Istijlál, 19 Asmá’ (Names), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
Say: O people! Let not this life and its deceits deceive you, for the world and all that is therein is held firmly in the grasp of His Will. He bestoweth His favor on whom He willeth, and from whom He willeth He taketh it away. He doth whatsoever He chooseth. Had the world been of any worth in His sight, He surely would never have allowed His enemies to possess it, even to the extent of a grain of mustard seed. He hath, however, caused you to be entangled with its affairs, in return for what your hands have wrought in His Cause. This, indeed, is a chastisement which ye, of your own will, have inflicted upon yourselves, could ye but perceive it. Are ye rejoicing in the things which, according to the estimate of God, are contemptible and worthless, things wherewith He proveth the hearts of the doubtful? — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Question for Consideration:
Is it possible to lie to oneself? 2
Google Bard Response:
Yes, it is possible to lie to oneself. This is called self-deception. Self-deception is a motivated false belief. It is a way of protecting oneself from unpleasant truths or from feeling bad about oneself.
In the quote from Bahá’u’lláh, he is warning us not to be deceived by the world and its material possessions. He is saying that the world is not as important as we think it is, and that it is not worth getting caught up in its affairs. He is also saying that we should not rejoice in the things that the world considers to be valuable, because these things are ultimately worthless in the sight of God.
Self-deception can be harmful because it can prevent us from seeing the truth about ourselves and our situation. It can also prevent us from making the changes that we need to make in order to improve our lives.
If you are struggling with self-deception, it is important to be aware of it. You can start by paying attention to your thoughts and feelings. When you notice that you are avoiding or denying something, ask yourself why. Are you afraid of what you might find? Are you trying to protect yourself from feeling bad?
Once you are aware of your self-deception, you can start to challenge it. Ask yourself if there is any evidence to support your beliefs. Are you being fair to yourself? Are you giving yourself the benefit of the doubt?
It is also important to remember that you are not alone. Everyone struggles with self-deception at some point in their lives. The important thing is to be willing to face the truth and to make the changes that you need to make.
I hope this helps!
- 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/5#374098215. ↩
- 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, 7. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 