As the regions of the world slowly unite
through the pressures of social and economic development, a new development
paradigm is beginning to emerge. A Bahá'í International Community report
stated:
True prosperity
— a well-being founded on peace, co-operation, altruism, dignity, rectitude of
conduct and justice — flows from the light of spiritual awareness and virtue
as well as from material discovery and progress.
Spiritual values and material means should
not be artificially separated from one another. On the contrary, the
application of moral insight in combination with practical measures of social
development gives the greatest potential to improve the life of any given
community.
A key to progress in this direction is that
all people, at any level of society, become empowered to consult together in
the spirit of unity. In this way they can discover among themselves the
direction and the capacity to carry out plans that benefit the group as a
whole. Such an approach leads to local communities being able to solve their
own problems, rather than being helpless unless they receive outside
assistance.
Since the Second World War, various
institutions have been established and developed whose field of operation is
global. Such institutions are necessarily evolving for the purpose of promoting
economic wellbeing on a worldwide basis, working to overcome the root causes of
poverty, and pursuing the ultimate aim of universal global prosperity.
The International Monetary Fund, the World
Bank, the World Trade Organisation, and a wide network of development agencies
has been established, devoted to rationalizing and advancing the material
prosperity of the planet.
The need for institutions of a global
nature in the world today is undeniable. Admittedly the mode of operation of
the existing institutions, and the immediate effects of their decisions,
sometimes attract fierce opposition. Nevertheless, recognition of the
increasing interdependence of the peoples and nations of the planet is itself a
stepping stone towards full achievement of the unity of mankind.
To the extent that spiritual methods are
applied to the problems facing the planet, then global prosperity becomes much
more of a reality. For example, a spiritually-oriented form of development can
be fostered through moral development programmes. These provide training in
such matters as methods of group consultation, unity-building, and the
application of spiritual values to given situations.
Those who serve within international and
local institutions must themselves be imbued with the sincere desire to ensure
the progress of the people they serve. As time goes by, the qualities that will
come to be most admired in society will be excellence of character, high
resolve, breadth of learning, and the ability to solve difficult problems. Such
qualities will become accepted as the hallmarks of people who work for the
progress of the whole of humanity.
Owning personal wealth at a time when so
many live in dire poverty is a challenge to the conscience, which requires a
spiritual perspective if the possessor is to come to terms with their position.
By seeking to support the goal of global prosperity, a well-off individual or
community can find a higher sense of purpose. 'Abdu'l-Báhá wrote:
Wealth is most
commendable, provided the entire population is wealthy. If, however, a few have
inordinate riches while the rest are impoverished, and no fruit or benefit
accrues from that wealth, then it is only a liability to its possessor. If, on
the other hand, it is expended for the promotion of knowledge, the founding of
elementary and other schools, the encouragement of art and industry, the
training of orphans and the poor — in brief, if it is dedicated to the welfare
of society — its possessor will stand out before God and man as the most
excellent of all who live on earth and will be accounted as one of the people
of paradise.
Quotations in context
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