Fidál, 05 ʻ’Izzat (Might), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
Every eye, in this Day, should seek what will best promote the Cause of God. He, Who is the Eternal Truth, beareth Me witness! Nothing whatever can, in this Day, inflict a greater harm upon this Cause than dissension and strife, contention, estrangement and apathy, among the loved ones of God. Flee them, through the power of God and His sovereign aid, and strive ye to knit together the hearts of men, in His Name, the Unifier, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Question for Consideration:
What conditions inflict the greatest harm on the Cause of God? 2
Google Bard Response:
In the quote you mentioned, Bahá’u’lláh identifies four conditions that inflict the greatest harm on the Cause of God:
- Dissension and strife: This refers to conflict and disagreement among the followers of God. When people are divided and fighting with each other, they cannot work together to build a better world.
- Contention: This means arguing and quarreling. When people are constantly at odds with each other, it creates an atmosphere of negativity and hostility.
- Estrangement: This refers to alienation and separation. When people are estranged from each other, they feel disconnected and alone. This can lead to feelings of resentment, bitterness, and despair.
- Apathy: This means indifference and lack of interest. When people are apathetic, they do not care about the world around them or the people in it. This can lead to a lack of action and progress.
These conditions are harmful to the Cause of God because they prevent people from working together to build a more just and peaceful world. When people are divided, they cannot achieve their common goals. When they are constantly arguing and quarreling, they waste their energy and resources. When they are estranged from each other, they feel isolated and helpless. And when they are apathetic, they do nothing to make the world a better place.
The opposite of these conditions is unity, cooperation, love, and compassion. When people are united, they can achieve great things. When they cooperate, they can pool their resources and talents to solve problems. When they love and care for each other, they create a sense of community and belonging. And when they are compassionate, they are motivated to help others and make the world a better place.
These are the conditions that will help to advance the Cause of God. When people are united, cooperative, loving, and compassionate, they can create a world that is free from dissension, strife, contention, estrangement, and apathy. They can build a world that is characterized by peace, justice, and love.
- 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/2#852608044. ↩
- 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, 8. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 