Chapter IV of Rio Plus 20 by Cho Tab Khen Zambuling (Alfredo Sfeir Younis)
IV. The Self Realization of Values
One friend once told me, sustainable development is all about values and the self-realization of those values. But what values are to be self-realized? Given the nature and scope of the problems we face, it is clear that we must move from individual materialistic values to collective humanistic and spiritual values.
The two most fundamental collective values in our human existence are love and compassion. Naturally, there are other values, like solidarity, interdependence, connectedness, equity, ecology, respect, freedom, justice, caring and sharing, to name a few.
It is essential that we transparently acknowledge that human values –like any value– are not just words to be proclaimed, although it is indeed important to advocate love and compassion. However, advocacy for the sake of advocacy has no meaning in the end. Thus, it is essential that we understand these human values as States of Being. These States of Being influence our gross, subtle and very subtle levels of our human nature. As such, these values must be self- realized. This means, we have to become aware of those humanistic and spiritual values and we must embody them. In a figurative sense, we must be walking love and compassion. It is only through this process of self-realization that these values will have a transformational power and real impact. Values that are only on the shelf of words, or that hinge upon a list of terms to be advocated, will have no impact whatsoever.
And, I would like to add, that these values must be self-realized at three levels of human existence. Thus, (a) at the gross level, love and compassion must be translated into social justice, equality, shared wealth, and so many other material and social needs. At (b) the subtle level, this must be self-realized in our thinking, reasoning, and feelings. Finally, at (c) the very subtle level, these values must be self-realized at our energetic level and at the level of our inner existence (the level of our five elements).
For the moment, the national and international debates have remained at the level of advocacy of humanistic and spiritual values. Our dialogue must not remain at that level. It must go beyond advocacy, and this demands a serious look into our education systems, from primary level to higher education. Nature and notions of sustainability must not be just adds-on to the materialistic approaches to human development and transformation, but rather essential to everything we do. This is much easier said than done.
To read the full Rio Plus Document, click HERE.
