“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth,” state the Baha’i Holy Writings. Thus the age old yet still effective ploy, “Divide and conquer.”
But what is real unity? In nature we find various collective expressions of unity still generally perceived as uniformity and therefore not enthusiastically embraced. In humankind a distinction exists between various groups according to lineage, with each group forming a genetic racial unity separate from the others. Not superior or inferior, only separate and potentially equal when given equal opportunity, education, and healthcare.
There is also unity of tongue among those who speak the same language but often much disunity among the thoughts, motives, methodology and actions of these same people.
Also there is national unity where various people live under one form of government, and political unity, which affects the civil and humanitarian rights and practices of individual factions within the same governments. But all of these unities are superficial and without real solid foundation. From such limited unities come only limited results, which often create greater disunity.
The true unity which produces unlimited results is first a unity through diversity of mankind as one (human) race. Such an awakening, made more perceivable through modern science and technology, can only come through heightened spirituality as opposed to more religions, which have been, and continue to increasingly be the highest divider of mankind within same nations and within same religions. Through such spiritually redirected energies and resources today’s high tech society would produce a worldwide environment of motivation and determination to provide necessary food, housing, education, and physical, mental and spiritual healthcare for all who dwell on earth.
As we enter another harvest season we revisit the words found in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes which begin with, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted”-harvest time, the time to reap the fruits of the seeds sewn. What seeds are we sowing as individuals, as parents or custodians of others whether young or old, in this nation and/or abroad as the winds of despair continue to blow from every direction?
Are we sowing seeds of unity for the betterment of the world or the wild oats of hatred, fear and division for the perceived comfort and continued control of a few over the masses? The signs of convulsions and chaos can now be clearly discerned in as much as the old “order” appears to be lamentably defective-yet it is so easy to defy change, even for the better. If we as individuals or as a nation continue, by word or deed, to sow seeds of prejudice, hatred selfishness, greed, war and destruction, as each season of harvest approaches what will be our harvest?
“O ye children of men!” state the Baha’i Scriptures, “The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His religion is to safeguard the interest and promote the unity of the entire human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship among men! Suffer it not to become the source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity…Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure.” (Investigate!)
