This session went very well, blessed by the participation of
eight souls, two of whom were truth-seekers. During devotions we said prayers
for someone who is having great difficulty recovering from an illness. The
discussion after the presentation on higher spiritual goals was vibrant. Setting
higher goals and achieving them is easier than many think.
Devotion
…adorn yourselves with the ornament of His remembrance, and illumine your hearts with the light of His love. This is the key that unlocketh the hearts of men, the burnish that shall cleanse the souls of all beings. He that is careless of what hath poured out from the finger of the Will of God liveth in manifest error. Amity and rectitude of conduct, rather than dissension and mischief, are the marks of true faith. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 205) |
According to the direct and sacred command of God we are forbidden to utter slander, are commanded to show forth peace and amity, are exhorted to rectitude of conduct, straightforwardness and harmony with all the kindreds and peoples of the world. We must obey and be the well-wishers of the governments of the land, regard disloyalty unto a just king as disloyalty to God Himself and wishing evil to the government a transgression of the Cause of God. (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 440) |
Deeper Learning
We admire those who rise above the ordinary. Imagine the
compliments you would receive from family and friends if you were to do something
awesome like travel through Europe on a bicycle, write a novel, or lift a
village out of poverty. Stepping out of the mundane and into something new and
exciting is always greeted with enthusiasm. But lurking behind any new
initiative is the problem of sustainability. In a matter of weeks or months,
our plans and initiatives can be deflated and end up like shriveled balloons.
Understanding the four phases of significant tasks helps
prevent failure. These phases are: forming, storming, norming, and performing. In
the forming stage you must define your goal, prepare your tools and embark on
your new adventure. Let’s say you’ve decided to go to university. You must
first register, buy books and show up for the first class.
The next stage is storming. As the name suggests, it can be
rough. Many of us give up. You encounter obstacles, such as the need to learn new
skills. Perhaps you can’t find the time to complete your new goal among your
other time commitments. Cost may be another issue. Frustration sets in when you
don’t see immediate results. As a first-year university student, what are some
of the challenges that could derail your plan? It can be difficult getting to
class on time, as university campuses are huge compared to those in high
school. Keeping up with all the work dished out by professors could prove
difficult. Teachers may be too emotionally detached for your liking. You may
not be motivated enough to study hard. These difficulties can feel like a storm
blowing over your life. Patience and perseverance are required to see you
through this stage.
If you manage to move to the norming stage, things start to
look better and you become comfortable with your new activity. It finds the
right place among all your demands. As a student, you start to manage your life
better. You are more confident and your results are a source of encouragement. Sometimes
life becomes tumultuous again and you revert to the storming stage. It’s quite
normal for one to go back and forth between these two stages.
When you enter the performing phase, you are flying at a high
altitude, which derives satisfaction, which in turn provides you with the oxygen
needed to soar higher and higher. As a student, you see yourself reaching your
goals, and you may even plan on continuing with graduate or post-graduate
studies.
Spiritual goals also go through these phases. How to begin? Well,
I love writing just as much as spirituality. Combining these two gave birth to
this blog. Personally, I have derived many benefits, for example, from reading the
Holy Writings of various religions and reflecting on matters of the spirit. I
hope my efforts along this path of service will help many find their own high-altitude
zone.
To work at a higher level, you must consider your passions. In
the Bahá’i Faith, we are fortunate enough to have the example of teachers,
martyrs, and pioneers who have led extraordinary lives guided by spiritual
principles. In doing so, they gained great spiritual benefits, and in responding
to God’s call, have inspired many others to do the same.
Passion will certainly aid you in successfully completing
your projects. But to achieve excellence, and to make a social impact, you will
need a moral stance. Let us consider the average politician. They are extremely
motivated, and are heavily involved in wheeling and dealing to accomplish their
goals. But one who is a true statesman, rather than an ordinary politician, and
who allows moral convictions and spiritual principles to guide them, comes out
as the winner. Serving the constituency should be a leader’s driving force.
Therefore, passion is the engine and spirituality is the rudder.
According to one account, among many things, Baha’u’llah
would like to see His followers reach the finish line every time. He said:
There are four qualities which I love to see manifested in
people: first, enthusiasm and courage; second, a face wreathed in smiles and a radiant
countenance; third, that they see all things with their own eyes and not
through the eyes of others; fourth, the ability to carry a task, once begun,
through to its end.
Finding and doing things that bring excitement, joy, and
energy to your life is in your DNA. If you could do it over and over again, you
will be much closer to your true self and the results will be no less than the experience
of paradise. Happiness is our destiny.
Reflection
Would you like to share what your passions are? You may need
to brainstorm. The history of the Baha’i Faith, as well as other world
religions, is filled with great personalities who, through sacrifice,
perseverance, learning, and courage have ascended to higher planes of existence. Give it a try! You have nothing to lose.
Deeds (Path of Service)
Know, O thou possessors of insight,
that true spirituality is like unto a lake of clear water which reflects the
divine. Of such was the spirituality of Jesus Christ. There is another kind
which is like a mirage, seeming to be spiritual when it is not. That which is
truly spiritual must light the path to God, and must result in deeds. (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in
London, p. 107)
What could be this ‘mirage’ be? Have you ever been inspired
by others to reach a higher goal in life?
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