The Lesson Taught By Buddha

Gautama Buddha

There are many forms of media in this day and age which present abuse to us. Vitriol, invective, revilement, these things are witnessed on radio, television, social media and even the smartphone. Face to face abuse is not uncommon when people have hatred and jealousy. Here is an episode from the life of the Buddha, as told by Sai Baba, about jealousy, hatred and abuse.

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Pope Benedict and Human Values

Pope Benedict and Human Values On Christmas Day in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI released an encyclical on the practice of Charity in Truth. In this encyclical (a letter to the Churches), the Pope seeks to develop Christian social teaching, as taught by Popes who went before him. It is intriguing to see the Pope mirroring the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai in a number of places, and without so much as naming human values, he promotes the proper practice of human values.

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International Day of Non-Violence

International Day of Non-Violence

Since 2007, every year, on the 2nd of October, comes the International Day of Non-Violence. The 2nd of October is an occasion to push for non-violence through education and public awareness. It also marks Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, who believed it was irrational to use violence to try and gain a peaceful society.

Gandhi was the leader of India’s independence movement, and a proponent of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence. His movement for change in society and politics has been followed by oppressed people across the world.

Achieving social change through non-violent means, such as civic resistance, non-compliance, and civil disobedience has been employed throughout history.

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Foundations of Moral Agency: Respect and Responsibility

Respect and ResponsibilityBeing a respectful and responsible moral agent – that is – one with the capacity to act lays a foundation for a life of integrity. We cannot imitate others nor ingratiate others in order to be seen as a respectful and responsible moral agent. This is something that has to flow from our character. Our character is somewhat assessed by what other people perceive we think, say and do.

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International Day of Education

International Day of EducationInternational Day of Education 2022 will be celebrated under the theme “Changing Course, Transforming Education.” The celebration, led by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), aims to showcase the most important transformations that have to be nurtured to realize everyone’s fundamental right to education and build a more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful futures. Here we look at the purpose of education and the Sathya Sai Education in Human Values.

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Human Values for Kids Free e-Books

Human Values for KidsThe Adventures in Human Values™ children’s books are based on simple, yet powerful stories centering on human values. Each book is beautifully illustrated and contains positive messages for kids to help them become heroes and change the world around them. The first four series of 9 books are available for reading.

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I asked hundreds of people about their biggest life decisions

Which way - decisions
We make decisions every day. What to wear, what to buy, some decisions are planned such as the weekly meal planning and the visit to the supermarket. Bigger decisions – such as joining with a life partner, having a child, making a decision about the end of life for another person – are really big decisions which we make carefully. Other (missed) decisions lead to deep regrets and wonderment about our interior faculty for intelligence. Here is an article about a survey of decisions people make: you may join in the survey also, if you wish.

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Human Character and Energy


Human beings live and act, work and rest in multiple domains. These are intellectual, personal, social, emotional and spiritual domains. These domains rest on true humanness, the practice of human values which form our character and our destiny. We look to how energy is involved in all these domains of human endeavour and why values are important when we are affected by energies.

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Falco, Family and Business

Book Cover, Ode to a Banker

“[The creditor] examines your family affairs; he meddles with your transactions. If you go forth from your chamber, he drags you along with him and carries you off; if you hide yourself inside he stands before your house and knocks at the door.

If [the debtor] sleeps, he sees the moneylender standing at his head, an evil dream … If a friend knocks a the door he hides under the couch. Does the dog bark? He breaks out in a sweat. The interest due increases like a hare, a wild animal which the ancients believed could not stop reproducing even while it was nourishing the offspring already produced.” Basil of Caesarea

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Masculinity as Male Virtue

masculinity ancient roman

Taking up themes in the Falco Novels, we now look to Masculinity as virtue. Is masculinity a troubling term? Is masculinity how a man defines and expresses his manhood, his maleness? Is masculinity something a man does and expresses in word and action, or is it a facet of his being, his self? What exactly is masculinity?

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Human Values – Love

Love Heart

Love and Falco; in Shadows in Bronze, it seems a doomed subject as Falco begins on his task with regrets that he may never see Helena Justina again. Falco is filled with regrets at lost opportunities. (You may wish to read Shadows in Bronze, a Falco novel by Lindsey Davis.)

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Values and Civil Order

Book Cover, Time to DepartWith so many of the Falco novels focussing on aspects of Law and Order in ancient Rome, it is worthwhile to examine some aspects of this presented in Time to Depart. Falco’s friend Petro is a leader of a cohort of Vigiles.

You may wish to read Time to Depart, a Falco Novel by Lindsey Davis.

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Leadership Reflections

Book Cover, The Iron Hand of MarsIn this part of examining the issues raised in Lindsey Davis’s novel The Iron Hand of Mars, we will be taking a look at Leadership, or more specifically, leadership by historical and fictional characters as presented in this work of historical fiction. Due the nature of the environment (Rome and its military legions, and the activities thereof) observations about the nature of leadership generally, are raised.

You may wish to read The Iron Hand of Mars, novel by Lindsey Davis.

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Falco and Family

FalcoWhen Falco was but a tyke, his family consisted of his father Marcus Didius Favonius (aka Geminus), his mother Junilla Tacita, and seven children: Festus, Vittorina, Maia, Falco, Junia, Allia and Galla. At the time of this novel his older brother Festus, late of the Legio XV Appolinaris, has been dead three years. We may hear more of how Festus came to his end in the Judean War. His older sister Vittorina died during December of AD71 whilst Falco was in Free Germany, serving the Emperor. Vittorina died of ‘womens troubles’; the remainder of his sisters are alive.

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Values and Virtue

Book Cover, Poseidon's GoldPoseidon’s Gold is somewhat focussed around relationships within the Falco family. It also reveals Falco’s determination to make an honest woman of Helena Justina and bring no dishonour to her family, by marrying out of station-in-life. Due illegal trading by Festus and probing by centurions of his Legion, Falco is charged by his mother to protect the good name of his family; he also takes up the task of protecting his Father’s good name as an auctioneer against the overweening possessiveness of the art collectors, who seek to ruin him, and that, feloniously.

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