Topic: Spiritual Qualities to Perfect Page 1 This newsletter is dedicated to all seekers after the Eternal
Truth.
Why is it important for us as individuals to work so hard (and hard
work it is indeed) to better ourselves, to increase our spirituality: to
perfect to the best of our ability those spiritual qualities called virtues
that have been stressed by every Messenger of God through the ages? The next
few quotes from the Bahá'í Writings should provide some answers
to that question and explain the importance of strengthening the spiritual, the
divine part of ourselves:
O SON OF MAN! Rejoice in the gladness of thine heart, that thou mayest be worthy
to meet Me and to mirror forth My beauty.1
Divine education is that of the Kingdom of God: it consists in
acquiring divine perfections, and this is true education; for in this estate
man becomes the focus of divine blessings, the manifestation of the words, "Let
Us make man in Our image and after Our likeness." [cf. Gen 1:26] This is the
goal of the world of humanity.2
. . .when the spirit is fed with holy virtues, then is the body
joyous; if the soul falls into sin, the body is in torment! When we find truth, constancy, fidelity, and love, we are happy;
but if we meet with lying, faithlessness, and deceit, we are
miserable.3
O SON OF BEING! Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is
My place of revelation; cleanse it for My manifestation.4
. . .when man does not open his mind and heart to the blessing of
the spirit, but turns his soul towards the material side, towards the bodily
part of his nature, then is he fallen from his high place and he becomes
inferior to the inhabitants of the lower animal kingdom. In this case the man
is in a sorry plight! For if the spiritual qualities of the soul, open to the
breath of the Divine Spirit, are never used, they become atrophied, enfeebled,
and at last incapable; whilst the soul's material qualities alone being
exercised, they become terribly powerful---and the unhappy, misguided man,
becomes more savage, more unjust, more vile, more cruel, more malevolent than
the lower animals themselves. All his aspirations and desires being strengthened by the lower side of the soul's nature, he
becomes more and more brutal, until his whole being is in no way superior to
the beasts that perish. Men such as this, plan to work evil, to hurt and to
destroy; they are entirely without the spirit of Divine compassion, for the
celestial quality of the soul has been dominated by that of the material. If,
on the contrary, the spiritual nature of the soul has been so strengthened that
it holds the material side in subjection, then does the man approach the
Divine; his humanity becomes so glorified that the virtues of the Celestial
Assembly are manifested in The Seeker's Passage, Vol. I, Number 8, Page 2
him; he radiates the Mercy of God, stimulates the spiritual progress of
mankind, for he becomes a lamp to show light on their path.5
The previous passages clearly state the importance of
strengthening our spiritual nature. Just what are these spiritual
qualities that we are expected to strive to perfect? The following quotes
should point out several of them, including some of the most important ones:
O SON OF SPIRIT! My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart,
that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and
everlasting.6
Indeed thy Lord loveth fidelity as found in the realm of creation
and He hath given it precedence over most of the praiseworthy qualities.
Verily, He is Potent and Powerful.7
We should at all times manifest our truthfulness and sincerity, nay rather,
we must be constant in our faithfulness and trustworthiness, and occupy
ourselves in offering prayers for the good of all. 8
O SON OF SPIRIT! Know thou of a truth: He that biddeth men be just and himself
mmitteth iniquity is not of Me, even though he bear My name.9
O SON OF BEING! Ascribe not to any soul that which thou wouldst not have ascribed
to thee, and say not that which thou doest not. This is my command unto thee,
do thou observe it.10
A good character is, verily, the best mantle for men from God. With
it He adorneth the temples of His loved ones. By My life! The light of a good
character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof. Whoso
attaineth unto it is accounted as a jewel among men. The glory and the
upliftment of the world must needs depend upon it. A goodly character is a
means whereby men are guided to the Straight Path and are led unto the Great
Announcement. Well is it with him who is adorned with the saintly attributes
and character of the Concourse on High.
It beseemeth you to fix your gaze under all conditions upon
justice and fairness. In the Hidden Words this exalted utterance hath been
revealed from Our Most August Pen: 'O Son of Spirit! The best-beloved of all
things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and
neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with
thine own eyes, and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own
knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy
heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the
sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.' They that are just and fair-minded in their judgement occupy a
sublime station and hold an exalted rank. The light of piety and uprightness
shineth resplendent from these souls. We earnestly hope that the peoples and
countries of the worlds may not be deprived of the splendours of these two
luminaries.11
The fourth Taráz concerneth trustworthiness. Verily it
is the door of security for all that dwell on earth and a token of glory on the
part of the All-Merciful. He who partaketh thereof hath indeed partaken of the
treasures of wealth and prosperity. Trustworthiness is the greatest portal
leading unto the tranquility and security of the people. In truth the
stability of every affair hath depended and doth depend upon it. All the
domains of power, of grandeur and of wealth are illumined by its light. . . .
The Seeker's Passage, Vol. I, Number 8, Page 3
. . . O people of Bahá! Trustworthiness is in truth the best
of vestures for your temples and the most glorious crown for your heads. Take
ye fast hold of it at the behest of Him Who is the Ordainer, the All-Informed.12
And likewise He saith: The heaven of true understanding shineth
resplendent with the light of two luminaries: tolerance and righteousness. O
my friend! Vast oceans lie enshrined within this brief saying. Blessed are they
who appreciate its value, drink deep therefrom and grasp its meaning, and woe
betide the heedless. This lowly one entreateth the people of the world to
observe fairness, that their tender, their delicate and precious hearing which
hath been created to hearken unto the words of wisdom may be freed from
impediments and from such illusions, idle fancies or vain imaginings as 'cannot
fatten nor appease the hunger', so that the true Counselor may be graciously
inclined to set forth that which is the source of blessing for mankind and of
the highest good for all nations.13
O my friend! In all circumstances one should seize upon every means
which will promote security and tranquility among the peoples of the world. The
Great Being saith: In this glorious Day whatever will purge you from corruption
and will lead you towards peace and composure, is indeed the Straight
Path.14
Adorn your heads with the garlands of trustworthiness and fidelity,
your hearts with the attire of the Fear of God, your tongues with absolute
truthfulness, your bodies with the vesture of courtesy. These are in truth
seemly adornings unto the temple of man, if ye be of them that reflect.
15
[ Say: O people of God! Adorn your temples with the adornment of
trustworthiness and piety. Help, then, your Lord with the hosts of goodly deeds
and a praiseworthy character. We have forbidden you dissention and conflict. .
.16
Men should hold in their souls the vision of celestial perfection, and
there prepare a dwelling-place for the inexhaustible bounty of the Divine
Spirit.17
.One should not ignore the truth of any matter, rather should one
give expression to that which is right and true. The people of Bahá
should not deny any soul the reward due to him . . .18
Before closing this issue, some passages would be appropriate
on striving to purify and sanctify ourselves in order to "attain the shores
of the ocean of true understanding"19 and to draw closer
to God. He, after all, is our true and ultimate Goal. Two such passages are
presented for your consideration.
No man shall attain the shores of the ocean of true
understanding except he be detached from all that is in heaven and on earth.
Sanctify your souls, O ye peoples of the world; that haply ye may attain
that station which God hath destined for you and enter thus the tabernacle
which, according to the dispensations of Providence, hath been raised in the
firmament of the Bayán. The essence of these words is this: they that tread the path
of faith, they that thirst for the wine of certitude, must cleanse themselves
of all that is earthly---their ears from idle talk, their minds from vain imaginings, their hearts from worldly affections, their eyes from that
which perisheth. They should put their trust in God, and, holding fast unto Him, follow in His way. Then
will they be made worthy of the effulgent glories of the sun of divine
knowledge and understanding, and become the recipients of a grace that is
infinite and unseen, imasmuch as man can never hope to attain unto the
knowledge of the All-Glorious, can never quaff from the stream of divine
knowledge and wisdom, can never enter the abode of immortality, nor partake of the cup of divine nearness and favour, unless
and until he ceases to regard The Seeker's Passage, Vol. I, Number 8, Page 4
the words and deeds of mortal men as a standard for the true understanding
and recognition of God and His Prophets19
Know thou that in the Bayán purification is regarded as the
most acceptable means for attaining nearness unto God and as the most
meritorious of all deeds. Thus purge thou thine ear that thou mayest hear no
mention besides God, and purge thine eye that it behold naught except God, and
thy conscience that it perceive naught other than God, and thy tongue that it
proclaim nothing but God, and thy hand to write naught but the words of God,
and thy knowledge that it comprehend naught except God, and thy heart that it
entertain no wish save God, and in like manner purge all thine acts and thy
pursuits that thou mayest be nurtured in the paradise of pure love, and
perchance mayest attain the presence of Him Whom God shall make manifest, adorned with a purity which He highly
cherisheth, and be sanctified from whosoever hath turned away from Him and doth
not support Him. Thus shalt thou manifest a purity that shall profit thee.
Know thou that every ear which hearkeneth unto His Words
with true faith shall be immune from the fire. Thus the believer, through his
recognition of Him will appreciate the transcendent character of His heavenly
Words, will whole-heartedly choose Him over others, and will refuse to incline
his affections towards those who disbelieve in Him. Whatever one gaineth in
the life to come is but the fruit of this faith. Indeed any man whose eye
gazeth upon His Words with true faith well deserveth Paradise; and one whose
conscience beareth witness unto His Words with true faith shall abide in
Paradise and attain the presence of God; and one whose tongue giveth utterance
to His Words with true faith shall have his abode in Paradise, wherein he will
be seized with ecstasy in praise and glorification of God, the Ever-Abiding,
Whose revelations of glory never end and the reviving breaths of Whose holiness
never fail. Every hand which setteth down His Words with true faith shall be
filled by God, both in this world and in the next, with things that are highly
prized; and every breast which committeth His Words to memory, God shall cause,
if it were that of a believer, to be filled with His love; and every heart
which cherisheth the love of His Words and manifesteth in itself the signs of
true faith when His Name is mentioned, and exemplifieth the words, 'their
hearts are thrilled with awe at the mention of God' (Quran 8:2), that heart
will become the object of the glances of divine favour and on the Day of
Resurrection will be highly praised by God.20
To conclude, follows two quotations from Bahá'u'lláh
Himself which summarize and outline the most important qualities.
...The virtues and attributes pertaining unto God are all evident
and manifest, and have been mentioned and described in all the heavenly Books.
Among them are trustworthiness, truthfulness, purity of heart while communing
with God, forbearance, resignation to whatever the Almighty hath decreed,
contentment with the things His Will hath provided, patience, nay, thankfulness
in the midst of tribulation, and complete reliance, in all circumstances, upon
Him. These rank, according to the estimate of God, among the highest and most
laudable of all acts. All other acts are, and will ever remain, secondary and
subordinate unto them.21 ss
. . . The Almighty beareth Me witness: To act like the beasts of the field
is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance,
mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all the peoples and kindreds of
the earth.22
*********
1 Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words of
Bahá'u'lláh, p 12 2'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p.
8 3'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 65 The Seeker's Passage, Vol. I, Number 8, Page 5
4 Bahá'u'lláh, Hidden Words of
Bahá'u'lláh, p 17 5'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, pp. 97-98 6 Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words of
Bahá'u'lláh, p. 3 7 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of
Bahá'u'lláh, pp 200-201 8'Abdu'l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of
'Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 294 9 Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words of
Bahá'u'lláh, p. 10. 10 Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words of
Bahá'u'lláh, p. 10. 11 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of
Bahá'u'lláh, pp 36-37 12 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of
Bahá'u'lláh, pp 37-38 13 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Baha'ullah, pp
169-170. 14 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Baha'ullah, p
171. 15 Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas
p. 62. 16 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of
Bahá'u'lláh, p 120 17'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 99. 18 Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of
Bahá'u'lláh, p 38. 19 Bahá'u'lláh, The
Kitáb-i-Iqán, pp. 3-4 20 The Báb, Selections from the Writings of the
Báb, pp. 98-99. 21 Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings
of Bahá'u'lláh, p 290. 22 Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings
of Bahá'u'lláh, p 215.
