“To know one’s own worth and to honor the worth of others is the
true way to earn respect. Respect is an acknowledgment of the inherent worth
and innate rights of the individual and the collective. These must be recognized
as the central focus to draw from people a commitment to a higher purpose in
life.”
Respect
begins within the individual. The original state of respect is based on
awareness of the self as a unique entity, a life force within, a spiritual
being, a soul. The elevated consciousness of knowing “who I am”
arises from an authentic place of pure worth. With such insight, there is faith
in the self and wholeness and completeness within. With self-realization, one experiences
true self-respect.
Source of Conflict
Conflict
is initiated when the awareness of one’s original nature and the original
nature of the other is lacking. As a result, external negative influences rule
supreme over respect. To be stabilized in the elevated stage of the self-ensures
genuine respect for and from others, since one acts in the consciousness that
every human being has innate worth which is pure and virtuous. Such a mindset
guarantees ultimate victory, since interaction on that basis assures that the
inherent goodness of the self and the other emerges.
The
beginning of all weakness is the absence of one word: self. When the word self
is removed from self-respect, the void is filled by a variety of desires or
expectations, each specifically designed to claim regard or respect from
others. The individual, having become dependent on external forces rather than
internal powers, then measures respect by physical and material factors, such
as caste, color, race, religion, sex, nationality, status, and popularity. The
more respect is measured on the basis of something external, the greater the
desire for recognition from others. The greater the desire, the more one falls
victim and loses respect – for the self and from others. If individuals renounced
the desire of receiving regard and stabilized themselves in the elevated stage
of self respect, then regard would follow like a shadow.
To
develop the value of respect within the self and to give it practical
expression in daily life is the challenge. Obstacles are encountered to test
the strength of respect, and these are often felt at the most vulnerable times.
Self-confidence is needed to deal with circumstances in an optimistic, hopeful,
and self-assured manner. In situations when all supports seem to have vanished,
what remains loyal is the extent to which one has been able to become
self-reliant internally.
Respectful Environment
The
power of discernment establishes a respectful environment in which attention is
paid to the quality of intentions, attitude, behavior, thoughts, words, and
actions. To the extent that there is the power of humility in respecting the
self- and the discernment and wisdom that affords in being just and fair to
others there will be success in the form of valuing individuality, appreciating
diversity, and taking the complete task into consideration. The balance of
humility and self-respect results in selfless service, an honorable act, devoid
of debilitating attitudes such as arrogance and narrow-mindedness. Arrogance damages
or destroys the uniqueness of others and violates their fundamental rights.
Such a temperament hurts the violator as well. For example, the tendencies to
impress, dominate, or limit the freedom of others are each done with the aim of
asserting the self but at the expense of inner worth, dignity, and peace of
mind. Original respect becomes subservient to an artificial one.
Thus,
attempting to win respect without remaining conscious of one’s original worth
and honor becomes the very method to lose respect. To know one’s own worth and
to honor the worth of others is the true way to earn respect. Since such a
principle originates in that pristine place of pure worth, others instinctively
sense authenticity and sincerity. In the vision and attitude of equality, there
is shared spirituality. Sharing creates a sense of belonging, a feeling of
family.
That
sense of honor and worth can extend to nature’s family. To show disrespect and
to work against the laws of nature is to cause ecological imbalances and natural
calamities. When respect and reverence are extended to the eternal energy of
matter, the elements will serve humanity with accuracy and abundance.
Respect
is an acknowledgment of the inherent worth and innate rights of the individual
and the collective. These must be recognized as the central focus to draw from
people a commitment to a higher purpose in life. International respect and
recognition for intellectual rights and originality of ideas must be observed
without discrimination. The eminence of life is present in everyone, and every
human being has a right to the joy of living with respect and dignity.
