Aum Sai Ram

An Offering at the Divine Lotus Feet of Bhagawan

If I were to teach Human Values to youngsters...

Aim: To sensitize the prospective professionals on the role of Human Values in their professional life and work situation so that they are able to achieve and maintain an optimal balance between their professional goals and organizational needs.

I am excited, delighted, optimistic and eager! I am also apprehensive, a little uneasy and doubtful. I am excited because I have to teach and I am worried because I have to teach! Coming to the other side of the table, I mean the class, after being a student for more than 19 years brings me these mixed feelings. In my experience as a student, I had the good fortune of getting good teachers who could down to my level and then take me from there to their level. So, let me try the same thing here.

If I were a professional (or a prospective professional) who were to be taught Human Values, what would I be thinking, perceiving and expecting? Well, I would have a whole lot of questions! Queries, issues, doubts, problems and a whole lot of them! What are Human Values? Is there any relation between Human Values and our professional life? Is it something philosophical or practical? How can it be applied to professional life? Will it help us to do our jobs better? If it is really useful, how do we learn and practice Human Values? Can Human Values be taught? Is there an institution which teaches Human Values? Where will all this lead us to?

Now, let me come back to the role of a teacher. But before I do that, I would like to place my prayers and my most loving and humble salutations at the feet of my teacher, my guru, my master and lord – Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. I am reminded of his famous mahavakya on Leadership (which applies to me as a teacher in this situation) - “To Be, To Do, To See, To Tell”. A good leader must first put into practice what he wants others to, by setting an ideal example himself. It is only then that he has the moral right to tell others.

“What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches.” ~Karl Menninger

Sri Sathya Sai Baba has further given us guidelines as to How ‘To Be’ a good leader (/teacher)? The following diagram says it all:

“The strength and balance of this structure determines our ability to be effective as leaders” – Sri Sathya Sai Baba

So, this is my first and foremost duty as a teacher of Human Values to youngsters - I must practice before I preach.

“Be the change you want to see in the world” ~ M.K. Gandhi

Now, let’s take the next step, which is to resolve the questions that have been raised earlier.

What are human values?

“Human Values are the positive, desirable qualities of character – such as honesty, integrity, tolerance, responsibility, compassion, altruism, justice and respect – inherent in all human beings. Human values are fundamental to human existence and span across cultures, nationalities and classes. Human values cultivate an environment of trust, transparency, responsibility, caring, respect, cooperation, quality, and excellence. They are the internal motivators for people to do their best in line with good character, morality and ethics.¹”

Let me now quote Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who has been promoting Human Values all his life. He says, “You have to understand the true meaning of these two words, education and human values. Education has two aspects: The first is related to external and worldly education, which is nothing but acquiring bookish knowledge. In the modern world, we find many, well-versed and highly qualified in this aspect. The second aspect known as ‘Educare,’ is related to human values. The word ‘Educare’ means to bring out that which is within. Human values, namely, Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa (Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-violence) are latent in every human being. One cannot acquire them from outside; they have to be elicited from within. But as man has forgotten his innate human values, he is unable to manifest them. ‘Educare’ means to bring out human values. ‘To bring out’ means to translate them into action.²”

Now let me go to the next question about the relation, relevance and practical application of Human Values in professional life?

“Education without character, science without humanity, politics without principles and commerce without morality are not only useless, but positively dangerous”.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba

I refer to an extract of a paper which appeared in the journal of Human Values which answers the above question in a short and sweet manner! “Values are akin to a beacon. A profession thrives on the values that it subscribes to. A right set of values and a well-aligned value system help professionals effectively navigate through the best and worst of times. Values are the core of any profession. In fact, every individual in an organization is driven by some set of personal, professional and organizational values. Values, therefore, are the core to the existence of every individual and organization. ³”

Next, let’s take a look at the table¹ below, which shows the practical application of the 5 core values in our professional lives.

Practical applications of the core values!

The table points out how to practice these five human values. For example,

1. Truthfulness: speak honestly with co-workers and customers.

2. Righteousness: keep your agreements with your manager and co-workers, as well as customers.

3. Inner Peace: practice equanimity, even in crises, in times of profit or loss, and in times of praise or blame.

4. Love: listen generously and compassionately to others rather than being judgmental

5. Non-Violence: find win-win solutions to problems, rather than winning at another’s expense.

Having said that, a (prospective) professional will say, “Well, that all sounds very good! Infact great! But, how does it help me in my job?”

So now let’s take a look at, what does each of these human values look like when expressed in the typical workplace⁴?

1. A professional would tell the truth about errors or delays, even if it meant a temporary reprimand.

2. An employee would do his or her best quality work, even if no one were watching.

3. An executive would continually strive to find creative new ways to deliver goods effectively and efficiently, without adding undue costs to his or her customers.

4. A sales person would actively seek to serve people rather than hide behind bureaucratic rules.

5. A manager would seek to keep the environment clean and unpolluted by wastes from the business.

Don’t you agree with me that any/all of the above will help you do your job better, will help you climb up the organizational ladder faster and will help you not only in your professional life but in your personal life as well. Infact, a lot of people in the corporate world refer to these skills as ‘soft skills’ and professionals with these soft skills are in great demand today.

I hope, by this time, it’s very clear about the relation, relevance, practical application, necessity and impact of Human Values in professional life. Let’s now turn to the next logical question.

Can Human Values be taught?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, “Human Values are latent in every human being; one cannot acquire them from outside. They have to be elicited from within. Educare means to bring out human values. ‘To bring out’ means to translate them into action”

So, then how does one ‘bring out’ the latent Human Values? Well, from my modest experience at the Sri Sathya Sai University, I can relate a few personal learning experiences that I have gained from the Sri Sathya Sai System of Integral Education (SSSSIE) which focuses on ‘bringing out’ these latent Human Values. The SSSSIE aims at the integrated and holistic personality development of students in the physical, mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual domains. The Pan Indian character of the University comes alive in the Hostel where students from all backgrounds, castes, regions, religions and social strata, live together in harmony. The self reliance departments in the hostel are a good example of fostering Human Values. These are departments run by the students themselves. All aspects of the Hostel’s functioning are taken care through these which include activities such as plumbing and electrification, gardening, general stores, cooking, computer and other multimedia facilities, library, books and publications, dispensary and so on. Through this, the dignity of labor is appreciated and it also provides the students to contribute to the institution through the best use of those talents which he or she is endowed with.

The annual Grama Seva is another excellent way of fostering Human Values. This exercise plays a major role in sensitizing the students to the realities of rural India. For students like me, who have come from metropolitan cities and who have no exposure to the rural life style, it is a real eye opener. We learn what it means to have two square meals a day, we learn the joy of getting new clothes, we learn the satisfaction of smiling and being smiled at, we learn and experience what it means to love and be loved.

This is just a glimpse of what happens at the Sri Sathya Sai University. I now intend to bring together my learning experiences and propose a formal Institution for Promotion of Human Values in Professional Spheres.

Let us now see how some of these ‘blocks’ work and interact with each other under this framework. The idea is that professionals who are interested in ‘getting trained’ in Human Values can join the Training Program at this institute. The training program will have both specific and generic components. The specific one’s would focus more on the professional part, the generic ones will be common for all professions. After all it’s a human being who is performing different professional roles.

• Training Program for Professionals: To get a quick idea of such a training program, one can refer to the training programs conducted at the Management Centre for Human Values at Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. Dr. S.K Chakraborthy, the founder of the centre, writes, “The goal (of this training program) is that in a management setting these practices will have repercussions on business life, more specifically in respect of the individual - improved cooperation, non-attachment to the selfish rewards of the work, increased creativity, service to the customer, improved quality, cultivating self-discipline, and enhancing generosity.⁵” One can also look at self guided training programs such as the one developed by the Global Dharma Centre⁶.

Other than the specific training focussed on the profession, there are other activities that help foster Human Values. Most of them have been inspired by the SSSSIE and I’ll relate to the same.

• Service Activities: Youth activity circles for community projects

Learning from the example of the Self Reliance Departments in our hostel, I propose the following: Young professionals (or to be professionals) should be inspired to be part of community projects which solve community problems. Such projects will not only help them develop themselves (teach them team work, tolerance, etc) but will also evolve them as concerned community citizens. . It will also provide them ample opportunities to blossom forth their latent talents, capabilities and creativity. The role of the Institute will be to identify community projects and facilitate and encourage the youth to get involved in the projects. Such an activity can form a huge youth force to effectively solve community problems in the country. These community projects can be of two types:

1. General problems like cleaning the streets, spreading general awareness etc

2. The other can be developed so as to apply the expertise/knowledge of the youth. E.g. IT students/professionals can develop some software which can be useful to the community (for e.g. in rural areas), engineers can develop technical and engineering solutions to existing problems, commerce graduates can help develop budgets, raise funds etc, arts graduates may help in raising literacy levels etc.

• An Integrated Approach

Through the means of interactive workshops, presentations and personal counselling professionals should be exposed to:

• Integrated Personality Development

• Career Counselling

• Lifestyle Management

thereby ‘enabling’ them to equip themselves with the required tools for transformation.

• Integrated Personality Development is the development of the Physical, Emotional, Intellectual and Spiritual aspects of the individual through activities like Yoga, Pranayama, Study Circles, Meditation, Bhajans, and Service Activities etc. The participants should be exposed to both the theoretical and practical aspects.

• Career Planning/Counselling

Career Counselling and Career Planning Activities can be undertaken to talk about:

• Various career options including service oriented jobs

• Promote social entrepreneurship

• Need to develop soft skills: Positive attitude, team spirit, self confidence and tell them how one can develop the same through various option that the institute offers like social service activities, Yoga, etc

• Lifestyle Management

The youth should be made aware about the need of Lifestyle Management in today's fast paced world. Further they should be exposed to its various aspects such as Time Management, Regulated Life Style, Weekend recreation, Productive utilization of spare time, Balanced/Regulated Diet etc.

• Rural Internships / Gram Seva Activities

This is inspired by the annual Gram Seva that takes place at the Sri Sathya Sai University. It’s a macro level approach to sensitize the youth towards the Nation and specifically the rural areas through the means of ‘Rural Internships’. The Institute can organize these one/two week rural internships, wherein the youth can be taken to rural areas and can be involved in Gram Seva activities. The university/organization may make it mandatory for its students/employees to participate.

• The Human Values Festival

This festival celebrates the spirit of ‘Human Values’ and will promote the same through the means of various events, competitions etc. Other than the usual competitions, the spirit of the festival will be showcased through various theme based events like:

• Workshops, Panel Discussions, Case studies discussing Human Values at the workplace.

• Cultural events - Music, Dance, Drama, Debates, Movie Shows etc (bringing out the theme)

• Sports events

This idea is inspired by the annual sports and cultural meet at the Sri Sathya Sai University. The learnings from this event are virtually endless. Everyone gets his own share of lessons; Lessons in team work, brotherhood, mutual cooperation, hard work, detachment, unity and harmony. One gets to learn how to get along and work with different kinds of individuals. Also, all of us are involved with various kinds of activities and we get to learn and showcase a variety of talents and skills.

• Media

The institute activities will generate lot information which should be disseminated widely through various communication mediums like radio, television, print media and web. Specifically, a web portal should be developed which can run as a common thread for activities happening across the country (/world). The portal will also act as a starting point for initial awareness and encouragement for the new comers.

Thus, the institute needs to adopt a multi pronged approach to meet its objectives. Once this ‘movement’ catches on with the Youth, it’ll have a snowballing effect and will show its presence throughout the country and then maybe across the world!

I would like to conclude with the last question of where will this all lead us to? Well, nothing better than to conclude with the words of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character; when there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home; when there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation; when there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.”

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba

References:

1. Human Values in water education, UN Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT.

2. Educare is Human Values, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 33;

3. Madhavi Mehta, Value Orientations of HRD Professionals in India, Journal of Human Values 2005; 11; 103.

4. William C. Miller, How do we put our spiritual values to work, Chapter 5, New Traditions in Business, 1990, New Leaders Press, California.

5. Chakraborty, 1991, pp. 19-20). Chakraborty, S.K. (1991). Management by Values. Delhi: Oxford University Books.

6. www.globaldharma.org

Click the following link to view the images better! If I were to teach Human Values to youngsters...

Walk for Values touches the Heart of Toronto

Walk for Values touches the Heart of Toronto City revitalizes with the resurgence of values

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Over four thousand caring and responsible Toronto residents along with scores of Americans and a few Europeans put their best foot forward as they converged at Yonge-Dundas Square which is the heart of Toronto and then lovingly walked 2 ¼ Km in the prime streets through the downtown core, raising the level of human commitment towards universal human values of Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-Violence that transcend barriers of race, religion, culture and ethnicity. Apart from thousands of onlookers, tourists, drivers and shoppers, what a group of friends it drew! Barbara Robbins and her husband Bernie Michel along with friend Anjali DeSai drove all the way from Hartfort, Connecticut in the USA, as did Xavier Gomez, specially to join through the downtown core pledging self-transformation. Professor Anita Sankar from Buffalo, USA came with a bunch of friends and Miss Anita Perrson of Sweden flew in from Europe to walk through Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas area, hoping to learn how to organize a similar event in Sweden.

For the fifth year in a row, Toronto, the city that gave birth to the world’s most unique walkathon, rocked to the rhythm of righteousness on June 10, 2007 with the banner of the Sathya Sai School of Canada flying high.

For the complete article: http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_05/01JUL07/15-walkforvalues.htm

Some more abstracts from the article:

At the only walk of its kind in the world, participants neither pledged nor sought any monetary contributions. Instead, they had to introspect and pledge to improve an area of personal weakness, by promising to practice any one of the numerous universal values and their sub-values such as patience, caring, love, forgiveness, appreciation, gratitude, conservation, responsibility, discipline, better time management, self-esteem, acceptance, punctuality … you name it, you could pledge it.


The raison d'être behind this walk is that when individuals transform, families improve; when families work towards self-improvement, communities thrive and cities blossom and ultimately countries prosper in peace. The domino’s effect to transform the world starting with an individual effort has always been the underlying message of this walk. With each passing year, a growing number of political leaders, policy makers and community representatives have been participating in this event, expressing their admiration and appreciation for Baba’s teachings of human values and their universally appeal and relevance at all levels of human endeavours - personal, professional, community or government.

As always, the event was open to everyone - individuals, diverse faith groups, businesses, social and cultural clubs … as long as each participant committed to active self-transformation, leading to social improvement. One of the themes under spotlight this year was conservation of the environment.

A variety of food stalls, Food Bank collection booth, exhibits on Value Parenting, henna tattoos, handicrafts, face painting and games for children were part of the carnival that attracted large crowds. Over 18 community groups as well as students from several public schools in the York Region, including Middlefield Collegiate Institute and Cedarbrook Public School took part this year besides the large Sathya Sai School community, bringing the total number of active participants to well over 4000.

Questionnaire

Aum Sai Ram

Institute for promotion of Human Values in professional spheres

Objective: To create a blueprint of an Institute for promotion of Human Values in professional spheres. The blueprint will act as a guidebook for people who would like to initiate formally or informally an institute for promotion of Human Values in their professions / organizations.

What are human values?

Human values are the positive, desirable qualities of character – such as honesty, integrity, tolerance, responsibility, compassion, altruism, justice and respect that span across cultures, classes and nationalities.

Brief Agenda:

1. Brief profile of the interviewee
2. Your understanding of Human Values
3. Your experiences with Human Values in your professional life
4. How do you foster Human Values in the workplace
5. Organizations promoting Human Values
6. Building an informal network to learn and practice HV at work
7. Your idea of a formal Institute/Centre for promotion of Human Values in professional spheres?

About myself:

I am Vikas Bagri, currently pursuing my final year MBA at the School of Business Management, Accounting and Finance, Sri Sathya Sai University, Prashanti Nilayam. This interview is part of the primary data collection work for my MBA project.

My blog about this project: http://humanvaluesatwork.blogspot.com

Sai Ram

Aum Sri Sai Ram

Institute for promotion of Human Values in professional spheres: the Questionnaire

1. Brief profile of the interviewee:

Name: Age: __ Country:

Organization: Designation: Total Years of experience in a leadership position: __ Profession:

2. Your understanding of Human Values? Support with examples.
3. Your experiences with Human Values in your professional life?
1. Share successful stories (self/others) involving HV at work.
2. Where do you see the need for HV in your professional life? What would the Values that you would want to be blessed with and why?
4. How do you foster Human Values in the workplace?
1. How do you personally nurture HV in yourself and your work?
2. How do you promote this idea of ‘Human Values at work for making better professionals’ in your organization? What are the challenges you face? Do you prefer love over law?
5. What are the organizations (profit & not for profit) you know of that promote Human Values. Please share your experiences with any such organization and its activities.
6. If you were to informally come together with peers from your/other organizations to learn and practice HV at work, how would you go about it?
7. What would be your idea of a formal Institute/Centre for promotion of Human Values in professional spheres?
1. What would be your Vision & Mission statements for this institute?
2. What kind of activities/programs would you include? How do you get people to participate?
3. Which activities/programs would you be most enthusiastic to participate in yourself?

Why Human Values?

Peace and Goodwill in Our Troubled World

A speech delivered by Former India Supreme Court Justice and Member of the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations, P. N. Bhagwati, at an ILO meeting in Geneva Switzerland, 9 July 2004.

Brothers and Sisters,

I am addressing you as brothers and sisters because we are all part of one common humanity. All religions – whether Christian, Hindu, Sikh or Muslim – recognize the essential unity of mankind and our ideal must be to break down all differences that divide us and to demolish all barriers that prevent us from coming together as human beings regardless of the language we speak, the color of our skin, the race to which we belong and the religion we profess and practice.

Today we see a paradoxical situation in the world. On the one hand, science and technology with the modern means of transport and communication have brought about a near revolution in our lives and the world has shrunk into a global village. While on the other hand, the world is being torn apart by strife and violence, hostilities and massacres. Men forgetting their in-dwelling divinity are engaged in killing one-another. We thought that after the holocaust of the Second World War, peace would rein on earth and there would be no hatred and violence, but this dream is shattered to pieces. We do not find peace anywhere and that is why we long for universal peace, peace not only in my country, not only in yours but throughout the world. How can we attain this universal peace which can be a blessing for humanity?

Everyone in this world has a system of values to guide his thoughts and action. Whether these values are articulated or not, they are always there, governing all that we do or think. To have the right value system is essential for our individual good as well as for the good of society and humanity. For that alone can bring peace and tranquility of mind, radiating joy and happiness to all. Under the ancient Indian value system, the values of truth, righteousness, love and respect for parents and teachers were instilled in the minds of our youth. But these values are unfortunately on the decline, and that is why we see hatred and violence around us. The social fabric is breaking up.

It is thus clear that there cannot be universal peace without a transformation in the lives of men and women who inhabit the globe. The emergence of narrow ethnic nationalism, religious fundamentalism and parochial loyalties, and the strife and violence we see around us are due to the absence of human values.

There are five human values which are permanent and which must always guide individual and social action. They are Truth, Righteous action, Love, Peace and Non-violence. These values alone can save humanity. It is only through inculcation of human values that we can change the attitudes of men and women, their mind-set, their behavior, individual as well as societal, without which there can be no hope for universal peace. It must be remembered that war and peace are born in the minds of men and it is the minds that have to be transformed and this can be done only by inculcation of human values.

Let us not forget what the Great Masters like Buddha, Jesus Christ and Sathya Sai Baba have said, namely that every human being is the embodiment of the Divine, and the entrustment which overlays this divinity has to be removed in order for the human being to shine forth in all his resplendent glory. This realization of the Divinity in every human being can take place only one if one practices the five human values of Truth, Righteousness, Love, Peace and Non-violence. Because then one can realize the essential unity of mankind which is the message which has been preached by all the Saints and Sages whatever be the faith or religion they practice. These human values help men to realize the basic Truth that it is the same Divinity which pervades the entire universe and animates the entire human race. These five human values are preached by all faiths and religions. They are universal and their practice in daily life by every human being, whatever be his faith or religion, is essential in order to bring about peace within and peace without.

The first human value which must be cultivated is Truth. Truth is something that does not change; otherwise it cannot be truth. If it is true today, it must be true tomorrow. If it is true today, it must have been true yesterday and, by the process of induction, it will be true on the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, and this goes on to infinity and also equally it goes back in time to infinity. So, truth is eternal, it cannot change. Otherwise, it cannot be absolute truth. But if we look around us and think for ourselves dispassionately and with discrimination we will soon realize that there is nothing that is really eternal in the world of object and perception. Science tells us everything is energy and that energy and matter are really the same thing. Everything is just energy full of vibration and the real truth is that everything is vibrating and changing. If there is nothing that is constant then, where is the Truth which is constant and never changing? We can realize this only by raising our consciousness upwards so that we discover within ourselves the cosmic consciousness which is the Truth underlying the entire creation.

The second human value is Dharma, i.e. Righteous action. Righteous action on the part of individuals in society is most essential for peace and harmony. It is also vital for the full development of the human personality. It is beautifully epitomized in the adage “See no evil, hear no evil, and do no evil.”

The third human value which is the bedrock of all the others is Love. What the Great Masters of the past and the present are asking us to follow is the path of Love – pure and undemanding Love. Love not only for the near and dear ones, but for the entire humanity. It is the same message of universal Love which was given to us 2500 years ago by the Great Buddha and some 2000 years ago by another Messiah, Jesus Christ. And it is the same message which is being given in the 20th and 21st Centuries by Sathya Sai Baba who has said, and I am quoting him “Start the day with love, Fill the day with love, End the day with love. That is the way to God!”

The fourth human value is Peace. When I talk of Peace I do not mean mere absence of war. Peace is a state of mind where there is no anger, no jealousy, no craving and no disturbance. There are enemies of Peace which are described in all scriptures and they are lust, anger, greed and jealousy etc. These enemies disturb the Peace of mind and it is only if we can conquer these enemies that we can attain the real Peace of mind. This Peace where the mind is serene, un-disturbed and un-agitated is one of the five great human values which every human being must try to attain if there is to be real happiness in individual as well as societal happiness.

The last value is Non-violence. Let me again make it clear that Non-violence does not mean merely non killing of human beings. It has a much wider meaning and significance. It includes not only not hurting others physically but also not hurting the interest of another except where larger societal interest is involved. Non-violence also includes not causing injury to the environment. If we start killing or harming animals then the environment and the whole process of life in the world are up-set because all life is interrelated and there is a delicate balance maintained by nature. At the Earth Submit in 1992 all the countries signed a Convention on “Bio-Diversity” to look after all the living things in the world. By disturbing the environment, we upset the balance of life on the earth. It can harm us and can eventually destroy human life. So, Non-violence means not only not hurting other people but also not harming other living things and not harming the nature.

These five human values are essential for peace and harmony and indeed for human happiness. I may also point out that at the base of these human values lies character, individual as well as societal. Character in fact forms the bedrock of human values in as much as it confers the power of discrimination between good and evil, guides mankind along the path of virtue, and brings about peace within and peace without. It is necessary to cultivate character in order to instil the five human values in every human being. There is a beautiful saying of Sathya Sai Baba which I would like to quote before you:

“Where there is purity of heart there is beauty of character.
Where there is beauty of character there is harmony in the home.
Where there is harmony in the home there is order in the nation.
Where there is order in the nation there is peace on earth.”

The whole concept of purity of heart and beauty of character could not have been more epigrammatically described then in these words of Sathya Sai Baba. These beautiful words indicate for the benefit of mankind the path to universal peace and brotherhood where there will be no wars or conflicts, no hatred or bitterness but everyone will be suffused with love and happiness.

From these human values of Truth, Righteous action, Love and Non-violence springs humanism which is so vital to the realisation of universal peace and happiness. Humanism is an essential attribute of enlightenment where one human being recognizes and regards every other human beingas like himself, with the same hopes and aspirations, with the same feelings and emotions, with thesame indwelling divinity, and identifies himself with the trials and tribulations, with the happiness and suffering of the other human being, irrespective of his caste, colour, race or religion. This is the spiritual basis for another saying by Sathya Sai Baba: “Help ever, hurt never.”

This humanism is possible to be achieved by the common man only if he realizes that humanism lies at the basis of human rights. Humanism is nothing but human rights in action for it is only the practice of human rights which can bring about the true and genuine feeling of humanism. I would, therefore, like to emphasise very strongly that if we want to change the world and bring about transformation in the minds and hearts of men and make of them real human beings imbued with humanism, it is absolutely essential that a human rights regime should prevail throughout the world and inspire every action of human beings.

The concept of human rights is not a new concept. It has come down to us through the ages. Even in ancient Hindu law human rights were prized very high because they are inherent in every human being and are essential for human happiness. Human rights have existed ever since humanity was born but its importance came to be highlighted only after the devastation of the Second World War when people all over the world realized that we cannot have peace without implementation of human rights.

Today human rights have become a subject of animated discussion not only at the international level but also in national jurisdiction. Every country, whether developed or developing, expresses concern for promotion and realization of human rights and strives to attain their realization and fulfillment. We have several international instruments on human rights adopted by the United Nations, and worldwide discourses on human rights are going on. But at the basis of all the discussions and discourses lies the fundamental principle of preservation and maintenance of human dignity and basic human values. I may point out as a Member of the Human Rights Committee of the United Nations that I firmly believe that all the human rights instruments which have been adopted by the United Nations are intended to ensure the dignity of every human being throughout the globe and the establishment and maintenance of human dignity is not possible without instilling humanism in the hearts and minds of people. Can there be a true and genuine regime of human rights in action without human values guiding and motivating the thoughts, words and deeds of all people?

There is a close and intimate interrelation between human rights and human values. The observance of human rights cannot be secured only by judicial process, or only by national or international public opinion, or only by censure of international or regional organizations. These are the external compulsions which have limited efficacy. It is only by internal compulsions generated by adherence to human values that we can really bring about observance of human rights – by transforming the quality of the thoughts, words and deeds of the rulers as well as others. It is only through inculcation and practice of human values that human consciousness can expand and envelop the entire humanity as part of divine consciousness. Only by banishing and for ever putting an end to the violations of human rights of citizens by the State or of the nationals of one State by another, or the exploitation of the people in developing countries by the developed countries can we make human rights a reality and bring universal peace on earth.

Acknowledgement: Access this article on Global Dharma Website

Institute for Promotion of Human Values

Institute for Promotion of Human Values: A Framework

This is the first draft that I propose for a model institute for promotion of Human Values. Although, it looks self explanatory, I intend to keep writing about the various 'blocks' that it is made up of!

Humble Offering at Thy Divine Lotus Feet

Proposing an Institute for Promotion of Human Values in professional spheres

A humble offering at the Divine Lotus Feet

The project should serve as a blueprint for establishing an Institute for promotion of Human Values in professional spheres. It will basically talk about the following ideas:

1. What are Human Values?
2. Why are Human Values necessary today? [Discuss their importance, need in today’s world. Then, focus on the importance of Human Values in professional spheres ]
3. How do we promote Human Values? What are the various institutions involved in promotion of Human Values.
4. Propose a model institute for promotion of Human Values in professional spheres.

My First experience of How Human Values work!

The Annual Sports and Cultural Meet: Fostering Human Values

Offering ourselves at Thy Lotus Feet, Mother Sai

Fifteen hundred students, two hundred teachers, a host of administrators across the three campuses working in unison – caring not whether it is night or day –whether the limbs ache or the belly growls. ‘Challenging’ is not good enough for them - they have set their sight only on the ‘impossible’; they are out to testify the veracity of the power of faith – the adroitness that concentration can elicit and the will that knows not how to bend in defeat. And all this for just one moment of that one day for the smile on that one face whom we all know as THE ONE.

WHAT is it that inspires these SAI soldiers to march on triumphantly and display their mettle in a daring and dazzling display of prowess in spite of all odds?

The other day, we had a very interesting and insightful discussion in our Awareness class. It was about the amazing experience that we had gone through – Our Annual Sports and Cultural Meet. There were a lot of experiences to share and learnings to be made!

The first point raised by our teacher in the class was “KY, KPT & NK”. Given, that it was a class of MBA students and use of jargons is familiar in many management classes, but this jargon didn’t sound familiar! Well, it stands for Karma Yoga, Karma Phala Tyaga and Nishkama karma. So, what are we talking about?

Everyone in this world is always engaged in Action. Whether you are awake, sleeping, eating, thinking or walking; we are always doing action. But, everybody performs different kinds of actions, depending on the spirit with which he does it.

At the first level is ordinary action. Everyone acts, but for one’s own sake. These actions are for self fulfillment and thus of selfish nature. Before performing, we always ask, “What’s in it for me?”.

At the next level comes KPT, i.e. Karma Phala Tyaga. In this case, the doer of the action focuses his attention not on the results but on the process of the action. But it still remains very selfish in nature.

At the third level comes NK, i.e. Nishkama karma – You don’t have the rights to the fruits of the action but only the right to action and therefore it is selfless. The Bhagavad Gita also preaches the above, through the 25^th sloka of chapter 3:

“Saktah karmanyavidvamso yatha kurvanti Bharata;

Kuryat vidvan tatha asaktah cikirsuh lokasamgraham”

‘As the unenlightened, attached to work acts, so should the enlightened act, O descendent of Bharata, but without attachment, desirous of well being of the world.’

And finally, Swami adds the fourth level, which he calls the Pavitra Karma, which is, offering every action to God. This is the highest karma yoga.

Swami, through the sports day, gives all his students and teachers, a great opportunity to experience this Pavitra Karma. Whatever program we do and in whatever way we participate in these celebrations – we do it only for Swami and we offer everything at his divine lotus feet. It’s this very valuable lesson that Swami teaches us all, and it is up to us to live it up for all our lives!

Relating this to my own experience, I remember so many times, when I have put this learning into practice. Truly, had it not been for Swami, I would not have got inspired and could not have performed so well on the final day.

I recall those cold mornings, when I would be nicely wrapped up in my cozy blanket and then it would be time to go for our morning warm up and practice sessions. There were so many times when I did not want to go but the very thought that we are doing it for our Beloved Swami made me get up and I would get going! Sometimes I would get bored, practicing the same things so many times a day and I would ask myself the need for doing so much practice. Instantly I would get an answer that we have offer this to God and it should be nothing less than perfect. Swami himself is the embodiment of perfection and he keeps teaching us to aim towards perfection through his ways. As they say, ‘Practice makes a man perfect’, so I would get back to my practice with full energy and enthusiasm. At times my health was not good and many times I would have body pains because of rigorous practice. But I would always think that this body, all my talents and whatever I am today is a gift from the Lord and this is an opportunity to offer my love and gratitude towards Him. So, I would pray to Swami to give me the strength to overcome these pains and to take care of me and thus forgetting all my troubles and pains, I would run for my practice.

Coming back to the Awareness class, next we discussed the Guna Dynamics. I quote here a few passages from Swami Prabhavananda’s book on Patanjali Yoga Sutras, describing in depth about the Guna Dynamics. “Prakriti is said to be composed of three forces, sattwa, rajas and tamas, which are collectively known as the three gunas. Sattwa causes our moments of inspiration, disinterested affection, quiet joy and meditative calm. Rajas brings on our outbursts of rage and fierce desire. It makes us feel restless and discontented, but it is also responsible for our better phases of constructive activity, energy, enthusiasm and physical courage. Tamas is the mental bog into which we sink whenever sattwa and rajas cease to prevail. In the state of tamas, we exhibit our worst qualities – sloth, stupidity, obstinacy and helpless despair.” The annual sports and cultural meet is the opportunity that Bhagawan gives all of us to convert this tamas into rajas which is a stepping stone to reach sattwa and thus our transformation.

In the process of evolution, sattwa is the essence of the form which has to be realized, tamas is the inherent obstacle to its realization, and rajas is the power by which that obstacle is removed and the essential form made manifest. For the sake of illustration, let us take an example of a sculptor. A sculptor decides to make an idol of say, Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba. The idea of this idol –the form of it which he sees in his imagination – is inspired by sattwa. Now he gets a lump of clay. This clay represents the power of tamas – its formlessness is an obstacle which has to be overcome. Perhaps, also, there is an element of tamas in the sculptor’s own mind. He may think, “This is going to be a lot of trouble. It’s too difficult. I am tired. Why should I make the effort?” but here the force of rajas comes to his aid. Rajas, in this instance, represents the sculptor’s will to conquer his own lethargy and the difficulties he is going to face; it represents, also, muscular exertion which he puts forth in order to complete his work. If a sufficient amount of rajas is generated, the obstacle of tamas will be overcome and the ideal form of sattwa will be embodied in a tangible clay idol. Similarly, the annual sports and cultural meet gives us an opportunity to generate sufficient amount of rajas by undergoing intense physical exertion and by increase our will power so that the obstacle of tamas will be overcome.

But here I would like to mention, just for the sake of completion, that reaching sattwa is not the ultimate goal. Chapter 14 in the Bhagavad Gita talks in detail about the guna dynamics. Verse 14.19 says:

“Nanyam gunebhyah kartaram yada drastanupasyati;

Gunebhyasca param vetti madbhavam so dhigacchati”

‘When the seer beholds no agent other than the gunas and knows that which is higher than the gunas, he or she attains to My being.’

Verse 14.20 further builds on the above saying:

“Gunan ethan atitya trin dehi dehasamudbhavan;

Janma mrtya jara duhkhaih vimuktah amrtam asnute”

‘The embodied one having gone beyond these gunas, out of which the body is evolved, is freed from birth, death, old age and sorrow, and attains to immortality.’

Swami Prabhavananda’s explains the above by saying, “Thus, a man is said to have transcended the gunas when he does not hate the light of sattwa, or the activity of rajas, or even the delusion of tamas, while these prevail; and yet does not long for them after they have ceased. He is like one who sits unconcerned, and is not disturbed by the gunas. He knows that they are the doers of all action, and never loses this power of discrimination. He rests in the inner calm of the Atman, regarding happiness and suffering as one.”

Well, the learning’s from the sports meet are virtually endless. Everyone gets his own share of lessons; Lessons in team work, brotherhood, mutual cooperation, hard work, detachment, unity and harmony. One gets to learn how to get along and work with different kinds of individuals. Also, all of us are involved with various kinds of activities and we get to learn and showcase a variety of talents and skills. For example, the maintenance team does plethora of jobs. It is the back bone of all events. Whether it is stage decoration structure or building of the torch vehicle or the amazing dancing Ganesha structure that was built this year, all is done by the maintenance boys. One of them share’s his learning experience, “We learn detachment. We work for week’s altogether for making these structures, but after they are shown to Swami and offered to His Divine Lotus Feet on the final day, we no more associate with them. They are dismantled the very same evening. We also learn a lot of team work, mutual cooperation and unity. Boys don’t bother about food or sleep until the work concerned gets over. Once the work is over, all the boys go together to have food.”
There is a lot of team work that happens, but all with ease! Why? Well, using management jargon I would say, that the individual goal and the organizational goal is very well aligned, because it is only one – To please their most Beloved Swami.

Further, every event and especially the dangerous or shall I say the more adventurous ones, reinforces and strengthens everybody’s faith in Swami. There have been numerous instances when it was only for Swami’s grace that major accidents have been prevented. Even this time one of such accidents happened during the jeep stunts event. This is what the student who experienced this accident has to say: “It was during one of our evening practice sessions that Swami had come. We performed the criss cross (4 jeeps, from 4 opposite directions crossing each other at considerable speed, in the shape of a ‘X’). After this session, Swami commented, “there is enough space between the jeeps, good!” I just thought that Swami out of his concern for us was looking at how safe it was for us to perform the event. Anyway, things moved on. On the final day, as we were about to put up our performance, this comment passed by mind. I brushed it aside, took Swami’s name and started off. As we prepared for the head on swerve (two jeeps, at a speed of around 50 kmph, were moving towards each other), I got a little late in moving out from the path of the jeep coming from the opposite direction. As a result, it hit the back of my jeep. All this happened in a split second and there was a big sound. Anything could have happened, but our Mother Sai was there watching us and saved us from the accident. Only then did it strike me that Swami had already warned us during the initial practice session. We did not understand then but this has taught me a great lesson that every word uttered by Swami has profound meaning and significance for us.”

Like this, the sports meet gives us an opportunity to build up our self confidence, that is, reinforce our faith in ourselves and our faith in God. As the famous saying goes,

“Act as if everything depends on you,

Pray as everything depends on Him.”

Another brother shares his feelings, “Devotion to the Lord should get translated into action. Not ordinary action, but action that is prompted by a mind that is filled with love for God and is surrendered to His will. Though this seems to be a Herculean task in the spiritual path, I found that each one of us, while performing daring events during the sports meet, actually lived this ideal even without consciously realizing it. Oh, the beauty of it!”

Thus, the annual sports and cultural meet promotes the development of Human Values. As Swami says, “Self transformation in spiritual sadhana can be achieved by the 5 D’s, which helps us to take a ‘U’ turn in our lives.” These 5 D’s are – Dedication, Devotion, Discrimination, Discipline and Determination and all of these are aptly reinforced by the annual sports and cultural meet.

I would like to relate here another brother’s experience from the Institute Brass Band. He says, “

Life is not a race, do take it slower.

Enjoy its melody, before the song is over.

The members of the Institute Brass Band deem it their greatest fortune to perform in front of Swami and more importantly for Swami. What culminates as performance is the fruition of efforts spanning the whole of the semester. What inspires us? The answer expresses itself as easily as an approving smile from the Lord and the acknowledging gleam in His eyes observing ‘His boys’ perform. On numerous occasions, to various dignitaries, Swami has, with maternal pride, directed their attention to this group of students declaring –“These are My boys”. That is the leitmotiv of the bond the band shares with their Swami.”

The annual sports and cultural meet has been a tremendous learning experience for all of us. Swami has so playfully given us an opportunity to experience these wonderful learnings. We thank our Beloved Mother Sai for giving us this learning opportunity and also pray to him to give us the strength to put this into practice, all our life. I would like to conclude with Swami’s Quote:

“Dedicate yourself to every work without ego,

To take you to true Devotion and

Develop Discipline within.

Discriminate every work

And in turn move on with Determination

To experience Divinity”

-- Baba