Unity and Renewal Unity and Renewal of Humankind of Humankind Joshva Raja, UTC, BangaloreJoshva Raja, UTC, Bangalore

Unity of HumankindUnity of HumankindOneness/Sameness – Living together in Oneness/Sameness – Living together in

Unity sharing resources with human Unity sharing resources with human dignity dignity

Monism – Belonging to Self – distinctionsMonism – Belonging to Self – distinctionsUnity VS DiversityUnity VS DiversityEquality VS DifferencesEquality VS DifferencesEcumenism VS Exclusivist viewsEcumenism VS Exclusivist viewsPluralism VS Religious CoexistencePluralism VS Religious CoexistenceCommunity VS IndividualismCommunity VS Individualism

dualismdualism (dvaita), (dvaita), qualified monism (visishtadvaita) and qualified monism (visishtadvaita) and monism (advaita) monism (advaita)

are the three main schools of are the three main schools of metaphysical thought. metaphysical thought.

Indian Thoughts

madhvamadhva said: - said: - man is the servant of godman is the servant of god - and - and established his established his dvaitadvaita philosophy philosophy. . ramanujaramanuja said: - said: - man is a ray or spark of godman is a ray or spark of god - and - and established his established his visishtadvaitavisishtadvaita philosophy philosophy. . sankarasankara said: - said: - man is identical with man is identical with brahmanbrahman or or the the eternaleternal soulsoul - and established - and established his his kevalakevala advaitaadvaita philosophy philosophy..

A Dvaitin wants to serve the A Dvaitin wants to serve the lordlord as a as a servantservant. He wishes to . He wishes to playplay with the with the lordlord. He wishes to . He wishes to tastetaste the the sugarsugar--candycandy. A Visishtadvaitin wants to . A Visishtadvaitin wants to become like become like lord lord narayananarayana and enjoy and enjoy the the divinedivine. He does not wish to . He does not wish to mergemerge himself or become identical with the himself or become identical with the lordlord. He wishes to remain as a . He wishes to remain as a sparkspark. A . A jnanijnani merges himself in merges himself in brahmanbrahman. He . He wishes to become identical with wishes to become identical with brahmanbrahman. He wants to become the . He wants to become the sugarsugar--candycandy itself. itself.

SelfSelf Self – Natural, Human and Divine within Self – Natural, Human and Divine within

everyoneeveryone Martin Buber – Transcending the SelfMartin Buber – Transcending the Self Natural self - reflective, reactive, Natural self - reflective, reactive,

destructive-constructive, forgiving-destructive-constructive, forgiving-destroying, selfish-selfless, control,destroying, selfish-selfless, control,

human self - educative, Liberative, give-take, human self - educative, Liberative, give-take, negotiate, adjustment, calculative, mutual negotiate, adjustment, calculative, mutual co-existential agreement, power seeking,co-existential agreement, power seeking,

divine self - sacrificial, giving, selfless, divine self - sacrificial, giving, selfless, service to all, no-boundaries,service to all, no-boundaries,

Unity -BahaiUnity -Bahai Unity is of various kinds. Limited unities, such as Unity is of various kinds. Limited unities, such as

unity based on a common language, a common unity based on a common language, a common nationality, or a common race are no longer nationality, or a common race are no longer adequate in the present age. `Abdu'l-Bahá defined adequate in the present age. `Abdu'l-Bahá defined two levels of unity which yield benefit to humankind two levels of unity which yield benefit to humankind today. The first is an intellectual realization that today. The first is an intellectual realization that humanity is one interdependent organic whole; and humanity is one interdependent organic whole; and so any harm that befalls one part of it affects all.so any harm that befalls one part of it affects all.55 As our thinking becomes more universal, there As our thinking becomes more universal, there gradually evolves within the individual, a global gradually evolves within the individual, a global consciousness, an awareness of the oneness of all consciousness, an awareness of the oneness of all humanity at the spiritual level. This results in a humanity at the spiritual level. This results in a spiritual regeneration of humankind and in a higher spiritual regeneration of humankind and in a higher level of unity, a spiritual unity, which is even more level of unity, a spiritual unity, which is even more beneficial for humanity. beneficial for humanity.

Another unity is the spiritual unity which emanates Another unity is the spiritual unity which emanates from the breaths of the Holy Spirit. This is greater from the breaths of the Holy Spirit. This is greater than the unity of mankind. Human unity or solidarity than the unity of mankind. Human unity or solidarity may be likened to the body whereas unity from the may be likened to the body whereas unity from the breaths of the Holy Spirit is the spirit animating the breaths of the Holy Spirit is the spirit animating the body. This is a perfect unity. It creates such a condition body. This is a perfect unity. It creates such a condition in mankind that each one will make sacrifices for the in mankind that each one will make sacrifices for the other and the utmost desire will be to forfeit life and other and the utmost desire will be to forfeit life and all that pertains to it in behalf of another's good . . . all that pertains to it in behalf of another's good . . . This unity is the very spirit of the body of the world . . . This unity is the very spirit of the body of the world . . . His Holiness Jesus Christ . . . promulgated this unity His Holiness Jesus Christ . . . promulgated this unity among mankind. Every soul who believed in Jesus among mankind. Every soul who believed in Jesus Christ became revivified and resuscitated through this Christ became revivified and resuscitated through this spirit, attained to the zenith of eternal glory, realized spirit, attained to the zenith of eternal glory, realized the life everlasting, experienced the second birth and the life everlasting, experienced the second birth and rose to the acme of good fortune.rose to the acme of good fortune.66

Some people think that unity inevitably Some people think that unity inevitably means uniformity. The Bahá'í aim, however, means uniformity. The Bahá'í aim, however, is to preserve the rich diversity of human is to preserve the rich diversity of human language, culture, tradition, and thought on language, culture, tradition, and thought on this planet, while at the same time this planet, while at the same time removing the causes of conflict and removing the causes of conflict and contention that exist. The mere fact that contention that exist. The mere fact that there are differences between people should there are differences between people should not inevitably lead to dissension and strife. not inevitably lead to dissension and strife. Looked at from another perspective, the Looked at from another perspective, the existence of differences could be celebrated existence of differences could be celebrated as a source of richness and variety. as a source of richness and variety.

Tree and flowersTree and flowers

Narratives and UnityNarratives and Unity

• Breaking the narratives of disunity

• Distancing the narratives from the experience of the real self

• Looking at the use of the narratives rather than the rational or emotional conviction or attachment to it

• Deconstructing the narratives with the intercultural, inter-denominational, inter-religious interactions

Narratives of DisunityNarratives of Disunity

Fear of evilFear of evil Stereotypical images of the otherStereotypical images of the other Population explosion - misguided Population explosion - misguided

narratives of the other - other as evil - narratives of the other - other as evil - monolithic group - with fundamentalist monolithic group - with fundamentalist

fixed narratives fixed narratives Threat from outside that is the other Threat from outside that is the other Population and resource sharingPopulation and resource sharing Grassroots dialogueGrassroots dialogue

Narratives of clashesNarratives of clashes

Clash of Civilizations? - HuntingtonClash of Civilizations? - Huntington Clash of Economic interests? ChomskyClash of Economic interests? Chomsky Clash of Fundamentalism? Tariq AliClash of Fundamentalism? Tariq Ali Clash of Ignorance? Edward SaidClash of Ignorance? Edward Said Clash of Ideologies? Clash of Ideologies? Clash of Castes; linguistic chauvinism; Clash of Castes; linguistic chauvinism;

regionalism; racism; religions?regionalism; racism; religions? Clash of Powers?Clash of Powers? Clash of Egoisms?Clash of Egoisms?

Population and Resource Population and Resource SharingSharing

people Resources

10-15%

20-30%

55-70%

60-70%

10-20%

7-10%

Unity impossible

Contrasts-dilemma in Contrasts-dilemma in UnityUnity

Unity Vs diversityUnity Vs diversity Not towards oneness rather towards living Not towards oneness rather towards living

together in peace and harmonytogether in peace and harmony Not accepting a religious pluralism rather Not accepting a religious pluralism rather

dialogic interactive coexistencedialogic interactive coexistence Beyond ness as growing together Beyond ness as growing together Pluralism Vs religious coexistencePluralism Vs religious coexistence

Equality Vs differencesEquality Vs differences Ideological threat - respect for human dignity - Ideological threat - respect for human dignity -

recognising other’s rightsrecognising other’s rights Not eliminating the differences - equality is not Not eliminating the differences - equality is not

sameness - not discrimination against sameness - not discrimination against differencesdifferences

Contrasts IIContrasts II

Community Vs Individual FreedomCommunity Vs Individual Freedom Liberal Vs Cultural protectionismLiberal Vs Cultural protectionism Neo-liberal prosperity Vs PovertyNeo-liberal prosperity Vs Poverty Non-violence Vs OppressionNon-violence Vs Oppression Human dignity/right Vs relationshipHuman dignity/right Vs relationship Development Vs ecological balanceDevelopment Vs ecological balance Evangelism Vs dialogueEvangelism Vs dialogue

Lessons for Unity from A Lessons for Unity from A Communication PerspectiveCommunication Perspective Contact, Relationship and understanding Contact, Relationship and understanding

– not communication is sin– not communication is sin Recognizing ‘Commonness’ of all Recognizing ‘Commonness’ of all

Communities building – Discrimination at Communities building – Discrimination at all level is wrong – No culture has all level is wrong – No culture has evolved without giving or borrowing evolved without giving or borrowing from other cultures – Breaking the from other cultures – Breaking the barriers -barriers -Denominational - Denominational - Administrative - doctrinal - economic - Administrative - doctrinal - economic - religious…religious…

Lessons 2Lessons 2

Meeting Points – Code – Recognition – Meeting Points – Code – Recognition – Dialogic – Pakistan India dialogue initiatives Dialogic – Pakistan India dialogue initiatives

- RSS Christian dialogue- RSS Christian dialogue Walking down the streets to meet people - Walking down the streets to meet people -

Anna Prasada and Anna Dhana in WhitefieldAnna Prasada and Anna Dhana in Whitefield Eating with Refugees and Pavement dwellersEating with Refugees and Pavement dwellers Breaking boundaries – Aesthete – mad man – Breaking boundaries – Aesthete – mad man –

lovers – drunkard – dreamers (Peter and lovers – drunkard – dreamers (Peter and Paul)Paul)

Christ as ExampleChrist as Example

Church as one body Church as one body You in Me and I in YouYou in Me and I in You Different sections of the bodyDifferent sections of the body Accepting the other as they are with Accepting the other as they are with

differencesdifferences Going beyond oneself being guided Going beyond oneself being guided

by the Holy Spiritby the Holy Spirit Community and CommunitiesCommunity and Communities

Unity in ChristUnity in Christ

Accepting others as they areAccepting others as they are Go to the people where they areGo to the people where they are Establishing contact and relationship Establishing contact and relationship

among those it is impossible to makeamong those it is impossible to make Bring about understanding among the Bring about understanding among the

warring communities warring communities Removal of Ignorance about the other Removal of Ignorance about the other

and thus communicate the right code to and thus communicate the right code to the peoplethe people