See then how wide is the difference between material civilization and divine. With force and punishments, material civilization seeketh to restrain the people from mischief, from inflicting harm on society and committing crimes. But in a divine civilization, the individual is so conditioned that with no fear of punishment, he shunneth the perpetration of crimes, seeth the crime itself as the severest of torments, and with alacrity and joy, setteth himself to acquiring the virtues of humankind, to furthering human progress, and to spreading light across the world.
("Selections from the Writings of "Abdu"l-Baha", Sec. 105, pp. 13233) [38]
"39: Among the safeguards of the Holy Faith is the training of children, and..."
Among the safeguards of the Holy Faith is the training of children, and this is among the weightiest of principles in all the Divine Teachings.
Thus from the very beginning mothers must rear their infants in the cradle of good morals-for it is the mothers who are the first educators-so that, when the child cometh to maturity, he will prove to be endowed with all the virtues and qualities that are worthy of praise.
And further, according to the Divine commandments, every child must learn reading and writing, and acquire such branches of knowledge as are useful and necessary, as well as learning an art or skill. The utmost care must be devoted to these matters; any neglect of them, any failure to act on them, is not permissible.
Observe how many penal inst.i.tutions, houses of detention and places of torture are made ready to receive the sons of men, the purpose being to prevent them, by punitive measures, from committing terrible crimes-whereas this very torment and punishment only increaseth depravity, and by such means the desired aim cannot be properly achieved.
Therefore must the individual be trained from his infancy in such a way that he will never undertake to commit a crime, will, rather, direct all his energies to the acquisition of excellence, and will look upon the very commission of an evil deed as in itself the harshest of all punishments, considering the sinful act itself to be far more grievous than any prison sentence. For it is possible so to train the individual that, although crime may not be completely done away with, still it will become very rare.
The purport is this, that to train the character of humankind is one of the weightiest commandments of G.o.d, and the influence of such training is the same as that which the sun exerteth over tree and fruit. Children must be most carefully watched over, protected and trained; in such consisteth true parenthood and parental mercy.
Otherwise, the children will turn into weeds growing wild, and become the cursed, Infernal Tree,(10) not right from wrong, distinguishing not the highest of human qualities from all that is mean and vile; they will be brought up in vainglory, and will be hated of the Forgiving Lord.
Wherefore doth every child, new-risen in the garden of Heavenly love, require the utmost training and care.
(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [39]
"40: The root cause of wrongdoing is ignorance, and we must therefore hold fast..."
The root cause of wrongdoing is ignorance, and we must therefore hold fast to the tools of perception and knowledge. Good character must be taught.
Light must be spread afar, so that, in the school of humanity, all may acquire the heavenly characteristics of the spirit, and see for themselves beyond any doubt that there is no fiercer h.e.l.l, no more fiery abyss, than to possess a character that is evil and unsound; no more darksome pit nor loathsome torment than to show forth qualities which deserve to be condemned.
The individual must be educated to such a high degree that he would rather have his throat cut than tell a lie, and would think it easier to be slashed with a sword or pierced with a spear than to utter calumny or be carried away by wrath.
Thus will be kindled the sense of human dignity and pride, to burn away the reapings of l.u.s.tful appet.i.tes. Then will each one of G.o.d"s beloved shine out as a bright moon with qualities of the spirit, and the relationship of each to the Sacred Threshold of his Lord will be not illusory but sound and real, will be as the very foundation of the building, not some embellishment on its facade.
It followeth that the children"s school must be a place of utmost discipline and order, that instruction must be thorough, and provision must be made for the rectification and refinement of character; so that, in his earliest years, within the very essence of the child, the divine foundation will be laid and the structure of holiness raised up.
Know that this matter of instruction, of character rectification and refinement, of heartening and encouraging the child, is of the utmost importance, for such are basic principles of G.o.d.
Thus, if G.o.d will, out of these spiritual schools illumined children will arise, adorned with all the fairest virtues of humankind, and will shed their light not only across Persia, but around the world.
It is extremely difficult to teach the individual and refine his character once p.u.b.erty is pa.s.sed. By then, as experience has shown, even if every effort be exerted to modify some tendency of his, it all availeth nothing.
He may, perhaps, improve somewhat today; but let a few days pa.s.s and he forgetteth, and turneth backward to his habitual condition and accustomed ways. Therefore it is in early childhood that a firm foundation must be laid. While the branch is green and tender it can easily be made straight.
Our meaning is that qualities of the spirit are the basic and divine foundation, and adorn the true essence of man; and knowledge is the cause of human progress. The beloved of G.o.d must attach great importance to this matter, and carry it forward with enthusiasm and zeal.
("Selections from the Writings of "Abdu"l-Baha", Sec. 111) pp. 13637) [40]
"41: Were there no educator, all souls would remain savage, and were it not for..."
Were there no educator, all souls would remain savage, and were it not for the teacher, the children would be ignorant creatures.
It is for this reason that, in this new cycle, education and training are recorded in the Book of G.o.d as obligatory and not voluntary. That is, it is enjoined upon the father and mother, as a duty, to strive with all effort to train the daughter and the son, to nurse them from the breast of knowledge and to rear them in the bosom of sciences and arts. Should they neglect this matter, they shall be held responsible and worthy of reproach in the presence of the stern Lord.
("Selections from the Writings of "Abdu"l-Baha", Sec. 98, pp. 12627) [41]
"42: And among the teachings of Baha"u"llah is the promotion of education...."
And among the teachings of Baha"u"llah is the promotion of education.
Every child must be instructed in sciences as much as is necessary. If the parents are able to provide the expenses of this education, it is well, otherwise the community must provide the means for the teaching of that child.
(From a letter written by "Abdu"l-Baha to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace, The Hague, (December 17, 1919), p.12; also published in "Selections from the Writings of "Abdu"l-Baha", Sec. 227, p. 304) [42]
"43: There are certain pillars which have been established as the unshakeable..."
There are certain pillars which have been established as the unshakeable supports of the Faith of G.o.d. The mightiest of these is learning and the use of the mind, the expansion of consciousness, and insight into the realities of the universe and the hidden mysteries of Almighty G.o.d.
To promote knowledge is thus an inescapable duty imposed on every one of the friends of G.o.d. It is inc.u.mbent upon that Spiritual a.s.sembly, that a.s.semblage of G.o.d, to exert every effort to educate the children, so that from infancy they will be trained in Baha"i conduct and the ways of G.o.d, and will, even as young plants, thrive and flourish in the soft-flowing waters that are the counsels and admonitions of the Blessed Beauty. Work then with heart and soul, loose your tongues to further this endeavour, sacrifice your possessions so that the School of I_sh_qabad will ever advance in discipline and order.(11)
(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [43]
"44: Thou didst write as to the children: From the very beginning, the..."
Thou didst write as to the children: From the very beginning, the children must receive divine education and must continually be reminded to remember their G.o.d. Let the love of G.o.d pervade their inmost being, commingled with their mother"s milk.
("Selections from the Writings of "Abdu"l-Baha", Sec. 99, p. 127) [44]