This section deals with the principle that a government is
founded upon respect for God and conformity to divine law. In Islamic
nations, government is expected to enforce the ordinances of the Shariah.
For Hinduism and Buddhism, the way of proper rule is in
accordance with the Dharma. For Confucianism, it is the way of
propriety (li) tempered with benevolence, and for Taoism, in accordance
with the Tao. In ancient Israel, the laws of God were written
down for the king to study. 


Modern Western constitutional governments, as well, are
founded on the Judeo-Christian principle that government should
be subservient to certain universal laws (e.g., human rights and
social duties). In ancient Israel, the Law of Moses was given on Mount
Sinai prior to the formation of the state; hence it stood above
the state and formed the basis for prophetic critiques of misrule.
In the case of the United States, the Constitution came into
existence prior to the establishment of a government and forms
the legal basis for its authority. A constitution is venerated as
a statement of the highest principles of government; and a proper
constitution is neither produced by a government to codify its policies
nor easily amended by the people to express the will of the
majority. Furthermore, modern constitutions contain articles
which declare that certain human rights are inalienable and
God-given. Governments cannot disregard the rights of the people
because those rights are not the government's to grant; enshrined
in a constitution, they come from a higher Law.



Step beyond what is human, elect for the Divine Word, and
establish your leadership, along with all the friends you have. 

1. Hinduism.
Atharva Veda 7.105



If your kingdom exists for the doctrine And not for fame or
desire, Then it will be extremely fruitful. If not, its fruit
will be misfortune. 

2. Buddhism.
Nagarjuna, Precious Garland 327



A king should abandon his own precious life, But
not the jewel of Righteousness, whereby the world is gladdened. 

3. Buddhism. Golden
Light Sutra 12 



Warned by a dream, Emperor Sujin reverenced the gods, and
therefore was lauded as the wise emperor. 

4. Shintoism.
Kojiki, Preface 



If [a ruler] enjoins fear of God, the Exalted and Glorious,
and dispenses justice, there will be great reward for him; and if
he enjoins otherwise, it resounds on him. 

5. Islam. Hadith of
Muslim



The Creator... projected that excellent form, justice
(dharma). This justice is the controller of the ruler. Therefore
there is nothing higher than justice. So even a weak man hopes to
defeat a stronger man through justice, as one does with the help
of a king. 

6. Hinduism.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14



No individual is lost and no nation is refused prosperity and
success if foundations of their thoughts and actions rest upon
piety and godliness, and upon truth and justice. 

7. Islam. Nahjul
Balagha, Khutba 21 



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Atharva Veda 7.105: Cf. Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda 130, pp. 257f.
Precious Garland 327: Cf. Abot 4.14, p. 915. Golden Light Sutra
12: The 'jewel of Righteousness' means the dharma, one of the
Three Jewels: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. This is from a longer
passage, pp. 923f. Kojiki: In other words, the emperor
established harmony with the kami as the basis for his rule.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.4.14: Cf. Atharva Veda 4.1.3, p. 140.
Nahjul Balagha, Khutba 21: Cf. Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 24, p.
255; Abot 4.14, p. 915; Leviticus 26.3-20, p. 916.

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And you will be yourself ruler and president.... You must in
everything reverence the statutes and proceed by them to the happy
rule of the people. They were the reverence of King Wen and his caution; in
proceeding by them to the happy rule of the people, say, "If
I can only attain to them." 

8. Confucianism.
Book of History 5.9.3.8 



The Messenger of God said, "The best of your rulers are
those whom you love and who love you, who invoke God's blessings
upon you and you invoke His blessings upon them. And the worst of
your rulers are those whom you hate and who hate you, and whom
you curse and who curse you." It was asked, "Should we
not overthrow them with the sword?" He said, "No, as
long as they establish prayer among you." 

9. Islam. Hadith of
Muslim



Tao is eternal, but has no fame; The Uncarved Block, though
seemingly of small account, Is greater than anything that is
under heaven. If kings and barons would but possess themselves of
it, The ten thousand creatures would flock to do them homage; Heaven
and earth would conspire To send Sweet Dew; Without law or
compulsion, men would dwell in harmony. 

10. Taoism. Tao Te
Ching 32 



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Book of History 5.9.3.8: These are the rites and rules of
propriety, laid down from ancient times. It includes the
principle of benevolence--cf. Mencius IV.A.3, p. 919. Hadith of
Muslim: This hadith speaks of the ruler's attitude towards God
and the believers. To 'establish prayer' means far more than merely
to tolerate religion; it means to uphold the Muslim faith and the laws
of the Shariah. Tao Te Ching 32: The 'Uncarved Block' means to
dwell without making distinctions or playing favorites, at one
with the primal Unity. Cf. Chuang Tzu 7, p. 508; Tao Te Ching 18,
p. 260; 80, p. 257; Isaiah 2.2-4, p. 946.

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When you come to the land which the Lord your God gives you,
and you possess it and dwell in it, and then say, "I will
set a king over me, like all the nations that are round about
me"; you may indeed set a king over you, him whom the Lord
your God will choose.... When he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he
shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, from that which
is in charge of the Levitical priests, and it shall be with him,
and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to
fear the Lord his God, by keeping all the words of this law and
these statutes, and doing them; that his heart may not be lifted
up above his brethren, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment,
either to the right hand or to the left; so that he may continue
long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. 

11. Judaism and
Christianity. Deuteronomy 17.14-20 



The Celestial Wheel is no paternal heritage of yours. You
yourself do good, as I did, and earn the Wheel. Act up to the
noble ideal of the duty which is set before true world
sovereigns.... You, leaning on the Law, honoring, respecting, and
revering it, doing homage to it, hallowing it, being yourself a banner of
the Law, a signal of the Law, having the Law as your master, should
provide the right watch, ward, 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. Throughout your
kingdom let no wrongdoing prevail. And whosoever in your kingdom
is poor, to him let wealth be given. 

12. Buddhism. Digha
Nikaya iii.60-61, Chakkavatti-sihanada Suttanta 



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Deuteronomy 17.14-20: This is the 'Law of the King,' part of the
Mosaic Law which regulated the conduct of kings--though there was
as yet no kingdom when Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai. The
king would be responsible to read the Law of Moses and follow it.
Cf. Joshua 1.1-9, p. 891; 2 Samuel 23.3-4, p. 907; Jeremiah
18.3-11, p. 916; Leviticus 26.3-20, p. 916; Isaiah 2.2-4, p. 946. Digha
Nikaya iii.60-61: The 'Law' means the Buddha's Dhamma. This is an
excerpt of the longer passage, pp. 257-58.

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