Are you all well and happy? This is a delightful spot; the scenery is
beautiful, and an atmosphere of spirituality haloes everything. In the
future, God willing, Green Acre shall become a great center, the cause of
the unity of the world of humanity, the cause of uniting hearts and
binding together the East and the West. This is my hope.
Tonight I wish to speak upon the oneness of the world of humanity. This is
one of the important subjects of the present period. If the oneness of the
human world were established, all the differences which separate mankind
would be eradicated. Strife and warfare would cease, and the world of
humanity would find repose. Universal peace would be promoted, and the
East and West would be conjoined in a strong bond. All men would be
sheltered beneath one tabernacle. Native lands would become one; races and
religions would be unified. The people of the world would live together in
harmony, and their well-being would be assured.
From the beginning of human history down to the present time the various
religions of the world have anathematized and accused each other of
falsity. Each religion has considered the others bereft of the face of
God, deprived of His mercy and in the direct line of divine wrath.
Therefore, they have shunned each other most rigidly, exercising mutual
animosity and rancor. Consider the record of religious warfare, the
battles between nations, the bloodshed and destruction in the name of
religion. One of the greatest religious wars, the Crusades, extended over
a period of two hundred years. In this succession of great campaigns the
western crusaders were constantly invading the Orient, bent upon
recovering the Holy City from the hands of the Islamic people. Army after
army raised in Europe poured its fanatical legions into the East. The
kings of European nations personally led these Crusades, killing and
shedding the blood of the Orientals. During this period of two hundred
years the East and West were in a state of violence and commotion.
Sometimes the crusaders were successful, killing, pillaging and taking
captive the Muslim people; sometimes the Muslims were victorious,
inflicting bloodshed, death and ruin in turn upon the invaders. So they
continued for two centuries, alternately fighting with fury and relaxing
from weakness, until the European religionists withdrew from the East,
leaving ashes of desolation behind them and finding their own nations in a
condition of turbulence and upheaval. Hundreds of thousands of human
beings were killed and untold wealth wasted in this fruitless religious
warfare. How many fathers mourned the loss of their sons! How many mothers
and wives lamented the absence of their dear ones! Yet this was only one
of the "holy" wars. Consider and reflect.
Religious wars have been many. Nine hundred thousand martyrs to the
Protestant cause was the record of conflict and difference between that
sect of Christians and the Catholics. Consult history and confirm this.
How many languished in prisons! How merciless the treatment of captives!
All in the name of religion! Consider and estimate the outcome of other
wars between the people and sects of religious belief.
From the beginning of human history down to this time the world of
humanity has not enjoyed a day of absolute rest and relaxation from
conflict and strife. Most of the wars have been caused by religious
prejudice, fanaticism and sectarian hatred. Religionists have
anathematized religionists, each considering the other as deprived of the
mercy of God, abiding in gross darkness and the children of Satan. For
example, the Christians and Muslims considered the Jews satanic and the
enemies of God. Therefore, they cursed and persecuted them. Great numbers
of Jews were killed, their houses burned and pillaged, their children
carried into captivity. The Jews in turn regarded the Christians as
infidels and the Muslims as enemies and destroyers of the law of Moses.
Therefore, they call down vengeance upon them and curse them even to this
day.
Consider what injuries, ordeals and calamities have been inflicted upon
mankind since the beginning of history. Every city, country, nation and
people has been subjected to the destruction and havoc of war. Each one of
the divine religions considers itself as belonging to a goodly and blessed
tree, the tree of the Merciful, and all other religious systems as
belonging to a tree of evil, the tree of Satan. For this reason they heap
execration and abuse upon each other. This is clearly apparent in books of
historical record and prevailed until the time of the appearance of
Baha'u'llah.
When the light of Baha'u'llah dawned from the East, He proclaimed the
promise of the oneness of humanity. He addressed all mankind, saying, "Ye
are all the fruits of one tree. There are not two trees: one a tree of
divine mercy, the other the tree of Satan." Again He said, "Ye are all the
fruits of one tree, the leaves of one branch." This was His announcement;
this was His promise of the oneness of the world of humanity. Anathema and
execration were utterly abrogated. He said, "It is not becoming in man to
curse another; it is not befitting that man should attribute darkness to
another; it is not meet that one human being should consider another human
being as bad; nay, rather, all mankind are the servants of one God; God is
the Father of all; there is not a single exception to that law. There are
no people of Satan; all belong to the Merciful. There is no darkness; all
is light. All are the servants of God, and man must love humanity from his
heart. He must, verily, behold humanity as submerged in the divine mercy."
Baha'u'llah has made no exception to this rule. He said that among mankind
there may be those who are ignorant; they must be trained. Some are sick;
they must be treated. Some are immature; they must be helped to attain
maturity. In other respects humanity is submerged in the ocean of divine
mercy. God is the Father of all. He educates, provides for and loves all;
for they are His servants and His creation. Surely the Creator loves His
creatures. It would be impossible to find an artist who does not love his
own production. Have you ever seen a man who did not love his own actions?
Even though they be bad actions, he loves them. How ignorant, therefore,
the thought that God, Who created man, educated and nurtured him,
surrounded him with all blessings, made the sun and all phenomenal
existence for his benefit, bestowed upon him tenderness and kindness and
then did not love him. This is palpable ignorance, for no matter to what
religion a man belongs, even though he be an atheist or materialist,
nevertheless, God nurtures him, bestows His kindness and sheds upon him
His light. How then can we believe God is wrathful and unloving? How can
we even imagine this, when as a matter of fact we are witnesses of the
tenderness and mercy of God upon every hand? All about us we behold
manifestations of the love of God. If, therefore, God be loving, what
should we do? We have nothing else to do but to emulate Him. Just as God
loves all and is kind to all, so must we really love and be kind to
everybody. We must consider none bad, none worthy of detestation, no one
as an enemy. We must love all; nay, we must consider everyone as related
to us, for all are the servants of one God. All are under the instructions
of one Educator. We must strive day and night that love and amity may
increase, that this bond of unity may be strengthened, that joy and
happiness may more and more prevail, that in unity and solidarity all
mankind may gather beneath the shadow of God, that people may turn to God
for their sustenance, finding in Him the life that is everlasting. Thus
may they be confirmed in the Kingdom of God and live forever through His
grace and bounty.
Baha'u'llah has clearly said in His Tablets that if you have an enemy,
consider him not as an enemy. Do not simply be long-suffering; nay,
rather, love him. Your treatment of him should be that which is becoming
to lovers. Do not even say that he is your enemy. Do not see any enemies.
Though he be your murderer, see no enemy. Look upon him with the eye of
friendship. Be mindful that you do not consider him as an enemy and simply
tolerate him, for that is but stratagem and hypocrisy. To consider a man
your enemy and love him is hypocrisy. This is not becoming of any soul.
You must behold him as a friend. You must treat him well. This is right.
We return to the subject. When we observe the phenomena of the universe,
we realize that the axis around which life revolves is love, while the
axis around which death and destruction revolve is animosity and hatred.
Let us view the mineral kingdom. Here we see that if attraction did not
exist between the atoms, the composite substance of matter would not be
possible. Every existent phenomenon is composed of elements and cellular
particles. This is scientifically true and correct. If attraction did not
exist between the elements and among the cellular particles, the
composition of that phenomenon would never have been possible. For
instance, the stone is an existent phenomenon, a composition of elements.
A bond of attraction has brought them together, and through this cohesion
of ingredients this petrous object has been formed. This stone is the
lowest degree of phenomena, but nevertheless within it a power of
attraction is manifest without which the stone could not exist. This power
of attraction in the mineral world is love, the only expression of love
the stone can manifest.
Look now upon the next highest stage of life, the vegetable kingdom. Here
we see that the plant is the result of cohesion among various elements,
just as the mineral is in its kingdom; but, furthermore, the plant has the
power of absorption from the earth. This is a higher degree of attraction
which differentiates the plant from the mineral. In the kingdom of the
vegetable this is an expression of love, the highest capacity of
expression the vegetable possesses. By this power of attraction, or
augmentation, the plant grows day by day. Therefore, in this kingdom,
also, love is the cause of life. If repulsion existed among the elements
instead of attraction, the result would be disintegration, destruction and
nonexistence. Because cohesion exists among the elements and cellular
attraction is manifest, the plant appears. When this attraction is
dispelled and the ingredients separate, the plant ceases to exist.
Then we come to the animal world, which is still higher in degree than the
vegetable kingdom. In it the power of love makes itself still more
manifest. The light of love is more resplendent in the animal kingdom
because the power of attraction whereby elements cohere and cellular atoms
commingle now reveals itself in certain emotions and sensibilities which
produce instinctive fellowship and association. The animals are imbued
with kindness and affinity which manifests itself among those of the same
species.
Finally, we reach the kingdom of man. Here we find that all the degrees of
the mineral, vegetable and animal expressions of love are present plus
unmistakable attractions of consciousness. That is to say, man is the
possessor of a degree of attraction which is conscious and spiritual. Here
is an immeasurable advance. In the human kingdom spiritual
susceptibilities come into view, love exercises its superlative degree,
and this is the cause of human life.
The proof is clear that in all degrees and kingdoms unity and agreement,
love and fellowship are the cause of life, whereas dissension, animosity
and separation are ever conducive to death. Therefore, we must strive with
life and soul in order that day by day unity and agreement may be
increased among mankind and that love and affinity may become more
resplendently glorious and manifest. In the animal kingdom you will
observe that domestic species live together in the utmost fellowship. See
how sociable and friendly sheep gather together in a flock. Look at the
doves and other domestic birds. There is no partisanship among them, no
separation due to notions of patriotism. They live together in the utmost
love and unity, flying, feeding, associating. Ferocious animals--beasts of
prey such as the wolf, bear, tiger and hyena--are never amicable and do not
associate together. They attack one another. Whenever they meet, they
fight. Three wolves are never seen associating happily. If you see them
together, it is with some ferocious intent. They are like selfish, brutal
men who are inimical, cursing and killing each other. Better that man
should resemble the domestic animals than the ferocious beasts of prey,
for in the estimation of God love is acceptable, whereas hatred and
animosity are rejected. Why should we act contrary to the good pleasure of
God? Why should we be as ferocious animals, constantly shedding blood,
pillaging and destroying? Because we belong to one race or family of
humankind, why should we consider all others bad and inferior, deserving
of death, pillage and invasion--people of darkness, worthy of hatred and
detestation by God? Why does man show forth such attitude and actions
toward his fellowman? We see that God is kind to all. Just as He loves us,
He loves all others; just as He provides for us, He provides for the rest.
He nurtures and trains all with equal solicitude.
God is great! God is kind! He does not behold human shortcomings; He does
not regard human weaknesses. Man is a creature of His mercy, and to His
mercy He summons all. Why then should we despise or detest His creatures
because this one is a Jew, another a Buddhist or Zoroastrian and so on?
This is ignorance, for the oneness of humanity as servants of God is an
assured and certain fact.
Baha'u'llah has proclaimed the promise of the oneness of humanity.
Therefore, we must exercise the utmost love toward each other. We must be
loving to all the people of the world. We must not consider any people the
people of Satan, but know and recognize all as the servants of the one
God. At most it is this: Some do not know; they must be guided and
trained. They must be taught to love their fellow creatures and be
encouraged in the acquisition of virtues. Some are ignorant; they must be
informed. Some are as children, undeveloped; they must be helped to reach
maturity. Some are ailing, their moral condition is unhealthy; they must
be treated until their morals are purified. But the sick man is not to be
hated because he is sick, the child must not be shunned because he is a
child, the ignorant one is not to be despised because he lacks knowledge.
They must all be treated, educated, trained and assisted in love.
Everything must be done in order that humanity may live under the shadow
of God in the utmost security, enjoying happiness in its highest degree.
17 August 1912
Talk at Green Acre
Eliot, Maine