UNIVERSAL PEACE

This recent war has proved to the world and the people that war is

destruction while Universal Peace is construction; war is death while

peace is life; war is rapacity and bloodthirstiness while peace is

beneficence and humaneness; war is an appurtenance of the world of nature

while peace is of the foundation of the religion of God; war is darkness

upon darkness while peace is heavenly light; war is the destroyer of the

edifice of mankind while peace is the everlasting life of the world of

humanity; war is like a devouring wolf while peace is like the angels of

heaven; war is the struggle for existence while peace is mutual aid and

cooperation among the peoples of the world and the cause of the

good-pleasure of the True One in the heavenly realm.

There is not one soul whose conscience does not testify that in this day

there is no more important matter in the world than that of Universal

Peace. Every just one bears witness to this and adores that esteemed

Assembly because its aim is that this darkness may be changed into light,

this bloodthirstiness into kindness, this torment into bliss, this

hardship into ease and this enmity and hatred into fellowship and love.

Therefore, the effort of those esteemed souls is worthy of praise and

commendation.

But the wise souls who are aware of the essential relationships emanating

from the realities of things consider that one single matter cannot, by

itself, influence the human reality as it ought and should, for until the

minds of men become united, no important matter can be accomplished. At

present Universal Peace is a matter of great importance, but unity of

conscience is essential, so that the foundation of this matter may become

secure, its establishment firm and its edifice strong.

Therefore His Holiness Baha'u'llah, fifty years ago, expounded this

question of Universal Peace at a time when He was confined in the fortress

of Akka and was wronged and imprisoned. He wrote about this important

matter of Universal Peace to all the great sovereigns of the world, and

established it among His friends in the Orient. The horizon of the East

was in utter darkness, nations displayed the utmost hatred and enmity

towards each other, religions thirsted for each other's blood, and it was

darkness upon darkness. At such a time His Holiness Baha'u'llah shone

forth like the sun from the horizon of the East and illumined Iran with

the lights of these teachings.

Among His teachings was the declaration of Universal Peace. People of

different nations, religions and sects who followed Him came together to

such an extent that remarkable gatherings were instituted consisting of

the various nations and religions of the East. Every soul who entered

these gatherings saw but one nation, one teaching, one pathway, one order,

for the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah were not limited to the

establishment of Universal Peace. They embraced many teachings which

supplemented and supported that of Universal Peace.

Among these teachings was the independent investigation of reality so that

the world of humanity may be saved from the darkness of imitation and

attain to the truth; may tear off and cast away this ragged and outgrown

garment of 1,000 years ago and may put on the robe woven in the utmost

purity and holiness in the loom of reality. As reality is one and cannot

admit of multiplicity, therefore different opinions must ultimately become

fused into one.

And among the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah is the oneness of the

world of humanity; that all human beings are the sheep of God and He is

the kind Shepherd. This Shepherd is kind to all the sheep, because He

created them all, trained them, provided for them and protected them.

There is no doubt that the Shepherd is kind to all the sheep and should

there be among these sheep ignorant ones, they must be educated; if there

be children, they must be trained until they reach maturity; if there be

sick ones, they must be cured. There must be no hatred and enmity, for as

by a kind physician these ignorant, sick ones should be treated.

And among the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah is, that religion must

be the cause of fellowship and love. If it becomes the cause of

estrangement then it is not needed, for religion is like a remedy; if it

aggravates the disease then it becomes unnecessary.

And among the teachings of Baha'u'llah is, that religion must be in

conformity with science and reason, so that it may influence the hearts of

men. The foundation must be solid and must not consist of imitations.

And among the teachings of Baha'u'llah is, that religious, racial,

political, economic and patriotic prejudices destroy the edifice of

humanity. As long as these prejudices prevail, the world of humanity will

not have rest. For a period of 6,000 years history informs us about the

world of humanity. During these 6,000 years the world of humanity has not

been free from war, strife, murder and bloodthirstiness. In every period

war has been waged in one country or another and that war was due to

either religious prejudice, racial prejudice, political prejudice or

patriotic prejudice. It has therefore been ascertained and proved that all

prejudices are destructive of the human edifice. As long as these

prejudices persist, the struggle for existence must remain dominant, and

bloodthirstiness and rapacity continue. Therefore, even as was the case in

the past, the world of humanity cannot be saved from the darkness of

nature and cannot attain illumination except through the abandonment of

prejudices and the acquisition of the morals of the Kingdom.

If this prejudice and enmity are on account of religion (consider that),

religion should be the cause of fellowship, otherwise it is fruitless. And

if this prejudice be the prejudice of nationality (consider that) all

mankind are of one nation; all have sprung from the tree of Adam, and Adam

is the root of the tree. That tree is one and all these nations are like

branches, while the individuals of humanity are like leaves, blossoms and

fruits thereof. Then the establishment of various nations and the

consequent shedding of blood and destruction of the edifice of humanity

result from human ignorance and selfish motives.

As to the patriotic prejudice, this is also due to absolute ignorance, for

the surface of the earth is one native land. Every one can live in any

spot on the terrestrial globe. Therefore all the world is man's

birthplace. These boundaries and outlets have been devised by man. In the

creation, such boundaries and outlets were not assigned. Europe is one

continent, Asia is one continent, Africa is one continent, Australia is

one continent, but some of the souls, from personal motives and selfish

interests, have divided each one of these continents and considered a

certain part as their own country. God has set up no frontier between

France and Germany; they are continuous. Yea, in the first centuries,

selfish souls, for the promotion of their own interests, have assigned

boundaries and outlets and have, day by day, attached more importance to

these, until this led to intense enmity, bloodshed and rapacity in

subsequent centuries. In the same way this will continue indefinitely, and

if this conception of patriotism remains limited within a certain circle,

it will be the primary cause of the world's destruction. No wise and just

person will acknowledge these imaginary distinctions. Every limited area

which we call our native country we regard as our mother-land, whereas the

terrestrial globe is the mother-land of all, and not any restricted area.

In short, for a few days we live on this earth and eventually we are

buried in it, it is our eternal tomb. Is it worth while that we should

engage in bloodshed and tear one another to pieces for this eternal tomb?

Nay, far from it, neither is God pleased with such conduct nor would any

sane man approve of it.

Consider! The blessed animals engage in no patriotic quarrels. They are in

the utmost fellowship with one another and live together in harmony. For

example, if a dove from the East and a dove from the West, a dove from the

North and a dove from the South chance to arrive, at the same time, in one

spot, they immediately associate in harmony. So is it with all the blessed

animals and birds. But ferocious animals, as soon as they meet, attack and

fight with each other, tear each other to pieces and it is impossible for

them to live peaceably together in one spot. They are all unsociable and

fierce, savage and combative fighters.

Regarding the economic prejudice, it is apparent that whenever the ties

between nations become strengthened and the exchange of commodities

accelerated, and any economic principle is established in one country, it

will ultimately affect the other countries and universal benefits will

result. Then why this prejudice?

As to the political prejudice, the policy of God must be followed and it

is indisputable that the policy of God is greater than human policy. We

must follow the Divine policy and that applies alike to all individuals.

He treats all individuals alike: no distinction is made, and that is the

foundation of the Divine Religions.

And among the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah is the origination of

one language that may be spread universally among the people. This

teaching was revealed from the pen of His Holiness Baha'u'llah in order

that this universal language may eliminate misunderstandings from among

mankind.

And among the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah is the equality of

women and men. The world of humanity has two wings--one is women and the

other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly.

Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. Not until the world of

women becomes equal to the world of men in the acquisition of virtues and

perfections, can success and prosperity be attained as they ought to be.

And among the teachings of Baha'u'llah is voluntary sharing of one's

property with others among mankind. This voluntary sharing is greater than

equality, and consists in this, that man should not prefer himself to

others, but rather should sacrifice his life and property for others. But

this should not be introduced by coercion so that it becomes a law and man

is compelled to follow it. Nay, rather, man should voluntarily and of his

own choice sacrifice his property and life for others, and spend willingly

for the poor, just as is done in Iran among the Baha'is.

And among the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah is man's freedom, that

through the ideal Power he should be free and emancipated from the

captivity of the world of nature; for as long as man is captive to nature

he is a ferocious animal, as the struggle for existence is one of the

exigencies of the world of nature. This matter of the struggle for

existence is the fountain-head of all calamities and is the supreme

affliction.

And among the teachings of Baha'u'llah is that religion is a mighty

bulwark. If the edifice of religion shakes and totters, commotion and

chaos will ensue and the order of things will be utterly upset, for in the

world of mankind there are two safeguards that protect man from

wrongdoing. One is the law which punishes the criminal; but the law

prevents only the manifest crime and not the concealed sin; whereas the

ideal safeguard, namely, the religion of God, prevents both the manifest

and the concealed crime, trains man, educates morals, compels the adoption

of virtues and is the all-inclusive power which guarantees the felicity of

the world of mankind. But by religion is meant that which is ascertained

by investigation and not that which is based on mere imitation, the

foundation of Divine Religions and not human imitations.

And among the teachings of Baha'u'llah is that although material

civilization is one of the means for the progress of the world of mankind,

yet until it becomes combined with Divine civilization, the desired

result, which is the felicity of mankind, will not be attained. Consider!

These battleships that reduce a city to ruins within the space of an hour

are the result of material civilization; likewise the Krupp guns, the

Mauser rifles, dynamite, submarines, torpedo boats, armed aircraft and

bombing aeroplanes--all these weapons of war are the malignant fruits of

material civilization. Had material civilization been combined with Divine

civilization, these fiery weapons would never have been invented. Nay,

rather, human energy would have been wholly devoted to useful inventions

and would have been concentrated on praiseworthy discoveries. Material

civilization is like a lamp-glass. Divine civilization is the lamp itself

and the glass without the light is dark. Material civilization is like the

body. No matter how infinitely graceful, elegant and beautiful it may be,

it is dead. Divine civilization is like the spirit, and the body gets its

life from the spirit, otherwise it becomes a corpse. It has thus been made

evident that the world of mankind is in need of the breaths of the Holy

Spirit. Without the spirit the world of mankind is lifeless, and without

this light the world of mankind is in utter darkness. For the world of

nature is an animal world. Until man is born again from the world of

nature, that is to say, becomes detached from the world of nature, he is

essentially an animal, and it is the teachings of God which converts this

animal into a human soul.

And among the teachings of Baha'u'llah is the promotion of education.

Every child must be instructed in sciences as much as is necessary. If the

parents are able to provide the expenses of this education, it is all

right, otherwise the community must provide the means for the teaching of

that child.

And among the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah is justice and right.

Until these are realized on the plane of existence, all things shall be in

disorder and remain imperfect. The world of mankind is a world of

oppression and cruelty, and a realm of aggression and error.

In fine, such teachings are numerous. These manifold principles, which

constitute the greatest basis for the felicity of mankind and are of the

bounties of the Merciful, must be added to the matter of Universal Peace

and combined with it, so that results may accrue. Otherwise the

realization of Universal Peace (by itself) in the world of mankind is

difficult. As the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah are combined with

Universal Peace, they are like a table provided with every kind of fresh

and delicious food. Every soul can find, at that table of infinite bounty,

that which he desires. If the question is restricted to Universal Peace

alone, the remarkable results which are expected and desired will not be

attained. The scope of Universal Peace must be such that all the

communities and religions may find their highest wish realized in it. At

present the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah are such that all the

communities of the world, whether religious, political or ethical, ancient

or modern, find in the teachings of Baha'u'llah the expression of their

highest wish.

For example, the people of religions find, in the teaching of His Holiness

Baha'u'llah, the establishment of Universal Religion--a religion that

perfectly conforms with present conditions, which in reality effects the

immediate cure of the incurable disease, which relieves every pain, and

bestows the infallible antidote for every deadly poison. For if we wish to

arrange and organize the world of mankind in accordance with the present

religious imitations and thereby to establish the felicity of the world of

mankind, it is impossible and impracticable--for example, the enforcement

of the laws of the Old Testament (Torah) and also of the other religions

in accordance with present imitations. But the essential basis of all the

Divine Religions which pertains to the virtues of the world of mankind and

is the foundation of the welfare of the world of man, is found in the

teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah in the most perfect presentation.

Similarly, with regard to the peoples who clamor for freedom: the moderate

freedom which guarantees the welfare of the world of mankind and maintains

and preserves the universal relationships, is found in its fullest power

and extension in the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah.

So with regard to political parties: that which is the greatest policy

directing the world of mankind, nay, rather, the Divine policy, is found

in the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah.

Likewise with regard to the party of "equality" which seeks the solution

of the economic problems: until now all proposed solutions have proved

impracticable except the economic proposals in the teachings of His

Holiness Baha'u'llah which are practicable and cause no distress to

society.

So with the other parties: when ye look deeply into this matter, ye will

discover that the highest aims of those parties are found in the teachings

of Baha'u'llah. These teachings constitute the all-inclusive power among

all men and are practicable. But there are some teachings of the past,

such as those of the Torah, which cannot be carried out at the present

day. It is the same with the other religions and the tenets of the various

sects and the different parties.

For example, the question of Universal Peace, about which His Holiness

Baha'u'llah says that the Supreme Tribunal must be established: although

the League of Nations has been brought into existence, yet it is incapable

of establishing Universal Peace. But the Supreme Tribunal which His

Holiness Baha'u'llah has described will fulfil this sacred task with the

utmost might and power. And His plan is this: that the national assemblies

of each country and nation--that is to say parliaments--should elect two or

three persons who are the choicest men of that nation, and are well

informed concerning international laws and the relations between

governments and aware of the essential needs of the world of humanity in

this day. The number of these representatives should be in proportion to

the number of inhabitants of that country. The election of these souls who

are chosen by the national assembly, that is, the parliament, must be

confirmed by the upper house, the congress and the cabinet and also by the

president or monarch so these persons may be the elected ones of all the

nation and the government. From among these people the members of the

Supreme Tribunal will be elected, and all mankind will thus have a share

therein, for every one of these delegates is fully representative of his

nation. When the Supreme Tribunal gives a ruling on any international

question, either unanimously or by majority-rule, there will no longer be

any pretext for the plaintiff or ground of objection for the defendant. In

case any of the governments or nations, in the execution of the

irrefutable decision of the Supreme Tribunal, be negligent or dilatory,

the rest of the nations will rise up against it, because all the

governments and nations of the world are the supporters of this Supreme

Tribunal. Consider what a firm foundation this is! But by a limited and

restricted League the purpose will not be realized as it ought and should.

This is the truth about the situation, which has been stated.

Consider how powerful are the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah. At a

time when His Holiness was in the prison of Akka and was under the

restrictions and threats of two bloodthirsty kings, notwithstanding this

fact, His teachings spread with all power in Iran and other countries.

Should any teaching, or any principle, or any community fall under the

threat of a powerful and bloodthirsty monarch it will be annihilated

within a short space of time. At present for fifty years the Baha'is in

Iran and most regions have been under severe restrictions and the threat

of sword and spear. Thousands of souls have given their lives in the arena

of sacrifice and have fallen as victims under the swords of oppression and

cruelty. Thousands of esteemed families have been uprooted and destroyed.

Thousands of children have been made fatherless. Thousands of fathers have

been bereft of their sons. Thousands of mothers have wept and lamented for

their boys who have been beheaded. All this oppression and cruelty,

rapacity and blood-thirstiness did not hinder or prevent the spread of the

teachings of Baha'u'llah. They spread more and more every day, and their

power and might became more evident.

It may be that some foolish person among the Iranians will affix his name

to the contents of the Tablets of His Holiness Baha'u'llah or to the

explanations given in the letters of 'Abdu'l-Baha and send it to that

esteemed Assembly. Ye must be aware of this fact, for any Iranian who

seeks fame or has some other intention will take the entire contents of

the Tablets of His Holiness Baha'u'llah and publish them in his own name

or in that of his community, just as happened at the Universal Races

Congress in London before the war. An Iranian took the substance of the

Epistles of His Holiness Baha'u'llah, entered that Congress, gave them

forth in his own name and published them, whereas the wording was exactly

that of His Holiness Baha'u'llah. Some such souls have gone to Europe and

have caused confusion in the minds of the people of Europe and have

disturbed the thoughts of some Orientalists. Ye must bear this fact in

mind, for not a word of these teachings was heard in Iran before the

appearance of Baha'u'llah. Investigate this matter so that it may become

to you evident and manifest. Some souls are like parrots. They learn any

note which they may hear, and sing it, but they themselves are unaware of

what they utter. There is a sect in Iran at present made up of a few souls

who are called Babis, who claim to be followers of His Holiness the Bab,

whereas they are utterly unaware of His Holiness. They have some secret

teachings which are entirely opposed to the teachings of Baha'u'llah and

in Iran people know this. But when these souls come to Europe, they

conceal their own teachings and utter those of His Holiness Baha'u'llah,

for they know that the teachings of His Holiness Baha'u'llah are powerful

and they therefore declare publicly those teachings of Baha'u'llah in

their own name. As to their secret teachings, they say that they are taken

from the Book of Bayan, and the Book of Bayan is from His Holiness the

Bab. When ye get hold of the translation of the Book of Bayan, which has

been translated in Iran, ye will discover the truth that the teachings of

Baha'u'llah are utterly opposed to the teachings of this sect. Beware lest

ye disregard this fact. Should ye desire to investigate the matter

further, inquire from Iran.

In fine, when traveling and journeying throughout the world, wherever one

finds construction, it is the result of fellowship and love, while

everything that is in ruin shows the effect of enmity and hatred.

Notwithstanding this, the world of humanity has not become aware and has

not awakened from the sleep of heedlessness. Again it engages in

differences, in disputes and wrangling, that it may set up ranks of war

and may run to and fro in the arena of battle and strife.

So it is with regard to the universe and its corruption, existence and

non-existence. Every contingent being is made up of different and numerous

elements and the existence of everything is a result of composition. That

is to say, when between simple elements a composition takes place a being

arises; the creation of beings comes about in this way. And when that

composition is upset, it is followed by decomposition, the elements

disintegrate, and that being becomes annihilated. That is to say, the

annihilation of everything consists in the decomposition and the

separation of elements. Therefore, every composition among the elements is

the cause of life, while dissociation and separation are the cause of

death. In short, attraction and harmony of things are the cause of the

production of fruits and useful results, while repulsion and inharmony of

things are the cause of disturbance and annihilation. From harmony and

attraction, all living contingent beings, such as plant, animal and man,

are realized, and from inharmony and repulsion decay sets in and

annihilation becomes manifest. Therefore whatever is the cause of harmony,

attraction and union among men is the life of the world of humanity, and

whatever is the cause of difference, of repulsion and of separation is the

cause of the death of mankind. And when you pass by a garden wherein

vegetable beds and plants, flowers and fragrant herbs are all combined so

as to form a harmonious whole, this is an evidence that this plantation

and this rose garden have been cultivated and arranged by the care of a

perfect gardener, while when you see a garden in disorder, lacking

arrangement and confused, this indicates that it has been deprived of the

care of a skillful gardener, nay, rather, it is nothing but a mass of

weeds. It has therefore been made evident that fellowship and harmony are

indicative of the training by the real Educator, while separation and

dispersion prove wildness and deprivation of Divine training.

Should any one object that, since the communities and nations and races

and peoples of the world have different formalities, customs, tastes,

temperaments, morals, varied thoughts, minds and opinions, it is therefore

impossible for ideal unity to be made manifest and complete union among

men to be realized, we say that differences are of two kinds: One leads to

destruction, and that is like the difference between warring peoples and

competing nations who destroy one another, uproot each other's families,

do away with rest and comfort and engage in bloodshed and rapacity. That

is blameworthy. But the other difference consists in variation. This is

perfection itself and the cause of the appearance of Divine bounty.

Consider the flowers of the rose garden. Although they are of different

kinds, various colors and diverse forms and appearances, yet as they drink

from one water, are swayed by one breeze and grow by the warmth and light

of one sun, this variation and this difference cause each to enhance the

beauty and splendor of the others. The differences in manners, in customs,

in habits, in thoughts, opinions and in temperaments is the cause of the

adornment of the world of mankind. This is praiseworthy. Likewise this

difference and this variation, like the difference and variation of the

parts and members of the human body, are the cause of the appearance of

beauty and perfection. As these different parts and members are under the

control of the dominant spirit, and the spirit permeates all the organs

and members, and rules all the arteries and veins, this difference and

this variation strengthen love and harmony and this multiplicity is the

greatest aid to unity. If in a garden the flowers and fragrant herbs, the

blossoms and fruits, the leaves, branches and trees are of one kind, of

one form, of one color and of one arrangement, there is no beauty or

sweetness, but when there is variety, each will contribute to the beauty

and charm of the others and will make an admirable garden, and will appear

in the utmost loveliness, freshness and sweetness. Likewise, when

difference and variety of thoughts, forms, opinions, characters and morals

of the world of mankind come under the control of one Supreme Power and

the influence of the Word of the One True God, they will appear and be

displayed in the most perfect glory, beauty, exaltation and perfection.

Today nothing but the power of the Word of God which encompasses the

realities of things can bring the thoughts, the minds, the hearts and the

spirits under the shade of one Tree. He is the potent in all things, the

vivifier of souls, the preserver and the controller of the world of

mankind. Praise be to God, in this day the light of the Word of God has

shone forth upon all regions, and from all sects, communities, nations,

tribes, peoples, religions and denominations, souls have gathered under

the shadow of the Word of Oneness and have in the most intimate fellowship

united and harmonized!