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Women's full participation the KEY to peace

 
The foundation for creating a lasting culture of peace is actually in place viz. recognition that the involvement of women is key to the effort:

In 2000, the Security Council UNANIMOUSLY recognized that

equal access and full participation of women in all layers of power structures, as well as their full participation... in prevention and resolution of conflicts were essential elements for making and sustaining peace.

Now, let's only make it happen!

‘Abdu’l-Bahá has stated in this regard:

[Woman] will be the greatest factor in establishing universal peace and international arbitration.
(PUP 108)

Simple truths, yet easy to forget - striving for the other as the natural state of our existence

 
Nourishment for the spirit.

A fundamental truth (and not a theory): the interconnectedness of all men

'Abdu'l-Bahá has said:

Humanity may be likened to a tree. This tree has branches, leaves, buds and fruit. Think of all men as being flowers, leaves or buds of this tree, and try to help each and all to realize and enjoy God’s blessings. God neglects none: He loves all.
The only real difference that exists between people is that they are at various stages of development. Some are imperfect—these must be brought to perfection. Some are asleep—they must be awakened; some are negligent—they must be roused; but one and all are the children of God. Love them all with your whole heart; no one is a stranger to the other, all are friends...
I in the East, and you in the West, let us try with heart and soul that unity may dwell in the world, that all the peoples may become one people, and that the whole surface of the earth may be like one country—for the Sun of Truth shines on all alike.
(PT 170-171)

The House of Justice refers to this same teaching in its latest Ridván message:

How often did the Beloved Master ['Abdu'l-Bahá] express the hope that the hearts of the believers would overflow with love for one another, that they would abide no lines of separation but would regard all of humanity even as one family. "See ye no strangers," is His exhortation; "rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness." ...
[I]s it not love for God that burns away all veils of estrangement and division and binds hearts together in perfect unity? Is it not His love that spurs you on in the field of service...?

(Ridván message 2010)

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Genuine joy

 
What is real happiness? And how is it related to genuine love?
The following story would illustrate an aspect of the latter, with reference to the dark, cold, hard iron that takes on the qualities of fire - light, heat and liquidity - when exposed to it. A transcription of a talk given by Mr. Ali Nakhjavani in 2001 in which he comments on and paraphrases the content of a tablet - not yet translated - of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.

(Third story)

...[O]ne day, someone was passing by, and saw this rusted, muddy, piece of iron in the valley. And this piece of iron is a human being. This is an example. So, there is a conversation between the piece of iron and this gentleman or this woman. This is what this [believer] says. "Do you know that there is a fire which is burning and blazing in the world of existence?"

The piece of iron says, "Really, surely I'm interested."

He says, "Come along, I will show you."

They go along, and from a distance, he says, "You see that smoke? Where there's smoke, there's fire." Sometimes, we are so quick in [registering those who acknowledge their belief] that at that point, we say, "You accept that where there's smoke there's fire? Now sign this!" That's too soon, he has not even seen the fire. We go along.

Now, there is a prayer from Baha'u'llah, speaking about this fire. "I know not what the fire is which thou dost kindle in thy land, earth can never cloud its splendour, nor water quench its flame." He is talking about this fire. It's the fire of the Cause. He's talking about that. Then He says, "Blessed are those who hear its roaring."

QUOTE: "Great is the blessedness of him that hath drawn nigh unto it, and heard its roaring." (Baha'u'llah: PM 76)

In other words, as you are approaching the fire, you hear the crackle of the fuel. Already, you see something, you hear something. You haven't seen the fire yet, you approach again, ah, you see the fire, the flames.

The teacher says, "This is not enough, my dear. Let us get closer."

When you get closer, what happens? The metal, the iron feels the warmth and receives the warmth. It was cold, it becomes warm. At that point, you know, I told you this morning, Mr. Enoch Olinga was told by Shoghi Effendi, first is attraction, then there is conversion. This is the stage of conversion, when the piece of iron feels the warmth, and accepts the warmth. It was cold, it becomes warm. At that point, he [declares that he now believes and considers himself a believer].

What about the rest that Mr. Olinga heard from Shoghi Effendi? The teacher says, "This is not finished, my brother, or my sister. Wait, this is not enough... I don't want to frighten you, but I must tell you this, because the process is not complete. It must be completed." So, the teacher says, "Let us throw ourselves into the fire."

What happens to the metal? It is warm, yes, but something else happens, it acquires the qualities of the fire. It has rust all over its body, it shakes off the rust, it becomes brilliant, it acquires the qualities, as I said, of the fire, so much so that you look at the fire, and you look at the piece of iron, you don't know where the fire ends and where the metal begins. They become one. That is dedication. That is consecration. That is the end of the process, when we shake off this rust of selfishness and we become purer and purer all the time, and we acquire the qualities of [heaven].

Now, having said this story about this piece of iron, and the three stages I explained to you this morning, I want to tell you that this story is not mine. It is in one of the tablets of Abdu'l-Baha. He gives the story of this piece of iron. But I explained it a little bit more, I added few things here and there which were of me, for example, in the valley and going here and seeing the smoke, this is all mine, but the essential part, which is seeing, hearing the fire burning, seeing the flame, acquiring the warmth, and the last stage, throwing oneself into the fire, to become brilliant, to become luminous, to acquire the qualities of this Divine Flame, this is why when we describe some people who are on fire with the Cause, we say, he is a flame, that's why, because of this tablet of Abdu'l-Baha. It is a very short tablet which I tried to open up. And explain in the form of this story. ...

Source is here. Go to the latter half of the third story.

Enjoying a study circle in Malaysia.
(Photo: Ryan Lash)
Photo Copyright Baha'i International Community. View here.

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Enabling shared responsibility between women and men

 
Key learnings about effective measures for promoting gender equality from a publicaton of the OECD.
(Excerpts:)

Advancing gender equality: some practical proposals

Beatrice Duncan, Social Affairs Expert, African Centre for Gender and Social Development(UNECA)

Enabling progress

• [Reflection over] what do we mean by local level?
• [The need for] negotiation
• Can tradition and perceptions change?
• Are there aspects of tradition and culture which advance the cause of women?
• Are there existing traditional resources that we can tap into?
• [The virtue of] seeking close alliances with male and female traditional authority
• [The imperative to] invest in education...

Read the full article (PDF-format) here; referenced here.

Regarding the issue of gender equality the Bahá'í International Community states in a report to a UN-session:

The goal of [equal sharing of responsibilities between men and women] raises questions about the nature and purpose of human life and how these inform the scope and allocation of responsibilities. The worldwide Bahá'í community is guided by its recognition of the essential nobility of every human being—the capacity to develop spiritually and intellectually and to become a source of support and advantage to others. We see each individual as the possessor of inestimable talents, which, through education, can be developed and manifested in service to the common good. Furthermore, while men and women are physically distinct, their spiritual identities are equal—the soul has no gender. Each one, then, must play a role in striving for the well-being of others and, ultimately, in co-creating a social order that fosters the spiritual and material well-being of all peoples.

(BIC: Striving Towards Justice: Transforming the Dynamics of Human Interaction, 28 February 2009, view here)

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Consultative procedure fosters success, innovation

 
From an inspiring article on a company's modus operandi.
(Excerpts)

Methodology

We...share a commitment to [some] basic principles:
1st of all, we believe that breakthrough creativity and innovation is a natural outcome of true COLLABORATION. We often find that great ideas are born through the clash of differing opinions when truth-seeking is the goal. When true collaboration is happening, you can feel it. Something gels and clicks within the group and everyone present is aware of an organic co-creation process that they are participating in… something magical happens....

We believe that co-creation through collaboration yields the greatest results....

Distinct from the “group think” that characterizes some initiatives, in collaboration people may change their opinions and ideas multiple times as they influence the discussion and the discussion influences them. The best work comes from an interactive and collaborative process where no one knows where the idea came from but it was created together....
(Emphasis added)

Read the full article here.

Regarding consultation, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has stated:

The members [of the Assembly] must take counsel together in such wise that no occasion for ill-feeling or discord may arise. This can be attained when every member expresseth with absolute freedom his own opinion and setteth forth his argument. Should anyone oppose, he must on no account feel hurt.... The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions.

(Selections #44)

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