In Search of Meaning

Many authors shy away from religious definitions of human purpose. But Nossrat Peseschkian, who shares with me the Baha'i perspective of purpose, clearly shows how the quest to unite a soul with its God serves and is served by scientific and cultural perspectives of meaning. Spiritual verities become beacons to guide us to find ways to work together and create new dimen- sions for consultation in the making of decisions. Depression is rife today. We often do not feel that we are in charge of our own lives, and feel impotent to influence the destiny of society. Peseschkian brings us a positive approach. He provides a key for us to discover the relationship between our various capacities and their development. For so many of us, our capacities lie unused, often even unrecognized. This book seeks to answer the question How can I use my capacities?' and to demonstrate practically and specifically how science, politics, religion, and the web of human relationships can assist in their development and use. Balance is the key: the balance betwen various aspects of our life, the balance of our modes of learning and thinking and feeling, the balance in our concept of man and his purpose, the balance found in the lessons of the past and the vision of the future, and the balance which defines our responsibility for our personal and our societal destinies.