Genuine unity cannot be created by rules and regulations
alone. It is the higher nature of the human being, supported by the hand of
divine power, that enables people to overcome their differences.
For instance, laws prohibiting racial discrimination are
somewhat effective in preventing clashes between ethnic groups — but when
people from different groups cross cultural boundaries to form close personal
relationships, a much higher level of unity is achieved. Religion, when it is
vigorous and alive, has the power to foster this unity. Shoghi Effendi wrote:
They whose hearts are warmed by
the energizing influence of God's creative love cherish His creatures for His
sake, and recognize in every human face a sign of His reflected glory.
The willingness to enlarge our circle of concern beyond
people similar to ourselves is a sign of growth towards spiritual maturity. The
purest form of love is universal and reaches out to the whole of humanity.
In the Bahá'í teachings, the word "spiritual"
refers to human qualities such as the capacity to love, the thirst for
knowledge, the determination to act with justice, and the desire to create
things of beauty. Human beings fulfill their true potential by developing
spiritually. 'Abdu'l-Báhá wrote:
Trustworthiness, wisdom and
honesty are, of a truth, God's beauteous adornments for His creatures... Happy
are those that comprehend, and well is it with them that acquire such virtues.
Behind all great achievements for improving the welfare of
families and societies, spiritual motivations are at work. The visible outcomes
are material, such as comfortable homes, clean drinking water, tree-lined
streets, libraries, hospitals, and all the facilities that enrich human
communities. But people create these things because they are motivated by the
invisible, non-material force of love.
Admittedly this is a simplification, since less worthy
motives, such as personal ambition, can be involved. But more lasting
achievements tend to flow from unselfish motives, while self-centred attitudes
generally produce poor results in the long run. Many people find as they go
through life that self-centred goals become less satisfying, and they look for
meaning in working for the wider good.
As well as referring to the higher human powers, the word
"spiritual" refers to a realm of reality beyond the material
universe. The Bahá'í teachings assert that the human soul — the essence of
each individual, their inmost identity — exists in this spiritual realm.
Human attributes such as kindness and a sense of justice are
expressions of the soul. For this reason, such attributes are called
"spiritual qualities". The process of developing the positive aspect
of human nature through prayer, meditation and service to others is known as
"spirituality".
The Bahá'í concept of spirituality centres on becoming a
kinder, more selfless person, in contrast to ideas of spirituality that focus
on superstitious practices or elaborate rituals. 'Abdu'l-Báhá wrote:
Is any larger bounty conceivable
than this, that an individual, looking within himself, should find that by the
confirming grace of God he has become the cause of peace and well-being, of
happiness and advantage to his fellow men? No, by the one true God, there is no
greater bliss, no more complete delight.
Turning one's heart towards noble spiritual ideals
enlightens the soul, which becomes like a mirror reflecting the rays of the
sun.
Over the course of history, the most effective inspiration
for spiritual development has come from the founders of religions, such as
Buddha, Moses, Christ, Muhammad and Bahá'u'lláh. Religion has a unique power to
bring about deep changes in thought and behaviour, encouraging a readiness to
put the common good ahead of one's personal interests.
When the spirit of religion is youthful and vigorous, it
brings people together in unity. But when it becomes frozen by tradition or
diluted by being mixed with parochial loyalties, its unifying power is damaged
and may even be so severely distorted as to justify hatred and mayhem.
Ultimately, the outcome of the religious impulse towards
unity is nothing less than the advancement of civilisation. The quotation from
Shoghi Effendi at the beginning of this article about "the energizing
influence of God's creative love" comes from the following paragraph:
The Faith of Bahá'u'lláh has
assimilated, by virtue of its creative, its regulative and ennobling energies,
the varied races, nationalities, creeds and classes that have sought its
shadow, and have pledged unswerving fealty to its cause. It has changed the
hearts of its adherents, burned away their prejudices, stilled their passions,
exalted their conceptions, ennobled their motives, coordinated their efforts,
and transformed their outlook. While preserving their patriotism and
safeguarding their lesser loyalties, it has made them lovers of mankind, and
the determined upholders of its best and truest interests. While maintaining
intact their belief in the Divine origin of their respective religions, it has
enabled them to visualize the underlying purpose of these religions, to
discover their merits, to recognize their sequence, their interdependence,
their wholeness and unity, and to acknowledge the bond that vitally links them
to itself. This universal, this transcending love which the followers of the
Bahá'í Faith feel for their fellow-men, of whatever race, creed, class or
nation, is neither mysterious nor can it be said to have been artificially
stimulated. It is both spontaneous and genuine. They whose hearts are warmed by
the energizing influence of God's creative love cherish His creatures for His
sake, and recognize in every human face a sign of His reflected glory.
Quotations in context
Click on the links below to search for quotations from
this page, in Bahá'í reference websites.
