’Idál, 04 Asmá’ (Names), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
O CHILDREN OF ADAM!
Holy words and pure and goodly deeds ascend unto the heaven of celestial glory. Strive that your deeds may be cleansed from the dust of self and hypocrisy and find favor at the court of glory; for ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored One, accept naught but absolute virtue and deeds of stainless purity. This is the daystar of wisdom and of divine mystery that hath shone above the horizon of the divine will. Blessed are they that turn thereunto. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Question for Consideration:
What do holy words and pure and good deeds do? 2
Google Bard Response:
In the quote you mentioned, Bahá’u’lláh is saying that holy words and pure and goodly deeds are of great importance. They ascend to the heaven of celestial glory, which means that they have a spiritual and transformative power. They can cleanse us from the dust of self and hypocrisy, which are obstacles to our spiritual development. And they will find favor at the court of glory, which means that they will be rewarded by God.
In more detail, holy words are those that are spoken with truth, sincerity, and love. They can uplift and inspire others, and they can help to create a more just and peaceful world. Pure and goodly deeds are those that are done out of kindness, compassion, and a desire to help others. They can make a real difference in the lives of others, and they can also help to make us better people.
The quote also reminds us that we should strive to cleanse our deeds from the dust of self and hypocrisy. This means that we should be motivated by unselfish intentions, and we should avoid doing things for show or for personal gain. When we do good deeds in this way, they will be truly meaningful and will have a lasting impact.
Finally, the quote says that the assayers of mankind will, in the holy presence of the Adored One, accept naught but absolute virtue and deeds of stainless purity. This means that at the end of time, our deeds will be judged by God. Those who have lived a life of holy words and pure and goodly deeds will be rewarded, while those who have not will be held accountable.
This quote is a powerful reminder of the importance of living a good and virtuous life. It is a call to action to strive to be the best that we can be, and to use our words and deeds to make the world a better place.
- Bahá’u’lláh. The Hidden Words. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Bahá’í Reference Library, 1954. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/hidden-words/3#810818726.
. ↩ - Ruhi Institute. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. 4.1.2.PE May 2020. Vol. Book 1. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Institute, 2020, 3. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 