Topic: Peace and Unity
Page 1 This newsletter is dedicated to all seekers after the Eternal
Truth.
The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable
unless and until its unity is firmly established.1
In the above quote, the link between peace and unity is set forth in
no uncertain terms by the One to Whom the Almighty and Omniscient God gave the
Mission to establish both peace and unity in this world. Since the
fulfillment of the promise of all past ages and religions to establish both the
unity of and the peace among all humanity is God's purpose and plan for our
age, naturally the means for bringing about this unity and peace , is central
to the teachings of God's Messenger and Word for this age. To begin follows a
few quotations from the Bahá'í writings for us as individuals to
take to heart and to put into practice. Many of these should seem familiar to
those who have tried to put into practice the spiritual precepts of other
religions. This is because many of them are universal teachings renewed from
age to age, such as along the lines of "Love thy neighbor as thyself" and the
teachings of virtues. In addition, stress is placed on the importance of
recognizing and treating all of humanity as the brotherhood it truly is,
thinking always of how we can serve humanity both as a whole and the individual
members thereof. Thie first quotation is from page 94 of Gleanings from the
Writings of Bahá'u'lláh with an unequivocal statement from
Bahá'u'lláh regarding how we need to adjust our "vision": Let your vision be world-embracing, rather than confined to your
own self.
That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to
the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy
is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of
the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride
himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole
world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.2
It behooveth man to adhere tenaciously unto that which will promote
fellowship, kindliness and unity.3
Strife and conflict befit the beasts of the wild. It was through
the grace of God and with the aid of seemly words and praiseworthy deeds that
the unsheathed swords of the Bábí community were returned to
their scabbards. Indeed through the power of good words, the righteous have
always succeeded in winning command over the meads of the hearts of men. Say,
O ye loved ones! Do not forsake prudence. Incline your hearts to the counsels
given by the Most Exalted Pen and beware lest your hands or tongues cause harm
unto anyone among mankind.4
O FRIEND! In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and
from the nightengale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold. Treasure the
companionship of the righteous and eschew all fellowship with the ungodly.
5
Verily I say unto thee: Of all men the most negligent is he that
disputeth idly and seeketh to advance himself over his
brother.6
O SON OF MAN! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a
sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and
to this I bear witness.7 consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of
friendliness and fellowship, to proclaim that which the Speaker on Sinai hath
set forth and to observe fairness in all matters. They that are endued with sincerity and faithfulness should
associate with all the peoples and kindreds of the earth with joy and radiance,
inasmuch as consorting with people hath promoted and will continue to promote
unity and concord, which in turn are conducive to the maintenance of order in
the world and to the regeneration of nations. Blessed are such as hold fast to
the cord of kindliness and tender mercy and are free from animosity and
hatred. This Wronged One exhorteth the peoples of the world to observe
tolerance and righteousness, which are two lights amidst the darkness of the
world and two educators for the edification of mankind. Happy are they who have
attained thereto and woe betide the heedless.8
This is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world
are luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is the hour of unity of the
sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and all classes. You are loosed from ancient
superstitions which have kept men ignorant, destroying the foundations of true
humanity.9 --'Abdu'l-Bahá
O peoples of the world! The Sun of Truth hath risen to
illumine the whole earth, and to spiritualize the community of man. Laudable
are the results and the fruits thereof, abundant the holy evidences deriving
from this grace. This is mercy unalloyed and purest bounty; it is light for
the world and all its peoples; it is harmony and fellowship, and love and
solidarity; indeed it is compassion and unity, and the end of foreignness; it
is the being at one, in complete dignity and freedom, with all on
earth.10
. . . The Great Being saith: O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of
unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the
fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. We cherish the hope that the
light of justice may shine upon the world and sanctify it from
tyranny.11
O my friend! In all circumstances one should seize upon every
means which will promote security and tranquility among the peoples of the
world. The Great Being saith: In this glorious Day whatever will purge you
from corruption and will lead you towards peace and composure, is indeed the
Straight Path. Please God, the peoples of the world may be led, as the result of
the high endeavors exerted by their rulers and the wise and learned amongst
men, to recognize their best interests. How long will humanity persist in its
waywardness? How long will injustice continue? How long is chaos and confusion to reign amongst men? How long will discord agitate the face
of society? This humble servant is filled with wonder,inasmuch as all men are
endowed with the capacity to see and hear, yet we find them deprived of the
privilege of using these faculties . . . The winds of despair are, alas,
blowing from every direction, and the strife that divideth and afflicteth the
human race is daily increasing. The signs of impending convulsions and chaos
can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing order appeareth to be
lamentably defective. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, that He may graciously awaken the peoples of the earth, may grant that the end of their
conduct may be profitable unto them, and aid them to accomplish that which
beseemeth their station.12
"The Great Peace towards which people of good will throughout the
centuries have inclined their hearts, of which seers and poets for countless
generations have expressed their vision, and for which from age to age the
sacred scriptures of mankind have constantly held the promise, is now at long
last within the reach of the nations. For the first time in history it is
possible for everyone to view the entire planet, with all its myriad diversified peoples, in one perspective. World peace is
not only possible but inevitable. It is the next stage in the evolution of this
planet--in the words of one great thinker, "the planetization of
mankind." . . . The Bahá'í Faith regards the current world
confusion and calamitous condition in human affairs as a natural phase in an
organic process leading ultimately and irresistably to the unification of
the human race in a single social order whose boundaries are those of the
planet. The human race, as a distinct, organic unit, has passed through evolutionary stages analogous to
the stages of infancy and childhood in the lives of its individual members, and
is now in the culminating period of its turbulent adolescence approaching its long-awaited coming of age. A candid
acknowledgement that prejudice, war and exploitation have been the expression of immature stages in a vast
historical process and that the human race is today experiencing the
unavoidable tumult which marks its collective coming of age is not a reason for
despair but a prerequisite to undertaking the stupendous enterprise of building
a peaceful world. That such an enterprise is possible, that the necessary
constructive forces do exist, that unifying social structures can be erected,
is the theme we urge you to examine. Whatever suffering and turmoil the years
immediately ahead may hold, however dark the immediate circumstances, the
Bahá'í community believes that humanity can confront this supreme
trial with confidence in its ultimate outcome. Far from signalizing the end of civilization, the convulsive changes towards
which humanity is being ever more rapidly impelled will serve to release the
"potentialities inherent in the station of man" and reveal "the full measure of
his destiny on earth, the innate excellence of his reality . . . " . . . The
teaching that we should treat others as we ourselves would wish to be treated,
an ethic variously repeated in all the great religions, lends force to this
latter observation in two particular respects: it sums up the moral attitude,
the peace-inducing aspect, extending through these religions irrespective of
their place or time of origin; it also signifies an aspect of unity which is
their essential virtue, a virtue mankind in its disjointed view of history has
failed to appreciate. . . .Had humanity seen the Educators of its collective childhood in
their true character, as agents of one civilizing process, it would no doubt
have reaped incalculably greater benefits from the cumulative effects of their
successive missions. This, alas, it failed to do. . . . . . Most particularly, it is in the glorification of material
pursuits . . . that we find the roots which nourish the falsehood that human
beings are incorrigibly selfish and aggressive. It is here that the ground
must be cleared for the building of a new world fit for our
descendants.13
Should any of the kings--may God aid them--arise to protect and
help this oppressed people, all must vie with one another in loving and in
serving him. This matter is incumbent upon everyone. Well is it with them
that act accordingly. In every country where any of this people reside, they must
behave towards the government of that country with loyalty, honesty and
truthfulness. This is that which hath been revealed at the behest of Him Who is
the Ordainer, the Ancient of Days. It is binding and incumbent upon the peoples of the world, one
and all, to extend aid unto this momentous Cause which is come from the heaven
of the Will of the ever-abiding God, that perchance the fire of animosity which
blazeth in the hearts of some of the peoples of the earth may, through the
living waters of divine wisdom and by virtue of heavenly counsels and
exhortations, be quenched, and the light of unity and concord may shine forth
and shed its radiance upon the world. We cherish the hope that through the earnest endeavours of such
as are the exponents of the power of God--exalted be His glory--the weapons of
war throughout the world may be converted into instruments of reconstruction
and that strife and conflict may be removed from the midst of
men.14 The sixth Glad-Tidings is the establishment of the Lesser
Peace, details of which have formerly been revealed from Our Most Exalted Pen.
Great is the blessedness of him who upholdeth it and observeth whatsoever hath
been ordained by God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.15
These last quotes also lead nicely into the next series of
quotations--ones that are directed to those in the world who occupy a position
of leadership: . . . If the rulers and kings of the earth, the symbols of the
power of God, exalted be His glory, arise and resolve to dedicate themselves to
whatever will promote the highest interests of the whole of humanity, the reign of justice will assuredly be established amongst the
children of men, and the effulgence of its light will envelop the whole earth. The Great Being
saith: The structure of world stability and order hath been reared upon, and will continue to be sustained
by, the twin pillars of reward and punishment. And in another connection He hath uttered the
following in the eloquent tongue(Arabic.): Justice hath a mighty force at its command. It is none
other than reward and punishment for the deeds of men. By the power of this
force the tabernacle of order is established throughout the world, causing the
wicked to restrain their natures for fear of punishment.16 The Great Being saith: The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined
with the two luminaries of consultation and compassion. Take ye counsel
together in all matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which
leadeth the way, and is the bestower of understanding. At the outset of every endeavor, it is encumbent to look to the
end of it. Of all the arts and sciences, set the children to studying those
which will result in advantage to man, will ensure his progress and elevate his
rank. Thus the noisome odours of lawlessness will be dispelled, and thust
through the high endeavours of the nation's leaders, all will live cradled,
secure and in peace. The Great Being saith: The learned of the day must direct the
people to acquire those branches of knowledge which are of use, that both the
learned themselves and the generality of mankind may derive benefits therefrom.
Such academic pursuits as begin and end in words alone have never been and will
never be of any worth. The majority of Persia's learned doctors devote all
their lives to the study of a philosophy the ultimate yield of which is nothing
but words. It is encumbent upon them who are in authority to
exercise moderation in all things. Whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of
moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence. Consider for instance
such things as liberty, civilization and the like. However much men of
understanding may favourably regard them, they will, if carried to excess,
exercise a pernicious influence upon men.17 We earnestly beseech God --exalted be His glory--to aid the
rulers and sovereigns, who are the exponents of power and the daysprings of
glory, to enforce His laws and ordinances. He is in truth the Omnipotent, the
All-Powerful, He Who is wont to answer the call of men.18
The Pen of the Most High exhorteth, at this moment, the
manifestations of authority and the sources of power, namely the kings, the
sovereigns, the presidents, the rulers, the divines and the wise, and enjoineth
them to uphold the cause of religion, and to cleave unto it. Religion is verily
the chief instrument for the establishment of order in the world and of
tranquility amongst its peoples. The weakening of the pillars of religion hath
strengthened the foolish and emboldened them andmade them more arrogant.
Verily I say: The greater the decline of religion, the more grievous the
waywardness of the ungodly. This cannot but lead in the end to chaos and
confusion. Hear Me,O men of insight, and be warned, ye who are endued with
discernment! 19
The system of government which the British people have adopted in
London appeareth to be good, for it is adorned with the light of both kingship
and the consultation of the people.20
In these days it is incumbent upon everyone to adhere
tenaciously unto unity and concord and to labour diligently in promoting the
Cause of God, that perchance the wayward souls may attain that which will lead
unto abiding prosperity.21 O ye men of wisdom among nations! Shut your eyes to
estrangement, then fix your gaze upon unity. Cleave tenaciously unto that
which will lead to the well-being and tranquility of all mankind. This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation. It behooveth you to
abandon vainglory which causeth alienation and to set your hearts on whatever
will ensure harmony. In the estimation of the people of Bahá man's
glory lieth in his knowledge, his upright conduct, his praiseworthy character,
his wisdom, and not in his nationality or rank. O people of the earth!
Appreciate the value of this heavenly word. Indeed it may be likened unto a
ship for the ocean of knowledge and a shining luminary or the realm of
perception.22
I chose the following quote from
Bahá'u'lláh to close this issue because of its simplicity, its
power and, above all, for the hope and promise which it gives for the future of
our troubled world: . . . We desire but the good of the world and the
happiness of the nations . . . That all nations should become one in faith and
all men as brothers . . .Yet so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these
ruinous wars shall pass away, and the 'Most Great Peace' shall
come.23--Bahá'u'lláh
What a wonderful and noble goal to work for!
*********
1Baha'ullah, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas p. 1 2 Baha'ullah,Tablets of Baha'ullah, p. 167. 3 Baha'ullah, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 90
. 4 Baha'ullah, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 85. 5 Baha'ullah, The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh,,
p. 23. 6 Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words of
Bahá'u'lláh, pp 23-24. 7 Baha'ullah, The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh,
p. 10. 8 Baha'ullah,Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh,
pp. 35-36.
9 quoted in 'Abdu'l-Bahá, H. M. Balyuzi, p. 141. 10 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of
'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 1. 11 Baha'ullah, Tablets of Baha'ullah, p.164. 12 Baha'ullah, Tablets of Baha'ullah, , pp. 171-172. 13 the Universal House of Justice, To the Peoples of
the World A Statement on Peace by the UniversalHouse of
Justice, The Promise of World Peace, 1986, pp. 1-5. 14 Baha'ullah, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, pp.
22-23. 15 Baha'ullah, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh,
p. 23. 16 Baha'ullah, Tablets of Baha'ullah, p.164.
17 Baha'ullah, Tablets of Baha'ullah, pp. 168-169. 18 Baha'ullah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 29. 19 Baha'ullah,Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh,
pp. 63-64 20 Baha'ullah,Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh,
p. 93. 21 Baha'ullah,Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh,
p. 60. 22 Baha'ullah, The Tablets of
Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 67-68. 23 as told to Professor E. G. Browne and quoted by him in his A
Traveller's Narrative, 1891, p. xl.
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