The teachings of the King of Kings, Emperor Haile Selassie I - Jah Rastafari

     for the benefit of all mankind for he shall come in a new name which is dreadful amongst the heathen

                          and he hath on his vesture a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords 

 

 

RESPONSIBILITY

"Man desires many things, but it is the individual's duty and responsibility to desire the proper things. Anyone who makes the wrong choices will be a burden, not only to himself but to future generations. 

Besides, it is expected of every one of you who have assumed this holy responsibility, that the service you render is not founded on the mere struggle to earn your wages, but on the wholehearted understanding of the unfortunate situations of your fellow human beings whom you should serve with sympathy, conviction and faith. The natural origin of every man being man himself and thus creation, the only difference lies in the opportunities made available"  H.I.M

 

HEALTH

"Of all the good things of the world which are accomplished by the wisdom of men and which can only be realised by that wisdom, health is a divine gift which is to be found above all those who take care to guard it well"  H.I.M

 

HUMAN DIVERSITY

"The very diversity of the worlds people today constitutes one of mankind's great resources; the different philosophies with which nations approach their problems lead inevitably to a vast array of methods and techniques. These variations are necessary, for each people must find solutions which are responsive to its particular needs... each nation will inevitably pursue that course which appears best suited to its own unique characteristics, but no nation can pursue its course in isolation, and no nation can develop and prosper with its back turned to the rest of the world in terms of trade, techniques, resources and ideas.  Each of us depends on the other, can learn from the other, and in pursuing its own destiny will go further and succeed more quickly with others, Indeed, the free exchange of support and ideas is an essential condition to world understanding and equally to world progress."  H.I.M

 

EDUCATION

“Education is a means of sharpening the mind of man both spiritually and intellectually. It is a two-edged sword that can be used either for the progress of mankind or for its destruction. That is why it has been our constant desire and endeavour to develop our education for the benefit of mankind.” – July 2, 1963 [University Graduation]

 

“If you are open-minded and ready to learn, there are many things which you can learn not only from books and instructors but from the very life experience itself.”

“Education develops the intellect; and the intellect distinguishes man from other creatures. It is education that enables man to harness nature and utilise her resources for the well-being and improvement of his life. The key for the betterment and completeness of modern living is education.” – September 14, 1963 [Faculty of Law]

 

“Knowledge is power. If it is not applied properly to create, let there be no doubts, it will destroy.”

“But, ‘Man cannot live by bread alone.’ Man, after all, is also composed of intellect and soul. Therefore, education in general, and higher education in particular, must aim to provide, beyond the physical, food for the intellect and soul.” – September 14, 1963 [Faculty of Law]

 

“The opportunity for education, afforded to the few in our country, is not given to them for a fashion or a mode. It is given for a purpose, for a task, for a high responsibility, for full and exhaustive use, for the benefit of our country, and the coming generation.” – September 14, 1963 [Faculty of Law] - H.I.M

​

                                                                             

WORK AND WEALTH

“Work and wealth are at your disposal.” – January 12, 1963 [New Schools Debra Zeit]

“In order to amass private wealth and benefit from it in peace and security, it is necessary to comply with the fundamental precepts of the society. So being, even the accumulation of private property emanates from a harmonious social life and entails certain obligations. One of these typical obligations would be to put one’s private capital into use. Since wealth is acquired by hard labour it is necessary to manifest an additional effort by using the invested capital.” – January 19, 1963 [To Employees in Eritrea]

 

“There should be such a moment in any man’s life to seek rest after completing his education. You should not however overlook the fact that it is through ceaseless practice and experience and by training others that you will be able to prove your individual qualifications and worthiness. We remind you therefore that you utilise all your thoughts and knowledge to the ultimate objective of moral satisfaction and the pride of your countrymen, regardless of your personal interests. Your job takes care of you and there will not be any need to concern yourselves with your personal affairs.” – January 23, 1963 [Graduation Naval College]

 

“It does not come easily to accomplish something which will always be remembered.”

“It is the duty of all mankind to make the maximum use of the gifts, ingenuities, capacities and resources which have been placed at its disposal. These are not ours to do with as we will; they have been given to us in trust that we may, following the example of the developed countries, apply them for the highest benefit to ourselves and posterity, and each one of us has a sacred duty to fulfil this trust and to prove ourselves worthy of the confidence reposed in us.” February 1963 [Ground Forces Technical School]

“Your deeds and actions in the future will test your knowledge and your capabilities in your chosen profession. To acquire learning and to put this learning into practice are two different things.” – May 19, 1963 [Guenet Graduation]

“Money is an instrument, but there is no duty that can be truly accomplished with its mere persuasive power.” –September 3, 1965 [On New H.S.I. Foundation Headquarters]   

 

"Contemporary progress is characterised by advancement in complex fields of human activity that demand the exertion of the mind in limitless avenues of thought and action. Scientists and technicians are therefore involved in such complicated endeavours as sending men to the stars, exploring the depths of the ocean, or developing the tremendous power of nuclear energy. Until such time when we ourselves can do these, we have to learn hard and get ourselves prepared for these great tasks; particularly in the field of atomic study which shall be devoted to peaceful use.” – February 1963 [Ground Forces Technical School]

 

“Ancillary to these major scientific and technological projects are the many other feats of modern-day progress by which millions of items of everyday use to man and nation in times of both peace and war are being produced. Too often people are apt to forget, or do not take time to comprehend the degree of toil the years of quiet plodding and perseverance required to acquire new skills and to fashion thoughts, ideas and experiments into the technological achievements that spell this progress. Indeed, those so engaged deserve the highest admiration” – February 1963 [Ground Forces Technical School]

 

“Nowadays, science has made possible complex inventions which are put at the service of man. Yet, however precise these instruments including computers may be in their service, they obviously lack the perfecting human characteristic of sympathy, goodness, generosity and selflessness – all of which God in His ultimate wisdom granted only to human beings. Although man has found assistance for himself in these machines, his superiority lies in the fact that he is their inventor and he himself is the instrument of God.” – September 3, 1965 [On New H.S.I. Foundation Headquarters]   -  H.I.M

​

​

MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL PROGRESS

“To make our wills obedient to good influences and to avoid evil, is to show the greatest wisdom.

In order to follow this aim one must be guided by religion.

Progress without religion is just like a life surrounded by unknown perils and can be compared to a body without a soul.”

“Knowing that material and spiritual progress are essential to man, we must ceaselessly work for the equal attainment of both. Only then shall we be able to acquire that absolute inner calm so necessary to our well-being.

Whenever conflict arises between material and spiritual values, the conscience plays an important role and anyone who suffers from a guilty conscience is never really free from this problem until he makes peace with himself and his conscience.”

 

“Discipline of the mind is a basic ingredient of genuine morality and therefore of spiritual strength.

Spiritual power is the eternal guide, in this life and the life after, for man ranks supreme among all creatures. Led forward by spiritual power, man can reach the summit destined for him by the Great Creator. Since nobody can interfere in the realm of God we should tolerate and live side by side with those of other faiths. In the mystic traditions of the different religions we have a remarkable unity of spirit. Whatever religion they may profess, they are spiritual kinsmen.

While the different religions in their historic forms bind us to limited groups and militate against the development of loyalty to the world community, the mystics have already stood for the fellowship of humanity in harmony with the spirit of the mystics of ages gone by.”

 

“However wise or however mighty a person may be, he is like a ship without a rudder if he is without God. A rudderless ship is at the mercy of the waves and the wind, drifts wherever they take it and if there arises a whirlwind it is smashed against the rocks and becomes as if it has never existed.

It is our firm belief that a soul without Christ is bound to meet with no better fate. The love shown by our God to mankind should constrain all of us who are followers and Disciples of Christ, to do all In our power to see to it that the message of salvation is carried to those of our fellows who have not had the benefit of hearing the good news.”

 

“When no one upholds the cause of right and justice for their own sake, when the small, still voice of conscience speaks no longer, immorality and lack of principle have triumphed, and in this history all mankind is the loser.”

 

It is only when man becomes master of his fate – able to determine his destiny – that he can be free from fears and inferiority. Such an individual or a nation stands respected by all.” – July 2, 1963 [University Graduation]    -  H.I.M

​

​

​

​

​

​