We start a new year with joy and expectation, and by wishing each other peace and prosperity in the new year. What do these words imply? How do we build harmonious and peaceful families and communities?
“Peace”, in the Bahá’í view, “stems from an inner state supported by a spiritual or moral attitude, and it is chiefly in evoking this attitude that the possibility of enduring solutions can be found”.
Spiritual transformation is the basis for both lasting improvements in our own lives and central in our approach to the betterment of the communities we live in. The spiritual dimension, in practical terms, is the source of qualities that enable us to rise above narrow self-interest: qualities such as co-operation, compassion, love, justice, trustworthiness, courage, humility, and to be willing to sacrifice for the common good.
Change in moral values will be possible when spiritual progress keeps pace with material progress. It is achievable through maintaining a balance between the spiritual and material aspects of our lives, while allowing our spiritual nature to take control.
The Bahá’í Writings state: “In this new year new fruits must be forthcoming, for that is the provision and intention of spiritual reformation. … of what avail is the reformation of physical conditions unless they are concomitant with spiritual reformations? For the essential reality is the spirit; the foundation is the spirit; the life of man is due to the spirit; the happiness, the animus, the radiance, the glory of man — all are due to the spirit; and if in the spirit no reformation takes place, there will be no result to human existence”.
The spiritual dimension should also include qualities that will help in building a unified, peaceful and prosperous world civilization. Misconceptions and prejudices are major barriers to unity and cause many of our current problems in the world. Creating progressive and peaceful families and communities will require fundamental changes in our behaviour. It requires overcoming any lingering prejudice that we may, consciously or unconsciously, harbour – be it racial, religious, patriotic or gender based.
Unity in our families and communities will be possible through the acceptance and the practice of the principle of the oneness of humanity. It will be achievable through embracing and celebrating both our oneness and our diversity.
In order to create progressive and peaceful families and communities we need to provide moral and spiritual education to our children, in addition to their intellectual education. Furthermore, according to the Bahá’í Writings “Children must be so raised as to regard every soul, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, or any other affiliation, as a fellow human being and to hold dear the words [of Bahá’u’lláh] that capture the spirit of the age: “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””.
For feedback please contact: tshwane@bahai.org.za; or call 083 794 0819
Websites: www.bahai.org, www.bahai.org.za
