Unity the goal

When speaking the word "unity", a host of associations are produced in my mind. But I know that none of these ideas about the profound and weighty concept of the unity of mankind actually do it justice. Divine things are too great for the human mind to contemplate, but we can aspire to approach them. 'Abdu'l-Bahá once said,

...universality is of God and all limitations earthly. Thus man must strive that his reality may manifest virtues and perfections, the light whereof may shine upon everyone.

This principle of shedding equally the light of love upon all the members of the human race runs like a red thread through all religious teaching, the Bahá'í Faith included:

Love is the fundamental principle of God's purpose for man, and He has commanded us to love each other even as He loves us.

- Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 122

Our purpose in life is thus to emulate God's example, as exhibited by His chosen Ones, the Messengers of God in every age, be it Moses, Buddha, Krishna, Christ, Muhammad in the past, or the "Twin Manifestations" for our time, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh. Abdu'l-Bahá says:

.. nearness to God is possible through devotion to him, through entrance into the Kingdom and service to humanity; it is attained by unity with mankind and through loving-kindness to all; it is dependent upon investigation of truth, acquisition of praiseworthy virtues, service in the Cause of universal peace and personal sanctification. In a word nearness to God necessitates sacrifice of self, severance and the giving up of all to Him. Nearness is likeness.

And so this brings us back to the concept of the unity of mankind as taught by Bahá'u'lláh. It is a spiritual union, not a physical or uniform one. Its watchword is unity in diversity:

Baha'u'llah has drawn the circle of unity, He has made a design for the uniting of all the peoples, and for the gathering of them all under the shelter of the tent of universal unity. This is the work of the Divine Bounty, and we must all strive with heart and soul until we have the reality of unity in our midst, and as we work, so will strength be given unto us.

- Abdu'l-Bahá

Thank you, Bahá'u'lláh, for this priceless gift that has been granted us today from your Pen, the knowledge of the oneness of mankind:

“It is not his to boast who loveth his country, but it is his who loveth the world.” Through the power released by these exalted words He hath lent a fresh impulse, and set a new direction, to the birds of men’s hearts, and hath obliterated every trace of restriction and limitation from God’s holy Book.

May the realization of this aim, through our concentrated and persistent efforts to build His new World Order, stand as testimony to the truth of our Lord's in this wonderful Age!