SECTION 4 THE FIVE EDUCATIONAL VALUES OF OLYMPISM
WISE WORDS HISTORY HAS RECORDED WISE WORDS IN THE STORIES FROM MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD. HERE ARE A FEW. USE THESE STORIES AS A WAY TO HELP LEARNERS TO SHARE THE WISDOM STORIES FROM THEIR OWN CULTURAL TRADITIONS.
FROM CHINA
FROM SOUTH AFRICA
FROM SOUTH AMERICA
Harmony and balance are important ideas in Chinese philosophy. Confucius, an ancient Chinese teacher, developed a moral code that included rules about people’s roles and responsibilities. He believed that paying attention to duty and responsibility would contribute to achieving harmony and balance.
“I LOOK AT AN ANT AND I SEE MYSELF: A NATIVE SOUTH AFRICAN…WITH A STRENGTH MUCH GREATER THAN MY SIZE SO I MIGHT COPE WITH THE WEIGHT OF A RACISM THAT CRUSHES MY SPRIT. I LOOK AT A BIRD AND I SEE MYSELF: A NATIVE SOUTH AFRICAN, SOARING ABOVE THE INJUSTICES OF APARTHEID ON WINGS OF PRIDE, THE PRIDE OF A BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE. I LOOK AT A STREAM AND I SEE MYSELF: A NATIVE SOUTH AFRICAN, FLOWING…OVER HARD OBSTACLES UNTIL THEY BECOME SMOOTH AND, ONE DAY, DISAPPEAR… AND IN A SAD WORLD WHERE SO MANY ARE VICTIMS, I CAN TAKE PRIDE THAT I AM ALSO A FIGHTER. MY LIFE, MY CAREER, EVERY SONG I SING AND EVERY APPEARANCE I MAKE, ARE BOUND UP WITH THE PLIGHT OF MY PEOPLE… THERE ARE THREE THINGS I WAS BORN WITH IN THIS WORLD, AND THERE ARE THREE THINGS I WILL HAVE UNTIL THE DAY I DIE: HOPE, DETERMINATION AND SONG. THESE THINGS I ALSO HOLD IN COMMON WITH MY PEOPLE…” 23
“!AMA SUA, AMA KJELLA, AMA LLLULLA – DON’T LIE, DON’T CHEAT, DON’T BE LAZY.”
“WHEN YOU KNOW WHERE TO STOP, YOU HAVE STABILITY. WHEN YOU HAVE STABILITY, YOU CAN BE TRANQUIL. WHEN YOU ARE TRANQUIL, YOU CAN BE AT EASE. WHEN YOU ARE AT EASE, YOU CAN DELIBERATE. WHEN YOU CAN DELIBERATE, YOU CAN ATTAIN YOUR AIMS.” (FROM THE GREAT LEARNING – A CHAPTER IN ONE OF THE FIVE CLASSICS OF THE CONFUCIAN TRADITION.) FROM ISLAM
“THAT PERSON IS NEAREST TO GOD WHO PARDONS, WHEN HE HAS IT IN HIS POWER, THE PERSON WHO HAS INJURED HIM.” “IT IS PROPER THAT EVERY RIGHTEOUS MAN SHOULD SHARE THE PAIN OF HIS FELLOWS IN THE SAME WAY AS AN ACHING HEAD MAKES THE WHOLE BODY ACHE.” SAYINGS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
(MIRIAM MAKEBA)
120 TEACHING VALUES
QUECHUA GREETING DURING INCA TIMES. FROM INDIA
In ancient times the Buddha wandered the Ganges plains of Northern India. He taught many lessons about good living. Many of his teachings can be read today. “NOT KILLING OR HARMING LIVING BEINGS. THIS IS BEING KIND.NOT TAKING WHAT IS NOT GIVEN [NOT STEALING]. THIS IS BEING HONEST. NOT BEING UNFAITHFUL IN RELATIONSHIPS. THIS IS BEING TRUSTWORTHY. NOT USING WRONG SPEECH. THIS IS BEING TRUTHFUL. NOT TAKING DRINK OR DRUGS. THIS IS BEING CLEAR MINDED.” THE FIVE PRECEPTS OF BUDDHISM
Below Confucian writings are still taught in China today.