mere visionary ideals, a list of utopian
principles. Rather, they are the guiding lights for a successful, happy,
positive and peaceful life style. Since core values or universal values are
based on the fundamental Reality of human and social life, they are called
Cardinal Human Values. They transcend the narrow definitions of material
reality and do not warp the perception of Universal Reality to a narrow
confine.

Functional and Dsyfunctional

As a consequence, the cardinal human values help us face the moments of
crisis with courage and confidence, with power and penetrating intellect.
Cardinal human values will not bind us to the ego, matter centeredness,
dogma centeredness or merely worldly comforts, achievements and aims. They
do not describe 'what I have' but 'what I am'. The materialistic values
guide us toward accumulation of material things and ultimately create a
feeling of alienation, emptiness and the need for constantly stimulating
novelties bringing no deep or lasting fulfilment. Cardinal values, on the
other hand, free us from the various limiting bondages of life. Values,
therefore, depend on the definition of perception of reality/Reality. When
our perception becomes too narrow, self centered and insensitive, then the
result is a crisis. Crisis is a powerful accumulated response to our own
misconception and wrong choice.

The dysfunctional values ultimately lead us from crisis to chaos. However,
crisis can be turned into opportunities and chaos can be transformed into
order if our awareness and perception is widened to embrace Reality in its
entirety. Such an endeavour is a spiritual transformation. Cardinal human
values nurture spiritual understandings, self reflections and leaps of
consciousness. From all corners of the world there is a feeling something
new is needed, something better; a better mind, a better person, a better
world. New perceptions, new visions can propel us into creating a better
future, discovering and implementing new ideas, new patterns of action. It
is desirable that there is dialogue and consensus about the cardinal human
values, which will lead us towards a better world. The mass realization of
cardinal values will definitely help to create a better world free from the
narrow sentiments, dogmas, superstitions, ethno- and ego- centricisms and
pave the way for a genuinely happy world. Since thought is a mother of
action, discussion about values will sow the seed of positive thoughts.
Positive thoughts then need to be put into action.

Five Core Parameters

The five-core parameters identified in the below are the by product of
trifarious aspects of humanity explained by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji, viz:
- Tantrika culture (spiritual dimension);
- Neo-humanistic outlook (psychic dimension); and
- Proutistic approach (physical dimension).

These three legs are the fundaments on which the five-faced value content is
based. Due to their universal and progressive appeal, these five parameters
are capable of building an ideal society. Each human being desires freedom
from disease, poverty and conflicts. Awareness as well as adherence to
five-faced values can create a healthy society with a sweet balance between
inner and outer life. The long road to sentient peace cannot be achieved
without giving proper credence to authentic / core / cardinal human values.
The five core value dimensions encompass scores of other sub values. Let us
reflect on these core parameters a bit.

1. SPIRIT OF BENEVOLENCE

This provides the basis for building the entire edifice of spiritual life.
Without the fundamental spirit of benevolence, there can be no progress in
sadhana (meditation), no true service, no ideology or close proximity to
Ista (Goal). Hence, it is the bounden duty of every sadhaka (spiritual
aspirant) to first of all culture the habit of viewing each and everything
with a helpful attitude, i.e. with the thought of goodness. It naturally
comes when one gets established in Cosmic ideation. The easiest, surest way
to develop and culture this value is to sincerely practice the elementary
(first and second) lessons of Tantra Sadhana (Sahaja yoga). Those who are
not yet initiated into the practices can also practice the spirit of
benevolence and prepare the foundation for the spiritual path. Use of
restraint leads to control and this is another secret of cultivating the
selfless nature which lies at the heart of benevolence. Where there will be
benevolence, there will be love, amity, trust, loyalty and discipline.

2. SENSE OF AESTHETICS

The creativity in nature sends us a loud signal that the dexterous hands of
the creative force (Prakrit in Sanskrit) maintains unity in diversity. The
inter relationships among all forms of life, between animate and inanimate,
between big and small; between birds and animals, men and women, workers and
managers, speaks of the veritable unity in creation. What is good for one is
good for all and what is good for the collectivity is good for the
individual too. Hence, the spirit of coordinated cooperation as opposed to
subordinated cooperation is the external expression of an aesthetic sense.
The beauty, harmony, sense of proportion maturity of expression, are the
product of aesthetic quality. In the introversial side, the sense of
aesthetics leads us to the door of mysticism, an unending endeavour to find
the link between the finite and the infinite.

3. RATIONAL THINKING

The application of discriminating intellect in every action lies at the root
of rational thinking. When decisions are made after collection of all facts,
reviewing pros and cons and proper analysis, the result is a rationalistic
mentality. The rational approach is the only sure way to engender confidence
in others and foster the feelings of justice among one and all. The
scientific methods come within the scope of rationalistic approach.
Rationality encourages research, benevolent application of results of human
thoughts and unbarred expression of mental faculties. Actions based on
rationality are always long lasting.

4. DYNAMICITY

Where there is movement, there is life. System without speed is meaningless
and speed without system is dangerous. Hence, dynamicity is the symbol of
prosperity and progress. Where there is the spirit of dynamicity, there is
absence of lethargy, stagnation and inertia. Dynamicity transforms
bureaucratization into missionary zeal. It is the source of dedication. It
is a quality of mind where the mind is imbued with urgency to act in the
spirit of welfare. Dynamicity leads to the progressive utilization of all
potentialities in the creation. Where there is dynamicity, there is constant
transformation from crude to subtle, from poor to richness, from chaos to
order, from many to oneness, from disparities to social equality.  Primarily
we move from disparity to parity.

5. EQUIPOISE

Last but not the least, is the balance in all spheres of life. The farther
we go from the natural equipoise of life, the farther we also go from the
Cosmic Entity. The Supreme Entity that lies in each and every particle of
this creation symbolizes the perfect Equipoise. Even behind all clashes and
cohesions lies the unfathomable equipoise of the Cosmic Entity. It is this
transcendental status that is the desired goal of all spiritual aspirants.
It is beyond movement and cessation, beyond relativity. It is the state of
total surrender, total acceptance of prapativa'da (eg accepting sorrow and
joy with equanimity) - a realization that even a blade of grass does not
move without the wish of the Cosmic Entity. The endeavour to maintain prama
(balance) in physical, psychic and spiritual spheres is the essence of this
parameter in the field of cardinal human values and it is greatly enhanced
through strict adherence to intuitional / spiritual practices and by
fostering ecological balance (both in the physical and mental worlds).

Five-fold Paradigm

This paradigm of values endeavours to present a framework for creating ideal
human beings. The day to day cultivation of the above pointers must begin at
home, cultured in the school, enhanced in the social relationships and
endorsed through example by the senior members of society. Without the
foundation of inner values, without a world of shared common values, there
can never be a better world, a world without narrow boundaries. By sharing
the spirit of cardinal human values through the practical example of our
lives, we increase the stock of wealth of our happiness, peace and
prosperity. We can easily bring heaven on earth if we begin to live the
cardinal values we hold dearly. By applying values in our lives, those
values become eternal. The seed of values is awareness; the awareness that
values of a universal nature are the treasures of the human spirit. We are
all born with these treasures - so we must act. We do not come empty handed
in this world. We come with the potential to live by the virtues of life and
these virtues are the values for a better world.

Let us hand over the torch of cardinal values to every child born on this
earth and that will probably be the greatest gift we can leave behind. May
the future generations remember us not only by the sky scrapers that we have
built, not by the space shuttles we have manufactured or by the megacities
that we have designed. Let them also remember us as the guardians of
cardinal human values handed to us, in trust, in this century.  Shrii Shrii
Anandamurti was an embodiment, a living example and a veritable fountain of
all the five parameters that make up the cardinal values:
- Benevolence;
- Aesthetics;
- Rationality;
- Dynamicity; and
- Equipoise.

In order to initiate a dialogue on neo-humanistic values the following
paradigm is proposed:

CORE VALUES = INNER EXPRESSION - OUTER EXPRESSION - RESULTANT

Spirit of Benevolence = Devotion - Service - Discipline

Sense of Aesthetics = Mysticism - Beauty - Unity

Rational Thinking = Wisdom - Justice - System

Dynamicity = Missionary Zeal - Progress - Speed