Preamble
Recognizing the inherent divinity within each human being and the urgent need for global harmony, peace and well-being, this declaration affirms the clarion call given by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to all of humanity on the fundamental importance of cultivating and practicing Universal Human Values as the cornerstone of individual character, social progress and spiritual awakening.
We can be worthy of being called humans only when we foster and practice the core five universal human values: Truth (Sathya), Righteousness (Dharma), Peace (Shanti), Love (Prema) and Non-violence (Ahimsa). Taken together, these values encompass a holistic vision of human potential and reflect the profound moral insights of all the enduring civilizations of the world.
Five Universal Human Values
Truth (Sathya)
Truth is the changeless supreme principle that illumines one’s path to
divinity. Truth elevates and upholds ideals. Truth leads to righteousness.
Be truthful in words and honest in actions.
Righteousness (Dharma)
Righteousness sustains, saves and sanctifies the universe. It leads man to
divinity.
Righteousness unfolds in peace.
Act in harmony with truth and serve all, always remaining aware that the
same divinity resides in all beings.
Peace (Shanti)
Peace is the state of equanimity that results from a pure and steady mind.
Peace blossoms into love.
Remain unaffected by the dualities of life.
Love (Prema)
Love is the eternal force that binds the universe together.
Love manifests as Non-violence.
Love selflessly.
Non-violence (Ahimsa)
Ahimsa is the absence of harm to any living being or to nature, in thought,
word or deed.
Help ever, hurt never.
Love (Prema) is the inner stream in all of these values.
Love in speech is Sathya.
Love in action is Dharma.
Love in thought is Shanti.
Love in understanding is Ahimsa.
Article 1: Foundation
Human values are innate and manifest through self-enquiry only in a spiritual environment. They must be nurtured with love, and they blossom when there is faith in the spiritual oneness of all beings.
Article 2: Cultivation
Human values should be an integral part of one’s lifelong learning process, expanding one’s vision to embrace all of humanity and fostering the development of women and men of good character. Experiencing another’s suffering as one’s own manifests one’s human values.
Article 3: Practice
The practice of human values is vital for healthy living and a meaningful life. It requires unity, purity, and harmony in thought, word, and deed – alignment of the heart, head, and hand. Their practice involves the sublimation of animalistic tendencies and contemplation on the Divine.
Article 4: Responsibility
The welfare of the individual, society and the nation depends on the observance of human values. These values should be fostered in every home, enabling individuals to lead ideal lives and raising not just the standard of living, but also ethical, moral and spiritual standards. Technological advancements must be guided by these human values and dedicated to promoting high ideals. Equal emphasis must be given to conserving resources such as food, money and time to support a sustainable way of life. Above all, the supremacy of human values must be restored in all fields of life.
Article 5: Global Harmony
Human values transcend nationality, language, religion, race, and creed, fostering a sense of spiritual oneness. We are responsible for safeguarding a culture rooted in these human values to promote universal harmony, happiness, and prosperity.
Call to Action
In the light of this sacred Declaration proclaimed for all mankind, every individual, community, institution, and nation are called upon to make Universal Human Values the guiding force of daily life and uphold the eternal principle of the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man, to rise to the noble vision of a united and values-centred humanity.
This is not merely a call to reflect – it is a call to act; to transform ourselves, and through that transformation, to uplift the world.
Goal
To awaken and establish the practice of Universal Human Values propounded by Sri Sathya Sai Baba – in the hearts of individuals and the fabric of society, leading to personal transformation, social harmony, and global unity.
Timeline
There is no fixed end date. It is a foundational document for the ongoing
promotion of Human Values.
The Pathway
Affirm the universality of human values as the foundation of individual and collective well-being.
Inspire personal transformation through the alignment of thought, word, and deed.
Integrate human values into all forms of education, particularly in the foundational years of children, parenting, and in all professional development programmes.
Foster unity and harmony by transcending barriers of religion, race, and nationality.
Promote values-based living in all spheres of life — social, cultural, economic, technological, and ecological.
Promote global cooperation to uphold and sustain human values for future generations.
Promote the observance of an “Annual Human Values Day” to raise awareness among the public and policymakers, and to mobilize political will, resources, and civil society — including the media — in fostering the practice of Human Values across all walks of life.
“If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character,
If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the home,
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation,
And if there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”