The next stage in the evolution of this planet

From:

Tarázát

From Baha'i Perspectives:

A few weeks ago, an agnostic, a Christian, and two Baha'is headed to
Kampala, Uganda together to visit the only Bahá'í House of Worship
in all of Africa.

When I looked at the faces of my fellow travel companions, I saw a similar
mood. I wondered to myself: why can't this simply be the norm? To have
people of different faiths or no faith come to a common place of peace
intended for meditation or prayer or simply to breathe.

In The Promulgation of Universal Peace, Abdu'l-Bahá beautifully
summarizes the purpose of the Baha'i houses of worship:

"In brief, the original purpose of temples and houses of worship
is simply that of unity — places of meeting where various
peoples, different races and souls of every capacity may come
together in order that love and agreement should be manifest
between them."

We attended the morning Sunday devotionals at the house of worship and heard
writings from the Koran, the Bible, and the Baha'i writings recited and chanted in multiple languages by people of various faiths and backgrounds as
cool breezes flowed in and out of the nine gigantic doors displaying a
panoramic view of Kampala.

With the current state of the world and the seemingly endless growing tensions between people of varying ideologies, it was powerful, if only for
a brief moment on a hilltop in Kampala, to actually EXPERIENCE how peace
looks and sounds and feels.

"The call of the Kingdom has been sounded, and the
annunciation of the world's need for Universal Peace has
enlightened the world's conscience."

(Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 37)

(My sister during her travels to Uganda)

The Baha'i faith states that peace is not
only possible, it is inevitable. It is the
next stage in the evolution of this planet...

"The Coming of Peace"

From the Baha'i Writings
"By what process" continued the questioner, "will this
peace on earth be established? Will it come at once after
a universal declaration of the Truth?"

"No, it will come about gradually," said 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
"A plant that grows too quickly lasts but a short time.
You are my family" and he looked about with a smile,
"my new children! If a family lives in unison, great
results are obtained. Widen the circle; when a city
lives in intimate accord greater results will follow
and a continent that is fully united will likewise
unite all other continents. Then will be the time of
the greatest results, for all the inhabitants of the
earth belong to one native land."

Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 106

From the Buddhist Writings
Victory breeds hatred, for the defeated live in pain.
Happily live the peaceful, giving up victory and defeat.

Dhammapada - Sayings of the Buddha

From the Christian Writings
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and
hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of
your Father for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Matthew 43-45

From the Muslim Writings
And if two parties of believers fall to fighting, then make peace between
them. And if one party of them doeth wrong to the other, fight ye that
which doeth wrong till it return unto the ordinance of God; then, if it
return, make peace between them justly, and act equitably. Lo! God
loveth the equitable.

The Qur'an 49.9

Let not a man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he loves his kind....

Baha'u'llah

Please share your thoughts, ideas
or poems below for peace..

Love,
Taraz

Ps
Everyone is free to use any of
the quotes here for devotionals,
firesides, blogs or bulletins.

Some of the pictures above were
taken from http://media.bahai.org

..