environmental ethics and behavior deriving from writings of abdul baha

Environmental Ethics and Behavior Deriving from the

Wisdom of `Abdul-Bahá

Stephen A. Fuquawww.greenbahai.com

February 2017

Bahá’u’lláh

Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your

deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p213

IntersectionalityThese manifold principles, which constitute the greatest basis for the felicity of mankind and are of the bounties of the Merciful, must be added to the matter of universal peace and combined with it, so that results may accrue. … If the question is restricted to universal peace alone, the remarkable results which are expected and desired will not be attained.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p 304

Interdependence

It is obvious that all created things are connected one to another by a linkage complete and perfect, even, for example, as are the members of the human body. Note how all the members and component parts of the human body are connected one to another. In the same way, all the members of this endless universe are linked one to another. … And whatever member of the human body is deficient, produceth a deficiency in the other members.


Ethics & Behavior

Intersection:Identify universal solutions affecting multiple problems instead of being narrowly focused.

Interdependence: Recognize humanity’s role in ecosystem, its reliance on clean and healthy environment, and act accordingly

Kindness to Animals

Briefly, it is not only their fellow human beings that the beloved of God must treat with mercy and compassion, rather must they show forth the utmost loving-kindness to every living creature. For in all physical respects, and where the animal spirit is concerned, the selfsame feelings are shared by animal and man. Man hath not grasped this truth, however, and he believeth that physical sensations are confined to human beings, wherefore is he unjust to the animals, and cruel.


Eating Meat

… he is not in need of meat, nor is he obliged to eat it. Even without eating meat he would live with the utmost vigour and energy. For example, the community of the Brahmins in India do not eat meat; notwithstanding this they are not inferior to other nations in strength, power, vigour, outward senses or intellectual virtues. Truly, the killing of animals and the eating of their meat is somewhat contrary to pity and compassion…

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Compilation of Compilations, “Health, Healing, and Nutrition” #17

… is still allowed

Whensoever thou dost examine, through a microscope, the water man drinketh, the air he doth breathe, thou wilt see that with every breath of air, man taketh in an abundance of animal life, and with every draught of water, he also swalloweth down a great variety of animals. How could it ever be possible to put a stop to this process? For all creatures are eaters and eaten, and the very fabric of life is reared upon this fact. Were it not so, the ties that interlace all created things within the universe would be unravelled.


Ethics & Behavior

Kindness to animals Reduced meat consumption

Consider purchasing meat that is not factory farmed

Anti-biotics

Interdependence can also be negative: Factory farming

Increased diseaseOver-reliance

anti-bioticsAnti-biotic resistance

Untreatable human diseases

Schools and Clean Air

As to the organization of the schools: … The school must be located in a place where the air is delicate and pure.


Widespread Problem

Ethics & Behavior

Better Planning

Cleaner Electricity

Cleaner Cars Reduced E-Consumption

Decomposition

The body of man, which has been formed gradually, must similarly be decomposed gradually. This is according to the real and natural order and Divine Law … that after death this body shall be transferred from one stage to another different from the preceding one, so that according to the relations which exist in the world, it may gradually combine and mix with other elements, thus going through stages until it arrives in the vegetable kingdom, there turning into plants and flowers, developing into trees of the highest paradise, becoming perfumed and attaining the beauty of color.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol 11, No. 19 (March 2, 1921)

Ethics & Behavior

Explanation for Burial?

Composting

Cultivation of the Earth

When we consider existence, we see that the mineral, vegetable, animal and human worlds are all in need of an educator.

If the earth is not cultivated, it becomes a jungle where useless weeds grow; but if a cultivator comes and tills the ground, it produces crops which nourish living creatures. It is evident, therefore, that the soil needs the cultivation of the farmer. Consider the trees: if they remain without a cultivator, they will be fruitless, and without fruit they are useless; but if they receive the care of a gardener, these same barren trees become fruitful, and through cultivation, fertilization and engrafting the trees which had bitter fruits yield sweet fruits...

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p 7

Cultivation of the Earth, continued

If we should relegate this plot of ground to its natural state, allow it to return to its original condition, it would become a field of thorns and useless weeds, but by cultivation it will become fertile soil, yielding a harvest. Deprived of cultivation, the mountain slopes would be jungles and forests without fruitful trees. The gardens bring forth fruits and flowers in proportion to the care and tillage bestowed upon them by the gardener...

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p 353

Ethics & Behavior

Cultivate for human benefit

Maintain and improve the

land

Choose organically-grown food

This photo taken at the “Bahá’í Gardens” on the slopes of Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel, shows a marvelous diversity of water and temperature

appropriate plants. S. Fuqua / T. Homayoun, November 2010.

environmental ethics and behavior deriving from writings of abdul baha

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