That the
world (and perhaps, primarily, our nation) needs to be healed is a premise few
would dispute. One needs only be a conscious, thinking adult to discern the
signs of its disease, which are both too numerous and too obvious to list. The
old institutions which have served us well for hundreds of years are losing
their potency and are rapidly disintegrating.
Along with
this process of disintegration but less easily discerned, a parallel process of
integration is taking place. The Universal House of Justice, the international
governing body of the Baha’i Faith, has identified some of the forces
associated with this integration “. . . from the rejection of deeply ingrained
prejudices, to the dawning consciousness of world citizenship, from heightened
environmental awareness to concern for human rights, to the systematic pursuit
of universal efflorescence of hundreds of thousands of local, national and
international organizations engaged in some form of social action.”
Eventually,
this integrative process will lead to the establishment of “a new society
characterized by justice, unity in diversity and peace, in which the extremes
of wealth and poverty have been eliminated and people of all races, religions,
countries and social classes live in harmony.” All those who are working today
for the common good are part of this process of integration.
Unfortunately,
this new society is many generations in the future. Meanwhile, we must live in
a world that is literally falling apart. Many people of good will become
overwhelmed and simply withdraw from meaningful social interaction while others
decide to concentrate on one or two issues which they care deeply about. How
does one choose, though, when there is so much need everywhere? Even that
approach has its pitfalls. Because I have financially supported a few
organizations I think are contributing to the betterment of the world in some
way (which then sell my contact information), my mailbox fills up weekly with
requests from organizations all over the country. Probably 95% of these groups
are actually helping improve conditions for some group of people or animals
somewhere. However, if I supported all of them, I would soon become destitute!
And, in
reality, these overwhelming problems are but symptoms of the underlying disease
of separation; separation from our Creator and from each other. To treat the
symptoms is not to cure the disease.
So how does
one go about curing separateness? Baha’is believe that the Revelation of
Baha’u’llah is designed to do that very thing. “The All-Knowing Physician hath
His finger on the pulse of mankind,” Baha’u’llah tells us. “He perceiveth the
disease and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy.”
To overcome
our separateness requires a two-pronged approach – on the personal and societal
levels. On a personal level, the time-honored religious practices of prayer and
meditation are essential. There are whole prayerbooks filled with beautiful
prayers penned by Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha. And of course, any sincere
prayer uttered by anyone is acceptable to God. Baha’i Scriptures call prayer
“the best of conditions.” Meditation is emphasized as well since we tend to
manifest in our actions that which we think about. “The faculty of meditation,”
Baha’is are told, “frees man from the animal nature, discerns the reality of
things, and puts man in touch with God.”
But prayer
and meditation are not enough. They must be accompanied by service, by putting
into practice those things about which we pray and meditate on. “Service to
humanity is service to God,” we are told.
Working to
transform the whole society is one of the most exciting aspects of Baha’i
activities today. Components of such activities include classes for children.
youth and adults, devotional programs, interfaith initiatives, socio-economic
projects, and engagement in the prevalent discourses of society. In addition to
these, Baha’is strive to build the administrative institutions Baha’u’llalh
outlined. These topics will be addressed in Healing the World, Part II.
Nancy
Flood-Golembeck is a retired teacher and longtime member of the Baha’i Faith.
In addition to serving on the local Baha’i governing body, she is currently
writing a memoir.
This article appears in The impossible task of providing child care.
