© IEF 1© IEF 1

The Family As the School of Love

The Family As the School of Love

© 2002 International Educational FoundationIEF is responsible for the content of this presentation only

if it has not been altered from the original.

© IEF 2© IEF 2

Cornerstone of CivilizationCornerstone of Civilization

“The family is the culture- creating institution par excellence.”

Brigitte Berger

“The family is the culture- creating institution par excellence.”

Brigitte Berger

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“Again and again…humans have reaffirmed their dependence on the family as the basic unit of human living.”

Margaret Meade, Family, 1965

“Again and again…humans have reaffirmed their dependence on the family as the basic unit of human living.”

Margaret Meade, Family, 1965

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Nurture heart & character

Primary training ground for relationships

Nurture heart & character

Primary training ground for relationships

The School of LoveThe School of Love

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Natural Order in the FamilyNatural Order in the Family

Vertical Vertical OrderOrder

Vertical Vertical OrderOrder

Individual Individual OrderOrder

Individual Individual OrderOrder

GrandparentsGrandparentsGrandparentsGrandparents

ParentsParentsParentsParents

BrotherBrotherBrotherBrotherSisterSisterSisterSister BrotherBrotherBrotherBrother SisterSisterSisterSister ChildrenChildrenChildrenChildren

Horizontal Horizontal OrderOrder

Horizontal Horizontal OrderOrder

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Natural Order in the UniverseNatural Order in the Universe

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Natural Order in the UniverseNatural Order in the Universe

Vertical Vertical OrderOrder

Vertical Vertical OrderOrder

Individual Individual OrderOrder

Individual Individual OrderOrder

Center of Center of GalaxyGalaxy

Center of Center of GalaxyGalaxy

SunSunSunSun

EarthEarthEarthEarth MarsMarsMarsMars JupiterJupiterJupiterJupiter

Horizontal Horizontal OrderOrder

Horizontal Horizontal OrderOrder

MercuryMercuryMercuryMercuryVenusVenusVenusVenus

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Positions in the FamilyPositions in the Family

WifeWife

True Love

True LoveElder

Sibling

Elder Sibling

Children & Grandchild

ren

Children & Grandchild

ren

Younger

Sibling

Younger

Sibling

Grandparents & Parents

Grandparents & Parents

Husband

Husband

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Child’s Sphere Sibling’s

Sphere Spouse’s

Sphere Parent’s

Sphere

Child’s Sphere Sibling’s

Sphere Spouse’s

Sphere Parent’s

Sphere

The Four Spheres of LoveThe Four Spheres of Love

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Sphere of Child’s LoveSphere of Child’s Love

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Child’s Love Grows in Response to Parents Love

Child’s Love Grows in Response to Parents Love

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Primary Virtues of Child’s LovePrimary Virtues of Child’s Love

Respect & GratitudeRespect & Gratitude

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Sphere of Sibling’s LoveSphere of Sibling’s Love

Peers Friends Cousin

s

Peers Friends Cousin

s

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Parental InfluenceHarmonizes Sibling’s Love

Parental InfluenceHarmonizes Sibling’s Love

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Diverse RelationshipsRound Out the Personality

Diverse RelationshipsRound Out the Personality

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Peers Increase in ImportancePeers Increase in Importance

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Primary Virtues of Sibling’s LovePrimary Virtues of Sibling’s Love

Harmony & Harmony & PurityPurity

Harmony & Harmony & PurityPurity

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Sphere of Spouse’s LoveSphere of Spouse’s Love

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Spouse’s SphereDraws on Other Spheres

Spouse’s SphereDraws on Other Spheres

Husband Friend Father Son Elder

brother Younger

brother

Husband Friend Father Son Elder

brother Younger

brother

Wife Friend Mother Daught

er Elder

sister Younge

r sister

Wife Friend Mother Daught

er Elder

sister Younge

r sister

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Primary Virtues of Spouse’s LovePrimary Virtues of Spouse’s Love

Fidelity & Fidelity & CommitmentCommitment

Fidelity & Fidelity & CommitmentCommitment

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Sphere of Parent’s LoveSphere of Parent’s Love

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Primary Virtues of Parent’s LovePrimary Virtues of Parent’s Love

Investment & Investment & CompassionCompassion

Investment & Investment & CompassionCompassion

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Character Developmentthrough Four Spheres of Love

Character Developmentthrough Four Spheres of Love

ChildChildChildChild

SiblingSiblingSiblingSibling

SpouseSpouseSpouseSpouse

ParentParentParentParent

Higher spheres — Founded on lower

spheres More unselfish &

responsible Require effort

Higher spheres — Founded on lower

spheres More unselfish &

responsible Require effort

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True LoveTrue Love

Elder SiblingElder

Sibling

ChildrenChildren

Younger

Sibling

Younger

Sibling

ParentsParents

HusbandHusband WifeWife

LeadersLeadersYounger

PeersYounger

Peers

Elder PeersElder Peers

Society — Extension of Family

Society — Extension of Family

Subordinates

Subordinates

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True ParentTrue

Parent

True LeaderTrue

Leader

True Teacher

True Teacher

The Three Subject RolesThe Three Subject Roles

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Family — Embedded in the Social Order

Family — Embedded in the Social Order

SocietySocietySocietySociety

ParentsParentsParentsParents

ChildChildChildChild

Vertical Vertical OrderOrder

Vertical Vertical OrderOrder

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Strong Families Have Focus Higher than Self

Strong Families Have Focus Higher than Self

Altruisticpurpose

Service tocommunity

Altruisticpurpose

Service tocommunity

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PeacemakingPeacemaking

PatriotismPatriotism

Good Citizenship

Good CitizenshipFilial PietyFilial Piety

Working for the Greater GoodWorking for the Greater Good

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Cornerstone of World PeaceCornerstone of World Peace

Families bridge cultures

Peaceful families support peaceful nations

Basis for empathy with all people

Families bridge cultures

Peaceful families support peaceful nations

Basis for empathy with all people

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“Righteousness in the heart… beauty in the character… Harmony in the home… order in the nation…peace in the world.”

The Great Learning

“Righteousness in the heart… beauty in the character… Harmony in the home… order in the nation…peace in the world.”

The Great Learning