Wanderings

With the utmost friendliness and in a spirit of perfect fellowship take ye counsel together, and dedicate the precious days of your lives to the betterment of the world and the promotion of the Cause of Him Who is the Ancient and Sovereign Lord of all. He, verily, enjoineth upon all men what is right, and forbiddeth whatsoever degradeth their station.

~ Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 183 (XCII para. 3)

Together, with dedication, we can make a difference in the world.  Imagine if we coordinated the efforts of humanitarian aid missions around the world—if they would share information, resources, and human energy—that dedication and fellowship could better the world and promote even more unity.

TeacherJay Gleanings friends, progress, society, unity

The real means of eliminating race prejudice, is to spread and establish the Faith; for in it, there is no prejudice whatsoever, as the Faith itself holds as its cardinal principle, the Oneness of Humanity.

~ Written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, in The Power of Unity: Beyond Prejudice and Racism, pp. 105

I was reminded of this quote when I ran across an article yesterday in the University of Wisconsin-Madison student newspaper (coincidentally enough) The Daily Cardinal, that there is no biological basis for racial distinctions. There is only one race, the human one, but unfortunately we seem to allow petty distinctions to classify us.

In 1998, Alan R. Templeton, a biology professor at Washington University, published a paper demonstrating that “race is a real cultural, political and economic concept in society, but it is not a biological concept, and that, unfortunately, is what many people wrongfully consider to be the essence of race in humans—genetic differences.”

Race is an invented concept that is used to define, to limit and to separate the “others.”  The Baha’is believe in the elimination of racial discriminations and prejudices of all kinds.  If the faith were to spread and more people to adopt this particular viewpoint, than humanity would have the opportunity to come together, to unite, and put it’s attention towards solving larger problems.

TeacherJay Shoghi Effendi progress, racism, unity

The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity, and unity is necessary if we would reach truth, for truth is one.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 136

Many of the greatest discoveries and advancements in history came from someone considering, even if just for a moment, if what we had always believed and accepted as fact were wrong.  Sometimes we must consider that there are alternatives to what we know to be right; that sometimes it is possible for multiple viewpoints to all be correct.  When we reach that point we may begin to understand not just the truth, but each other.

TeacherJay Paris Talks diversity, independent investigation of truth, prejudice, progress, unity

Yesterday I was reading a story book about Ruby Bridges while sitting in the park with some new friends.  Brother and sister they are of mixed race and had just finished 2nd and 4th grades.  They had not heard the story about the first African-American child to attend an all-white school in the South.  Although I tried to explain to them that there was a time in the history of the United States that children were segregated they told me they just couldn’t understand it… they quickly followed up to tell me it was not the story they didn’t understand, but the motivations.

When asked if their public school classrooms had children with different skin colors and different ethnicities they told they did and that they enjoyed seeing the mix.  In their suburb of a medium-sized Midwestern city, they had already encountered much diversity in race, culture and language.  What struck me the most was when the older of the two commented that he felt bad for the children who had to live through segregation—but it was not for the black children, who were not allowed to go to school with the white children, rather he felt sorry for the white children whose parents denied them the opportunity to have children of other races in their classroom.  I found this to be a very interesting and very mature stance to take from such a young man.  If only more people had such a responsible attitude towards segregation and prejudice today, perhaps we could be one step closer towards unity in this world.

TeacherJay Reflections children, education, prejudice, progress, unity

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s personal wants were few. He worked late and early. Two simple meals a day sufficed Him. His wardrobe consisted of a very few garments of inexpensive material. He could not bear to live in luxury while others were in want. He had a great love for children, for flowers, and for the beauties of nature.

~ Dr. J.E. Esslemont, Baha’u'llah and the New Era, p. 57

Abdu’l-Baha seems to have been a very simple man but entrusted with a sever responsibility to carry forth the message of his father’s message from God.  I very much appreciate this passage that illustrates how he was able to live with such basic means.  No extravagant meals or clothes were necessary for someone who knew the poverty that others must live in.  He had many followers and was greatly respected.  Anything he could have wished for in his personal life would have been provided, yet the things he most wished for–the end of prejudices, universal education for all, religious tolerance–were not to be seen.

TeacherJay Baha'u'llah and the New Era beauty, children, materialism, poverty, progress

O MY SERVANT!
Free thyself from the fetters of this world, and loose thy soul from the prison of self. Seize thy chance, for it will come to thee no more.

~ Baha’u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words

This world we live in has many chains that bind us to it, keep us a prisoner and shackle us to materialistic ways. We have the power to fight it, to free ourselves, but we must make an effort to do so. If we do not, we will forever be caught up in attempts to become better than one another, but make no real progress towards anything.

TeacherJay Hidden Words, The materialism, progress, reflection, spiritual journey

While the children are yet in their infancy feed them from the breast of heavenly grace, foster them in the cradle of all excellence, rear them in the embrace of bounty. Give them the advantage of every useful kind of knowledge. Let them share in every new and rare and wondrous craft and art. Bring them up to work and strive, and accustom them to hardship. Teach them to dedicate their lives to matters of great import, and inspire them to undertake studies that will benefit mankind.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 129

The education of children is a very important concept in the Baha’i faith.  When I was first investigating the religion on my own, I recall discovering this fact and wanting to know more.  The faith strongly supports universal compulsory education for all and an elimination of the barriers that keep some from gaining an education.  In order to see progress in our society, it is imperative to provide a solid education for each new generation.  Withholding knowledge and restricting access to information in order to limit a person’s learning is perhaps the worst punishment that anyone can inflict.  This was performed against slaves in the Southern United States for generations in order to keep the displaced Africans from rebelling.  By teaching people the wonders of this world, and to contribute to the progression of civilization, they will likely undertake studies that will benefit mankind.

TeacherJay Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha children, education, progress, youth

…Speech is not needed. Our actions will help on the world, will spread civilization, will help the progress of science, and cause the arts to develop. Without action nothing in the material world can be accomplished, neither can words unaided advance a man in the spiritual Kingdom. It is not through lip-service only that the elect of God have attained to holiness, but by patient lives of active service they have brought light into the world.

Therefore strive that your actions day by day may be beautiful prayers. Turn towards God, and seek always to do that which is right and noble. Enrich the poor, raise the fallen, comfort the sorrowful, bring healing to the sick, reassure the fearful, rescue the oppressed, bring hope to the hopeless, shelter the destitute!

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 80

A life of service is perhaps more important than anything else.  I cringe when I see evangelists or believers who think that prayer and prayer alone will be sufficient to heal, solve social ills, lift people out of poverty, build new homes for the displaced, or bring education to the neglected.  What is needed is for us all to be active.  Not everyone has the means, knowledge or comfort level to move to a third-world nation to build schools, or to rescue people in flood-damaged cities, but this is not always necessary.  Becoming a part of a neighborhood organization that provides kids with afterschool internships rather than allowing them to be on the streets, donating used goods to the local soup kitchen, or simply being kind to your neighbors and getting to know them are examples of actions that anyone could take.

Actions will go much farther than speech alone.

TeacherJay Paris Talks action, charity, children, education, prayer, progress, society

Inasmuch as ignorance and lack of education are barriers of separation among mankind, all must receive training and instruction. Through this provision the lack of mutual understanding will be remedied and the unity of mankind furthered and advanced. Universal education is a universal law. It is, therefore, incumbent upon every father to teach and instruct his children according to his possibilities. If he is unable to educate them, the body politic, the representative of the people, must provide the means for their education.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 300

Naturally, as a teacher, I was drawn to this aspect of the Baha’i Faith.  With each passing generation, the amount of knowledge that must be acquired simply in order to be a functioning member of society is growing (a concept I have written about here).  Through my travels I have met people that are lacking the most basic education—adults who cannot read the most basic of childrens’ books, or cannot locate their own country on a globe, or have trouble ciphering without their fingers.  Sadly, I have also seen their children continue this legacy because they are denied an education.

The Baha’i Faith supports universal education for all.  In fact, it should be more than just a moral and ethical law, but a legal requirement of all government to provide this opportunity.  While many do have some sort of public education in place, there are so many gaps and differences in quality of instruction and resources, in addition to those who are denied the opportunity because of their ethnicity, gender, or poverty.

Education and knowledge, or rather withholding them, have long been tools of oppressors to dominate a people.  This occurred in the Antebellum United States with African slaves, but when the barriers were finally removed, African-Americans were finally able to obtain an education and the nation was able to move a step closer to unity.  A similar situation is occurring in China now, as they build schools for rural and migrant students. (read more here)

TeacherJay Promulgation of Universal Peace, The children, education, mankind, progress, society, unity, youth

It is clear that the reality of mankind is diverse, that opinions are various and sentiments different; and this difference of opinions, of thoughts, of intelligence, of sentiments among the human species arises from essential necessity; for the differences in the degrees of existence of creatures is one of the necessities of existence, which unfolds itself in infinite forms.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 301

The Baha’is appreciate all manner of well-formed opinions.  In fact, the Baha’i decision-making process, known as consultation, allows for everyone who wishes to speak to voice her or his opinion.  It is necessary for these differences to exist, to be considered and to be examined.  Just as there is diversity in our physical appearances, and in our abilities, God also provided with this diversity of thought.  All innovations throughout history, whether they be in the form of technology, social progress, or spirituality occurred because someone had a different opinion.  This is necessary for our development and progress as a species.

TeacherJay Some Answered Questions abilities, decisions, development, diversity, mankind, progress, society, unity

The Bahá’í Faith recognizes the unity of God and of His Prophets, upholds the principle of an unfettered search after truth, condemns all forms of superstition and prejudice, teaches that the fundamental purpose of religion is to promote concord and harmony, that it must go hand-in-hand with science, and that it constitutes the sole and ultimate basis of a peaceful, an ordered and progressive society. It inculcates the principle of equal opportunity, rights and privileges for both sexes, advocates compulsory education, abolishes extremes of poverty and wealth, exalts work performed in the spirit of service to the rank of worship, recommends the adoption of an auxiliary international language, and provides the necessary agencies for the establishment and safeguarding of a permanent and universal peace.

~ Shoghi Effendi, The Bahá’í Faith – The World Religion: A Summary of Its Aims, Teachings and History

I really appreciate this single paragraph that summarizes the beliefs of the Baha’is.  I ran across it in a collection of excerpts of the writings titled “Teachings for the New World Order.”  That term has been used several times during the 20th century and beginning of the 21st.  It was normally following wars, i.e. WWI, WWII and the Cold War, and used to describe the hopes of what would come—more specifically that after all of the death and destruction preceding those times, that people would change, that the world would have to change.

While it seems in those cases the world, though it may never be the same, did revert back to its previous pettiness—prejudice and poverty still persist.  However, as Baha’is we pray for the day when people will put these feelings aside and learn how we can live together and allow religion to be the cohesive force that binds us, not the wedge that divides us.

TeacherJay Shoghi Effendi diversity, independent investigation of truth, international, language, New World Order, poverty, prejudice, progress, science, unity, war, wealth, world peace

If you look at any playground you can see children of all sizes, shapes, colors and religions laughing and playing together.  They don’t seem to create distinctions to keep themselves apart, but often look first for what makes them similar.  Playmates may begin to notice each other’s differences, but it tends to be a source of curiosity and a reason to get to know the playmate a little better, not something to keep them apart.  Children seem to be interested in forming bonds with each other to make new friends.

When do kids lose that natural curiosity and begin to use those differences to separate them from others?  Why does this happen?  What kinds of things can teachers and parents do to encourage that curiosity?

Teachers often say they learn a lot from their students.  Maybe kids can show adults how to live together.

I was listening to the song "We Can Show You How" from One World by the Children’s Theatre Company when I thought of this post.  You can listen to this song and 4 others on their MySpace page.

While one question may be, Can they show us how?, perhaps the larger unknown is, Will we listen?

Note: This entry is cross-posted on my other blog – TeacherJay’s EduBlog.

TeacherJay Reflections children, education, music, prejudice, progress, racism, relationships, unity, youth

I recently had the great honor to sit in on a Children’s Class.  Baha’i Children’s Classes are for young people of all faiths and focus on the morals and values that are common to all religions while also promoting the concept of becoming a world citizen.

The children were memorizing the following quote:

All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.

~ Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 214

They were a little stuck on exactly what “an ever-advancing civilization meant”.  The teacher and I seemed to explain that “ever-advancing” refers to something that continuously progresses and improves; and that a civilization is comprised of the society we live in, containing social rules and a government.  They were not quite seeing how it all fit together, though.

I attempted to use the example of technology, presenting my digital camera, and how devices such as that have advanced over time—each generation making slight improvements.  They seemed to accept this concept, though I’m not sure it was fully absorbed.  Unfortunately, it was not until after the class that more ideas came to me.

While technology certainly is one advancement that can be seen, it came to mind first only because it is tangible.  Other advancements in our civilization have been much more profound, though not always as apparent on the surface:

• 600 years ago people believed the world was flat
• 150 years ago there was slavery in the United States
• 90 years ago women in the United States were not allowed to vote
• 70 years ago nobody had heard of a computer
• 60 years ago placing a long-distance telephone call required speaking to an operator
• 60 years ago White and Black were prohibited by law from attending the same schools
• 20 years ago the World Wide Web had not yet come into existence
• 100 days ago all of the Presidents of the United States were White

There have clearly been some advancements that our civilization has realized.  Baha’u’llah has told us all that our purpose is to “carry forward” further advancement and there are still plenty of area that need it:

• 2,700,000 = the number of slaves in the world, including children
• 93,000,000 = the number of children who are being denied an education
• 2,800,000,000 = the number of people living on less than $2 per day

Incidentally, the teacher of this class is the author of Meeting the Dual Challenge

TeacherJay Gleanings, Reflections children, development, education, poverty, progress, spiritual maturation, world citizen