One occupation common to all
humans is the search for happiness. Over the ages many paths have been tried.
Some climb the highest mount to find the elixir of life; some are consumed in
their profession; still others are engaged totally in ascetic life of yoga,
meditation, and charity. In the Baha’i Faith, the key to happiness is a
balanced life. A traveler will never be satisfied with just one goal. Humans
are multi-faceted and complex beings. This means education, career, family
life, charity are all important but all must be seen through a spiritual eye.
In my estimation, positive action, executed with a clear, divine vision will
bring the soul the greatest possible satisfaction.
Devotion
O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord. (Compilations, Baha'i Prayers, p. 150) |
Baha'u'llah taught that hearts must receive the Bounty of the Holy Spirit, so that Spiritual civilization may be established. For material civilization is not adequate for the needs of mankind and cannot be the cause of its happiness. Material civilization is like the body and spiritual civilization is like the soul. Body without soul cannot live. (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 30) |
Deeper Learning
We care a lot about our bodies. Breathing,
eating, and drinking are routine activities that maintain our health by
supplying vitamins, proteins, minerals and other essentials to our bodies. We
spend a significant amount of time daily to earn money, go grocery shopping and
cook meals. If we get sick we receive medical care from doctors, nurses,
pharmacists, and dietitians. Individuals, families, governments, and industry work
together for our common physical benefit.
We
cannot say the same for our spiritual well-being. If a soul is concerned about
its health, most of the time, it’s on its own. Of course, there are religious
groups as well as other associations that provide help to those in need of
spiritual or psychological assistance. However, the Baha’i Faith aims to unite all hearts
in one universal Cause, one common Faith, and invites all of humanity, no
matter what race or religion, to participate in such a civilization-building
process.
Let’s
look at some activities individuals and groups can partake in to maintain a
thriving community, where spirit and body are given equal importance. As Baha’is,
we believe that we exist in an organic relationship with our environment. Individuals
and societies are inseparable; in fact, each influences the other. Some of the
teachings and activities of the Baha’i Faith are:
Daily obligatory prayer.
The Nineteen Day Feast, during which the members
of the community read devotions, consult about matters of the Faith in their
community, and socialize.
An annual fast, lasting nineteen days.
The Ruhi sequence of courses, a distance
education program, which develops in individuals the qualities, attitudes, and
capacities necessary for service to humanity.
Thoughtful, daily reading of the Baha’i Writings.
Engaging in work or a profession is considered
as worship to God if it is done in the spirit of service.
The pursuit of education, and the teaching of others,
are so highly regarded that they are considered the same as participating in
services at a church, mosque, temple, or synagogue.
Pilgrimage is recommended as a way to connect to
the lives of the central figures of the Baha’i Faith.
Regional and national Baha’i Schools are
organized throughout the year, where believers go for weekends or whole weeks
to study Baha’i Writings as a way to replenish the soul and discover ways to apply
the spiritual teachings in their lives.
Local children’s classes.
Devotional meetings like this one.
Recitation of the Greatest Name (Alláh-u-Abhá)
ninety-five times daily.
Living life according to Baha’i principles
These are just a few examples of how
to provide your soul with the food it needs. Just as we make serious efforts to
maintain a healthy physical being, our soul does not grow on its own. We must
strive to develop our spiritual qualities.
What happens when a soul does not
make a conscientious effort to improve its own well-being? Though one may experience a second birth or
enlightenment, as I talked about in the last session, the spirit can also die
without proper sustenance. You, or someone you know, may lose your true
direction in life. The consequences of spiritual negligence are subtle. You
don’t see it coming, until one day you realize something is wrong. Causing you to
look back on what went wrong, you will wish you could turn back the clock.
Reflection
Living a Baha’i way of life is not easy. The fruits of life do
come but one must try, try and try until one succeeds. Success means a gradual
realization of our goals. Do you have any challenges that you are still
struggling with or have you already conquered them?
Deeds
The fruits
of the tree of man have ever been and are goodly deeds and a praiseworthy
character. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 25)
I find that
good habits lead to good deeds, which in turn shape a better lifestyle. What do
you think?
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