WITH HEARTS TO GIVE

The Bahai community recently invited two such people to visit Chiangmai and pass on their knowledge. Dr. Bijan Ghaznavi, a psychotherapist and psychologist and his wife, Dr. Agnes Nancy Ghaznavi, a psychiatrist from Switzerland came to the northern capitol with the specific aim of their training teachers. Their first call was the Chiangmai detention centre, currently accommodating 550 delinquents

Based on Adlerian principles, the program called "Cooperative Discipline" is based on teacher, student relations. Teachers are trained to develop a relationship with their students which will encourage them to actively participate in lessons and accept responsibility for their actions. Democratic organization of the classroom and maximum participation by the students are just two of the principles involved.

During their visit, this formidable family team addressed both university students and faculty lecturers on a number of social issues including the rising tide of problems stemming from the breakdown of marriage, family and individual relationships. As a result of the move from agrarian lifestyle to hi-tech lifestyle, Thailand has seen a dramatic increase in sociological problems and this remarkable couple want to teach a new approach to those facing such social trauma. Across the globe, be it the western world, Africa or Asia, psychological and social issues are becoming more prominent and participants at the seminars listened intently, eager to learn all they could about this unique program.

The Bahai community organized a program allowing the pair to pass on their knowledge of similar problems being faced around the world. The staff of universities, hospitals and juvenile detention centres were encouraged to open their hearts and were given the opportunity to explain, discuss and define their own particular problems.

Professor Dal, a spiritual leader of Bahai, taught that his first concern was the "well being of the human being." Bahai's around the world believe that well being is totally different from happiness and they are interested in developing this aspect of life. They believe in general, that people are looking for happiness but unfortunately happiness is associated with materialism. Happiness is something they can see, touch or smell and consequently, happiness and unhappiness go hand in hand. Alternatively, well being is associated with the inner self and is a quality carried throughout life. Happiness does not have a balanced concept whereas well being is made up of a balanced, orderly life full of harmony and joy. So many conflicts around the world, social or otherwise, have taken away the well being of individuals and it is for this reason that every effort should be made to remove local conflicts such as strained marriages or internal family problems.

One of the issues teachers asked to be discussed, was that of learning disabilities. Many of today's students have difficulty on learning as a result of emotional trauma, both in the home and the classroom. Often children are too scared to learn, which leads to non participation. A child must want to learn and giving him the courage to assert himself and use his own initiative is a valuable part of this program. Another cause lies in the physical restrictions of city life. There is no longer room for children to play. Many frustrations can be relieved by physical exercise and teachers are encouraged to find alternative methods of displacing this built up energy. Active participation in the classroom is a major step in the right direction.

Traditional families are constantly under threat from outside forces. Television, the Internet, movies, all play a major role in undermining family values. Adults and children alike, see foreign lifestyles and it is difficult for them to differentiate between fact and fiction. They see material goods and possessions and want them for themselves. This is not new and neither is it bad, knowing where to draw the line is the problem. The two professors advised people to be themselves and impressed on their audiences the need to retain their own culture and not imitate the west. "There are many good things to be found in the west but there also many bad things, the art is recognizing which is which." In Switzerland a typical lifestyle has become one person, one dog then end of life. EMPTINESS. Loneliness is a negative attitude that is extremely dangerous to mankind and is well known as cause of sickness and death.

A typical Bahai family in the west also faces the influences of television and the vices it portrays so what is it that keeps the Bahai family cohesive? The answer may be in a document issued by the Bahai titled "Who is Writing the Future?" This paper looks into the next millennium. It focuses on many aspects of society including the fact that youngsters of today believe they are free are free to do exactly what they want. This is catastrophic for any society as they believe that choices should be based on established values. (For those interested it this subject, a copy of the report can be obtained from the local Bahai centre.)

A lot of the work of the Bahai in local communities is related to the service of all manner of organizations and they offer their help and advice because they want to see a humanity based on defined and moral values. They believe mankind has always been educated through religion, in that religious teachings are the foundation of all values. They also believe that the adolescent approaching adulthood needs a continuing education in social matters that carries on from childhood lessons. Religion changes over the years as each generation seeks its own interpretation of events, tailoring situations and long term doctrines to suit present conditions. However, they also believe that religion is still the backbone of a moral society, providing the ethics, values and responsibilities required for a stable environment and consequently devote their time and effort into this service. It is this service to others, the helping of those less fortunate that meditation but fulfillment is achieved only by sharing their knowledge and faith through their teachings of a positive attitude to life.

One of the aspects of religion that is considered important is the belief each individual must search for his own truth. Children must receive religious education both through the church and by their parents because young children can not choose their own path. Later in life however, the adolescent must be encouraged and allowed to choose his own path. Dr. Bijan chose Bahai for himself, even though his parents were Bahai; but his reasons were different from those of his parents. They respected that because they respected his views, accepting that the world is constantly changing and new ideas are constantly required.

Dr. Agnes also chose Bahai, by herself. She was raised a Christian by her American mother who was Presbyterian while her father was from a puritan background in Switzerland. When she was 16 she began to look elsewhere and became an active Pacifist, actively campaigning for disputes to be settled by peaceful means rather than by force or war. As part of an international Pacifist organization based in Switzerland, Dr. Agnes visited many parts of the world including Lebanon and Africa where she met people from other religious backgrounds. Through these associations she realized that they were also good people.

For ten years she was seeking an answer, becoming a seeker of truth. Ultimately she became a socialist but deep down, her need was to help people. As a result, she heard about the Bahai faith and knew she had finally found the truth. That was 36 years ago and she is still a Bahai to this day.

The couple like Asia very much, particularly Thailand and Macau and although they have a nice house in Switzerland with all modern comforts and conveniences, they do not want to stay there. They feel the people are too distant. In the East they find the people warm and friendly and there is a richness to life that is all important. They do not live for a house, a dog and death. There is more to life than that and so they devote their time to teaching and helping others overcome their difficulties. They are just happy to be here and happy to help.