7DAYS´ INTERVIEW: Jack Mclean

Visiting the Rock with a purpose in mind!

By Sonia Golt

Jack Mclean is a Baha'i theology scholar and teacher who has written a variety of essays and poetry that have been published in the field of spirituality. He has appeared on BBC radio and on Rabbi Bulka's television show in Ottawa, "Sunday Night with Rabbi Bulka". Currently he is visiting the Rock as a travel teacher.

"I have come to Gibraltar for 3 months to assist the Baha'i community with their "core activities" as I am an international volunteer travel-teacher. Gibraltar's Baha'i community was formed in 1995 and this is the first time they receive someone from abroad to help them with study circles, youth classes and devotional gatherings. I also came here to gain human experience in the form of travel and to meet creative people. I hope to return if possible, in the future."

Jack was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario Canada on June 7, 1945. He is the father of two adult daughters, Mukina and Leah. He attended Universities of Paris (Sorbonne) in Toronto, as well as obtaining a B.A. on French literature and Religious Studies followed by an M.A. on the History of Religions. Although Jack is now retired from his teachings as a high school teacher he still writes as writing is one of his most important interests. He has authored three books in the field of academic Baha'i studies and worked in one book as acting editor-contributor called "Revisioning the Sacred" His other books are "Dimensions in Spirituality" - "Reflections on Spiritual Life and Transformation in Light" which is a systematic study of the meaning of spirituality and what constitutes spiritual transformation; "Under the Divine Lote Tree" which are essays and Reflections, an ensemble of 80 short essays on existential themes; "A Celestial Burning" which is about the Writings of Shoghi Effendi, now under review, a major 500 page literary critical and theological study of these writings.

"I have also written some 30 academic papers in the field of Baha'i philosophical theology. My main interests are philosophical theology, the world's religions, mysticism, existentialism and literary criticism. Currently I host the Ottawa Creative Writers' group. I have written some six volumes of poetry and many essays and book reviews as articles for the Ottawa Citizen, one of Canada's national newspapers.

What does writing mean to you?

"Writing poetry and essays for me is creativity; assisting the hidden potential of the self to emerge; it is communication, i.e. sharing my view of human experience with others to inspire them and assist on their journey through life. I have written poetry since my teenage years. For me poetry is an intensification or sharper focus on some aspect or experience of human existence which I want to record verbally. A few of my poems have been published in poetry journals but the vast majority of my six volumes of poems remain unpublished. Strangely, I have never really worked hard at getting my poems published."

Where does your inspiration to write poetry come from?

"I think my inspiration can come from anything but it is generally semi-mystical and I tend to focus deeply instead of just using my ordinary mundane conscience at a particular moment in time."

You believe in quite a new religion, tell me a bit about it and why you have taken this path?
"The Baha'i Faith (1844- ) is the youngest of the world's great religions, born in Iran and founded by the two prophets. It is an independent world religion. The mission of this religion is to assist mankind to achieve its organic unity through the establishment of one world faith. I took this path because I believe that these teachings are best suited to the needs of mankind today, i.e. establishing the unity of the human family which is the imperative need of our age. My way of serving my faith is through rational analysis and the strength of ideas and concepts as an expression of the search for truth. Truth is one though it appears in various guises. All the world's great religions are various expressions of one common spiritual truth. I believe that prayer is not always answered because in certain cases the granting of the prayer may not be in our best interest. Often we think that obtaining some cherished desire will be the best thing for us to make us happy, but our prayers have to flow from purity of heart and purity of motive."v This is certainly food for thought and we can all learn from it as every religion has its ways of praying…

It was interesting to listen to Jack explaining how he had directed his path towards this faith; he explained that although he was born a protestant, he was not too exposed to it except for Sunday school. Later as a young lad he saw that his Aunt Ruth, who had joined the Baha'i religion, when visiting from Washington DC would enthusiastically talk about it to his mother and Ruth's other sisters and brother, as Jack listened in sometimes he too was impressed and the house seemed to light up when they were all in the house together with his aunt. It took Jack's mother two years to study the teachings before she herself joined and it took Jack's father 16 years to agree and accept that this too was the way forward for him. Long before then Jack had already decided that these teachings of progressiveness within this religion are most suited to our times and he therefore followed suit.

Jack mentioned that at a recent, sold-out Peace Conference in Vancouver, His Holiness the Dalai Lama made a proclamation that stunned the crowd: "The world will be saved by the western woman." Jack believes that women, like his aunt and his mother can highly influence the world around them and at large! "The prophecies contained in the Baha'i Faith are usually accurate. But we must see the fulfillment of 'Abdu'l-Baha's prediction taking place over several or many generations until it is finally fulfilled. We have a lot of work to do in many parts of the world, but I think we are well on our way. It is worth "fighting" for."

What are your future goals and aims?
"To be better at what I do and to serve humanity as best I can!"

Wise words from a man whose life is dedicated to teaching others and to writing books, essays, and poems, that can indeed influence people along the way.

<< Back