...seek none else but Me

Some useful things to consider today:

He that hath Me not is bereft of all things. Turn ye away from all that is on earth and seek none else but Me. I am the Sun of Wisdom and the Ocean of Knowledge. I cheer the faint and revive the dead. I am the guiding Light that illumineth the way. I am the royal Falcon on the arm of the Almighty. I unfold the drooping wings of every broken bird and start it on its flight.

Bahá’u’lláh, ToB p. 169

The essence of wealth is love for Me; whoso loveth Me is the possessor of all things, and he that loveth Me not is indeed of the poor and needy. This is that which the Finger of Glory and Splendour hath revealed.

Bahá’u’lláh, ToB p. 156

Expansion vs. consolidation: Bringing oneself to account each day

I find that in my studies this maxim can be very useful, in that I sometimes forget which subjects I have already covered (showing a lack of consolidation). At times I may be too eager to expand my knowledge without conscious attention to consolidating what was previously learned.

These two quotations seem to reflect the principle at work here:

O SON OF BEING! Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds.

- Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, A31

Whoso ariseth among you to teach the Cause of his Lord, let him, before all else, teach his own self, that his speech may attract the hearts of them that hear him... Take heed, O people, lest ye be of them that give good counsel to others but forget to follow it themselves.

- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings p. 277

To live in a state of prayer

The power of prayer can profoundly influence our environment, in ways that only God knows, but the results of which will surely become evident in hindsight!

'Abdu'l-Bahá said:

There is nothing sweeter in the world of existence than prayer. Man must live in a state of prayer. The most blessed condition is the condition of prayer and supplication. Prayer is conversation with God. The greatest attainment or the sweetest state is none other than conversation with God.

and

Spirit has influence; prayer has spiritual effect...

I especially like to use this prayer of the Báb:

Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say: Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants, and all abide by His bidding!

What is your favorite prayer?


References:
http://www.bostonbahais.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23:devotional-gatherings&catid=16:institute&Itemid=14
http://www.bahaiprayers.org/assist3.htm

Becoming the well-wisher of all mankind

Bahá'ís are learning how to become the well-wishers of humanity. In the words of Bahá'u'lláh,

True peace and tranquillity will only be realized when every soul will have become the well-wisher of all mankind.

-- Bahá'u'lláh, The Tabernacle of Unity, p. 7

If life is a growth process, and the Holy Word the embodiment of the worthy ideals and principles befitting the station of man, this ideal, expressed in such simple wording, must involve more than just a passive acceptance of principle. It is a goal toward which we all must strive in order to realize our full potential as human beings.

Herewith some words of encouragement to accompany us along this path:

The more he striveth, the greater will be his progress.

-- Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 81-82

Great and blessed is this Day—the Day in which all that lay latent in man hath been and will be made manifest. Lofty is the station of man, were he to hold fast to righteousness and truth and to remain firm and steadfast in the Cause. In the eyes of the All-Merciful a true man appeareth even as a firmament; its sun and moon are his sight and hearing, and his shining and resplendent character its stars. His is the loftiest station, and his influence educateth the world of being.

-- Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 220

If we should ever wonder what sort of conduct the ideal of 'wishing all mankind well' implies, an answer can easily be found by meditating on these quotations, the first one regarding our duty to share the message of God for this age with our fellows, the second a more general exhortation about prioritizing in our lives:

The children of men are all brothers, and the prerequisites of brotherhood are manifold. Among them is that one should wish for one’s brother that which one wisheth for oneself. Therefore, it behoveth him who is the recipient of an inward or outward gift or who partaketh of the bread of heaven to inform and invite his friends with the utmost love and kindness.

-- Bahá'u'lláh, The Tabernacle of Unity, p. 41

O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself. Humility exalteth man to the heaven of glory and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation.

-- Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 64

Blessed and happy is he...

I printed out an inspiring passage from the "Tablet of Maqṣúd" that I would like to memorize by keeping it in my pocket and by my side throughout, taking a peek at intervals. It is a beautiful and important Tablet which should be studied by each and all. Here is one, out of many, cherished excerpts:

Publiser innlegg
That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.

(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 168)

What is your favorite passage therefrom (find it here)?

Otherwise, learned to focus, avoid certain unnecessary distractions, be in a prayerful state, and trust in God.

Detachment is as the sun

Today I am inspired by DETACHMENT. I know I need it, being the human I am. Here are some quotations from the writings that come to mind regarding this essential virtue. But let it be known that this theme runs as a golden thread throughout the Bahá'í writings, and is central to a religious, God-fearing life.

Regarding the effect of detachment on the soul, the Bahá'í writings state:

"Detachment is as the sun; in whatsoever heart it doth shine it quencheth the fire of covetousness and self."

Detachment is manifested through understanding:

"He whose sight is illumined with the light of understanding will assuredly detach himself from the world and the vanities thereof."

We can demonstrate detachment thus:

"....Let not the world and its vileness grieve you. Happy is he whom riches fill not with vain-glory, nor poverty with sorrow."

(Baha'u'llah, cited in The Baha'i World, and here)

Another of my favorite passages on the subject is the following, which invites us to make use of "the power of the Most Great Name (i.e. derivatives of the word Bahá, such as Bahá'u'lláh, Alláh-u-Abhá and Yá Bahá'u'l-Abhá) and so become a source of spiritual energy to the world:

Walk thou high above the world of being through the power of the Most Great Name, that thou mayest become aware of the immemorial mysteries and be acquainted with that wherewith no one is acquainted. Verily, thy Lord is the Helper, the All-Knowing, the All-Informed. Be thou as a throbbing artery, pulsating in the body of the entire creation, that through the heat generated by this motion there may appear that which will quicken the hearts of those who hesitate.

(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 142-3)

And in a similar vein regarding the imperative of avoiding fanaticism (excessive attachment to one's own beliefs) and strife:

It behoveth him who expoundeth the Word of God to deliver it with the utmost goodwill, kindness, and compassion. As to him that embraceth the truth and is honoured with recognizing Him, his name shall be recorded in the Crimson Book among the inmates of the all-highest Paradise. Should a soul fail, however, to accept the truth, it is in no wise permissible to contend with him. In another connection He saith: “Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth.” Likewise He saith: “The people of Bahá should soar high above the peoples of the world.” In matters of religion every form of fanaticism, hatred, dissension and strife is strictly forbidden.

(Bahá’u’lláh, The Tabernacle of Unity, 2.35)

And in the following passage we are called upon not to contend with anyone regarding the things of this world; in other words, to be detached from our hopes and ideas about them:

Dispute not with any one concerning the things of this world and its affairs, for God hath abandoned them to such as have set their affection upon them. Out of the whole world He hath chosen for Himself the hearts of men—hearts which the hosts of revelation and of utterance can subdue. Thus hath it been ordained by the Fingers of Bahá, upon the Tablet of God’s irrevocable decree, by the behest of Him Who is the Supreme Ordainer, the All-Knowing.

(Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings, p. 278 )

"Piety and detachment" are essential to success in teaching, and qualify the one who attains to them for a "supreme station, [a] habitation of transcendent holiness and sublimity":

At one time this sublime Word was heard from the Tongue of Him Who is the Possessor of all being and the Lord of the throne on high and of earth below—exalted is the glory of His utterance—: Piety and detachment are even as two most great luminaries of the heaven of teaching. Blessed the one who hath attained unto this supreme station, this habitation of transcendent holiness and sublimity.

(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 253)

What, then, is the "essence" of detachment?

The essence of detachment is for man to turn his face towards the courts of the Lord, to enter His Presence, behold His Countenance, and stand as witness before Him.

(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh Revealed After the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 155)

Guidance on how to live a detached life may be found in the compilation "Living the Life". Therein is included, among other things, the following passage, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, that relates the Bahá'í concept detachment to the requirements of life on earth:

Baha'u'llah says that the highest form of detachment in this day is to be occupied with some profession and be self-supporting. A good Baha'i, therefore, is the one who so arranges his life as to devote time both to his material needs and also to the service of the Cause.

(Living the Life, #1278)

Finally, here is a prayer that may be said for detachment:

Suffer me, O my God, to draw nigh unto Thee, and to abide within the precincts of Thy court, for remoteness from Thee hath well-nigh consumed me. Cause me to rest under the shadow of the wings of Thy grace, for the flame of my separation from Thee hath melted my heart within me. Draw me nearer unto the river that is life indeed, for my soul burneth with thirst in its ceaseless search after Thee. My sighs, O my God, proclaim the bitterness of mine anguish, and the tears I shed attest my love for Thee.
I beseech Thee, by the praise wherewith Thou praisest Thyself and the glory wherewith Thou glorifiest Thine own Essence, to grant that we may be numbered among them that have recognized Thee and acknowledged Thy sovereignty in Thy days. Help us then to quaff, O my God, from the fingers of mercy the living waters of Thy loving-kindness, that we may utterly forget all else except Thee, and be occupied only with Thy Self. Powerful art Thou to do what Thou willest. No God is there beside Thee, the Mighty, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
Glorified be Thy name, O Thou Who art the King of all Kings!

—Bahá’u’lláh, BP 48

Tests: Potentially a healing medicine

In a prayer, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá avers how we as humans on earth are "encircled with pain and calamities and are environed with hardships and trouble," and that man is here attacked by "every trial" and assailed by "every dire adversity...like unto the assault of a serpent." Then where is refuge to be found? In our Lord, the Merciful One:

O my Lord! Thou knowest that the people are encircled with pain and calamities and are environed with hardships and trouble. Every trial doth attack man and every dire adversity doth assail him like unto the assault of a serpent. There is no shelter and asylum for him except under the wing of Thy protection, preservation, guard and custody.

O Thou the Merciful One! O my Lord! Make Thy protection my armor, Thy preservation my shield, humbleness before the door of Thy oneness my guard, and Thy custody and defense my fortress and my abode. Preserve me from the suggestions of self and desire, and guard me from every sickness, trial, difficulty and ordeal.

Verily, Thou art the Protector, the Guardian, the Preserver, the Sufficer, and verily, Thou art the Merciful of the Most Merciful.

—‘Abdu’l-Bahá, BP 136

According to the Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh, the "fire" of calamity is in reality "light and mercy", and He thus commands us to "hasten" unto the former:

O SON OF MAN! My calamity is My providence, outwardly it is fire and vengeance, but inwardly it is light and mercy. Hasten thereunto that thou mayest become an eternal light and an immortal spirit. This is My command unto thee, do thou observe it.

In another thought-provoking passage, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states:

Men who suffer not, attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardeners is that one which, when the summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit.

The labourer cuts up the earth with his plough, and from that earth comes the rich and plentiful harvest. The more a man is chastened, the greater is the harvest of spiritual virtues shown forth by him. A soldier is no good General until he has been in the front of the fiercest battle and has received the deepest wounds.

The prayer of the prophets of God has always been, and still is: Oh God, I long to lay down my life in the path to Thee! I desire to shed my blood for Thee, and to make the supreme sacrifice.

- Paris Talks 51 (emphasis is mine)

The highest spiritual state we can yearn for is perhaps illustrated by the following potent prayer revealed by Bahá'u'lláh where He implores God to "send down upon us...that which will enable us to draw nigh unto [Him]" (however "calamitous" and "painful" that may be).

O Thou Whose tests are a healing medicine to such as are nigh unto Thee, Whose sword is the ardent desire of all them that love Thee, Whose dart is the dearest wish of those hearts that yearn after Thee, Whose decree is the sole hope of them that have recognized Thy truth! I implore Thee, by Thy divine sweetness and by the splendors of the glory of Thy face, to send down upon us from Thy retreats on high that which will enable us to draw nigh unto Thee. Set, then, our feet firm, O my God, in Thy Cause, and enlighten our hearts with the effulgence of Thy knowledge, and illumine our breasts with the brightness of Thy names.

—Bahá’u’lláh, BP 191

The state of the one offering this prayer must be one of complete detachment from the comforts and desires of this world, otherwise it will have no effect. With daily practice and discipline, such a purified condition can be gradually attained by the wayfarer in God's path. The Seven Valleys of Bahá'u'lláh illustrates the different stages through which a true seeker must pass on his spiritual journey.