The Pillars of a Society

Selections from World Scripture on the righteous people, teachers, and ordinary people of courage, principle, and conscience who are called to be the internal leaders of society

1. The Pillars of Society
Studies from World Scripture:
A Comparative Anthology of Sacred
Texts

2. Spiritual and moral anchors
The pillars of a nation are those exceptional
people who provide its spiritual and moral
anchor and bestow its vision and purpose.
They are the righteous people, saints, and
teachers, ordinary people of courage,
principle and conscience, people who realize
the truth within themselves and are willing to
take responsibility for their community.

3. Internal leaders
These are people who have a deep realization
of truth and are called to serve as society's
internal leaders. Their example and message
has a transforming effect on those who
approach them with humility and deference.
It is often of far greater value than the
policies and speeches of the governing
authorities.
Andrew Wilson, Editor, World Scripture

4. Judaism
There are [always] thirty righteous men
among the nations, by whose virtue the
nations of the world continue to exist.
Talmud, Hullin 92a
Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all
the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and
every mouth that has not kissed him.
1 Kings 19.18

5. Hinduism
The earth is upheld by the veracity of
those who have subdued their passions,
and, following righteous practices, are
never contaminated by desire,
covetousness, and wrath.
Vishnu Purana 3.12

6. Buddhism
The perfume of flowers blows not against the
wind, nor does the fragrance of sandalwood,
tagara and jasmine, but the fragrance of the
virtuous blows against the wind; the virtuous
man pervades every direction.
Dhammapada 54
Hard to find is a man of great wisdom: such a
man is not born everywhere. Where such a
wise man is born, that family thrives happily.
Dhammapada 193

7. Confucianism
The myriad objects owe their existence
to the mutual stimulation subsisting
between Heaven and earth. Similarly,
the holy sage stimulates men's hearts
and the whole world is thenceforth at
peace.
I Ching 31: Attraction

8. Judaism
When the righteous man is in the town,
he is its luster, its majesty, and its
glory. When he leaves it, its luster, its
majesty, and its glory depart.
Midrash, Genesis Rabbah 68.6

9. Buddhism
The bodhisattvas, guardians of the city
of Dharma, uphold the true doctrine,
and their great teachings resound like
the lion's roar throughout the ten
directions. Without having to be asked,
they are the natural spiritual
benefactors of all living beings.
Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti 1

10. Confucianism
In the Book of Songs it is said,
He makes no show of his moral worth,
Yet all the princes follow in his steps.
Hence the moral man, by living a life of
simple truth and earnestness, alone can
help to bring peace and order in the
world.
Doctrine of the Mean 33

11. Confucianism
Confucius remarked, "Among the means
for the regeneration of mankind, those
made with noise and show are of the
least importance."
Doctrine of the Mean 33

12. Islam
My saints are under my protection, and
only I know them.
Hadith

13. Taoism
The saying goes, "The fish should not
be taken from the deep pool; the sharp
weapons of the state should not be
shown to men." The sage is the sharp
weapon of the world, and therefore he
should not be where the world can see
him.
Chuang Tzu 10

14. African Traditional Religions
A stranger colonial administrator, however
vigilant, cannot perceive a locality as clearly
as an indigene [village elder]. It is the
attitude of the indigine to the affairs of his
locality which determines that of the stranger
to the same. Malofin, the entire town is in
your hand. "Situations do not get spoiled
when elders are around." This is the age-old
wise saying.
Yoruba Song (Nigeria)

15. Judaism
Rabbi Assi and Rabbi Ammi, on an
educational inspection tour, came to a town
and asked for its guardians. The councilmen
appeared, but the rabbis said, "These are not
guardians, but wreckers of a town! The
guardians are the teachers of the young, and
instructors of the old, as is written: 'Except
the Lord keep the city, the watchman wakes
but in vain' [Psalm 127.1]."
Midrash, Lamentations Rabbah, Proem 2

16. Islam
They say, "Why is not this Qur'an sent down
to some leading man in either of the two
chief cities?" Is it they who would portion out
the Mercy of the Lord? It is We Who portion
out between them their livelihood in the life
of this world: and We raise some of them
above others in ranks, so that some may
command work from others. But the Mercy of
the Lord is better than the wealth which they
amass.
Qur'an 43.31-32

17. Unification Church
Take responsibility for the most difficult
problem in your nation. Take
responsibility for the most difficult
problem of your church. Take
responsibility for the most difficult
problem of the world.
Sun Myung Moon, 5-1-81

18. For further reflection
See World Scripture: A Comparative
Anthology of Sacred Texts
http://origin.org/ucs/ws/ws.cfm