Reflections

>>> Charmain January <shocj@protem.uct.ac.za> 10/03/03 07:18PM >>>

• What indicated that during the last century "a fundamental shift in consciousness was underway throughout the world" which effectively is leading to the "crumbling" of the "barriers" standing in the way of the oneness of mankind?

• What are some of the distinguishing feature of the oneness of humanity as expounded in the Revelation of Baha'u'llah

The concept of the "oneness of humanity" is described as the "animating principle", "the ultimate goal", "the surest foundation" as the "next stage in the evolution of the collective life on the planet"' "the pivotal principle and fundamental doctrine of the Faith" in the context of the Revelation of Baha'u'llah. Baha'is, in their varied activities within their communities and as individuals, see themselves as servants to the process of bringing this spiritual reality into the realm of the world of existence. Hence being a Baha'i (a follower and adherent to the Revelation as manifested by Baha'u''lah) is synonymous with inculcating the beliefs and ordinances which will ultimately change the necessary relations between individuals, communities and nations, build on the belief that we are all part of one human family, originating from "Mr. Adam and Mrs. Eve".

The adoption of this belief calls on the individual to abandon all forms of superstition and prejudices that are founded on the notion that the human race is made up of a collection of dissimilar smaller racial units that are inherently different to the extent that these differences are fundamental and inherently irreconcilable. On the contrary it rejects this as superstition, adhering to the view that the adoption of the oneness of mankind is no mere call for "brotherhood" which has rung throughout the ages, however, it is viewed as "the gift of God to this enlightened age" that will bring about the following conditions foreshadowed in the past religions: "war shall cease between nations, and by the will of God, the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers."

This seemingly simple, but profoundly life altering principle, permeates every social aspect of the teachings of the Faith embodied in its Diving Polity, proclaimed by the Centre of the Covenant, Abdu'l-Baha. His interpretation of Baha'u'llah's encapsulation of the fundamental doctrine of His Faith, provides us with a succinct spiritual base which is described as the "alpha and omega" of all the Baha'i endeavours throughout the plant. It is the pathway to the ennoblement of the human mind, body and spirit that all the manifestations have prepared humanity throughout the ages for. It is like a gem that is now unfolded to this "enlightened" age who have all the capacity to emulate the spiritual reality into the physical world, since the world's major inventions over the last century has made this very possible. It is the very reason why we acclaim this as the 'CENTURY OF LIGHT" and the precursory teachings that will usher and establish the "Kingdom of God on earth" and the long awaited and much cherished and longingly desired "peace".

Respectfully submitted by:

Charmaine January

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