This presentation seeks to set out some of the teachings of the Baha’i as they relate to how we live and act in a world that is struggling to become sustainable. This presentation assumes an audience who is generally aware of the enormous environmental problems facing the planet, even if not aware of all the detail. Rather than dig into the scientific facts – which are nonetheless critically important – the aim is to present these principles as foundational for action, without being overly prescriptive about what that action should be. There is a time and place for that, but that is set aside for now.

1. Spiritual Laws and Admonitions
for Sustainable Living
Stephen A. Fuqua
www.greenbahai.com
November 2017

2. Introduction

3. 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

4. Sustainability
Well-being of future generations

5. Background
Bahá'u'lláh
1817 – 1892
‘Abdu'l-Bahá
1844 - 1921

6. Bahá'u'lláh
“Weigh not the Book of God with such
standards and sciences as are current
amongst you, for the Book itself is the
unerring balance established amongst
men.”
Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p346

7. Bahá'u'lláh
“Each one of the ordinancesWe have
revealed is a mighty stronghold for
the preservation of the world of
being.”
Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p 69

8. Natural World

9. Bahá'u'lláh
“Nature is God'sWill and is its
expression in and through the
contingent world.”
Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p142

10. Bahá'u'lláh
“Regard ye the world as a man's body,
which is afflicted with divers ailments,
and the recovery of which dependeth
upon the harmonizing of all its
component elements.”
Bahá’u’lláh, Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p79-80

11. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
“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.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p 353

12. Treatment of Animals

13. Bahá'u'lláh
“Take heed, however, that ye hunt not
to excess.Tread ye the path of justice
and equity in all things.Thus biddeth
you HeWho is the Dawning-place of
Revelation, would that ye might
comprehend.”
Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, ¶60

14. Bahá'u'lláh
“Burden not an animal with more than
it can bear.We, truly, have prohibited
such treatment through a most
binding interdiction in the Book. Be ye
the embodiments of justice and
fairness amidst all creation.”
Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, ¶187

15. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
“… 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.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selection from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p158

16. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
“… he is not in need of meat, nor is he
obliged to eat it. ...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

17. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
“… 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?”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p 157

18. Education

19. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
“ It is... clear, that the education of
girls is of far greater consequence
than that of boys.This fact is
extremely important, and the matter
must be seen to with the greatest
energy and dedication.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Compilation of Compilations, “Education”, p286

20. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
“As to the organization of the schools:
…The school must be located in a
place where the air is delicate and
pure.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p 135

21. Consumption & Moderation

22. Bahá'u'lláh
“Whoso cleaveth to justice, can, under
no circumstances, transgress the
limits of moderation. … If carried to
excess, civilization will prove as
prolific a source of evil as it had been
of goodness when kept within the
restraints of moderation.”
Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p342

23. Bahá'u'lláh
“Take from this world only to the
measure of your needs, and forego
that which exceedeth them. Observe
equity in all your judgements, and
transgress not the bounds of justice,
nor be of them that stray from its
path.”
Bahá’u’lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p193

24. Bahá'u'lláh
“Strange and astonishing things exist
in the earth but they are hidden from
the minds and the understanding of
men.These things are capable of
changing the whole atmosphere of
the earth and their contamination
would prove lethal.”
Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p 69

25. Distribution of Wealth

26. Bahá'u'lláh
“Tell the rich of the midnight sighing
of the poor, lest heedlessness lead
them into the path of destruction, and
deprive them of theTree ofWealth.To
give and to be generous are attributes
of Mine; well is it with him that
adorneth himself with My virtues.”
Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, Persian 49

27. Bahá'u'lláh
“Should anyone acquire one hundred
mithqáls of gold, nineteen mithqáls
thereof are God’s and to be rendered
unto Him, the Fashioner of earth and
heaven.Take heed, O people, lest ye
deprive yourselves of so great a
bounty. ”
Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, ¶97

28. ‘Abdu'l-Bahá
“One of Bahá'u'lláh's teachings is the
adjustment of means of livelihood in
human society. Under this adjustment
there can be no extremes in human
conditions as regards wealth and
sustenance.”
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p 36

29. Consultation

30. Bahá'u'lláh
“The Great Being saith:The heaven of
divine wisdom is illumined with the
two luminaries of consultation and
compassion.Take ye counsel together
in all matters, inasmuch as
consultation is the lamp of guidance
which leadeth the way, and is the
bestower of understanding.”
Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, Persian 49

31. Bahá'u'lláh
“Say: no man can attain his true
station except through his justice. No
power can exist except through unity.
No welfare and no well-being can be
attained except through
consultation.”
Bahá’u’lláh, Compilation of Compilations, “Consultation”, p 93

32. Photos are from the Bahá’í holy places in and around Haifa and
Akka, Israel. S. Fuqua / T. Homayoun, November 2010.

33. Discussion Questions
What / where is nature?
In what ways does our material culture
impact nature?
Does material culture bring us true
joy?
What is an action you can take, today,
to live more sustainably?