Although my son and I visited the Baha’i temple in Delhi, India I knew very little about Baha’i except women and men are given equal status and world peace is a goal. My trip has been co-organized by Common Knowledge Trust and a Pakistan NGO called The Resource Centre for Development Alternatives headed by Hidayatullah and Nazli of Mensahra, Pakistan. They are a Baha’i family with three children. Although we have corresponded for several years to organize my trip, we have not yet met.
All the visits I am making now are organized through the Baha’i community in Sindh Province in the South of Pakistan. I have discovered many Baha’i do ‘pioneering’ work in villages. Unlike Christianity or Islam, Baha’i can not convert or proselytize their religion. They may discuss the Baha’i Faith when people ask them ‘what religion are you?’ By the way this is the first question people ask each other in Pakistan.
So, discussing Baha’i must come from a conversation brought about by the other person. Baha’i has other values:
- Service
- Respect for all religions and Prophets.
- Living within the political system of the country where you reside.
- World Peace (as mentioned before)
- Equality of women and men (as mentioned before)
- Oneness of Mankind
- Independent investigation of Trust
- Harmony of Religion and Science
- Relinquishing of Prejudice
- Universal Education
- Spiritual solution to economic problems
- World Commonwealth and others
Because Baha’i accepts all religions the presence of Baha’i people in the villages are welcome. Village people don’t feel they have come to convert them. Because of this relationship and Baha'i values, I am able to explain The PK skills are universal and fit into and along side what other skills are familiar and used. People like that. They don't feel I've come to tell them 'what to do' or to tell them 'what they do is wrong'.
We have a great time.
Visit:
http://www.commonknowledgetrust.com
http://www.birthingbetter.com
http://www.thepinkkit.com
3 comments:
I love this post and I love this statement...
"...I am able to explain The PK skills are universal and fit into and along side what other skills are familiar and used. People like that. They don't feel I've come to tell them 'what to do' or to tell them 'what they do is wrong'."
so wonderful to know that this kind of development work is taking place. reflected in this brief comment seems to be an attitude that is the essence of what successful development is all about.
FASCINATING BLOG. Have been listening to topic of childbirth and high number of mortalities in countries such as Pakistan on radio 4 in the UK today. I 'googled' and found your account of your work. This post in particular i like for its respectful tone viv a vis how you teach.
fascinating blog! I too like the respect your teaching shows.
( have been listening to womens' hour on radio 4 in the UK which carried a report on high rate of childbirth deaths in countries such as pakistan)It motivated me to research and i found this account of your amazing work.
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