Summer schools raise awareness of the path to peace

The National Spiritual Assembly presented this message to the friends gathered at the recent North and South Island Summer Schools. (1)

Very dear Friends,
Tēnā koutou katoa

The annual Bahá’í summer schools in the North and South Islands have long been a haven in which we gather to experience the benefits and flavour of a spiritually enriching learning environment. The spirit of Bahá’í community life that permeates the summer schools gives us a brief respite from the problems facing the wider world. Bahá’ís, of course, are ever mindful of the state of the world. Our purpose in coming together is that we might better serve the world by enhancing our capacities to serve our society. The Supreme Institution of the Bahá’í world, the Universal House of Justice, recently mentioned in a letter dated 1 December 2019, that “the well-being of humanity and its peace and tranquillity are the constant desire of all those who have taken to heart Bahá'u'lláh's exhortation to ‘be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in’.”

While the scale of the task is vast, we know that there is emerging around the world in countless locations a growing band of believers who can maintain, with those around them, community-building activities that are giving a glimpse of how the powers and potentialities of individuals, communities and institutions can contribute meaningfully to effect a transformation in the individual and collective lives of peoples everywhere. (2)

The troubling problems facing the world's peoples are largely caused by disunity. We look around us and we see endless symptoms of disunity. One very obvious one is the hostility and antagonism often arising from involvement in controversial and politically partisan discourses on social media. The House of Justice commented in the above-mentioned letter that “Much that is taken to be harmless, or even well-intentioned, is, on closer examination, serving to deepen social divides, fuel differences between opposing groups, and perpetuate disagreements, driving away possibilities for consensus and the search for solutions.” Shoghi Effendi warned against allowing our vision of the Cause to be clouded “by the stain and dust of worldly happenings, which, no matter how glittering and far-reaching in their immediate effects, are but the fleeting shadows of an imperfect world”. The lofty standards of the Cause are what guide us in the way we express ourselves, for example, the prohibition on backbiting and the need to uphold the oneness of humanity.

The goal of world peace is central to Bahá’í belief, and while we all work at the grassroots level to contribute to bringing harmony to our neighbourhoods and local communities, the Head of the Faith has from its earliest beginnings made efforts to offer solutions to world leaders.

“In 1867 and 1868, Bahá’u’lláh addressed a series of tablets to the kings and of the world, urging them to set aside their differences, to establish a system of collective security and move toward disarmament, to champion the cause of justice, to show the utmost care and consideration for the well-being and rights of the poor, and to work toward a lasting peace.

“From 1911 to 1913, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke extensively during His tour of Europe and North America about the imperative of peace and warned that Europe was on the brink of war.

“In a letter dated 28 November 1931, Shoghi Effendi states that the oneness of humanity ‘calls for no less than the reconstruction and the demilitarization of the whole civilized world—a world organically unified in all the essential aspects of its life ….’

“The Universal House of Justice in October 1985 penned a significant message on the subject of world peace, known as The Promise of World Peace.” (3)

And of course on 18 January 2019, we received the magnificent follow-up letter on the subject of peace, which traced humanity’s tortuous pathway towards finding peace.

The establishment of a unified, peaceful society requires a transformation in human consciousness and a commitment to fundamental spiritual principles enunciated by Bahá’u’lláh, such as the abolition of all forms of prejudice, the harmony of science and religion, and the equality of women and men, among others.

The theme of this year’s summer schools, “Towards an Ever Advancing Civilisation”, is a contribution towards further raising our consciousness and our commitment to fundamental spiritual principles enunciated by Bahá’u’lláh which will ultimately contribute to the establishment of peace and justice. We have the privilege and pleasure of welcoming Dr Firaydoun Javaheri as this year’s keynote speaker. Dr Javaheri and his wife, Mrs Vida Javaheri, will grace our summer schools with their presence and their contributions. The illustrious record of service that both our guests have given, speaks volumes about their dedication to the wellbeing of the world. They played a significant role in the area of social and economic development in Africa, spending 27 years of their lives on that continent, and were instrumental in establishing the Banani International Secondary School in Zambia. Their journey has taken them from Iran, to Africa, to the Holy Land, where Dr Javaheri served for five years as a Counsellor on the International Teaching Centre followed by 15 years of service as a member of the Universal House of Justice, until his retirement in 2018, after which the Javaheris moved to Canada, where they now reside. Dr Javaheri also served for 19 years as an Auxiliary Board member, so he has been very connected to local Bahá’í communities and the individuals who comprise them, and has a deep understanding of the circumstances of community life at the grassroots in various parts of the world. He has served society at all levels – from local to regional, national, continental and international. His perspectives are broad and deep from personal experience and from his wealth of knowledge of the Bahá’í Teachings. We are very blessed to have the Javaheris with us, and we welcome Dr Javaheri to offer, this morning, the first of his four talks, which is very appropriately titled: “Addressing ourselves to the promotion of the well‐being of humanity.”

Ngā mihi.
Arohanui,
National Spiritual Assembly of Aotearoa

Notes

(1) A slightly different version of this message was presented at the South Island school as Dr Firaydoun Javaheri and Mrs Vida Javaheri were unfortunately unable to attend, after Dr Javaheri fell ill.

(2) As expressed by the Universal House of Justice in its 2018 Ridván message.

(3) From a Bahá’í World News Service article dated 18 December 2019

Featured photo: some of the friends at the recent North Island Summer School.