Although the word 'brotherhood' seems to be easy, there are several points of view. If it were as simple as it seems the world would not have gone through the great catastrophe which it has gone through. The cause of all the troubles is the Teachers of humanity. If the great Teachers have given a Message to humanity it is no doubt the Message of Brotherhood. In plain words: "God is love; you must love your enemies."

No doubt simple things to human beings are too simple; too many people who have studied think that they must no longer learn anything. It is too easy; yet if they would study it closely they would see it is the most difficult thing in the world. The necessity of life is a spiritual necessity from a metaphysical point of view. In other words brotherhood is the nature of man, and the secret of brotherhood is centered in the idea that like attracts like. Some animals go in numbers; they are attached to each other, and they abide in harmony.

But other animals, such as lions, tigers, do not like to be together; their passion is their own enemy; they are never contented, because they have not that spirit of harmony for which every soul longs. Human beings show that tendency of harmony more pronouncedly by living together in villages or cities, by recognizing people of their own nation; and, no doubt in this way are born virtues, like family pride, which sometimes engaged families in long quarrels. In the traditions of East and West humanity is the same, and has shown virtues which seem right and wrong (both are so close together), so that it is very difficult to distinguish which is which. Family pride developed into national quarrels.

The old tradition of Persia explains those quarrels between men, tribes, and so on; for instance, if the chiefs of two different tribes were struggling together, the stronger one became chief of the two tribes, yet as long as the feeling of brotherhood remained, it was a virtue in itself, and it was living. All that is moving is living, and that which is still is dead, and that which is dead is useless in life because it brings about death. In the great war we have gone through, there was a dead element; the patriotic spirit, so long as it was progressing it was a virtue, but when it ceased to expand itself then it became contrary to what brotherhood should be.

Any individual in society has to trouble himself about his own interests; a greater virtue is the care for a whole family, the endeavor to do all one can to please one's friends. But that virtue is surpassed by the individual who does not only think of himself and his family, but also of the people in his own village or town. One may even see a man considering himself as nothing, because his outlook is greater and he considers the nation first. As long as that heart-quality is progressing there is a great blessing in society; but as soon as that spirit becomes still and is not given a chance to progress, then it ceases to fulfill its purpose; it is hindering the progress of human life; and, if it cannot expand it brings about the greatest catastrophes that have been experienced in the world.

From a philosophical point of view the whole world is one family; and if we look at the way in which the world is working, we see that everybody is seeking his own interests. Men, however, are interdependent. A man, living in a family cannot expect to be happy so long as one member of the family is unhappy. According to a mystical point of view the whole world is one body; and, if there is a weakness in any part of a body, the whole body will be affected by it. Life, at the present time, is like a child's game; every child is trying to get the other child's toy, but he does not know how to keep it. Things in the world are changeable; they are not to be relied upon.

Man sees the vanity of the world; but if he does not see a reality in contrast, he remains intoxicated by the unreality, and tries to get some pleasure from his life, even for a moment. The happiness of this world is something we cannot keep; it is just like the horizon - the nearer you go, the farther it goes. As soon as you get it, you see it is not the thing you wanted. That discontent continues its work till we have found and understood the manifestation of God, in which is hidden the Divine Spirit. God cannot be found in temples, for God is Love; and love does not live in temples, but in the heart of man, which is the temple of God. The true religion would be to recognize it so and to tolerate, to forgive and to love each other. No doubt there are difficulties; we are not angels and we cannot expect to act like them. Many have no clear vision before them as they are indulging in the life of intoxication. Perhaps the time will come when everything we depend upon will be taken from us; the best would be to consider life from a philosophical point of view. Then we really should be able to smile at life; today this thing is most necessary.