Pause & Reflect

Meditations for Justice is the third title in the Pause & Reflect series, which presents meditative passages from the sacred and authoritative texts arranged around particular themes. While the Bahá'í Faith places a great deal of importance on meditation and the cultivation of spirituality, it is also a religion that calls for action and societal transformation. Meditation is not exclusively a means for personal growth, but a tool that should equip us with insights and awareness that can be translated into action in our lives and in the communities in which we live. 


Everywhere we look, symptoms of societal ills—such as systemic racism, the oppression of people of color, gender inequality, the extremes of wealth and poverty—are glaringly apparent, and threaten the well-being of people and communities throughout the world. At the core of the message of the Bahá'í Faith is the oneness of humankind and the equality of all peoples. Many of the quotations presented here place justice within the context of race and prejudice. This is not accidental. The unity in diversity that the Faith calls for, and for which its community strives, cannot be achieved without justice. This small book is not intended as a comprehensive volume on the subject but merely offers a selection of short extracts that invite meditation and reflection. It is hoped that readers will find the time and space to ponder the passages deeply, to draw insight from them, and to seek ways to apply that insight to their lives and communities.