4. To Realize One’s True Value Religious scriptures Verily the most honored among you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous. Qur’an 49.13 The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. Socrates, in Xenophon (Hellenism) Not by matted hair, nor by family, nor by birth does one become a brahmin. But in whom there exist both truth and righteousness, pure is he, a brahmin is he. Dhammapada 393 (Buddhism) Whose deeds lower him, his pedigree cannot elevate. Nahjul Balagha, Saying 21 (Islam) Four are the castes—brahmin, khatri, sudra, and vaishya; Four the stages of life— Out of these, whoever on the Lord meditates, is superior. Adi Granth, Gaund, M.4, p. 861 (Sikhism) The wise ones who are intent on meditation, who delight in the peace of renunciation, such mindful, perfect Buddhas even the gods hold most dear. Dhammapada 181 (Buddhism) Teachings of Sun Myung Moon We can gauge a person’s value by seeing the quality of his or her love. (99:63, July 23, 1978) Become such men and women of character that God will say He cannot live without you. (Way of God’s Will 2.2) When an individual is united with true love, it opens the way to elevate his or her value and dignity to the highest point. This is the state of mind-body unity, where the conscience and the body are resonating continually. Take two tuning forks of the same frequency: when one is struck the other one resonates with it; likewise, when true love strikes the conscience, the body will resonate with it. Such an individual requires no instruction about how to behave. (223:356, November 20, 1991) Had Adam and Eve not fallen, their bodily desires would not have led them on a path contrary to their mind. Rather, their body would have acted in total obedience to their mind. Because this did not happen, people today cannot attain God’s true love nor can they realize true human value. (399:153, December 22, 2002) The ultimate goal of fallen man is to restore the autonomy, dignity and value of the self, the potential that God gave him as the purpose of creation. (Way of God’s Will 2.2) |