Aştî

By Majid Arvanaghi

Plurality, Peace and the Golden Rule

This project visually explores the concept of unity through shared humanity and faith. It uses the fundamental elements of connection—greetings, gratitude, and empathy—translated across various languages and cultures, to argue that all diverse spiritual paths converge into a single, universal essence.

The work draws deeply from religious and literary wisdom, citing the Golden Rule (from both the Talmud and the Gospel of Matthew) and the powerful humanistic manifesto by Saadi, to assert that true human identity is defined by sympathy and compassion for one’s fellow beings. The resulting designs are simple graphic representations that symbolize this profound idea of plurality within unity.

The first piece in this collection, chronologically, is called “Hi-Salam.” It has a simple idea: to write the word ‘Salam’ (hello) – the first word to begin acquaintance and friendship – in various languages next to each other. This arrangement simultaneously creates a graphical form, similar to the speech bubbles we draw above someone’s head to contain what they are saying.

The second work is titled “Sepas” (Thanks/Gratitude). It is a continuation of the previous concept, featuring the word ‘Sepas’ translated into various languages. This time, the words are arranged together to form the shape of a tree. Gratitude and appreciation are fundamental to any lasting friendship; they are how a relationship is grown and turned from a seed into a tree.

The theme of peace and friendship becomes challenging when religions and civilizations enter the conversation. The third design, titled “Only One,” attempts to convey that all religions—and in fact, all the deities worshipped in different faiths and schools of thought—are fundamentally just one God. It is a single essence that every religion, every nation, and every individual has experienced in their own way. Yet, behind all these unique experiences, there is only one God. This concept holds true for many, if not all, major faiths and philosophies. This design is composed entirely of symbols. You can find symbols from major religions like Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, alongside those from philosophies and ‘isms’ such as Shamanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and many others. I have tried to incorporate as many diverse symbols as possible. I sincerely hope I have not erred in the eyes of God. This is purely an artistic endeavor to express what I have personally received and experienced.

My fourth work in this series is perhaps a simpler, more graphic interpretation of the previous themes. It consists of irregular graphical shapes in various colors that, individually, may bear no resemblance to one another. Yet, when placed together, they form a large, complete circle. This is a simple graphic representation of plurality within unity. It attempts to visually convey the concept of pluralism, but expressed through color.

I am certainly neither the first nor the last person to have the idea of peace in mind. Many great minds have pursued this work, many lives have been sacrificed for this cause, and countless stories have been written. One of the most famous anecdotes in Persian literature comes from the Golestan (The Rose Garden) by Saadi of Shiraz, a few verses of which have gained worldwide renown. These couplets are: “Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul. If one member is afflicted with pain, Other members uneasy will remain. If you have no sympathy for human pain, The name of human you cannot retain.” This is a powerful manifesto about humanity and rightfully defines what it means to be human. I have hand-transcribed a segment of this poem and created a design from it.

Yet, perhaps the most crucial and foundational divine teaching on this subject can be found in the Jewish Talmud. It is there that the sage Hillel the Elder famously states a version of the Golden Rule: “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the whole Law; the rest is commentary. Now go and learn it.” (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a) A strikingly similar principle is taught by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, known as the positive version of the Golden Rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

It is impossible to talk about peace without mentioning the story of Noah’s Ark. In that narrative, following the Great Flood, God makes a covenant with Noah never to destroy the Earth in that manner again, and the rainbow is set as the sign of that promise.