A Wisdom Archive on values

One example of a value system is Isaac Asimov's Laws of Robotics. It is intended as value system for robots in the hypothetical future of Asimov's science fiction novels. Simply distilled, the laws stipulate that: 0. A robot may not injure humanity, or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm. 1. A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, except where such orders would conflict with the Zeroth Law. 2. A robot must obey the orders ...

Read more here: » Value system: Encyclopedia II - Value system - Laws of Robotics

Will-less A condition of beings who have not yet evolved forth free will, hence without initiative or self-determination. A specific instance is the case where will-less may be applied to the gods in heaven against whom Satan rebelled (as narrated in Milton''s Paradise Lost). In theosophical literature, used in reference to mankind in its early stages before manas (mind) became awakened, hence to the first and second root-races and early third root-race. Even among these early races the will was not absent, but it had not yet come into functional activity.

 
(See also: Will-less, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul )

Yana (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root ya to go]
 
Path, road, vehicle; there are two recognized paths of action in nature, the pratyeka-yana (the path of each one for himself) and the amrita-yana (the immortal vehicle or path of immortality). There are also two schools of philosophy in India using this term: the Hinayana (the lesser, inferior, or defective vehicle) and the Mahayana (the greater or superior vehicle).
 
This contrast is an exoteric rather than an esoteric one. It is a recognition of the fact that the religion of Gautama Buddha has separated into two general paths of action; but both the Hinayana and the Mahayana are recognized because known to possess each one its own particular value in training. The combination of the two is what one might call the esoteric path.
 
The Hinayana is that portion of the esoteric path in which the mystic traveler takes the lower passional and elemental sides of himself into strict discipline and self-control, the while following certain simple rules of day-to-day procedure; whereas the Mahayana aspect includes rather the training of the spiritual, intellectual, and higher psychic parts of the human constitution, such as is brought about by a profound study of philosophy, of the truths of nature, the mystical side of religion, and the higher parts of kosmic philosophy -- all these collected together around the heart of the Mahayana which is mystical study and aspiration.

 
(See also: Yana, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul )

Willi.
 
See VILI

 
(See also: Willi, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul )

White Lotus Day May 8; commemorating H. P. Blavatsky''s death in 1891.

 
(See also: White Lotus Day, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul )

White Magic, White Magicians.
 
See MAGIC, MAGICIAN

 
(See also: White Magic, White Magicians, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul )

White Regarded as the source whence the seven prismatic colors diverge, it stands for the Logos of a hierarchy. Nearly all the archaic religio-philosophies state that light or white is born of darkness, the incomprehensible deeps of universal life which is darkness only to our poorly evolved sense and mind. In this sense, darkness may often be spoken of as absolute light.
 
As opposed to black, it mystically signifies pure and good: for example, white magician or white magic.

 
(See also: White, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul )

Winter Solstice.
 
See SEASONS

 
(See also: Winter Solstice, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul )