HeLA VAlues

Throughout our rich history, amidst the ever changing socio-political-economic landscape, our Hela values of humanity, wisdom and self-sufficiency have remained constant. These ancient, sacred and timeless values remain the key to peace and prosperity for all who live on our Island.

Humanity

The love and kindness in our hearts and minds

Humanity is at the heart of our Hela value-system. With humanity we the Hela have built and sustained family, friendships, community and a great civilization. Our friendly smiles are a window into our humanity. It is hard to fathom, yet one finds it each and every day, all around this great Island nation.

We could describe our humanity as respect, equality and goodwill. We could also described it as loving-kindness - the driving force for many of our social endeavours. Our humanity is evident in our respect towards elders and affection towards children.

In the Buddhist tradition, one acts humanely by first doing no harm (Five Precepts) and then doing good (Four sublime virtues). Generations of Hela have practiced these precepts and virtues for thousands of years.

Wisdom

Knowledge and skillful practice in all we do

The Hela hold learning in the highest regard and place much value in education. Through learning we gain wisdom - the knowledge and skillful practice in all we do. It is through wisdom that one is able to attain one's self-actualization. It is through wisdom one is able to purify and perfect one's character.

The collective wisdom of the Hela encourages the perfection of simplicity and the practice of moderation (i.e. avoiding extremes). Between two extremes, one always finds a better solution.

In the Buddhist tradition, wisdom is part of the knowledge and practice of the Nobel Eight-fold Path. Generations of Hela have practiced this path for thousands of years.

Self-sufficiency

Sustainable prosperity for now and the future

In the simplest sense, self-sufficiency is 'producing what we consume and consuming what we produce'. Self-sufficiency to the Hela is also about sustainable prosperity.

As far back as the oral tradition goes, it appears that the indigenous Hela always adopted a self sufficient and sustainable lifestyle. In keeping with this value, the Hela built vast networks of reservoirs, like non other in the world. The abundant water supply that nourished the rice fields of ‘Lankapura’ (King Raavana’s capitol) in Heladiva are well documented in the Ramayanaya and the Mahavansa. The Mahavansa records how Kuveni (a Hela princess) offered Vijaya (the founder of the Sinhela royal dynasty) water from a reservoir, and later rice as a meal.

Self-sufficiency (i.e. sustainable prosperity) is not only about production of goods and services, it is also about consumption of these in a sustainable way. Today, the world is rediscovering the value of sustainability and a sustainable livelihood through Right Livelihood Economics, which is based on the Buddhist teaching of Right Livelihood. Generations of Hela have practiced this economic doctrine for thousands of years. .

The value of Values

Indigenous cultures throughout the world have a unique and timeless relationship with their land of evolution. This sacred relationship lives on in the indigenous value-system. Having evolved over millennia and proven by the test of time, the indigenous value-system has the power to bring people together and enhance their physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. The indigenous value-system also offers non-indigenous groups the knowledge on how best to achieve wellbeing in the indigenous environment. Respecting and adopting the indigenous value-system is the key to experiencing this timeless bliss.

Our Hela value-system, like other indigenous value systems is harmonious, wholesome and proven by the test of time. The values of humanity, wisdom and self-sufficiency offer great utility, wealth and bliss to all who live on our Island.

These traditional Hela values are now depicted in our modern standard of the Hela Nation.

The Standard oF Heladiva

The modern standard [flag] of the Hela Nation.

Humanity (love and kindness) is represented by the orange Sun-face.

Wisdom (knowledge and skillful practice) is represented by the red Lotus flower.

Self-sufficiency (sustainable prosperity) is represented by the golden-yellow Circle of grain.

In addition, the concept of sovereignty is represented by the golden-yellow border, the quality of being pristine (i.e. 'uncorrupted', 'unpolluted' etc) is represented by the white background and the principle of equity is represented by the royal-blue circle.

The Standard of Heladiva is copyright free and remains in the public domain for all time.

When displaying this standard of the Hela Nation, we ask that it be duly respected and any depictions of the standard remain true to the original design and colours of orange, white, red, royal-blue and golden-yellow.