Planet Bahá'í

Here in the United States, a new school year has just begun. On top of that, I'm just two months away from becoming a grandfather. Between these two events, it seems appropriate to say a few words about children.

Most of us are familiar with Christ's well-known saying, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Mark 10:14) But we don't know much about what He said to the children. We can well imagine Him laughing and joking with them, and then speaking gently to them about God's love for them and how important it is to love each other. But if that's what He did, the Gospels don't say.

Likewise, there are very few stories that show Bahá'u'lláh interacting with children, and none that offer much detail. But His Writings and the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá do talk about children. Interestingly enough, when they do so, they tend to focus on one particular subject. If I may borrow a line from Crosby, Stills and Nash, they essentially say: "Teach your children well." They also say, "Don't wait to get started." For example:

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 God. Let the love of God pervade their inmost being, commingled with their mother's milk.

(Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, #99 ,p.127)

The theme of education appears repeatedly. Total education is emphasized, including not only the usual "three R's," the sciences, history, and so forth, but also spiritual education. Children, they insist, must learn about God and learn to love God. They must learn right from wrong, and develop good behavior. They must learn to deal with hardship and how to serve others. The matter is so important that Bahá'u'lláh included provisions regarding education in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, His book of laws, and later stated:

Schools must first train the children in the principles of religion, so that the Promise and the Threat recorded in the Books of God may prevent them from the things forbidden and adorn them with the mantle of the commandments; but this in such a measure that it may not injure the children by resulting in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry.

(Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh "Words of Paradise", p. 68)

The balance called for here is crucial. 'Abdu'l-Bahá repeatedly likened children to "tender plants" that need to be trained with a gentle hand to avoid injuring them.

Let the mothers consider that whatever concerneth the education of children is of the first importance. Let them put forth every effort in this regard, for when the bough is green and tender it will grow in whatever way ye train it. Therefore is it incumbent upon the mothers to rear their little ones even as a gardener tendeth his young plants. Let them strive by day and by night to establish within their children faith and certitude, the fear of God, the love of the Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and traits. Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary. It is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child's character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse.

(Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, #95 ,p. 125)

Why all this emphasis on education and training? Because childhood sets the stage for all of life. Because through education and training we bring out our potential. We start life as little more than a small bundle of enormous but unmanifested potential. As we grow, we are going to learn. We have no choice. But what will we learn? The answer to that determines, in large measure, how and to what degree our potential is manifested. Therefore we need education--total education--in order to become our true selves and contribute something of value to the world. Without it, we risk becoming like the fig tree cursed by Jesus for bearing no fruit. (Matt. 21:19)

While the children are yet in their infancy feed them from the breast of heavenly grace, foster them in the cradle of all excellence, rear them in the embrace of bounty. Give them the advantage of every useful kind of knowledge. Let them share in every new and rare and wondrous craft and art. Bring them up to work and strive, and accustom them to hardship. Teach them to dedicate their lives to matters of great import, and inspire them to undertake studies that will benefit mankind.

(ibid, #102, p. 129)

Although it's something of a cliché, our children are our future. In relating its plans and goals for the coming years, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of the United States addressed the community's children in these words: "You are the most precious treasures of our community. We want you to grow strong and be happy." Total education is the nourishment for mind and soul that can make this dream a reality.