The past 12 months have been extraordinary. The whole of the year has been balancing precariously between war and peace and we are all learning to live with uncertainty. We asked several people at the leading edge of change to share their thoughts on the way ahead
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Sister Jayanti

In the spiritual tradition of India, world history is portrayed as a continuous cycle that slowly passes through four ages, beginning with a golden age that is filled with peace, happiness and love. Through the law of entropy, this age ultimately descends into an iron age of darkness
Another golden age then follows, in the same way that spring always follows winter.

It doesn’t take much effort to understand what period we are in currently. However, the good news is that we have reached the most interesting part of this period, when new spiritual energy, knowledge and awareness enter this world of darkness. We truly are at the dawn of a new age, despite the gathering clouds of war, fear, pollution and poverty.

A huge transformation has been quietly at work in the western world, especially in the last few decades. The tendency towards fragmentation, division and specialisation has been replaced by a more global/holistic approach. Values have once again become a big part of western awareness, possibly because we came to a watershed through the loss of values in our family and work life. Finally, the concept of meditation has become mainstream and is now widely regarded as a valuable tool for self and world betterment.

This shift towards a new, spiritual approach to the problems of the world was confirmed and highlighted at the United Nations Millennium Peace Summit in New York in 2000, when religious and spiritual leaders were invited, exceptionally, to share in the exchange of ideas. One of the conclusions reached at the Summit was that despite 50 years of effort, the world situation was significantly worse, on all levels, and that a better world could only come about through a change of consciousness and a change of heart among the peoples of the world. There was the realisation that change must begin with the self, and that an internal, rather than an external focus is the way. Waiting for circumstances or other people to change might take forever or simply never happen. One can only start with one’s self.

Spirituality is the key that enables us to understand and nurture our innate strengths and goodness. Experience tells us that positive change in one has a ripple effect on others, inspiring personal transformation. This is how change in our inner world brings about change in the outer world. Initially it is a slow process. However, once a critical mass has been reached, it becomes very rapid. An example of this is how water in a bowl freezes. At first it is just a few molecules that freeze, one at a time, here and there. However, following the few, suddenly the whole bowlful freezes. It is the same with us. Personal and social change feels very slow and time consuming as we first begin the process and network with others. However, once a critical mass is reached, the majority will understand and accept spirituality. Almost unnoticed, dawn has already quietly arrived. The new day has begun. A world of peace and truth is not far away.
FURTHER INFORMATION : Sister Jayanti is the European Director of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University and assists in co-ordinating the University’s activities in more than 80 countries. She is also their representative to the United Nations in Geneva. Global Corporation House, 65 Pound Lane, London, NW10 2HH. Tel: 0181 459 1400
WEB SITE : http://London@bkwsu.com