Yael Eylat-Tanaka - The Book Of Values

Everyone, it seems, from CEOs to politicians, is donning a mantle of “responsibility.” The word – and sentiment – has become so prevalent and popular, that it is almost losing its meaning. This is evidenced by some flowery speeches from some notables who mouth the words, but seem to escape without the consequences of such “assumed” responsibility. What does it mean to be responsible? Without justifying mistakes, rationalizing poor judgment, or blaming misinformation, how do we manage this onus of responsibility? Can we find compelling reasons to explain away a situation? To be responsible for one’s actions and the outcomes of one’s choices and decisions means that the onus is on us. Completely. We create everything that happens to us, good and bad. Indeed, nothing happens of its own. We are not victims; we are not helpless. Everything in our lives is there because of some choice we made. We cannot blame others for whatever predicament we are in. The concept that we create everything in our lives is sometimes very difficult to accept, because it can be a formidable weight to grapple with. However, it is also extremely liberating, because if we realize that we created something undesirable, however unconsciously or inadvertently, we can also create the opposite. We do not have to wait on the charity of others to get us out of our misery. When events beyond our control wreak havoc, we still bear the responsibility of how we will react to those events. A major disaster, an illness, a death - all can be learning and growing opportunities, sharpening the blade, strengthening the twig. Whatever the situation may be - joblessness, obesity, broken relationship - by accepting that we are at the center of the situation, and that we played a role in the situation, releases us from fretfulness, and begins to open doors to solutions and a redesigned life.

Allegiance Allegiance “Truth is a tyrant - the only tyrant to whom we can give our allegiance. The service of truth is a matter of heroism.” ~ John F. Kennedy Allegiance is commitment to a cause or a people. It is loyalty, and the willingness to follow a purported hero, or submit to the rules of a cause. Allegiance to a sports team, for example, would include cheering them in glory or failure, yet retaining one’s loyalty despite repeated losses. Allegiance to a television character is likewise displayed in a willingness to follow the character’s actions throughout the series. One demonstrates allegiance to one’s family when its members are less than completely appealing. Loyalty does not diminish when allegiance is strong.

Ambition Ambition “Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.” ~ Salvador Dali How does ambition fit in with values? Have we not all heard that ambition is evil, driving men to all forms of unscrupulous behavior? Indeed. However, ambition also has a motivating trait: that of impelling action. It is all well and good to come up with a bright idea; but how shall we implement it? Ambition is the hunger that compels us to achieve a desired goal, through hard work and determination; through curiosity and moxie.

Appreciation Appreciation “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the star s, and see yourself running with them.” ~ Marcus Aurelius Appreciation is the recognition of something. The word is used to denote thanks, and in fact, appreciation is closely connected with acknowledgment – for a job well done, or for the gifts one has been given, both material and otherwise. Appreciate what you have, in all its glory. When someone says, “I appreciate that,” it usually means thank you. But appreciation as an inner value goes much more deeply: It acknowledges and recognizes deeply felt contributions and gifts. Recognition for a job well done is a gift, given freely and sincerely. Sincerity cannot be faked. Sincere appreciation is not flattery. Flattery does not feel genuine, and therefore does not feel good; in fact, it may actually feel demeaning and patronizing. But sincere acknowledgment is also deeply felt. The words used, the way they are used, the body language, and the situation in which they are used are all essential underpinnings of what is genuine, deserved, and ultimately pleasurable approval and thanks.

Beauty Beauty “For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.” ~ Sam Levenson The great philosopher, Mortimer Adler, spoke about aesthetics, or what beauty means beyond personal taste or conventional agreement. In everyday speech, when people use words such as "beauty" or "beautiful," they typically mean something they subjectively think is pleasing to the eye. The concept of philosophical aesthetics somehow has escaped conventional consciousness. St. Thomas Aquinas' definition of beauty as that which pleases upon being seen tends to support subjectivism. For "being seen," substitute "being beheld.” What Aquinas is saying is that which, when beheld, gives us pleasure, we call beautiful. Different persons get pleasure of this sort from different objects. They differ in their tastes. What one person finds enjoyable, another might behold with no pleasure at all. However, there is another aspect of beauty that most people fail to consider. In addition to the enjoyable, there is the admirable. What makes one object more admirable than another is some excellence in the object itself? Leonardo da Vinci described the Golden Triangle as the special symmetry that results in a pleasing appearance. There are those who still doubt that there is an objective aspect to beauty. What makes something beautiful and admirable frequently is its own excellence, its own inherent traits, rather than the subjective sense of the beholder. Beauty is the characteristic of a person, animal, place, or idea that offers a perceptual impression of pleasure or satisfaction. It is the interpretation of something as being in harmony with nature. It may even give rise to feelings of well being, and so is believed to be useful as a survival tool.

Benevolence Benevolence “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” ~ John Bunyan Benevolence is the act of doing good – not for political recognition; not for acknowledgement of any kind; not for a medal; and not as a line entry on a resume. Benevolence is an act of kindness done for its own sake. There is no heroism here, no seeking adulation. It is a silent act whose only reward is inwardly felt.

Bravery Bravery “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” ~ Nelson Mandela The brave are not braver than you or I. They do not sport a mantle brighter or stronger. Their spines are not made of steel. They have simply learned to face their enemies, confront their demons, accept that fear is a force that protects rather than destroys. The brave are simply those who have befriended their fear.

Bushido Bushido “The best fighter is never angry.” ~ Laozi The concept of bushido is foreign to the West. Its purest meaning is honor, or upstanding moral values. However, in the Japanese tradition of the days of the samurai, the code of bushido was deep indeed. It encompassed all of life. The samurai were agents selected for their bravery to protect their master. Their master could have been anyone in a position of authority, from emperor to lower-ranked officials. The importance of the samurai tradition was their complete and total allegiance to their master, in all matters, including unto death. The violent life of the samurai was mitigated by a philosophy of wisdom and serenity. It was their duty to defend their master to the death, but honor required that their killing be moderated by wisdom, never by anger. The tenets of bushido had to be practiced daily with study and meditation. In the words of William Scott Wilson, Ideals of the Samurai: Writings of Japanese Warriors (Kodansha, 1982), "If a man does not investigate into the matter of Bushido daily, it will be difficult for him to die a brave and manly death. Thus, it is essential to engrave this business of the warrior into one's mind well." Similar sentiments were expressed by Kato, a ferocious warrior, who stated: "One should put forth great effort in matters of learning. One should read books concerning military matters, and direct his attention exclusively to the virtues of loyalty and filial piety....Having been born into the house of a warrior, one's intentions should be to grasp the long and the short swords and to die." The code of the samurai was distinguished by eight tenets, or virtues: Rectitude, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Honesty, Honor, Loyalty, Filial Piety, Wisdom, and Care for the Aged. Those virtues are well described in the Bible, and hold sway even to the present day.

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