Dr. Hossain B. Danesh
Presentations by Dr. Hossain B. Danesh
There is no doubt that peace has been the object of our desire and our thoughts from the beginning of our time. In spite of this when we look at ourselves today we see that we have fundamental difficulties in attaining this very deep desire within ourselves. Why?
Why don’t we have peace, in spite of our efforts and desires we are still far from attaining to this goal.
Helen and John Danesh shared this presentation. Helen spoke the first half, followed by John.
The youth point out that out of the past 5,000 years there has been only a paltry 240 years spent in peace. Martha Root said that, even in her time, youth were ready to embrace the ideals of peace and work for their realization.
Dr. Danesh reviews four concepts that dominate the spritual dimensions of the health sciences. He castigates so-called 'modern medicine' for viewing the human organism as an object or machine. He calls for a new perspective, a Bahá'í perspective to create a truly spiritual dimensions within the health sciences.
Dr. Ghazvani speaks as a Bahá'í and not one versed in the theory of sexuality. Her advice to Bahá'ís is to read the introduction of The Universal House of Justice to this topic. She reviews the negative view of sex going back to the dogma of Original Sin.
Dr. Danesh asks, "How come we are so preoccupied with sexual matters?" He then gives two reasons for this.
Dr. Hossain Danesh talked about his personal thoughts on the complexity of sexual relationships and how they are related to other psychic forces such as love, equality, kindness and respect. Both aggression and violation are in opposition to a healthy love relationship. Love is conditional in these days. If man intends to use power to dominate his partner that creates a competitive and hateful relationship; love cannot exist between them.
Scientific study of human behavior in relation to spiritual needs.
Panelists: Hossain Danesh, Ervin Laszlo, Bahiyyih Nakhjavani, Marion Woodman and Ross Woodman. Each panelist talked about the importance of achieving peace on the earth and how we could achieve that peace through the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. The Old World Order will soon be rolled up and a new one spread out in its stead; one that is characterized by oneness and peace. Peace is has always been desired by all, nevertheless it will require society to move towards equality, love and justice. We won’t achieve such a peace through violent means.
Each of the four panelists gives a brief presentation about what this conference has meant to him or her. Some address specific questions they have been working on in their own professions. For example, Dr. Macy is preoccupied with “change” in the process of “transformation”. Dr. Lazlo marvels that Bahá’u’lláh accurately addressed many of these issues covered in this conference more than 100 years earlier.
Questions from the audience to panel members occupies the time of this discussion. A summary sample: 'If the Baha'is Faith says were are in the springtime of peace, what is the evidence?'
On the role of children. The Master said children should deliver eloquent speeches of high quality, which was reinforced by the Guardian's statements on this point. What is being done about this?
Humans possess an animal nature which is potentially dangerous and could be the cause of aggressive, destructive and sinful actions. In this glorious dispensation human beings were created to be noble, which is a much great station then that of animals. Bahá’u’lláh said “Noble I created Thee”. The very orientation of humanity is to consider oneself to be less than others. Humanity is on a journey to eternity. Bahá’u’lláh tells us, “Self knowledge is same as the knowledge of God.” People are constantly absorbed in themselves, their relationships and their time.
The world of today is beset with problems. Every family member has an impact on the family. A healthy marriage is crucial to a good family life. Sometimes one partner or the other feels beaten down; or he or she may fall in love with someone else; financial issues may test a marriage; etc. Marriage survives and thrives when the individuals find mutual attraction and mutual satisfaction. When these two combine, mutual attraction and mutual satisfaction, the bonds of marriage remain strong and firm.
The integration of personal and social change is a process. The two are inseparable and go hand-in-hand together. Change is imutable. It is either growth or decay. The paradigms of how we think about the work is shifting.
Dr. Danesh reviews the sources of social and cultural change viewed through the lenses of Marx and Hegal. All civilizations pass through the phases of birth, growth, breakdown and disintegration. The process of development is a methodical one. It is intellectual and spiritual at the same time. To make progress we must understand where we are going.
Three questions are posed and addressed: "What is healthy? What is marriage? And what is it we are trying to communicate. Danesh reviews the various phases through which positive marital communication is integrated. He emphasizes shared purposes, spiritualization and encouragement as elements in a healthy marital relationship.
In this talk, Hossain Denesh begins by taking the word "blame" out of the equation. He points to four major issues: What is the challenge? Where do we come from? Where are we going? What are the practical steps we take? The challenge is to achieve equality for women and this has not been met. Mr.
“What is the Bahá’í paradigm for a new world order; not only at a thoretical level but also at a practical level?” Dr. Danesh describes three dimensions of unity. Describes the three ways of dealing with human violence. What is needed is an “integrated human society”; integrated in every way: racially, socialy, sexual equality, etc. The indulgent society must give way to one that is responsible, cooperative and compassionate. That society is the Bahá’í society.
People today are pre-occupied with war while we Bahá'ís are pre-occupied with peace. The peace of humanity is a basic Bahá'í teaching. Bahá'u'lláh taught that the purpose of unity was to create the condition for peace. "How can a mere youth become the cause of unity?" Remember that this is the Cause of God, guided by God.
Dr. Danesh closes with a prayer of 'Abdu'l-Bahá which he recites in the original Persian.