The Editor, Sir:

The Bahá'í community of Jamaica, along with all well-thinking Jamaicans, is greatly concerned about the appalling, wanton disregard for human life.

Many suggestions presented to deal with crime and violence address the issue from a material perspective. The need for sincere spiritual interactions to give balance cannot be ignored; both go hand in hand.

Guns barking, dead bodies, hold-ups, and so on, are all manifestations of violence, but its origin takes place in the mind, the thought process.

Therefore, the mind must be purified of such malicious thoughts for the preservation of human life and dignity. We bring to mind the words of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, son of Baha'u'llah, the prophet-founder of the Bahá'í faith, who said: "There is nothing so heartbreaking and terrible as an outburst of human savagery! I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness."

Love for the sake of God

'Abdu'l-Bahá encouraged us to love all persons for the sake of God, and not for themselves. "You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for the sake of God. Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every human being, and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the people themselves. But if you look towards God, you will love them and be kind to them, for the world of God is the world of perfection and complete mercy."

This way of living and thinking is a challenge which requires much practice, but it is the spiritual solution that will rescue us from our present catastrophe. We take this opportunity to offer to your readers a prayer and a wish that with God's help, we as a people may rise up with nobility and love our neighbours as we love ourselves.

Prayer for Mankind

"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 Thy holy presence they are all Thy servants, and all mankind are sheltered beneath Thy tabernacle; all have gathered together at Thy table of bounty; all are illumined through the light of Thy providence.

O God! Thou art kind to all. Thou hast provided for all, dost shelter all, conferrest life upon all. Thou hast endowed each and all with talents and faculties, and all are submerged in the ocean of Thy mercy.

O Thou kind Lord! Unite all. Let the religions agree and make the nations one, so that they may see each other as one family and the whole Earth as one home. May they all live together in perfect harmony.

O God! Raise aloft the banner of the oneness of mankind.

O God! Establish the most great peace.

Cement Thou, O God, the hearts together.

O Thou kind Father, God! Gladden our hearts through the fragrance of Thy love. Brighten our eyes through the light of Thy guidance. Delight our ears with the melody of Thy word, and shelter us all in the stronghold of Thy providence.

Thou art the mighty and powerful, Thou art the forgiving and Thou art the one who overlooketh the shortcomings of all mankind."

- 'Abdu'l-Bahá

With best regards,

NATIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSEMBLY

of The Bahá'ís of JAMAICA