Upon listening to a presentation referencing the desired results of “highly sophisticated discipline,” I have become more aware of the relativity of all orderly movement to discipline, whether voluntary, mandatory or natural. The whole of nature is disciplined by its own laws but mankind requires many disciplines due to intellect, volition and ever increasing freedoms. Our respective attitudes toward discipline generally stem from early childhood, depending upon how we were first introduced to and affected by it, varying widely from individual to individual (even within the same family) and from one culture to another.
In America, however, the most representative of all the cultures of the entire world, disciplinary tactics range widely from, “It takes a village to raise a child..” to no discipline at all. Thus, in the latter, doing a great disservice to the undisciplined individual and to society as a whole. The child who has been constantly threatened and punished as a means of discipline will form a negative attitude toward it and react accordingly. If the child is disciplined instead by love–of and through parents and other family members, the motivation becomes greater to excel to reward such trust. It also creates a perpetual drive to make all concerned proud of their investment in you. The principal factor is “attitude adjustment” which one seldom masters alone. There must first be an awareness that an attitude problem exists, secondly the volition to change it and finally the determination to work tenaciously until it’s done.
Once we recognize and respect rather than deny or prolong its need of correction, our rebellion will be minimized.
Of the many types of discipline required for orderly execution we find high on the list, strict military discipline without which military might would be non-existent. There are also endless moral, physical, mental, spiritual and other disciplines to be exercised. But the more self discipline we display, the less others will need to exert over us. Again it’s a matter of physical and spiritual maturity. The child is often controlled by progressive fears (of the dark, physical pain or any number of others. But as it matures and conquers these fears more have to be added to replace them until old enough to be controlled more by progressive love–of parent, sweetheart, mate, siblings and especially the ultimate of Love of one’s Creator (however we perceive Him.)
At the very core of discipline is obedience–to the laws of God, man and nature. Without obedience there can be no discipline as every act of either has its own consequences. To choose disobedience inevitably brings sorrow and often tragedy into our lives, thus adversely affecting the lives of those closely related. Obedience to laws, however places whatever repercussion on the law and frees the individual of guilt, fear, remorse or doubt about the action taken–depending of course upon which side of it you are on. This type of freedom makes one more lovable, changing former attitudes of trials to mere tests and formerly perceived stumbling blocks into stepping-stones. We owe it to those who came before us as well as those after us to equip the latter with the power of Love through obedience and respect of discipline!
Renowned educator Benjamin E. Mays states: “It’s not your environment, it is YOU–the quality of your minds, the integrity of your souls and the determination of your wills-–that will decide your future and shape your lives!”
Likewise, from the Baha’i Holy Writings for this New Era we read: “With obedience and faithfulness come spiritual transformation and an abundance of energy to pursue one’s spiritual destiny in accordance with God’s purpose for man. There is no challenge or aspiration greater than this, no joy equal to it!”
