Online Reporter
Rumbidzai Zinyuke
Health Buzz
We often wonder how one can achieve a full, happy and purposeful life.
Such desire is a common yearning, no matter where in the world we live. We ponder what kind of change can bring lasting joy and fulfilment in life, and if there is a nobler purpose in life than merely devoting it to material pursuits.
Pursuing a higher purpose does not imply that we should neglect the material aspects of our lives. It entails progressing materially and spiritually, together and simultaneously, as the two are complementary. It also means that the processes of individual progress and social advancement, of promoting universal standards, and fostering cultural diversity, be harmonised.
For us to progress individually, we need to develop the powers and capacities latent within us, through a balanced education: an education that leads to the discovery and perfection of our capabilities, and instils in us a commitment to serve the best interests of our communities.
Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, 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”.
A balanced education entails moral empowerment, as well as intellectual development. It would cultivate in us the capacity to participate in our own progress, and would make us collaborators in the development of our communities.
An adequate and balanced education would cultivate tolerance, love, equality, compassion, understanding, humility, and an active commitment to justice. It would nurture in the individual an appreciation for the richness and importance of the world’s diverse cultural, religious, and social systems, and encourage unity in diversity.
For this to become reality, our educational systems must be free from all kinds of prejudice – be it racial, religious, national, gender-based, or ethnic.
Bahá’u’lláh says that all people “have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilisation”. Accordingly, we all have the right and the responsibility to contribute to this important enterprise, whose goal is nothing less than the unity, peace, and prosperity of the human family.
For us to be able to contribute our share towards the creation of a peaceful and prosperous world civilisation, based on principles of justice and prosperity, we need to use our God-given talents and capacities in the service to humanity.
Through serving others, the essential principles of social integration, including compassion, understanding, sacrifice, humility, and commitment to justice, can be manifested in our neighbourhoods and communities.
In the Bahá’í view, humanity has now reached a new level of maturity, and therefore, it is now possible to create societies founded upon cooperation, trust, and genuine concern for others.
The Bahá’í Writings state: “It is incumbent upon every man of insight and understanding to strive to translate that which hath been written into reality and action. . . That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race.
“The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth”.
The following excerpt from the Bahá’í Writings further emphasise the importance of serving humanity: “Is there any greater blessing conceivable for a man, than that he should become the cause of the education, the development, the prosperity and honour of his fellow-creatures?
“No, by the Lord God! The highest righteousness of all is for blessed souls to take hold of the hands of the helpless. . . and with pure motives, and only for the sake of God, to arise and energetically devote themselves to the service of the masses, forgetting their own worldly advantage and working only to serve the general good.”
The purpose of our lives, according to the Bahá’í Writings, is to know God and to worship Him, in addition to carrying forward an ever-advancing civilisation. Knowledge and worship of God lead us to the love of God.
Civilisation, Bahá’u’lláh says, has evolved to the point where unity of humanity has become of the utmost necessity. Therefore, working for the unification of humanity, and building a peaceful world, should be an important goal and purpose in our lives.
Living a more noble and purposeful life, therefore, is to know, to love and to worship our Creator and to follow His commandments. It is to cultivate such attributes, skills, virtues and qualities that will enable us to contribute our share to the building of an ever-advancing civilisation.
It is to serve our communities and our human family. It is to work for the creation of a united world, upon which will depend on our wellbeing, peace and security.
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