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Compilation of Bahá'í Sacred Writings on the Oneness of Humanity and The Compilation of Bahá’í sacred writings on the oneness of humanity and the process of achieving unity Abridged from The Power of Unity: Overcoming Racial Divisions, Rebuilding America Compiled by Bonnie Taylor Copyright © 2019 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States Print and ebook editions of the full compilation are available at https://www.bahaibookstore.com/Power-of-Unity-New-Edition-P9588.aspx Contents ONENESS: OUR HUMAN REALITY One Human Species p. 2 The Divine Criterion for the Measurement of Humanity p. 2 Humanity’s Common Bonds p. 4 SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION Unity—The Commandment p. 5 Love—The Source of Unity p. 6 Religion—The Perfect Means for Engendering Unity p. 7 Understanding the Bases of Prejudices and Disunity p. 9 Abolishing Prejudices and Racism p. 10 Averting the Dangers of Disunity, Prejudice, and Racism p. 13 Avoiding Strife and Overcoming Estrangement p. 14 Appreciating the Diversity of the Human Family p. 16 The Necessity of Courage and Wisdom p. 17 SERVICE FOR SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION Promoting Harmony and Unity p. 18 The Requirements for Teaching p. 19 Teaching Diverse Populations p. 20 Upholding Justice: A Prerequisite to Unity p. 22 Safeguarding the Rights and Privileges of Minority Groups p. 24 Combating the Negative Forces in our Society p. 24 THE PROMISE OF THE FUTURE The Destiny of America p. 26 Global Unity and Peace p. 28 1 O ne Human Species O CHILDREN OF MEN! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory. (Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic, no. 68) The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. 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. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London, pp. 19–20) God, the Almighty, has created all mankind from the dust of earth. He has fashioned them all from the same elements; they are descended from the same race and live upon the same globe. He has created them to dwell beneath the one heaven. As members of the human family and His children He has endowed them with equal susceptibilities. He maintains, protects and is kind to all. He has made no distinction in mercies and graces among His children. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 413) In this wondrous Age, at this time when the Ancient Beauty, the Most Great Name, bearing unnumbered gifts, hath risen above the horizon of the world, the Word of God hath infused such awesome power into the inmost essence of humankind that He hath stripped men’s human qualities of all effect, and hath, with His all-conquering might, unified the peoples in a vast sea of oneness. Now is the time for the lovers of God to raise high the banners of unity, to intone, in the assemblages of the world, the verses of friendship and love and to demonstrate to all that the grace of God is one. Thus will the tabernacles of holiness be upraised on the summits of the earth, gathering all peoples into the protective shadow of the Word of Oneness. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, no. 7.2–3) T he Divine Criterion for the Measurement of Humanity All praise and glory be to God Who, through the power of His might, hath delivered His creation from the nakedness of nonexistence, and clothed it with the mantle of life. From among all created things He hath singled out for His special favor the pure, the gem-like reality of man, and invested it with a unique capacity of knowing Him and of reflecting the greatness of His glory. This twofold distinction conferred upon him hath cleansed away from his heart the rust of 2 every vain desire, and made him worthy of the vesture with which his Creator hath deigned to clothe him. It hath served to rescue his soul from the wretchedness of ignorance. This robe with which the body and soul of man hath been adorned is the very foundation of his well-being and development. Oh, how blessed the day when, aided by the grace and might of the one true God, man will have freed himself from the bondage and corruption of the world and all that is therein, and will have attained unto true and abiding rest beneath the shadow of the Tree of Knowledge! (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, no. 34.1–2) A good character is, verily, the best mantle for men from God. With it He adorneth the temples of His loved ones. By My life! The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof. Whoso attaineth unto it is accounted as a jewel among men. The glory and the upliftment of the world must needs depend upon it. A goodly character is a means whereby men are guided to the Straight Path and are led to the Great Announcement. Well is it with him who is adorned with the saintly attributes and character of the Concourse on High. (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 36) This span of earth is but one homeland and one habitation. It behoveth you to abandon vainglory which causeth alienation and to set your hearts on whatever will ensure harmony. In the estimation of the people of Bahá man’s glory lieth in his knowledge, his upright conduct, his praiseworthy character, his wisdom, and not in his nationality or rank. (Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 67) Then it is clear that the honour and exaltation of man cannot reside solely in material delights and earthly benefits. This material felicity is wholly secondary, while the exaltation of man resides primarily in such virtues and attainments as are the adornments of the human reality. These consist in divine blessings, heavenly bounties, heartfelt emotions, the love and knowledge of God, the education of the people, the perceptions of the mind, and the discoveries of science. They consist in justice and equity, truthfulness and benevolence, inner courage and innate humanity, safeguarding the rights of others and preserving the sanctity of covenants and agreements. They consist in rectitude of conduct under all circumstances, love of truth under all conditions, self-abnegation for the good of all people, kindness and compassion for all nations, obedience to the teachings of God, service to the heavenly Kingdom, guidance for all mankind, and education for all races and nations. This is the felicity of the human world! This is the exaltation of man in the contingent realm! This is eternal life and heavenly honor! (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, no. 15.7) A good character is in the sight of God and His chosen ones and the possessors of insight, the most excellent and praiseworthy of all things, but always on condition that its center of emanation should be reason and knowledge and its base should be true moderation. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization, ¶108) 3 H umanity’s Common Bonds We have created you from one tree and have caused you to be as the leaves and fruit of the same tree, that haply ye may become a source of comfort to one another. Regard ye not others save as ye regard your own selves, that no feeling of aversion may prevail amongst you. (The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the Báb, no. 5:1:1) Illumine and hallow your hearts; let them not be profaned by the thorns of hate or the thistles of malice. Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.” (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, no. 156.1) It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. (Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, no. 117.1) Be ye aware that the children of men are sheep of God and He their loving Shepherd, that He careth tenderly for all His sheep and maketh them to feed in His own green pastures of grace and giveth them to drink from the wellspring of life. Such is the way of the Lord. Such are His bestowals. Such, from among His teachings, is His precept of the oneness of mankind. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, no. 17.4) Human brotherhood is, likewise, as clear and evident as the sun, for all are servants of one God, belong to one humankind, inhabit the same globe, are sheltered beneath the overshadowing dome of heaven and submerged in the sea of divine mercy.
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