Good Good GovernanceGovernance

Good Good GovernanceGovernance

Insights from World Scripture: A ComparativeAnthology of Sacred Texts

Universal Peace Federation - International Leadership Conference

CommentaryCommentary

Among the requisite qualities of a leader is righteousness. Righteousness is defined as dedication to the public welfare regardless of the cost to one’s self.

A righteous leader has integrity. He does not seek to profit from his office, and he never uses public resources for his own benefit.

- Andrew Wilson, Editor, World Scripture

Among the requisite qualities of a leader is righteousness. Righteousness is defined as dedication to the public welfare regardless of the cost to one’s self.

A righteous leader has integrity. He does not seek to profit from his office, and he never uses public resources for his own benefit.

- Andrew Wilson, Editor, World Scripture

ConfucianismConfucianism

The art of government simply consists in making things right, or p

utting things in their right places. When the ruler himself is ‘right,’ then

the people naturally follow him in his right course.

The art of government simply consists in making things right, or p

utting things in their right places. When the ruler himself is ‘right,’ then

the people naturally follow him in his right course.

Book of Ritual 27

ConfucianismConfucianism

Anyone who is to be prime minister must prepare his one heart and two eyes. When the eyes are clear then one can know the honest and the dishonest. When the heart is impartial then one can advance the honest and retire the dishonest.

Chun Hsi

Anyone who is to be prime minister must prepare his one heart and two eyes. When the eyes are clear then one can know the honest and the dishonest. When the heart is impartial then one can advance the honest and retire the dishonest.

Chun Hsi

HinduismHinduism

Whatever the best man does, others do that also. The world follows the standard he sets for himself.

Bhagavad Gita 3.20-21

Step beyond what is human, elect for the Divine Word, and establish your leadership.

Atharva Veda 7.105

Whatever the best man does, others do that also. The world follows the standard he sets for himself.

Bhagavad Gita 3.20-21

Step beyond what is human, elect for the Divine Word, and establish your leadership.

Atharva Veda 7.105

BuddhismBuddhism

If he who is reckoned best lives righteously, the others do so too.

The whole land dwells in happiness if the ruler lives aright.

Anguttara Nikaya ii.75

If he who is reckoned best lives righteously, the others do so too.

The whole land dwells in happiness if the ruler lives aright.

Anguttara Nikaya ii.75

JudaismJudaism

When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,

He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth upon a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.

2 Samuel 23:3-4

When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God,

He dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth upon a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth.

2 Samuel 23:3-4

ChristianityChristianity

Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, nor violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church?

I Timothy 3:2-5

Now a bishop must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, dignified, hospitable, an apt teacher, no drunkard, nor violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, and no lover of money. He must manage his own household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in every way; for if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for God’s church?

I Timothy 3:2-5

IslamIslam

O David! We indeed set you as a vicegerent on earth;Therefore judge aright between men.

Do not follow the lusts of your heart,for they will mislead you from the path of God.

Qur’an 38.26

O David! We indeed set you as a vicegerent on earth;Therefore judge aright between men.

Do not follow the lusts of your heart,for they will mislead you from the path of God.

Qur’an 38.26

African Traditional ReligionsAfrican Traditional Religions

Guardianship is not to give an orderbut to give one’s self.

Nyika Proverb (Kenya and Tanzania)

Guardianship is not to give an orderbut to give one’s self.

Nyika Proverb (Kenya and Tanzania)

Native American ReligionsNative American Religions

Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to

live and grow. All men were made by the same

Great Spirit Chief.Heinmot Toyalaket (Chief Joseph),

Nez Perce Leader

Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to

live and grow. All men were made by the same

Great Spirit Chief.Heinmot Toyalaket (Chief Joseph),

Nez Perce Leader

CommentaryCommentary

God is sovereign over all human institutions. Hence, the first principle of leadership is that governments should operate in conformity with heavenly law.

Leadership is not only a public trust but a sacred trust. Leaders should be imbued with spiritual values, fear God, and govern their people in a way that is acceptable to him.

Andrew Wilson, Editor, World Scripture

God is sovereign over all human institutions. Hence, the first principle of leadership is that governments should operate in conformity with heavenly law.

Leadership is not only a public trust but a sacred trust. Leaders should be imbued with spiritual values, fear God, and govern their people in a way that is acceptable to him.

Andrew Wilson, Editor, World Scripture

JudaismJudaism

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.’”

Exodus 8:1

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go in to Pharaoh and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me.’”

Exodus 8:1

ChristianityChristianity

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21

IslamIslam

As you are, so will you have rulers put over you.

Hadith of Baihaqi

The Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects.

Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim

As you are, so will you have rulers put over you.

Hadith of Baihaqi

The Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects.

Hadith of Bukhari and Muslim

HinduismHinduism

Step beyond what is human,Elect for the Divine Word,And establish your leadership.

Atharva Veda 7.1051999

Step beyond what is human,Elect for the Divine Word,And establish your leadership.

Atharva Veda 7.1051999

BuddhismBuddhism

You, leaning on the Dhamma, honoring, respecting, and revering it, doing homage to it, hallowing it, being yourself a banner of the Dhamma, a signal of the Dhamma, having the Dhamma as your master, should provide the right watch, war, and protection for your own people, for the army, for the nobles, for vassals, for brahmins, and householders, for town and country dwellers, for the religious world, and for beasts and birds.

Digha Nikaya 3.60-61,Chakkavatti-sihanada Suttanta

You, leaning on the Dhamma, honoring, respecting, and revering it, doing homage to it, hallowing it, being yourself a banner of the Dhamma, a signal of the Dhamma, having the Dhamma as your master, should provide the right watch, war, and protection for your own people, for the army, for the nobles, for vassals, for brahmins, and householders, for town and country dwellers, for the religious world, and for beasts and birds.

Digha Nikaya 3.60-61,Chakkavatti-sihanada Suttanta

Native American ReligionsNative American Religions

When one sits in the Hoop of the People, one must be responsible because all of Creation is related. And the hurt of one is the hurt of all. And the honor of one is the honor of all. And whatever we do effects everything in the universe.

Lakota instructions for livingPassed down from the White Buffalo Calf Woman

When one sits in the Hoop of the People, one must be responsible because all of Creation is related. And the hurt of one is the hurt of all. And the honor of one is the honor of all. And whatever we do effects everything in the universe.

Lakota instructions for livingPassed down from the White Buffalo Calf Woman

For further reflectionFor further reflection

World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts

http://origin.org/ucs/ws/ws.cfm

Universal Peace Federationhttp://www.upf.org/education/interreligious-understanding

World Scripture: A Comparative Anthology of Sacred Texts

http://origin.org/ucs/ws/ws.cfm

Universal Peace Federationhttp://www.upf.org/education/interreligious-understanding