Bahá’u’lláh’s ideas of poverty as detachment, and nothingness as selflessness. Cites some commonalities in concepts of detachment and nothingness from Buddha, Confucius, Jesus, Muhammad and Socrates as five of the greatest philosophers or prophets.
published in Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 8:1, pages 29-43 Ottawa: Association for Bahá'í Studies North America, 1997
About: This essay briefly explores Bahá’u’lláh’s conceptualization of “poverty” (detachment from the world) and “nothingness” (selflessness); identifies five representatives of the greatest philosophers and prophets of all time—Muhammad, Socrates, Confucius, Buddha, and Jesus; describes each of their conceptualizations of selflessness and detachment; examines some commonalities among them and commonalities with Bahá’u’lláh’s conceptualization; and then closes with some qualifying remarks.