Abraham Lincoln Emancipates the Soul

Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) has often been hailed as the greatest President of the United States of America.

	Abraham Linclon

Bhagavan Baba too, on many occasions, has narrated stories from the life of this great leader to inspire the young minds. In a discourse in May 2002, Baba said:

Before Lincoln became the President of America, people did not realize the power of self-confidence and faith in God. It was Lincoln who taught these values to the people of America. Following the example of Lincoln, more and more people started developing these precious virtues of self-confidence and faith in God. It is enough if a country has one person like Lincoln.

~ Divine Discourse, 16-05-2002

Lincoln struggled with all his might to preserve the unity of the United States during the four year American civil war, which was threatened by the breakaway southern states, who wished to continue slavery.

He strove to emancipate the four million black slaves, convinced in the equal rights that should be bestowed upon them.

This last view was quite contrary to the beliefs of the vast majority of white Americans and he risked losing a large number of people from the north who might have fought on his side, but who were actually against freeing the slaves. Yet he stuck to his principles.

	Four million African American slaves...				...freed in body and spirit

Let us again return to Bhagavan’s words:

		Lincoln sacrificed his life for his country

The slaves were treated in a very harsh manner by the Whites in those days. Abraham Lincoln wanted to ameliorate their condition and secure equal rights for them. He was of the firm conviction that all human beings were equal and any differences on the basis of colour or race were improper. He tirelessly worked for the cause of the slaves. Eventually, he succeeded in the abolition of slavery in the United States. He is still held in high esteem for this noble work.

~ Divine Discourse, 23-11-2000

Abraham Lincoln was closely involved in the military effort and guided the northern American states to victory. As the war was drawing to a close he was assassinated by a southerner, incensed at Lincoln’s wish to give voting rights to the black American former slaves.

Lincoln always strove to carry out what he believed were acts of righteousness. True, this conviction brought about his untimely death, but it also created a United States that could more fully express its Declaration of Independence precept:

“…that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”