153 lines
6.7 KiB
Plaintext
153 lines
6.7 KiB
Plaintext
The Pillars of Society
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World Scripture
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THE PILLARS OF SOCIETY
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The pillars of a nation are those exceptional people who provide its spiritual
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and moral anchor and bestow its vision and purpose. These are not ordinarily
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its politicians or rulers. Rather, they are the righteous people, saints, and
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teachers, ordinary people of courage, principle and conscience, people who
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realize the truth within themselves and are willing to take responsibility for
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their community. Rarely are they recognized and honored in their lifetime;
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sometimes they are tolerated as goads and troublemakers and only appreciated
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after their death; most often they are unsung, anonymous people who, because
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they are sincere and conscientious, suffer in a world of vanities. These are
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people who have a deep realization of truth and are called to serve as
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society's internal leaders. Their example and message has a transforming effect
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on those who approach them with humility and deference. It is often of far
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greater value than the policies and speeches of the governing authorities.
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There are [always] thirty righteous men among the nations, by whose virtue the
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nations of the world continue to exist.
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1. Judaism. Talmud, Hullin 92a
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The earth is upheld by the veracity of those who have subdued their passions,
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and, following righteous practices, are never contaminated by desire,
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covetousness, and wrath.
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2. Hinduism. Vishnu Purana 3.12
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Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to
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Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.
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3. Judaism and Christianity. 1 Kings 19.18
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When the righteous man is in the town, he is its luster, its majesty, and its
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glory. When he leaves it, its luster, its majesty, and its glory depart.
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4. Judaism. Midrash, Genesis Rabbah 68.6
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The perfume of flowers blows not against the wind, nor does the fragrance of
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sandalwood, tagara and jasmine, but the fragrance of the virtuous blows against
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the wind; the virtuous man pervades every direction.
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5. Buddhism. Dhammapada 54
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Hard to find is a man of great wisdom: such a man is not born everywhere. Where
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such a wise man is born, that family thrives happily.
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6. Buddhism. Dhammapada 193
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Hullin 92a: God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for want of ten righteous men; see
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Genesis 18.20-33, pp. 680f. Cf. Berakot 17b, p. 202; Abot 1.2, p. 255; Tanhuma,
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p. 609. 1 Kings 19.18: In God's message to the prophet Elijah on Mount Sinai,
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we have mention of a righteous remnant that will be spared when God judges
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Israel. The concept of the remnant is found throughout the prophets: see Isaiah
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6.13; 7.3-4; 10.20-23; Amos 5.15. Genesis Rabbah 68.6: Cf. Analects 4.1, p. 277.
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- - - - - - - - - - - -
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Surely Allah will raise for this community at the beginning of every century
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one who shall revive for it its faith.
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7. Islam. Hadith of Abu Dawud 1
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The myriad objects owe their existence to the mutual stimulation subsisting
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between Heaven and earth. Similarly, the holy sage stimulates men's hearts and
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the whole world is thenceforth at peace.
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8. Confucianism. I Ching 31: Attraction
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Take responsibility for the most difficult problem in your nation. Take
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responsibility for the most difficult problem of your church. Take
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responsibility for the most difficult problem of the world.
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9. Unification Church. Sun Myung Moon, 5-1-81
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The bodhisattvas, guardians of the city of Dharma, uphold the true doctrine,
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and their great teachings resound like the lion's roar throughout the ten
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directions. Without having to be asked, they are the natural spiritual
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benefactors of all living beings.
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10. Buddhism. Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti 1
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In the Book of Songs it is said,
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He makes no show of his moral worth, Yet all the princes follow in his steps.
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Hence the moral man, by living a life of simple truth and earnestness, alone
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can help to bring peace and order in the world.
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11. Confucianism. Doctrine of the Mean 33
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My saints are under my protection, and only I know them.
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12. Islam. Hadith
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The saying goes, "The fish should not be taken from the deep pool; the sharp
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weapons of the state should not be shown to men." The sage is the sharp weapon
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of the world, and therefore he should not be where the world can see him.
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13. Taoism. Chuang Tzu 10
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Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti 1: Cf. Lion's Roar of Queen Srimala 4, p. 277.
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Doctrine of the Mean 33: In Shinto, the emperor is most perfecty in accord with
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the kami and is set forth as an example for others; see Divine Injunctions, p.
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207. Hadith: This is a Sufi tradition; Sufi groups are often secret societies.
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Chuang Tzu 10: Taoist sages typically live in seclusion; Cf. Tao Te Ching 20,
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p. 528.
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Confucius remarked, "Among the means for the regeneration of mankind, those
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made with noise and show are of the least importance."
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14. Confucianism. Doctrine of the Mean 33
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He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised
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reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will
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faithfully bring forth justice.
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15. Judaism and Christianity. Isaiah 42.2-3
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A stranger colonial administrator, however vigilant, Cannot perceive a locality
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as clearly as an indigene [village elder]. It is the attitude of the indigine
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to the affairs of his locality Which determines that of the stranger to the
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same. Malofin, the entire town is in your hand. "Situations do not get spoiled
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when elders are around," This is the age-old wise saying.
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16. African Traditional Religions. Yoruba Song (Nigeria)
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Rabbi Assi and Rabbi Ammi, on an educational inspection tour, came to a town
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and asked for its guardians. The councilmen appeared, but the rabbis said,
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"These are not guardians, but wreckers of a town! The guardians are the
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teachers of the young, and instructors of the old, as is written: 'Except the
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Lord keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain' [Psalm 127.1]."
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17. Judaism. Midrash, Lamentations Rabbah, Proem 2
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They say, "Why is not this Qur'an sent down to some leading man in either of
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the two chief cities?" Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of the Lord?
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It is We Who portion out between them their livelihood in the life of this
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world: and We raise some of them above others in ranks, so that some may
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command work from others. But the Mercy of the Lord is better than the wealth
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which they amass.
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18. Islam. Qur'an 43.31-32
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Isaiah 42.2-3: This is part of the Servant Song given in full on p. 449.
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Lamentations Rabbah, Proem 2: Cf. Sutta Nipata 261, p. 686, and related
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passages on the value of education.
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