| Day by day may you receive these concepts; day by day may you inherit this new state of consciousness till you become immersed in the sea of divine light. This station is the ultimate result of human life; this station is the true fruit of existence; this station is the pearl of human consummation; the shining star toward which human destiny points. -‘Abdu’l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy |
The life of a Bahá’í is characterized by walking a path of spiritual growth and development. Each day we make small steps in this direction by reading from the Bahá’í Writings, praying, attempting to carry out the teachings of God, and reflecting on our behavior. Bahá’ís are not perfect, for perfection is a station held only by God. Neither should we hold expectations that are too lofty towards those around us, as those expectations when unmet may make it difficult for us to be a reflection of God's love.
| One must see in every human being only that which is worthy of praise. When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race. If, however, we look at people from the standpoint of their faults, then being a friend to them is a formidable task. -Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá |
Therefore as a Bahá’í we should focus our energy and think of our responsibility as it relates to ourselves and our actions. It is only through transformation of our own character and by our own example that can we hope to bring about change in those around us and the world.
| Wherefore must the loved ones of God associate in affectionate fellowship with stranger and friend alike, showing forth to all the utmost loving-kindness, disregarding the degree of their capacity, never asking whether they deserve to be loved. In every instance let the friends be considerate and infinitely kind. Let them never be defeated by the malice of the people, by their aggression and their hate, no matter how intense. If others hurl their darts against you, offer them milk and honey in return; if they poison your lives, sweeten their souls; if they injure you, teach them how to be comforted; if they inflict a wound upon you, be a balm to their sores; if they sting you, hold to their lips a refreshing cup... Walk ye in such wise that this fleeting world will change into a splendour and this dismal heap of dust become a palace of delights. -Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá |
Daily responsibilities[edit]
The following is excerpt from a letter by the Universal House of Justice:
- Bahá’u’lláh has stated quite clearly in His Writings the essential requisites for our spiritual growth, and these are stressed again and again by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His talks and Tablets. One can summarize them briefly in this way:
- The recital each day of one of the Obligatory Prayers with pure-hearted devotion.
- The regular reading of the Sacred Scriptures, specifically at least each morning and evening, with reverence, attention and thought.
- Prayerful meditation on the Teachings, so that we may understand them more deeply, fulfil them more faithfully, and convey them more accurately to others.
- Striving every day to bring our behaviour more into accordance with the high standards that are set forth in the Teachings.
- Teaching the Cause of God.
- Selfless service in the work of the Cause and in the carrying on of our trade or profession.
- These points ... represent the path towards the attainment of true spirituality that has been laid down by the Manifestation of God for this age.
- -Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986, Requisites for Spiritual Growth
In addition to this Bahá’ís are also required once per days to perform ablutions and recite 95 times the phrase Alláh-u-Abhá. See also Recitation of 95 Alláh-u-Abhás for more information.
Purpose of these pages[edit]
- The words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá quoted on this page represent a goal that some may feel is difficult or impossible to attain. How can we walk in this path? Exploring that idea, and trying to understand how we can better emulate the Bahá’í teachings is the purpose of this and subsequent pages in this series. For continued discussion on this question see the next page in the series below. If instead you are looking for a general understanding of Bahá’í teachings by topic, see User:David/Topic/The life of the spirit.
