The Sunday Mail
Flora Teckie A Bahá’í Perspective
WE all cherish the ideal of a just and peaceful society in which everyone prospers. But how do we translate this ideal into action in a meaningful way?
Creating a peaceful world civilisation based on principles of justice, prosperity, and continuing advancement is achievable if individuals are empowered to express their God given talents and capacities in service to humanity.
In the Bahá’í view, humanity as a whole has now reached a new level of maturity and it is now possible to create societies founded upon cooperation, trust, and genuine concern for others.
The Bahá’í Writings state, “It is incumbent upon every man of insight and understanding to strive to translate that which hath been written into reality and action … 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”.
Through service to others, the essential principles of social integration including compassion, tolerance, love, understanding, sacrifice, humility, and commitment to justice are manifested in society.
Not only does service provide immediate benefits to the community, but it also creates bonds of solidarity and common purpose among those involved.
According to the Bahá’í Writings, peace, justice and security will only be firmly established in the world when all people, “become united and coordinated in service to the world of humanity”.
Besides positive results for those who are helped, serving humanity, with pure intentions, also immensely enriches one’s own life.
It leads to personal growth and transformation.
Education should be examined in light of its contribution to individual growth and social transformation, which are necessary for the creation of peaceful and harmonious communities.
“Successful education”, according to a statement of the Bahá’í International Community, “will cultivate virtue as the foundation for personal and collective well-being, and will nurture in individuals a deep sense of service and an active commitment to the welfare of their families, their communities, their countries, indeed, all mankind”.
A new model used by the Bahá’í Faith focuses on cultivating capacity in individuals to participate in their own intellectual and spiritual development, leading the way for personal transformation.
In addition, it is intended to empower them to become agents of constructive social change in their communities.
Acquiring knowledge and insight into the Holy Writings is used as the first step towards personal transformation, as studying the creative Word of God in depth helps the individual to obtain a more adequate understanding of God’s revelation and to translate these teachings into reality.
The knowledge acquired is then applied to effect individual and collective transformation.
Such programmes try to build capacity for service by concentrating on the application of the spiritual insights gained through profound study of the Holy Writings. Such a study is combined with some form of service to the community.
When study and service are joined and carried out concurrently, the understanding of the sacred Scriptures, both in terms of individual growth and social progress increases greatly, because in the field of service knowledge is tested, questions arise out of practice, and new levels of understanding are achieved.
“Faith is the magnet which draws the confirmation of the Merciful One. Service is the magnet which attracts the heavenly strength.”(Bahá’í Writings)
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