Baha’i Youth In Shiraz serving the Underpriviliged Kids

فعالیتهایی انسانی جوانان بهایی شیراز که جمهوری اسلامی

Service to humanity is considered by the Teaching’s of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Revelation, to be the highest state any one can achieve in their earthly life. Baha’i Teachings view the organic oneness of humanity as a spiritual law given to man for this day and age to ensure not just peace but an ever advancing civilization for all humanity. It is a spiritual law which is as essencial for spiritual life as the law of gravity is in the physical world for movement.

Baha’i children learn about this principle first when their parents practice it with great joy. They learn to love this law when they see people of all background, creed, religion and color come together as members of one family. They learn about it more when their Baha’i teachers tell them stories of unconditional love from the life of all the Manifestations of God such as Moses, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Muhammad, The Bab and Baha’ullah. They learn more about it from the Baha’i prayers they memorize and recite saying:

 O God! Thou art kind to all, Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the Ocean of Thy Mercy.

O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.

O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind.

O God! Establish the Most Great Peace.

Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together.

O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the Light of Thy Guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy Word, and shelter us all in the Stronghold of Thy Providence.

Thou art the Mighty and Powerful, Thou art the Forgiving and Thou art the One Who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind.   

(Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 100)

Baha’i children are taught from an early age not just to focus but to look for the strength and gifts in others. Abdu’l-Baha the son of the founder of the Baha’i  Faith, who from childhood until old age was the prisoner of the Persian government and the Ottoman Empire, is a most loving example of how important it is to be grateful for the opportunities of serving others. He chose for himself the title of Abdu’l-Baha which means His highest honor was to be a servant to the Glory of God. There are so many examples from the life of Abdu’l-Baha that children learn with delight and try to emulate. These stories teaches children how they are always free to practice the art of compassion, empathy, humanity, emotional intelligence, self discipline, delayed gratification, joy and happiness, despite odd circumstances. The Baha’i children are taught about self abnegation, love for knowledge, having a sin covering eye, magnanimity, trustworthiness, humility, consultation, harmony of religion and science, eloquent speech, honesty, cleanliness in mind and body, respect to others, forgiveness justice, and a whole list of virtues and perfections. In the example of the life of Abdu’l-Baha they learn that sometimes out of ignorance, fear, or malice others might try to violate their human rights, but no one can rob them out of their dignity and integrity. They learn that when wronged seek justice by referring to authorities and never wrong anyone by choosing to revenge. These teachings Baha’ullah has brought for humanity as a token of Divine mercy and grace so we can all be worthy of our neighbor’s trust. Trust, that rare virtue the absence of which these days, has put a mighty black hole at the heart of our planet!!

The Baha’i youth in Shiraz were trying to repair the shattered foundation of trust by attending to the basic physical, social and spiritual needs of the poor and abandoned children in their community. They were providing integrated education as an expression of the oneness of all humanity.

The children and their parents loved it but the ignorant authorities blocked it and put the Baha’i youth teacher volunteers in prison. There is always a Dart Wader and Luke Sky walker in every story!!!

Respectfully

Keyvan