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Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
Thoughts that Unify & Produce Peace—Reflections for 79th India's Independence Day Celebration
Let us fill the 79th India's Independence Day Celebration with positivity and harmony with all. As people of the oldest living civilization, we have tried to answer questions relating to our existential reality and given so much to the rest of humanity. Multiple narratives provide plausible answers but none appear to be satisfactory going by the turmoil that has engulfed vast multitudes. The Golden Rule states that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Why is there so much greed and self-centeredness, why narcissism and nihilism are the dominant forms of behaviour in everyday living. Perhaps the question: Who am I? can be better understood by re-phrasing the question: What kind of a human being am I? along with two other related questions: What is my purpose in life? Why am I here? When confronted with frightening circumstances or thoughts, a tiny part of our brain called the amygdala goes into overdrive. Called the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response, all it takes is for one singular situation or thought, and our whole world can turn upside down. Baháʼuʼlláh, Founder of the Bahá'i Faith, enjoins humanity to think more of others than of oneself: 'Beware lest ye prefer yourselves above your neighbours.' Whether or not a person loves his neighbour may seem unimportant or trivial in its relation to bigger concepts such as world unity and world peace. 'The reality of man is his thought, not his material body. The thought force and the animal force are partners. Although man is part of the animal creation, he possesses a power of thought superior to all other created beings.' "When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love." Bahá'i Writings emphasize the power of positive thoughts to counteract negative ones, particularly in the context of interpersonal relationships . Bahá'is believe that very few people consciously and deliberately do a wrong act. They usually have a justification for what they are doing: even a condemned murderer. People cannot help acting the way they do. They are the product of their background and environment. If we remember this, we would not get angry or despise them. Rather we would think of their background and circumstances and how they were raised from childhood and try to help. How earnestly humanity yearns to live by the Rig Veda dictum: "Common be your prayer; Common be your end; Common be your purpose; Common be your deliberation; Common be your desires; Unified be your hearts; Unified be your intentions; Perfect be the union among you." And yet individuals easily succumb to their baser instincts. The outward appearance can often be very deceptive--the brand of clothes, educational degrees, type of job, the food one eats, etc. 'If a man's thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects, then does he become saintly: if on the other hand his thought does not soar, but is directed downwards to centre itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal.' If negative thinking and emotions affect our bodies in an undesirable way, then positive thinking does have the opposite effect? The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius said, 'The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts. The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.' The Buddha said, 'Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.' On any given day thousands of thoughts flood our brains, and many of the negative ones are simply untrue. Challenging destructive thoughts about ourselves or others and giving ourselves compassion throughout difficult situations can keep negativity and its resulting ill effects in check. How one reacts to the people could make all the difference. People treat you as they are, not as you are. This is easier said than done, it is important to avoid negative people. They simply drain your energy. Instead, one should associate with kind souls whenever possible, you will feel better. In his mystical book The Hidden Words, the Baha'u'llah, wrote: 'The company of the ungodly increaseth sorrow, whilst fellowship with the righteous cleanseth the rust from off the heart.' (707 words) Authored by: Dr. A. K. Merchant The author is a social worker, independent researcher & Secretary of Bahá'i Spiritual Assembly of Delhi. Why Arjun Was Chosen: The Untold Secret of Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4, Verse 3
IOL News
18-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Youth are hope for a brighter future
As we continue observing National Youth Month, it is opportune to reflect on the role of youth in building a better and brighter future. While youth are our hope for tomorrow, their contribution is not only for the future. It is within their power to contribute significantly to the transformation of society today. The period of youth is a time for preparation. It is the time for personal change, the time during which youth begin to consciously explore and apply their knowledge, values and beliefs about individual and collective life. We need to have confidence that our children and youth have great potential and capacities and to help them to develop and enhance these capacities. Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, compares human beings to a mine containing many hidden jewels, waiting to be discovered. He says: 'Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom'. It is therefore important to converse with our youth, listen to their opinions and try to find out how we can help them enhance their potential capacities. They should be guided to analyse the constructive and destructive forces operating in society and recognise the influence these forces have on their thoughts and actions. In order to develop their latent capabilities and for them to contribute to the betterment of society, it is necessary for our youth to acquire a balanced education. An adequate education involves moral empowerment as well as intellectual development. It involves acquiring spiritual qualities and useful qualifications, developing a high-minded outlook and upright character. Combining spiritual and intellectual education will help our youth to develop ability and interest to work for the common good. According to the Bahá'í Writings: 'Service to humanity is service to God'. Educating our youth in the principle of service to humanity will arouse and maintain motivation. When this is coupled with the acquisition of practical skills and appropriate technologies, will open many possibilities for development and advancement in our societies. A guidance leading our youth to combine science and religion, belief and reason, will help free our children and youth from fanaticism and superstition. Placing emphasis on learning to think, rather than following adults out of fear, to reflect and reason, rather than to imitate, will motivate them to apply moral laws and guidance with understanding and conviction. We need a new direction in education that emphasises the role of youth as global citizens and prepares young people to act in the long-term interests of humanity as a whole. Such an education would instil in them the awareness of the fundamental oneness of the human family and to work for peace. 'Everywhere the signs multiply that the earth's peoples yearn for an end to conflict and to the suffering and ruin from which no land is any longer immune. These rising impulses for change must be seized upon and channelled into overcoming the remaining barriers that block realisation of the age-old dream of global peace', says the Bahá'í International Community in one of its statements. A great responsibility to contribute to the betterment of society rests on the current generation of youth. They are our hope for a brighter future and a peaceful world. By adhering to high moral standards, by showing integrity and uprightness in their interactions with others, by valuing differences in the human family, and by their commitment to serve humanity, they can become effective actors in building a better and brighter global society. For feedback please contact: [email protected] or (011) 801 3100 Websites:
