Baha’i religion believes in self discovery, no recruitment
Followers of this faith tout independence, equality between genders and education
* Judith Perera
* Published: Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Sahba Shayani, a first-year graduate Iranian studies student, recalled an analogy from his holy book, Kitab-i-Aqdas, meaning “most holy faith” in Persian. Shayani belongs to the Baha’i faith and is part of the Baha’i community at UCLA, a group that does not believe in recruitment.
“Men and women are two wings of bird (of life), they are equal and their equality is necessary,” Shayani said.
Sahba believes in the oneness of man, the equality of man and woman, the right of universal education and the right of each individual to “independently investigate the truths for themselves.”
A small group of about 12 Baha’i followers met together Monday night. With eyes shut and heads bowed, they began their prayers. The greeting on the blackboard read, “Allah’u’Abha,” meaning “God is the most glorious” in Arabic.
Because of their emphasis on the self-discovery of faith, the Baha’i are relatively unknown around campus as they do not believe in advertising their faith.
“We welcome members from all different faiths and denominations,” said Shayani. “But there is no compulsion or flier-advertising.”
The Baha’i faith incorporates significant figures from other religions into their own as they believe those individuals to have been manifestations of God during their days of existence.
“The Prophet Baha’u’llah started the faith in 1863 with the declaration that he was a manifestation of God,” Shayani said. “The Baha’i faith is an independent world religion with the purpose of uniting all humankind in one common faith and in one universal cause.”
Although a relatively new religion, the faith has approximately six million followers worldwide, with a majority concentrated in India, according to news reports.
“The religion started in Persia, modern day Iran, when the imprisoned Baha’u’llah received divine revelations from God,” said Shayani. “Today, it exists everywhere around the world.”
It is believed the Prophet, imprisoned for his beliefs was eventually freed and was exiled from Iran to Iraq, from there to Constantinople, then to Adrianople and finally to the City of Akka (Acre) in modern day Israel, where he died in 1892.
“If God was the sun, then the Prophet Baha’u’llah can be seen as a mirror reflecting the rays of the sun on humanity,” Shayani said.
The persecution of Baha’i followers still exists in present day Iran, where young people of the Baha’i faith are not allowed to attend university or to hold official jobs.
“Although the Baha’i are the largest religious minority in Iran they are subjected to lesser human rights than the Muslims,” Shayani said. “My family left Iran because I would not have been able to attend university there because of my faith.”
The present day administrative center of the Baha’i religion is in Haifa, Israel, the destination of the Baha’i pilgrimage.
“The pilgrimage was a life changing experience for me,” said first-year Spanish student Carmel Moazez. “It really confirmed by beliefs ... it was very spiritual.”
Being born into a Baha’i family does not mean a child belongs to the faith. The Baha’i faith places significant emphasis on the notion of self-investigation and declaring one’s faith individually, generally at the age of 15.
“It is important for us to seek the truth for ourselves,” Shayani said. “We must learn about faith with open eyes and with an open heart.”
Declaring one’s faith as a member of the Baha’i following is the same for those born into the faith as well as for new converts.
“Everyone goes through a searching process,” said second-year aerospace engineering graduate student David Tuman. “We are all independently searching for the truth.”
Members of the Baha’i community at UCLA meet weekly on Monday nights to pray and gather in fellowship.
“As humans we are not perfect,” Shayani said. “But we are made in the image of God and therefore we have the ability to aim for perfection.”
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
joy and sacrifice
Le gouvernement vietnamien vient d’accorder sa pleine reconnaissance à la communauté bahá’íe comme organisation religieuse.
ANTOFAGASTA, Chile, 2 December (BWNS) - Baha'i conferences last weekend circled the globe - from Chile to Cameroon to the Philippines.
It was the fifth of 18 consecutive weekends that will see conferences in a total of 41 cities, all having been convened by the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha'i Faith.
Les conférences du week-end dernier ont apporté d’autres récits de sacrifice, de détermination et de tentatives pour résoudre les problèmes de voyage – parfois sans succès.
Parmi les histoires les plus émouvantes est celle du peuple indigène de la Guajira colombienne, la péninsule aride à l’extrême pointe nord de l’Amérique du sud.
lire la suite sur .....
Les comptes-rendus de chaque conférence sur le site : : http://news.bahai.org/
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
ATTACK TO THE DEAD
Second Attack on Darzikola Cemetery
November 24, 2008
Translated by Ahang Rabbani
During the early hours of Friday, November 21, once again the Baha'i
cemetery at Darzikola came under vicious attack by hired hooligans.
Only the vigilant attention of the people of Darzikola and
Kafshgar-kola was able to disperse the assailants in a shameful retreat.
In this malicious attack, which once more took place in secret and
under the darkness of night at around 5 AM, the attackers had brought
three heavy earth-movers and two trucks for this purpose. The people
were alarmed and rushed to the cemetery, yet before they arrived, the
attackers had managed to inflict great damage to the site.
Pictures and more details forthcoming.
[The above is a translation of on a report by "Sh" from Qa'imshahr and
posted by Iran Press News on Friday, 21 November 2008 at:
http://www.iranpressnews.com/source/049734.htm. A previous desecration
of this Baha'i cemetery has been reported on this site (Iran Press
Watch) several times in the past.]
November 24, 2008
Translated by Ahang Rabbani
During the early hours of Friday, November 21, once again the Baha'i
cemetery at Darzikola came under vicious attack by hired hooligans.
Only the vigilant attention of the people of Darzikola and
Kafshgar-kola was able to disperse the assailants in a shameful retreat.
In this malicious attack, which once more took place in secret and
under the darkness of night at around 5 AM, the attackers had brought
three heavy earth-movers and two trucks for this purpose. The people
were alarmed and rushed to the cemetery, yet before they arrived, the
attackers had managed to inflict great damage to the site.
Pictures and more details forthcoming.
[The above is a translation of on a report by "Sh" from Qa'imshahr and
posted by Iran Press News on Friday, 21 November 2008 at:
http://www.iranpressnews.com/
of this Baha'i cemetery has been reported on this site (Iran Press
Watch) several times in the past.]
RENEWING WITH THE EXHIBITS
The past few days which have been probably the most challenging for me.... concerning my health and most of all my teaching activities It is my deep desire to be of service where possible and to share with all i meet the healing message of my heart Belover..
yes doing a lot of thinking about a situation which prevail me of not doing what i should do but yesterday two things happen i prayed and go out knowing not what to do even thought of 2 new contact i made in street teaching last week
i went to the first one and its happen i was guided he open his home we chat and share the message of BAHA'U'LLAH
we talk a lot on the power of prayer and he declared his belief in the GLORY OF THE FATHER , then later in the evening i went to a fireside met a lovely soul he take the declaration card i give him and hopefully will sign him
he was well encouraged from BAHIYYIH TEAM ....and a friend a dearest loving soul touch me deep inside and give me the courage needed to get over the situation which affected me for some time .
ENCOURAGE AND PRAYERFULLY I SUPPLICATE TO MY LORD TO RENEW ME so that i may be a good instrument in His Service.
This morning with 3 youth opening the Exhibits we enrol two lovely souls
Please would you pray that God will grant me the strength and courage to do what He requires in this regard and for me to use my time only as He wish
yes doing a lot of thinking about a situation which prevail me of not doing what i should do but yesterday two things happen i prayed and go out knowing not what to do even thought of 2 new contact i made in street teaching last week
i went to the first one and its happen i was guided he open his home we chat and share the message of BAHA'U'LLAH
we talk a lot on the power of prayer and he declared his belief in the GLORY OF THE FATHER , then later in the evening i went to a fireside met a lovely soul he take the declaration card i give him and hopefully will sign him
he was well encouraged from BAHIYYIH TEAM ....and a friend a dearest loving soul touch me deep inside and give me the courage needed to get over the situation which affected me for some time .
ENCOURAGE AND PRAYERFULLY I SUPPLICATE TO MY LORD TO RENEW ME so that i may be a good instrument in His Service.
This morning with 3 youth opening the Exhibits we enrol two lovely souls
Please would you pray that God will grant me the strength and courage to do what He requires in this regard and for me to use my time only as He wish
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
report from Martha Root teaching team
This afternoon 26 November 2008 the Teaching Team, Martha Root, visited Marie Noel at Baie du Tombeau. During the visit we teach her friend Gino who immediately enroll himself under the banner of Bahá'u'lláh. A devotional meeting have been scheduled for the 19 December at Marie Noel's place. We also met two youth who are interested in following Ruhi 1. We also met a young man named Sydney whom we will visit in the following days during the expansion phase
With love
Martha Root Teaching Team
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in my heart all the world's afflictions can in no wise alarm me.
Watch this video and enjoy it.
http://vimeo.com/2228238
Praise be to Thee, O Lord my God! Thou seest and knowest that I have called upon Thy servants to turn nowhere except in the direction of Thy bestowals, and have bidden them observe naught save the things Thou didst prescribe in Thy Perspicuous Book, the Book which hath been sent down according to Thine inscrutable decree and irrevocable purpose.
I can utter no word, O my God, unless I be permitted by Thee, and can move in no direction until I obtain Thy sanction. It is Thou, O my God, Who hast called me into being through the power of Thy might, and hast endured me with Thy grace to manifest Thy Cause. Wherefore I have been subjected to such adversities that my tongue hath been hindered from extolling Thee and from magnifying Thy glory.
All praise be to Thee, O my God, for the things Thou didst ordain for me through Thy decree and by the power of Thy sovereignty. I beseech 128 Thee that thou wilt fortify both myself and them that love me in our love for Thee, and wilt keep us firm in Thy Cause. I swear by Thy might! O my God! Thy servant's shame is to be shut out as by a veil from Thee, and his glory is to know Thee. Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in my heart all the world's afflictions can in no wise alarm me.
Send down, therefore, O my Lord, upon me and upon my loved ones that which will protect us from the mischief of those that have repudiated Thy truth and disbelieved in Thy signs.
Thou art, verily, the All-Glorious, the Most Bountiful.
- Bahá'u'lláh
(Baha'i Prayers, p. 127)
Watch this video and enjoy it.
http://vimeo.com/2228238
Praise be to Thee, O Lord my God! Thou seest and knowest that I have called upon Thy servants to turn nowhere except in the direction of Thy bestowals, and have bidden them observe naught save the things Thou didst prescribe in Thy Perspicuous Book, the Book which hath been sent down according to Thine inscrutable decree and irrevocable purpose.
I can utter no word, O my God, unless I be permitted by Thee, and can move in no direction until I obtain Thy sanction. It is Thou, O my God, Who hast called me into being through the power of Thy might, and hast endured me with Thy grace to manifest Thy Cause. Wherefore I have been subjected to such adversities that my tongue hath been hindered from extolling Thee and from magnifying Thy glory.
All praise be to Thee, O my God, for the things Thou didst ordain for me through Thy decree and by the power of Thy sovereignty. I beseech 128 Thee that thou wilt fortify both myself and them that love me in our love for Thee, and wilt keep us firm in Thy Cause. I swear by Thy might! O my God! Thy servant's shame is to be shut out as by a veil from Thee, and his glory is to know Thee. Armed with the power of Thy name nothing can ever hurt me, and with Thy love in my heart all the world's afflictions can in no wise alarm me.
Send down, therefore, O my Lord, upon me and upon my loved ones that which will protect us from the mischief of those that have repudiated Thy truth and disbelieved in Thy signs.
Thou art, verily, the All-Glorious, the Most Bountiful.
- Bahá'u'lláh
(Baha'i Prayers, p. 127)
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
BIG TURNOUT FOR REGIONAL BAHA'I CONFERENCES
BIG TURNOUT FOR REGIONAL BAHA'I CONFERENCES
ELECTRIFYING GATHERING ---- A SENSE OF PURPOSE CLEARER FOCUS AND EACH ONE HAS A CLEAR PLAN OF ACTION AS WE ALL DELIBERATE ON OUR CLUSTER TO MOVE TO INTENSIVE OF GROWTH AS A GIFT AND PROMISE TO OUR BELOVED HOUSE OF JUSTICE
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 11 November 2008 (BWNS)
-- More than a thousand Baha'is from nearly a dozen countries came together for a regional conference that turned out to be the largest Baha'i gathering ever held in South Africa.
A simultaneous gathering this past weekend in Nakuru, Kenya, also drew more than a thousand participants.
After only the second weekend of a four-month series of 41 conferences to be held around the world, organizers are finding that interest in the gatherings is so high that they are having to regroup and adjust plans to accommodate larger numbers of people.
In Johannesburg, planners originally estimated that about 500 people would come, according to a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of South Africa. They revised expectations to 800, but when more than 1,000 people appeared, preparations fell short.
"We have run out of everything - except spirit and commitment," one of the organizers reported within hours of the start of the conference.
The convening of 41 two-day conferences was announced on 20 October in a letter to the Baha'is of the world from the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha'i Faith.
The purpose of the gatherings, the letter said, is for Baha'is to celebrate recent achievements in grassroots community-building and to plan their next steps in organizing core activities in their home areas.
The first of the 41 conferences was convened on 1 November in Lusaka, Zambia, and coming this week are gatherings in Bangalore, India; Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Bangui, Central African Republic.
In Johannesburg, a mere two weeks ago the National Baha'i Assembly announced details of that conference and urged Baha'is from all around southern Africa to come, calling it a "thrilling opportunity to gather together to consult...."
People from Angola, Botswana, La Reunion, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, and Swaziland responded.
"The conference is stunning," one of the organizers reported by noon the first day. "Some of the very veteran Baha'is were tearfully jubilant at the sight of so many friends from so many places. It was encouraging and inspiring from the moment the conference registration opened."
Well over half the participants at Nakuru were from Kenya, but there also were 200 people from Uganda, 100 from Tanzania, 42 from Ethiopia, four from Mozambique, and three from southern Sudan..
"The spirit of the conference was very high as most participants had never attended any international conference," said the initial report from the gathering.
To view the photos and additional features go to : http://news.bahai.org
ELECTRIFYING GATHERING ---- A SENSE OF PURPOSE CLEARER FOCUS AND EACH ONE HAS A CLEAR PLAN OF ACTION AS WE ALL DELIBERATE ON OUR CLUSTER TO MOVE TO INTENSIVE OF GROWTH AS A GIFT AND PROMISE TO OUR BELOVED HOUSE OF JUSTICE
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 11 November 2008 (BWNS)
-- More than a thousand Baha'is from nearly a dozen countries came together for a regional conference that turned out to be the largest Baha'i gathering ever held in South Africa.
A simultaneous gathering this past weekend in Nakuru, Kenya, also drew more than a thousand participants.
After only the second weekend of a four-month series of 41 conferences to be held around the world, organizers are finding that interest in the gatherings is so high that they are having to regroup and adjust plans to accommodate larger numbers of people.
In Johannesburg, planners originally estimated that about 500 people would come, according to a member of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of South Africa. They revised expectations to 800, but when more than 1,000 people appeared, preparations fell short.
"We have run out of everything - except spirit and commitment," one of the organizers reported within hours of the start of the conference.
The convening of 41 two-day conferences was announced on 20 October in a letter to the Baha'is of the world from the Universal House of Justice, the elected body that is the head of the Baha'i Faith.
The purpose of the gatherings, the letter said, is for Baha'is to celebrate recent achievements in grassroots community-building and to plan their next steps in organizing core activities in their home areas.
The first of the 41 conferences was convened on 1 November in Lusaka, Zambia, and coming this week are gatherings in Bangalore, India; Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Bangui, Central African Republic.
In Johannesburg, a mere two weeks ago the National Baha'i Assembly announced details of that conference and urged Baha'is from all around southern Africa to come, calling it a "thrilling opportunity to gather together to consult...."
People from Angola, Botswana, La Reunion, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, and Swaziland responded.
"The conference is stunning," one of the organizers reported by noon the first day. "Some of the very veteran Baha'is were tearfully jubilant at the sight of so many friends from so many places. It was encouraging and inspiring from the moment the conference registration opened."
Well over half the participants at Nakuru were from Kenya, but there also were 200 people from Uganda, 100 from Tanzania, 42 from Ethiopia, four from Mozambique, and three from southern Sudan..
"The spirit of the conference was very high as most participants had never attended any international conference," said the initial report from the gathering.
To view the photos and additional features go to : http://news.bahai.org
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
MAURITIUS
Dearest Beloved friends
So many request about the conference hope u enjoy the movies and pictures
The spirit WAS ELECTRIFYING THERE
STILL OUR HEARTS BEAT
TO THE AFRICAN MARCHING DRUMS
we promised Our beloved UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE TO BRING 26 CLUSTERS IN IPG what i understand it was 16 but inspired the african brothers and sisters put the level high
MOST OF THEM WILL BE LAUNCHED SHORTLY BEFORE RIZVAN
I KNOW WE WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE
THE WORD POSSIBLE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO we will do it
THE POWER WAS GRANTED THERE
WE HAVE TO OBEY AND DO WHAT BAHA'U'LLAH TELL US TO DO
OUR BELOVED UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE NOW THE HEAD OF THE FAITH IS PRAYING ARDENTLY FOR THE SUCCESS OF THIS MIGHTY ENTREPRISE
(A WORDS OF CAUTION My personal understanding not official )
the ITC Member Mr Buckland told us the more we act the more we learn
He say that we cant understand if we do not do the action the more we do the more we learn
a beautiful story about a persian friend My Yazdi who obeyed the central figure of the Faith for action without knowing what was his mission
i will try to put it down later for your perusual
love and greetings
action action
papijoon
Thursday, November 6, 2008
SOUTH AFRICA WHEATHER FORECAST
TO THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE CONFERENCE
Friday, 7 November 2008
Min Temp 14 ºC
Max Temp 22 ºC
Description Cloudy with thunderstorms
Sun Rise 05:14
Sun Set 18:28
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Min Temp 10 ºC
Max Temp 20 ºC
Description Cloudy with rain
Sun Rise 05:14
Sun Set 18:29
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Min Temp 11 ºC
Max Temp 20 ºC
Description Cloudy at times
Sun Rise 05:13
Sun Set 18:30
Monday, 10 November 2008
Min Temp 13 ºC
Max Temp 25 ºC
Description Partly cloudy with thunderstorms
Sun Rise 05:13
Sun Set 18:30
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Min Temp 14 ºC
Max Temp 25 ºC
Description Partly cloudy with thunderstorms
Sun Rise 05:12
Sun Set 18:31
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
My hope is that through the zeal and ardor of the pure of heart, the darkness of hatred and difference will be entirely abolished, and the light of love and unity shall shine; this world shall become a new world; things material shall become the mirror of the divine; human hearts shall meet and embrace each other; the whole world become as a man's native country and the different races be counted as one race.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 38)
The Spirit of God is giving eternal life. In this wonderful age the East is enlightened, the West is fragrant, and everywhere the soul inhales the holy perfume. The sea of the unity of mankind is lifting up its waves with joy, for there is real communication between the hearts and minds of men. The banner of the Holy Spirit is uplifted, and men see it, and are assured with the knowledge that this is a new day.
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 foundation of true humanity.
The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease 20 between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers
(Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 19)
Monday, November 3, 2008
TEACHING
Celui qui fait obstacle a lentrée en troupes auras a la Cour de Baha'u'llah rendre compte de ces actes
this quotes flash my mind recently a beautiful soul from Haiti Mrs Baruk cites to me in a conversation we have near the Bab shrine in Haifa in 1998 at the international convention
what is making obstacle !! just many thoughts cames out
1st stop teaching.....or not giving the message daily to the multitude
We recently have many new soul enroll and the lack of a good consolidation phase may be one of many little things that hampered the progress
and not following the instruction another points to reflect on
Baha'u'llah say
Speak forth for the sake of God, and
spread the
cause for his sake. Do not look at whether others accept or deny,
but rather at
the service you are commanded to perform by God.
Baha'u'llah -- Tablet of the Son --
others may be everyone
what is teaching.... giving remedy
once u gave the remedy to a soul and open his heart to Baha'u'llah
removing the veil
and giving eternal life to this soul
now what is your expectation ?
wanted that your new member been transform and start doing service
well that's the question
U are commended to spread the message TO SPEAK FORTH
I KNOW what u are thinking !!
lol
just my opinion
this quotes flash my mind recently a beautiful soul from Haiti Mrs Baruk cites to me in a conversation we have near the Bab shrine in Haifa in 1998 at the international convention
what is making obstacle !! just many thoughts cames out
1st stop teaching.....or not giving the message daily to the multitude
We recently have many new soul enroll and the lack of a good consolidation phase may be one of many little things that hampered the progress
and not following the instruction another points to reflect on
Baha'u'llah say
Speak forth for the sake of God, and
spread the
cause for his sake. Do not look at whether others accept or deny,
but rather at
the service you are commanded to perform by God.
Baha'u'llah -- Tablet of the Son --
others may be everyone
what is teaching.... giving remedy
once u gave the remedy to a soul and open his heart to Baha'u'llah
removing the veil
and giving eternal life to this soul
now what is your expectation ?
wanted that your new member been transform and start doing service
well that's the question
U are commended to spread the message TO SPEAK FORTH
I KNOW what u are thinking !!
lol
just my opinion
Sunday, November 2, 2008
BEING A BAHAI IS A LOVE AFFAIRS
To tell You friends what is a Bahai will take a long long time ,to put it in a simple words is SERVICE TO MANKIND
Well we are all the time on a learning mode we never stop learning new technics in our service to mankind, how to be systematics in our approach of doing a work , its amazing how the spiritual is link , bind to-gether with our action of being and doing in all spheres of service
well to-day at the age of 57 happy how the Bahai Faith is involving (sorry my poor english hope u understand my feelings) we never stop and everytime u see new vista new concepts going forwards learning ya this is a new Faith a new way of thinking ANEW SPIRIT A NEW WORLD we are creating .....
-.
2-11-08-- We have a meetings here in Mauritius all the delegates who is going to Johanesburg for the Conference we were around 25 and we were brief by the Counsellor Eddy Lutchmaya and Nsa member sylvana , Balram , and Laval
we were happy all there
Balram tell us how this conference will bring change to the worlds and reminds us how the Blessed Bab convey the message to all the 18 livings letters and give them words of love hope and faith empower them to service thats what will happen there we will be empowered to serve our fellow countryman .
the Growth profile form was also reviewed and share how to analyse this file to plan
its imperative thats the agency of the cluster needs to study and analyse the profile of their cluster and then plan accordingly
the letter of 20 october were studied
one word on this mighty letter is love and prayers that the Blessed Universal House of Justice
is giving to the bahai s they are praying ardently to Our Heavely father that we may be a true bahais serving the world serving humanity and giving the remedy to all showing the world that a bahai is without prejudice social religious color or any barriers we are showing the world truly that we are all one in spirit one in faith and that there is ONLY ONE GOD
TO BE CONTINUED
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Eradicating Poverty: Moving Forward as One on Blog Action Day
Posted: 14 Oct 2008 09:27 PM CDT
The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. Baha’u'llah, Baha’i writings
Today is Blog Action Day on the theme of poverty. Over 9,000 bloggers are around the world are blogging about this today.
I am sure many blogs will look at the characteristics and manifestations of poverty:
* lack of income sufficient to ensure a sustainable livelihood
* lack of productive resources sufficient to ensure a sustainable livelihood
* hunger
* malnutrition
* ill health
* limited or lack of access to education and other basic services
* increasing morbidity and mortality from illness
* homelessness and inadequate housing
* unsafe environments
* increasing criminal activity
* social discrimination
* exclusion
* lack of participation in decision-making
* lack of participation in civil, social, political and cultural life
* human trafficking
These are, in a manner of speaking, symptoms of an ill world. Endeavours to eradicate poverty focus on changing these — and they need to be changed. But we must ask ourselves — why have these symptoms arisen? What the root causes of illness of humanity, if I can put it that way?
The Baha’i Faith suggests that there are two underlying causes to the present illness of the world, to the growing poverty of much of its population and, in another context, to its lack of peace. These are, first, its lack of unity and, second, its reliance on materialistic solutions alone.
The Lack of Unity in the World
Bahá’u'lláh wrote that the `dis-ease’ afflicting humanity, the root of its illness, is its lack of unity.
I would suggest that we rarely consider that the disunity of the human race is the cause of its lack of prosperity. Rather, we tend to think of poverty as the absence of money — and that is certainly part of it. However, to think that poverty is exclusively an absence of money encourages people to think that the answer to poverty must then be money. We often hear people talking about `throwing money at a problem’ (in both the positive and negative senses) or `throwing good money after bad’ and `throwing money into a black hole’ (when referring to economic aid or charitable giving, for example). These last remarks are intended, I am sure, to underscore the frustration ordinary people and governments experience grappling with the issue of poverty — the feeling that no matter what you do, poverty is never going to go away — `the poor are always with us’. However, they do highlight the crux of the matter: poverty is not simply an absence of money and its solution is not merely a question of adding more money. Even when you add money, the basic, underlying problems causing poverty and keeping people poor are not really resolved. Money does not really change attitudes. Money does not always give people dignity. Money is needed, yes, but it needs to come with a whole host of concepts and values and visions that make the application of money worthwhile and its effect both positive and permanent. We have also seen the ill effects of simply giving people money — the creation of a `hand-out’ society that does not encourage people to work, to use resources wisely, etc. The other side of this is that extreme wealth — and most westerners can be considered to be extremely wealthy in contrast to most of the rest of the world — also creates problems — the `you owe it to me’, `I’m-all-right-Jack’, `there is no such thing as community’, `every man for himself’, indulgent, fat, wasteful, unthinking sort of society the flawed nature of which this very week we have all witnessed.
Recent UN conferences have highlighted that the resolution of poverty — of indeed any human problem, is something more than merely money. Effective political will, participatory decision-making, trustworthiness and transparency in governance and much more are pointed to as necessary prerequisites for the eradication of poverty, for the growth of prosperity universally. However, even these cannot be forthcoming unless we understand the interconnectedness of the human race, its singleness and wholeness, and begin to act in ways that demonstrate that connectedness. That is, until we begin to act as if we ARE all members of one human family, we will continue to show the illness of disunity.
When Baha’u'llah wrote to Queen Victoria in 1868 he compared the world to the human body. The various cells, organs, tissues, bones, parts and so on of the body are all different but are all required to function together to make the body achieve its potential. When one part of the body is in pain, or is unfit, the rest of the body is aware of it responds — the whole body feels unwell and is unable to function properly when even a tiny disorder occurs — think of having a cold or even a splinter in one’s finger.
So too the human race, Baha’u'llah says.
This idea seems very simple but in fact touches on the organisation of the entire social fabric. As Donne says, no man is an island. The sorrow of one is the sorrow of all. This sentiment now must move beyond the poetic and into reality. It requires a fundamental rethinking and restructuring of all the social and economic institutions of the planet.
Reliance on materialistic solutions alone
The Baha’i International Community has for years been striving to put before humanity a radically different approach to eradicating poverty.
It points out that the assumptions underlying most development planning and poverty-action programmes are essentially materialistic, that is, their purpose is to bring to all societies the means of achieving the kind of material prosperity that already exists in other parts of the world. We are now learning that the materialistic way of life is not, perhaps, all that great. Some of the features and characteristics of poor communities are also features of very wealthy communities and individuals and are not very attractive or worth having: increasing mortality from illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, increasing criminal activity, family breakdown, domestic violence, increased emotional health disorders, increased reliance on drugs and substances and material possession to fabricate happiness, increased workplace stress, the use of trafficked women and children for sexual pleasure, falling literacy rates, corruption, lawlessness and the trivialization of politics.
This is not to say that material things are worthless or, in some patronizing way, to suggest that people who do not have material things should not strive for them, as they are more dangerous than valuable. Nor am I suggesting that now that westerners have everything, we have discovered how hollow these things are and so `warn’ the rest of the people not to aspire to them (and thereby ensuring that we continue to hog them for ourselves). The Bahá’í Faith does not teach that poverty is a wonderful state to be in. Rather, Bahá’ís recognize that all people need good housing, food, jobs, health care, education and water, as well as beauty, art, fun and leisure in their lies. But by focusing solely on the amelioration of material conditions, without addressing the underlying issues that keep people in poverty on the one hand and create completely unsustainable gross wealth on the backs of those very people on the other, we will not be able to eradicate poverty or the extreme wealth that feeds it.
Thus as well as focusing on the immediate needs of people - providing food and fresh water and shelter and health care - even greater effort is needed to find and apply values, spiritual concepts and principles that will transform individuals, governments and social systems around the globe and provide a prosperous life for everyone.
By `spiritual’ I do not mean here vague ideas and pious hopes of sweet sentimentality. Rather I mean that cluster of practical virtues and values born out of a vision and understanding of God’s purpose for humanity that underpins our relationships with each other at every level — personal, family, community, national and global. We can identify some of these virtues as absolutely imperative for the smooth running of any social unit, whether it be the family or the world: justice, trustworthiness, honesty, courtesy, patience, love, selflessness, etc.
What this comes down to is recognizing the spiritual dimension of human reality and fostering a culture in which the moral, ethical, emotional and intellectual development of the individual are of primary concern. Such an orientation enables individuals and communities to become constructively engaged in the processes of their communities, to be service-oriented and to work for the material and spiritual well-being of the whole community, rather than to store up wealth for themselves. The big challenge — while we are simultaneously trying to keep people from starving - is to redesign and develop our communities around those principles such as love, honesty, moderation, humility, hospitality, justice and unity — which promote social cohesion and without which no community is sustainable for long.
So, are there any signs that the world is responding to the need for this new paradigm?
First, there is a growing consciousness that the root causes of poverty need to be examined and changed. We used to think the root causes of poverty were people’s laziness, colour, race or want of `civilization’. We are now beginning believe the root cause to be basically a lack of global social cohesion — that is, a lack of unity, which begets a lack of caring.
Second, this consciousness has been expressed by the international community in more and more cogent forms in the last half decade. And not only by governments but by NGOs, civil society and partners of all kinds from business to the academics to the scientists. The solutions proffered are more and more basic, more and more fundamental — not merely the provision of money, of shelter, or services — important as these are — but recognition that it is attitudes that must be changed if the money applied is not going to go down a black hole. At a simple level, ethical standards must be raised if aid is to get to those for whom it is intended and not line the pocket of a profiteer.
Third, there is a growing awareness of the need to take account of the spiritual dimension of human reality and there is beginning to be the political and social will to seek to foster a culture in which the moral, ethical, emotional and intellectual development of the individual are of primary concern.
What are some of the elements that we need to develop if we are to combat poverty? They are the same ones we need to develop is we are to make our societies less crime-ridden, more gentle, less violent:
* an increase in the understanding of the essentially spiritual nature of the human being and a recognition that a person’s spiritual needs must be met as well as his or her physical ones — indeed without attention to this area, no plan of material welfare will really stick — spiritual values are the foundation of material progress and prosperity
* the development of a new work ethic — Baha’u'llah says that work done in the spirit of service to others is worship
* stewardship of the earth’s resources
* ethical practices in government and business
* a consciousness of the concept of unity in diversity
* new forms of governance need to be developed that are value-driven, participatory (on all levels — local, national, international), and transparent
* fostering the advancement of women and the participation of women at all levels of governance
* the development of the spirit of service and voluntarism
* the extension of virtues-based education
* the development of conflict avoidance and resolution through consultation
* the promotion of the family as the basic unit of the community and assistance to the family to enable it to provide for its members
Interestingly, UNESCO’s (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) programme for the eradication of poverty has many of these elements:
* to denounce intolerance and prevent the development of social apartheid between the `city of the citizens’ and the `city of the excluded’
* to affirm solidarity as a fundamental value of democracy and human rights: the encouragement of cultural and social pluralism and the promotion of integration through social policies.
* to promote a culture of peace
* development and peace are intimately linked: aim at peace-building
* turn people into citizens through education in citizenship
Will we be able to eradicate poverty? It seems to me that we can only do this by a radical rethink of the nature of our selves and our communities, locally, nationally and globally. We have the technology — we now need the vision and the will — first to change ourselves. Baha’is accept that Baha’u'llah has provided the vision — we have to provide the will.
(PS - Have a look at the Baha’i International Community’s publication Eradicating Poverty: Moving Together as One)
Technorati Tags: Bahai, Baha’i, Bahá’u'lláh, poverty, poverty eradication, blog action day, education, UNESCO, unity, financial meltdown
FROM WENDI WOWEN
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
