Kamál, 16 Asmá’ (Names), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
Verily I say: Incline your ears to My sweet voice, and sanctify yourselves from the defilement of your evil passions and corrupt desires. They who dwell within the tabernacle of God, and are established upon the seats of everlasting glory, will refuse, though they be dying of hunger, to stretch their hands and seize unlawfully the property of their neighbor, however vile and worthless he may be.
The purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself is to summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity, to piety and trustworthiness, to resignation and submissiveness to the Will of God, to forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom. His object is to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Question for Consideration:
What should we refuse to do even if we are dying of hunger? 2
Google Bard Response:
In the passage you quoted, Bahá’u’lláh says that we should refuse to steal, even if we are dying of hunger. This is because stealing is a violation of the divine law, and it is also a harmful act that can cause suffering to others. When we steal, we are taking something that does not belong to us, and we are depriving the rightful owner of their property. This can have a devastating impact on the victim, especially if they are poor or vulnerable.
Stealing is also a sign of weakness and desperation. It is a way of taking what we want without having to work for it. When we steal, we are admitting that we are not willing to put in the effort to earn what we need. This can lead to a cycle of poverty and dependence, as we become more and more reliant on stealing to survive.
The Bahá’í teachings offer a different way to deal with hunger. They teach us that we should work together to create a just and equitable society where everyone has enough to eat. We can do this by sharing our resources, helping those in need, and creating opportunities for all people to thrive.
If we are facing hunger, we should reach out for help. There are many organizations that can provide food and other assistance to those in need. We should not resort to stealing, as this will only make the problem worse.
Here are some other things that we should refuse to do, even if we are dying of hunger:
- Beg for food.
- Sell our bodies for food.
- Commit violence to get food.
- Steal from our families or friends.
These actions are all harmful and destructive. They will not solve the problem of hunger, and they will only make our lives more difficult. Instead, we should focus on finding positive and constructive ways to meet our needs.
- Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library, 1935. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/7#719229181. ↩
- 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, 6. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 