Leading the world – the Democratic Republic of Congo and Papua New Guinea

 

Bahá'í House of Worship in the Congo

The Bahá’í building which is dedicated to worshipping God is known in English as a House of Worship, and is often referred to simply as a temple. Each House of Worship is a nine-sided building, open to people of all faiths and none. Each of nine paths leads through a garden to an entrance, which illustrates the idea of different paths leading to the truth. Within the building, the Bahá’ís hold organised services of readings, prayers and song, but there are no sermons. There may be choirs, but no musical instruments distract from the human voice. At other times, the temple is open for individual devotion and contemplation.

The first Bahá’í House of Worship was opened in 1919, in what is now Turkmenistan, but that building was seized from the Bahá’ís, and now no longer exists. However, beginning in 1953 with the much-loved temple just north of Chicago, a world-wide series of Houses of Worship has been gradually erected, one for each continent. The European one, for example, is in Germany. The last Continental House of Worship was erected in Chile, in 2016. [I wrote a blog post about this in October, 2016, entitled “And then there were eight”.] Since then, a small number of local Houses of Worship have been built in particular areas where there are a large number of Bahá’ís, giving each of these communities a clear focal point. [My blog on the first of these was written in September, 2017, and is called “A sign of hope”.] In each case, they are the central point not just for worship, but also for learning and acts of social benefit. But importantly, a parallel process has started, in that the first national Houses of Worship have also begun to be built. Leading the world are two countries which each have a significant Bahá’í community, in each case drawn from many different peoples in what is a very divided country. These two were the ones chosen to have the first national Houses of Worship.

In their local areas, Bahá’ís organise meetings for prayers in which people of all faiths are able to take part. This can be done on a larger scale when there is a dedicated building – a House of Worship as pictured above. Praying together leads to working together to make the local area a better place. The Bahá’í principles call for everyone to be as one, reaching out beyond loyalty to a particular tribe, group or creed. Unfortunately there are currently many divisions in the world. In some countries the divides are obvious to outsiders due to skin colour, but in others it is the religion in which people were raised which is the divide, while in yet others it is the tribe or group they are from. All these different sorts of division need to be overcome, and worshipping together is a very effective way of overcoming them. It states in the Bahá’í writings that: “The world of humanity is like a garden and the various races… constitute its adornment and decoration… The very fact that there is difference and variety lends a charm to the garden. If all [the flowers] were of the same colour the effect would be monotonous and depressing…” Local Bahá’í communities often offer a pleasing diversity. Practice of the Bahá’í principles of unity, equality and inclusiveness has led the Bahá’í community to develop into a very ethnically diverse body of people.

A fundamental aspect of the Bahá’í Faith is its devotion to the idea of service to mankind. Activities based at or around the temple will consist of worship, but also of social development activities such as children’s classes, junior youth groups and other initiatives for bringing progress to the local community. Children’s classes focus on developing virtues and a pattern of positive social behaviour. When the children reach eleven years of age, they enter junior youth groups which explore ways to serve the community through direct, local, social action. In the future, the link between religion and the fabric of society will be made ever clearer, and the Bahá’í House of Worship will be central to linking different aspects of human life, unifying each community and its collective institutions. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh, explained that, “The House of Worship, wherein each may worship God in his own way, is to be surrounded by such accessories as a hospital, pilgrim-house, school for orphans and a university for the study of higher sciences.”

The House of Worship in the Democratic Republic of Congo was formally opened in the capital, Kinshasa, on 5^th March, 2023. Over 2,000 people were present, a number of them from other countries. Mélanie Bangala was representing the Universal House of Justice, which is the Bahá’í world body. The House of Justice addressed those present with a letter, which included the following: “The House of Worship raised in this Congolese metropolis is… dedicated to uniting the worship of God and service to humanity, both vital to the regeneration of the world.” Another speaker stated that the gathering was an expression “of the principle of unity in diversity – representing different peoples, ethnic groups, and tribes”. There are over 450 different tribes in the country, and many of these were represented, when choirs from different parts of the Republic sang in Lingala and in French.

The tiles on the dome of the House of Worship reflect traditional styles of art, and are arranged to represent the River Congo and its tributaries. Near the temple there is a reflecting pool, which is shaped to capture a reflection of the whole building. The undulating roof over the lower parts of the building copies the style of certain Congolese buildings of the past, which had a parabolic roof made from palm leaves. Incorporating elements which display encouragement for local culture is an essential part of Bahá’í thinking. An important Bahá’í principle is “Unity in Diversity” – that we should all work together as one, each contributing our individual talents.

House of Worship in Papua New Guinea

The second country to build a national House of Worship was Papua New Guinea. More than 1,000 people gathered in Port Moresby on Saturday 25^th May, 2024, for the inauguration. Some had walked for two or three days to get there. The programme continued on Sunday, welcoming a further 3,000 people. The letter from the Universal House of Justice to those present referred to the position of the new temple, overlooking the Coral Sea, and stated that it “has a profound spiritual significance. By welcoming all within its walls, it expresses the unity of the human race and the oneness of all religions… in service to humanity.” Participants in the ceremony included government officials, religious leaders and many others, representing different parts of the country.

The architects had wanted something which would unite different peoples from this ethnically diverse nation, and hit upon the idea of weaving, which is a traditional craft across the country. Henry Lape, one of the architects, said: “Weaving is integral to our cultural identity, symbolising our interconnectedness and the intertwining of lives and communities.” He said that it would be “a sacred space open to all, where people can come to pray and reflect on their contributions to society.” Local people took part in a number of stages of the construction, such as weaving aluminium strips for the internal decoration. The building, in its entirety, suggests something similar to a woven basket, and stands as a statement of New Guinean identity.

It has already been announced which country will have the third national House of Worship. This will be Canada, and the building will be constructed in the general area of Toronto. There is a strong and united Bahá’í community in Canada, which includes both indigenous people and believers from the more recently-settled population. Judging by the buildings raised in the Congo and in New Guinea, we may expect another interesting architectural masterpiece!

Poles apart...

 

Unfortunately, the world seems to have become greatly polarised in many ways. The extreme polarisation in American politics has just taken another violent turn as a presidential candidate has been shot whilst holding a rally. Thankfully he was only slightly hurt, though it seems that others nearby were injured or killed. Political events in recent years have led to the USA becoming a very polarised nation, in which many people have lost faith in the nation’s institutions, and where voters on both sides of the political divide have also lost faith in the neutrality of the judicial system. Opposing political parties are unable to work together for the good of the country. Meanwhile in Europe, a polarised view of the world is increasing, and a recent election in France has shown the deep distrust between left and right. In British politics too, candidates in the recent election have been threatened and intimidated by those who don’t agree with their views.

One of the factors which makes things worse is undoubtedly the polarised nature of the news media, which is fractured into rival systems, with many individuals only watching one television channel or relying on one newspaper because of supposed bias from the others. The Bahá’í writings say that in the future: “The press will… cease to be mischievously manipulated by vested interests… and will be liberated from the influence of contending governments and peoples.” At present, the triumph of a particular political ideology is seen as more important than the truth, and accusations of “fake news” are frequently heard on all sides. Publishing “information” and “news” which is totally false was once the method employed only by dictatorships, in countries where the government rules without reference to the views of the citizens. The same method is now being applied by parties wishing to gain power through the votes of the citizens. An American TV channel was recently challenged over a completely fabricated version of events. It was pointed out by critics that its story did not correspond with the real facts. The TV channel’s response was to shamelessly respond that theirs were “alternative facts”.

International relationships are also greatly polarised, between those who want to establish the rule of law, by accepting and recognising legally-established boundaries everywhere, and those who see any calls for acceptance of the present borders as a failure to stand up to the dominance of the richest countries. This means that the invasion of one state by another is not universally condemned. There is also the gulf between genuinely democratic nations (however imperfect that democracy may be) and those who rule as dictators or who manipulate elections and limit candidates in order to remain in power.

The long-standing conflict in the Holy Land has also polarised opinion across many parts of the world. Following the recent upsurge in violence, many people around the world are actively working to promote one side or the other, often based on a sense of religious solidarity with one of the combatant peoples. Religious teaching, however, such as the principles of love, justice and compassion, seems to play little part in the actions of those involved in the fighting. Religious affiliation has become a form of expanded tribalism. No-one seems to be working to bring the two sides together, to accept one another as human beings, and to see one another as being of equal worth.

While this polarised situation continues, mankind as a whole cannot move on to a better future. Indeed, these polarised scenarios actively prevent humanity from seeing itself as one entity. It was precisely this division which Bahá’u’lláh sought to address, in His fundamental teaching that, “This Earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.” He taught that all human beings are essentially one in nature. His son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, when explaining this teaching said, “All humanity are the children of God; they belong to the same family, to the same human race…” and revealed a popular prayer which begins: “O Thou kind Lord! Thou hast created all humanity from the same stock. Thou hast decreed that all shall belong to the same household…”

In addition to mankind seeing all people as one in essence, there must be a reassessment of religion. The major religions need to be recognised as essentially one in their origin and as united in their underlying purpose. In the Bahá’í view, each religion was founded by a Divine Messenger, Who revealed a religion whose social teachings were suitable for the needs of its particular time. We need to see past the consequent differences in detail, and concentrate on their spiritual teachings for how human beings should behave towards one another. We also need to ignore all the ideas which have been added to every religion over the years, and see that the Founders of these religions all had the same goal: bringing people closer together and encouraging them to grow spiritually towards God. Alongside the need for human beings to consciously have oneness as their goal in everything they do, there needs to be common purpose in the political world. Bahá’u’lláh urged the rulers of the time to meet in a universal peace conference, and agree permanent boundaries, arms levels and rules of behaviour. The Bahá’ís are still - one hundred and sixty years later - actively calling for this conference to take place. The Universal House of Justice, which is the world body representing the Bahá’ís, wrote: “The holding of this mighty convocation is long overdue… we appeal to the leaders of all nations to seize this opportune moment and take irreversible steps to convoke this world meeting.” They appealed to “men and women, youth and children everywhere” to support this peace treaty when it is agreed.

But achieving a balanced and united way forward also involves improving the behaviour of each human being. We must all strive to ensure that in everything that each one of us says and does, we support the idea of oneness. We must avoid taking sides in quarrels or in political arguments. We must avoid making unfair or unkind statements about other people, other races or religions. As Bahá’u’lláh says: “Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbour, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face… Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men.” The conscious goal of the world’s peoples should be that we come together, rather than letting ourselves be poles apart.

Photograph courtesy of Getty Images

Land belongs to all people

 

Bahá’u’lláh, recognised by Bahá’ís as the Messenger of God for the new age, was sent to the prison-city of Akká (shown above) in the year 1868. Akká was in the Turkish province of Palestine, and Bahá’u’lláh was banished there by the Sultan of Turkey. Although Bahá’u’lláh’s family and a number of followers were sent with Him, they were not allowed to spread the Bahá’í message in this territory. To this day, this restriction has been observed by the Bahá’ís.

In all other territories of the world, the Bahá’ís have set up Bahá’í communities in towns, cities and villages, and wherever possible they engage in community-building activities designed to bring together people from different backgrounds. But in the Holy Land, where this sort of activity is so desperately needed, there are no local Bahá’í communities at all. This situation arose because of the ban on the Bahá’ís teaching their religion. The Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh is in the Holy Land, as are various other properties which are connected with Bahá’u’lláh and His family, and the Bahá’ís have been allowed to establish the Bahá’í World Centre there, but all the Bahá’ís working at the World Centre are volunteers from overseas. The community-building activities which are the hallmark of the Bahá’ís in so many areas of the world simply do not exist in the Holy Land.

In contrast to the way in which He was treated by the Iranian and Turkish authorities, Bahá’u’lláh’s message to the world was that mankind is one people, that the followers of all religions worship the same God, and that now is the time to end quarrels between religions and between peoples. When Bahá’u’lláh wrote to the political rulers of the time, He said that there should be a world peace conference where all the national boundaries should be agreed and fixed by a universal peace treaty. He said that the rulers should attend the universal peace conference themselves, or send their most important ministers. He explained that all the world’s governments should unite to remove any government which might break the resulting peace treaty. This agreement would result in peace and security for all. Over one hundred and fifty years later, we are still suffering from war and political instability, and this universal peace conference and treaty are needed more than ever.

Bahá’u’lláh was sent to Palestine as a prisoner, but became so respected that before the end of His life, He was allowed to live outside the prison walls. When Bahá’u’lláh died, in 1892, although He was technically still a prisoner, hundreds of the local inhabitants camped outside His house in mourning for nine days. Recognising the far-reaching implications of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings, and realising the depths of Bahá’u’lláh’s spiritual insights, the Russian writer Tolstoy wrote that: “We spend our lives trying to unlock the mystery of the universe, but there was a Turkish prisoner, Bahá’u’lláh, in Akká, Palestine, who had the key.”

Bahá’u’lláh’s son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, had been appointed as the one to Whom the Bahá’ís should turn, and He oversaw the spread of the Bahá’í Faith into other parts of the world. He introduced Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings on the oneness of mankind to Europe and to North America, where breaking down the barriers between black and white communities was one of His foremost concerns. Whilst at home in the Akká/Haifa area, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was well-known as someone who personally tended the sick and fed the poor. As He had devoted His life to helping others and to promoting unity, when He in turn passed away in 1921, His funeral was attended by over ten thousand people: Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and Bahá’ís (photo below).

As is apparent from the above, during Turkish rule there were groups of Muslims, Christians, Jews and other minorities living in Palestine. However, since the First World War took the territory of Palestine from the Turkish Empire, there have been competing claims to the land, and it has been fought over a number of times. The idea has taken hold in the minds of many people that the land should belong to one group of people, or else to a different group. In the Bahá’í Writings it states that, “Land belongs not to one people, but to all people.” Whatever political solutions may seem possible in the short term (if there are any political solutions), Bahá’ís see the acceptance of Bahá’u’lláh’s principles as essential for the world to move forward, and become one in spirit. When the universal peace conference is set up, the world will decide on the permanent boundaries of the Holy Land, and possibly boundaries within it. But the real and lasting solution, which must happen at some point, is that all human beings should be seen as one, and that land belongs not to one people, but to all people.

A Bright Future

 

At the time of writing, there are a number of awful conflicts in the world. There are several civil wars in progress, mostly in countries which have already had civil wars in the past, but which have never achieved a harmonious sense of unity. Myanmar, Sudan and the Yemen are examples. Meanwhile, one European country has invaded another one – the first time that this has happened since the Second World War. And once again the seemingly endless problem of ethnic rivalries in the Holy Land has erupted into open armed conflict, the tragic results of which are displayed in all their upsetting detail on our screens.

Many thoughtful people, looking at the state of the world, might ask themselves, “What terrible events will happen next? Things seem to be going from bad to worse!”. As the world was unwilling or unable to prevent large-scale destruction and death in Syria, or in Ukraine, and has now proved unwilling or unable to curtail the actions of either party in the Middle East, won’t more countries, whose regimes feel the need to show their strength, follow the same path? In the Far East there is one country which is openly talking about its need to re-establish control over lost territory. Another country is openly and belligerently testing ever-more powerful missiles, with the express intention of attacking anyone whom it does not consider friendly. In South America, one country has now decided that it has a claim to over 60% of the territory of its neighbour! Apart from these threats, there is also the ever-present possibility that either the war in Eastern Europe or the war in the Holy Land could yet drag other countries into the conflict, provoking something which could develop into a disastrous third world war, with terrible consequences for the whole of humanity.

Shouldn’t we be doing something to stop all this? Shouldn’t we, as mankind, be growing past violence and conflict as a way of achieving our aims? Doesn’t it seem somewhat primitive? Aren’t we a caring species, capable of reason, empathy and spiritual values? On the subject of war, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh, said: “How is it possible for men to fight from morning until evening, killing each other, shedding the blood of their fellow-men: And for what object? To gain possession of a part of the earth!... Land belongs not to one people, but to all people. This earth is not man’s home, but his tomb.”

To argue that war should be abandoned as a method of settling disputes should not mean that the well-meaning people of the world should stand aside and let bloodthirsty tyrants and psychopaths slaughter the innocent. Surely the nations of the world should be able to construct an army of peace-keepers to be inserted into trouble spots as soon as a situation begins to get out of hand, instead of after the fighting has finished, which is what often happens now. In various parts of Africa, this approach has already been tried, although the lack of a common language restricts its effectiveness somewhat.

However, the real answer, which will bring a lasting peace, is unity – that people should feel a loyalty to mankind, to the planet, to the human family, rather than to one ethnic background or to the leader of some fanatical group. Bahá’u’lláh said, “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” At some point, everyone will see the sense of replacing war with peace. A world peace conference, as suggested by Bahá’u’lláh, should fix the boundaries of each country, and produce a universal treaty to which all of mankind can give its loyalty. The world would be united in promoting this world peace treaty.

In the present circumstances, this seems to be a distant prospect, and it is easy to be despondent, but we need to have hope – hope for the future. Bahá’ís have that hope. We know that there will be more dark days ahead, but we also know that the future will ultimately be bright. Humanity will eventually see sense, and will realise that the only solution is to make the world peace conference a reality. This will then lead to the end of war. After that, we will continue to build unity until we have real peace at last. As Bahá’u’lláh promised: “…so it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away and the most great peace shall come.” A bright future indeed.

“Earthshot” – into the future

 

Each year, the Earthshot organisation awards prizes to groups who have innovative and practical ideas for improving our physical environment. These could be for restoring nature, cleaning the air, reviving the oceans, lessening waste or for preventing climate change. Within each category, three groups are nominated and one is ultimately chosen each year as the prize-winner for that category. The £1 million prize then enables the group to move their project forward at a faster rate.

The Earthshot process is the brainchild of Prince William, heir to the British throne. Personally, I regard this as significant. The Bahá’í view of kingship is rather different from the traditional understanding of a king’s role, and Bahá’u’lláh (the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith) was clear that this institution, like all others in human society, will evolve and change. William’s inauguration of the Earthshot process shows a judicious use of his prominent status in promoting something for the general good.

A related, but also notable, aspect of the Earthshot process is that a prominent member of a royal family, the crown prince no less, is working alongside people from different backgrounds as part of a team. This fits in perfectly with Bahá’u’lláh’s injunction to all mankind to do away with divisions of all kinds: “Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land.”

William’s father, the present King Charles III, has himself always been noted for his love of nature and for his disappointment with the way that many parts of society seem to regard it as unimportant. Bahá’u’lláh Himself was an ardent lover of nature, and took great pleasure in being among the trees, flowers, fields and creatures. His many long years of unjust imprisonment deprived Him of His natural enjoyment of the outdoors. Bahá’u’lláh (speaking as the Voice of God) wrote about Nature: “Say: Nature in its essence is the embodiment of My Name, the Maker, the Creator… Nature is God’s Will and is its expression in and through the contingent world. It is a dispensation of Providence ordained by the Ordainer, the All-Wise… it is the Will of God as manifested in the world of being. It is endowed with a power whose reality men of learning fail to grasp.” This is a powerful statement of its importance.

If we are to protect nature, we need to give far more attention to everything which affects the environment. Bahá’u’lláh specifically warned that everything has to be in moderation, and foresaw the over-development in which we seem to be actively engaged: “If carried to excess, civilisation will prove as prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the restraints of moderation.” He urged us to see all creation as one entity: “…even as the human body in this world which is outwardly composed of different limbs and organs, is in reality a closely integrated, coherent entity, similarly the structure of the physical world is like unto a single being whose limbs and members are inseparably linked together.” A conscious understanding of this point on the part of businessmen, politicians and administrators - and, indeed, all of us -  would lessen the damage which is unwittingly done.

In all these initiatives, there is a need for mankind to work together. The planet will not be preserved by having two hundred nations each seeking to make itself more powerful than the others. Bahá’ís see the need for oneness – everybody working together in a common goal. Bahá’ís see that our future lies in the evolution of a world society. To achieve this, we need to abandon warfare and destruction, and even aggressive competition. While conflict divides us, we are unable to function as one species, as one people, and different parts of the planet will continue to work against one another. The Earthshot prizes do not yet cover this aspect of our dilemma, and perhaps additional categories of prize could be established for ideas which promote the unity of the human world and thus preserve and restore nature.

Earthshot is currently playing its part in helping to restore our environment. Meanwhile, the climate change conference, COP 28, is meeting in Dubai next week. Perhaps the spirit of Earthshot can permeate this conference, and the nations of the world will be able to recognise that we are one people, the inhabitants of our world. Then we can work together so that we are able to claim our inheritance – a beautiful, harmonious world.

Freedom to speak?

 

Recently there was an incident in which a political commentator on a TV show uttered some intensely critical and personal remarks about another journalist with whose opinions he did not agree. The show’s host did nothing to stop this, resulting in his suspension from his job. The commentator himself has lost his job as a result of his remarks. This incident highlighted a wide range of issues. The ones which I will deal with in this particular blog are those which, in a general way, concern freedom of speech, freedom of opinion and respect for others.

The Bahá’í Faith has teachings on all of these issues. One of the most basic of the Bahá’í principles is that each individual has the right and duty to seek out the truth. The right to free expression is a natural accompaniment to this: “at the very root of the Cause lies the principle of the undoubted right of the individual to self-expression, his freedom to declare his conscience and set forth his views.” This principle applies throughout society, including those people working in the news media, who have a particular duty to investigate the truth and make it known.

Bahá’u’lláh specifically addressed journalists on more than one occasion: “In this Day the secrets of the earth are laid bare before the eyes of men. The pages of swiftly-appearing newspapers are indeed the mirror of the world. They reflect the deeds and the pursuits of divers peoples and kindreds. They both reflect them and make them known. They are a mirror endowed with hearing, sight and speech. This is an amazing and potent phenomenon. However, it behoveth the writers thereof to be purged from the promptings of evil passions and desires and to be attired with the raiment of justice and equity. They should enquire into situations as much as possible and ascertain the facts, then set them down in writing.” The same principle, of course, applies to subsequent news formats, such as radio, television, the internet and social media.

Clearly, the ideal of freedom of expression and the reporting of the truth are both essential to human life and healthy societies. The news media should not be manipulated by small elements within society or used for propaganda purposes. Generations of the oppressed have fought and died in order to voice freely their ideals, their concerns and needs. Yet the freedom of individuals to express themselves needs to be tempered by the principle of moderation. Bahá’u’lláh stressed that when liberty passes beyond the limits of moderation, the result can be disastrous. In all aspects of communication, from the freedom of the press to the language we use in our everyday conversations or social media posts, true freedom of expression requires moderation in our choice of words. Only when we show respect for others and their ideas will freedom of speech become a force for peace and unity in the world.

Among the critical factors in determining the effects of speech for good or evil are the following: content, accuracy, style, tact, wisdom and timeliness. By addressing themselves to these concerns, Bahá’ís are striving to achieve a new etiquette of expression which is worthy of the approaching maturity of the human race. We should always speak the truth - in newspapers, on social media or elsewhere - and not deliberately try to mislead anyone.

Unfortunately, with the proliferation of social media has come the opportunity for people to say unpleasant things online which they would probably never say to a person’s face. We must always be very careful not to be critical of others or to say anything which might upset someone. “One word,” Bahá’u’lláh wrote, “hath the influence of spring and causeth hearts to become fresh and verdant, while another is like unto blight which causeth the blossoms and flowers to wither.” We can disagree with someone’s views, but politely. Denigrating a fellow journalist does not, unfortunately, lead to a useful and uplifting discussion of the facts. Bahá’ís look forward to a society in which freedom of speech underpins a just and equitable world order, and in which respect for others supports social harmony and universal progress. We can all play our part in this.

Nature is God’s will

One morning recently, I was looking out of our patio window, and noticed a fair-sized moth flitting from flower to flower on our Buddleia bush. I thought, “It must be a Silver Y moth”. These are easily identified because on the underwing there is a silver mark like the letter “Y”, which shows up against the plain brown colour of the rest of the wing. These moths usually seem to arrive from the continent in late summer, when and if the Painted Lady butterflies arrive, and they flutter their wings constantly. Well this year, I haven’t seen either a Painted Lady or a Silver Y moth, so I thought I would go and look at this one. When I got to it, I realised that it was actually a Hummingbird hawk moth, hovering higher above the flowers than the Silver Y moths ever do, because it has a long proboscis, which it directs down each tiny Buddleia flower.

I have seen one before, but high above me, so this time I was able to see it up close. It was perhaps two inches from front to back, and it really did seem like a tiny humming-bird, except that it had feelers/antennae stuck on the front of its head, like a joke from a science fiction movie! It does look more like a bird than an insect: not only was it hovering, with wings beating at about 80 times a second, but its eyes look compact, right in the middle of the side of the head, as on most birds. Most bees, wasps and flies have enormous compound eyes taking up the whole side of the head, and quite often the same colour as the rest of the head.

Anyway, it has set me thinking. I have probably never written a blog about the Bahá’í attitude to nature. So I decided to write this one. Bahá’u’lláh loved nature – the trees, flowers, birds, and probably also the insects. The only story I am aware of which involves Bahá’u’lláh and insects was in His later years. There was a garden which the Bahá’ís had created for Bahá’u’lláh. Pilgrims who had been able to visit Him had brought plants, walking six hundred or more miles from Persia to see Him, and keeping the plants alive at all costs! One day, a small swarm of locusts had arrived in the garden, so Abu’l-Qasim, the gardener, was going frantic. He had been devoting every day to tending and nurturing these precious plants, and now thousands of locusts were busily munching away at everything that was green, particularly the trees that provided the shade for the garden. He begged Bahá’u’lláh to send the locusts away, but Bahá’u’lláh Himself had no animosity towards the locusts at all, and replied: “The locusts must be fed; let them be.” But He could see how upset Abu’l-Qasim was, so He stood up and addressed the locusts: “Abu’l-Qasim does not want you here; God protect you!” Then, according to the story, he simply lifted the hem of his robe a little, and the locusts all took off and headed away from the garden.

Bahá’u’lláh always taught kindness to animals, and even made it an aspect of someone’s personal spiritual search. He listed several specific points of behaviour which any seeker after truth should manifest, and concluded with: “That seeker should also… show kindness to animals.” Presumably, judging by this story, that includes insects! 

On nature, Bahá’u’lláh wrote (as the mouthpiece of God):
“Nature in its essence is the embodiment of My Name, the Maker, the Creator. Its manifestations are diversified by varying causes, and in this diversity there are signs for men of discernment.
Nature is God’s Will and is its expression in and through the contingent world. It is a dispensation of Providence ordained by the Ordainer, the All-Wise. Were anyone to affirm that it is the Will of God as manifested in the world of being, no one should question this assertion.
It is endowed with a power whose reality men of learning fail to grasp. Indeed a man of insight can perceive naught therein save the effulgent splendour of Our Name, the Creator.
Say: This is an existence which knoweth no decay, and Nature itself is lost in bewilderment before its revelations, its compelling evidences and its effulgent glory which have encompassed the universe.”

So: Nature is God’s Will. It is His creation. In the second sentence (“Its manifestations are diversified by varying causes…”) Bahá’u’lláh clearly affirms that it gradually diversifies (which science now confirms). In the last sentence it says: “It is an existence which knows no decay.” As decay is constant at the micro level, Bahá’u’lláh was clearly talking about Nature at the macro level. I take the sentence to mean that we can never destroy it altogether. In another piece, Bahá’u’lláh wrote: “All praise be to God Who hath adorned the world with an ornament, and arrayed it with a vesture, of which it can be despoiled by no earthly power, however mighty its battalions, however vast its wealth, however profound its influence.” I have always found this very reassuring. We can never totally destroy life on this planet, it will always regenerate eventually. But we can do a great deal of damage, to all life on Earth, actually destroying our own environment – after all, we depend on plant life for our food. We also depend on plants giving out oxygen, and so on. The planet will not tolerate us tampering with methane levels, carbon dioxide levels, temperature levels, etc. But… after man has messed it up, Nature comes back! Think of Chernobyl. Think of how nature reclaims gravel pits, and what happens when factories get knocked down.

And all this was sparked off by having a moth visit my garden! Nature is special – and God meant it to be.