Envisioning a Peaceful Global Reality

Our present-day challenges - specifically the pandemic, the climate crisis, racial and human rights issues - are fundamentally and inherently global in nature. 

Envisioning a Peaceful Global Reality
Soul Cafe Victoria, BC
Gita Badiyan

These issues cannot be solved in any meaningful way without a level of cooperation that transcends national boundaries and interests. Our current global institutions, however, are not in any way prepared or equipped to deal with such threats. 
So what options do we have? And what actions can we take? 

Creating Soulful Spaces

Spaces where there is authentic encouragement towards open dialogue and integrity of self, create safe cultures that are the foundation to trust-based communities. Demonstrating a high value for human dignity by embracing people as unique and whole, has a transformative effect whether you are at work, at home, in a church or any other community.

“My home is the home of peace. My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home of laughter and exultation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home, must go out with gladsome heart. This is the home of light; whosoever enters here must become illumined. This is the home of knowledge: the one who enters it must receive knowledge. This is the home of love: those who come in must learn the lessons of love; thus, may they know how to love each other.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

 

 

“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… 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.”

-Baha’u’llah

 

 

“Magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great.”

-Baha’u’llah

 

 

“Love the creatures for the sake of God and not for themselves. You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for the sake of God. Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every human being, and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the people themselves.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

 

 

“The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

 

 

 

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Elevated Conversation

Obviously, we all have a thirst for deeper exploration and a yearning for profound connections. But how do we introduce elevated and meaningful conversations in our day-to-day? How do we go about heightening social consciousness in a natural way -with our families, friends and colleagues? 

Most people in our society don't operate at an elevated level. It's been said that ‘Downstream is mainstream’.  Somehow, in our society, we allow our lower nature to rule and dominate. But if we are spiritual beings, it implies everything in our lives, including our conversations, have a spiritual dimension.  If we’re here for a higher purpose, we wouldn’t want to allow ourselves to be drawn down. It is, however, not so easy to do -somewhat like having to resist junk food!

Given that conversation is an outward expression of our thoughts and feelings, elevated conversations need elevated thoughts and feelings. That means our mental, spiritual and emotional diets need to be more wholesome. When our thoughts are turned towards the light, our words reflect that light.

 

Elevated speech is not supposed to be supercilious, arrogant or patronizing. When we're trying to have an elevated conversation we're not necessarily trying to inject a spiritual theme into every conversation or spin a moral connection from every discussion. 

An elevated conversation is more about coming into a conversation from a place of connection with our higher self; it's about being principled when we speak and listen. It requires sharing in a meaningful way, exposing dichotomies in a thoughtful manner, transcending differences, learning from others and working towards solutions that unite.

“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”

–The Buddha

“Whensoever they gather in their meetings let their conversation be confined to learned subjects and to information on the knowledge of the day. If they do thus, they will flood the world with the Manifest Light, and change this dusty earth into gardens of the Realm of Glory."

– Baha’u’llah

“You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.”

–K. Gibran

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” 

–Christ

"All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind.”

—Kahlil Gibran

“Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.” 

– Plato

“Every word is endowed with a spirit, therefore the speaker or expounder should carefully deliver his words at the appropriate time and place, for the impression which each word maketh is clearly evident and perceptible.”

– Baha’u’llah

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

-Colossians 4:6

Racial Harmony

Now, more than ever, there’s a deep desire to experience humanity as one race, one soul, one body! People around the world want freedom from racial prejudice. They want to cast away the fallacious doctrine of white superiority, with all its misery, confusion and suffering. It is time to tear down barriers, free ourselves of this social cancer and recognize our oneness.

“The happiness of mankind lieth in the Unity and the Harmony of the Human Race”      

-‘Abdu’l-Baha

“All beings tremble before violence. All fear death, all love life. See yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt? What harm can you do?” 

-The Buddha

“The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.  If you meet those of different race and colour from yourself, do not mistrust them and withdraw yourself into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness.  Think of them as different coloured roses growing in the beautiful garden of humanity, and rejoice to be among them.      

–‘Abdu’l-Baha

“The tabernacle of unity has been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers.  Ye are the fruits of one tree and leaves of one branch.” 

-Baha’u’llah

“A white has no superiority over black nor a black any superiority over white -except by piety and good action.” 

–Prophet Mohammad

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 

–the Bible

“Racism retards the potentiality of its victims, corrupts its perpetrators, and blights human progress. If this problem is to be overcome, the oneness of humanity must be universally upheld and protected by law and through social policies.”

-The Universal House of Justice

“For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy.” 

–The Bhagavad Gita

Evolution of Spiritual Consciousness

As we face existential problems like climate change, Covid-19 and an ever-connected economy, we realize that our problems can only really be resolved at a planetary level.  But global cooperation can only be achieved if we override our instinct for a low-level tribal consciousness.  Even though each of us has moments of low consciousness, like when our ego gets in the way of treating others well, we also have moments of high consciousness, when we selflessly transcend our own personal concerns and extend ourselves in the service of others. Spirituality is what creates awareness around our choices.  It fosters the compassion we need in order to move beyond tribalism and self-centeredness.  So how do we move to higher levels of consciousness? How can we evolve spiritually?  What does 'Evolution of Spiritual Consciousness' look like? 

“Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship.”

-Baha’u’llah

“The world doesn’t belong to leaders. The world belongs to all humanity.”

- Dalai Lama

“The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

-Baha’u’llah 

“It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul.” 

- Desmond Tutu

“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.”

-Baha’u’llah

“Compassion is the radicalism of our time.”

- Dalai Lama

“Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“All souls must become as one soul, and all hearts as one heart.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“It is not about what you do. It is about how much love you put into what you do that counts.” 

- Mother Teresa 

“If you desire with all your heart, friendship with every race on earth, your thought, spiritual and positive, will spread; it will become the desire of others, growing stronger and stronger, until it reaches the minds of all men.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“Love is the absence of judgment.”

- Dalai Lama

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

- Mother Teresa

“Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.”

- Mother Teresa 

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.”

-Baha’u’llah

The pathway of life is the road which leads to divine knowledge and attainment. Without training and guidance the soul could never progress beyond the conditions of its lower nature, which is ignorant and defective.

- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

It is your duty to be exceedingly kind to every human being, and to wish him well; to work for the upliftment of society; to blow the breath of life into the dead; to act in accordance with the instructions of Baha’u’llah and walk His path — until ye change the world of man into the world of God.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha

Communion with Soul

Soul…..spirit soul!

Do you hear me?

As I lay bare all that taunts and haunts me

as I wrestle with earthly tests

seemingly of Everest proportion

unrelenting cacophony!

Will you lift me from the deepest valleys

that I might summit highest peaks

amidst lofty clouds, constellations, infinity?

Freed from shackles of self

you speak to me through silence beyond silence

that I might know authentic self

know that I am not alone

that no earthly threat can obliterate my true essence

for I too am stardust!

I too am one with the light that is the source of all light!

No more      need I cling hold this material realm 

for not destination, only the path!

The journey may have its trials, 

just as the finest web withstands the fiercest gales 

still sees a new dawn sparkles in sunlit dew.

I too will transcend this mortal frame

….and just maybe sparkle a little too!

Copyright – Geraldine Norris

Communing with Our Spirit

"Dost thou reckon thyself only a puny form when within thee the universe is folded?"-Baha’u’llah


  “There is a desire deep within the soul which drives man from the seen to the unseen, to philosophy and to the divine.”-‘Abdu’l-Baha  


“If the soul identifies itself with the material world it remains dark, for in the natural world there is corruption, aggression, struggles for existence, greed, darkness, transgression and vice.  If the soul remains in this station and moves along these paths it will be the recipient of this darkness; but if it becomes the recipient of the graces of the world of mind, its darkness will be transformed into light, its tyranny into justice, its ignorance into wisdom, its aggression into loving kindness; until it reach the apex. Then there will not remain any struggle for existence. Man will become free from egotism; he will be released from the material world; he will become the personification of justice and virtue, for a sanctified soul illumines humanity and is an honor to mankind, conferring life upon the children of men and suffering all nations to attain to the station of perfect unity. Therefore, we can apply the name ‘holy soul’ to such a one.”-‘Abdu’l-Baha



And a man said, "Speak to us of Self-Knowledge."And he answered, saying:Your hearts know in silence the secrets of the days and the nights.But your ears thirst for the sound of your heart's knowledge.You would know in words that which you have always know in thought.You would touch with your fingers the naked body of your dreams.And it is well you should.The hidden well-spring of your soul must needs rise and run murmuring to the sea;And the treasure of your infinite depths would be revealed to your eyes.But let there be no scales to weigh your unknown treasure;And seek not the depths of your knowledge with staff or sounding line.For self is a sea boundless and measureless.Say not, "I have found the truth," but rather, "I have found a truth."Say not, "I have found the path of the soul." Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path."For the soul walks upon all paths.The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed.The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.-K. Gibran


  “…in man there is a reality which is not the physical body. This other and inner reality is called the heavenly body, the ethereal form which corresponds to this body. This is the conscious reality which discovers the inner meaning of things. The inner ethereal reality grasps the mysteries of existence, discovers scientific truths and indicates their technical application.”-‘Abdu’l-Baha“It is the inner reality which comprehends things, throws light upon the mysteries of life and being, discovers the heavenly Kingdom, unseals the mysteries of God and differentiates man from the brute.”-‘Abdu’l-Baha


  “Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks. Listen to your heart, it knows.”-The Buddha  
“Go to God first. Trust the voice of the Spirit first. Allow His wisdom to be the filter in which you view all else.”  
“Great Mystery, teach me how to trust my heart, my mind, my intuition, my inner knowing, the senses of my body, the blessings of my spirit. Teach me to trust these things so that I may enter my Sacred Space and love beyond my fear, and thus walk in balance with the passing of each glorious Sun.” – Native American prayers 


 “Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you.” – Rumi


“There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.” – Rumi


 “Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart.” – Baha’u’llah
  “Turn thy sight unto thyself that thou mayest find Me standing within thee mighty powerful and self-subsisting."-Baha'u'llah 

Light

Light is one of the most universal and fundamental symbols. It is about the spiritual and the divine. It is illumination and intelligence. Light overpowers darkness in the physical realm. The photons in light can dispel darkness, but darkness cannot dispel light. This same principle applies spiritually, as the light of hope is always stronger than the darkness of discouragement and despair. All major religious holidays use light to celebrate the power of spiritual hope: Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Nawruz... In today’s world, we have much to despair about but we also have much to hope for! Let’s light a candle and dedicate it to what we want to see or commit to in our lives!

“So powerful is the light of unity, that it can illuminate the whole earth.” – Baha’u’llah  “Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.”-L.R. Knost  “Love is light in whatsoever house it may shine.” -Abdu’l-Baha  “Beauty is not in the face; beauty is the light in the heart.” – K. Gibran “O Son of Being! With the hands of power, I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light.” - Bahá'u'lláh  “All the teaching of the Prophets is one; one faith; one Divine light shining throughout the world. Now, under the banner of the oneness of humanity, all people of all creeds should turn away from prejudice and become friends and believers in all the Prophets.” -Abdu’l-Baha“In every case, the army of light vanquished the powers of darkness on the battlefield of the world, and the radiance of the Divine Teaching illumined the earth. Those who accepted the Teaching and worked for the Cause of God became luminous stars in the sky of humanity.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá   “Light gives of itself freely, filling all available space.  It does not seek anything in return; it asks not whether you are friend or foe.  It gives of itself and is not thereby diminished.” -Author Unknown   “Light is good from whatever lamp it shines.” -Abdu'l-Baha  “The sun, a radiant orb, emanating light and warmth. A luminous king who rules the day, shining a blinding light at noon, and a soft glow at sunset, blistering heat in July and a welcome, comforting warmth in January. It is the most consistent element in the world, appearing each day in the east, where it begins its daily march across the sky to set in the west - a symbol of God's benevolence.”  - Author Unknown   “God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, "The Kingdom is God's", may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.” -Bahá'u'lláh “…. just as the solar cycle has its four seasons, the cycle of the Sun of Reality has its distinct and successive periods. Each brings its vernal season or springtime. When the Sun of Reality returns to quicken the world of mankind a divine bounty descends from the heaven of generosity. The realm of thoughts and ideals is set in motion and blessed with new life. Minds are developed, hopes brighten, aspirations become spiritual, the virtues of the human world appear with freshened power of growth and the image and likeness of God become visible in man. It is the springtime of the inner world. After the spring, summer comes with its fullness and fruitage spiritual!” -Abdu'l-Baha  “A smile is the light in the window of your face that tells people you're at home.”   - Author Unknown  “The sun is the life-giver to the physical bodies of all creatures upon the earth; without its warmth, their growth would be stunted, their development would be arrested, they would decay and die. Even so, do the souls of men need the Sun of Truth to shed its rays upon their souls, to develop them, to educate and encourage them. As the sun is to the body of a man so is the Sun of Truth to his soul.” -Abdu'l-Baha  “A man may have attained to a high degree of material progress, but without the light of truth, his soul is stunted and starved. Another man may have no material gifts, may be at the bottom of the social ladder, but, having received the warmth of the Sun of Truth his soul is great and his spiritual understanding is enlightened.” -Abdu'l-Baha  “He that has light within his own clear breast
May sit in the centre, and enjoy bright day:
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts
Benighted walks under the mid-day sun;
Himself his own dungeon.
John Milton  “Man must be a lover of the light no matter from what day-spring it may appear. He must be a lover of the rose no matter in what soil it may be growing. He must be a seeker of the truth no matter from what source it come. “‘Abdu'l-Baha  “Shed the light of a boundless love on every human being whom you meet, whether of your country, your race, your political party, or of any other nation, color or shade of political opinion.” – Abdu’l-Baha  “God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, “the Kingdom is God’s”, may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples.” - Bahá’u’lláh “Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart that is cold. Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the sorrowful. In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than the power of love” - Abdu'l-Bahá   

Reflections

1. What can stop you from living a life filled with light & warmth?
2. How do you know when a moment is sacred?
3. What does bringing light to the world look like for you?
4. How might you see world events with the eye of the spirit?
5. In what small ways can one introduce light into a darkened world?
6. How do you pursue your inner light?
7. What is the most soulful gift you have given someone?
8. Would cultivating love & light in the heart be a painful process?
9. When do we know we are living a life that brings light & warmth to the world?