Daily Frameworks for 14 September 2023

Istijlál, 07 ʻ’Izzat (Might), 180 B.E.

Reflections on the Life of the Spirit

Quote for Reflection:

I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content.

Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness. — ‘Abdul-Bahá ^{1 2}

Question for Consideration:

With what should a thought of war be opposed? ³

Google Bard Response:

In the quote you have provided, ‘Abdul-Bahá is urging us to focus on love and unity, and to oppose thoughts of war with thoughts of peace. He is saying that war is destructive, while love is constructive.

A thought of war can be opposed with a stronger thought of peace in many ways. Here are a few examples:

• When you hear about a conflict, think about the human cost of war. Think about the people who will be killed, injured, or displaced. Think about the families who will be torn apart.
• Think about the economic cost of war. Think about the resources that will be wasted. Think about the damage to infrastructure and the environment.
• Think about the long-term consequences of war. Think about the hatred and mistrust that it sows. Think about the obstacles it creates to peace and cooperation.
• Instead of thinking about war, think about ways to resolve conflict peacefully. Think about ways to build bridges between people of different cultures and religions. Think about ways to create a more just and equitable world.
  

When we focus on love and peace, we create a force that is stronger than war. We can make the world a better place by replacing thoughts of war with thoughts of peace.

Question for Consideration:

With what should a thought of hate be destroyed?

Google Bard Response:

In the quote you have provided, ‘Abdul-Bahá is urging us to focus on love and unity, and to replace thoughts of war and hatred with thoughts of peace and love. He is saying that thoughts of war and hatred are destructive, while thoughts of love are constructive.

A thought of hatred can be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. This means that we need to intentionally focus on thoughts of love, compassion, and understanding, even when we are faced with hatred and anger. We can do this by:

• Thinking about the good qualities of the person we are angry with.
• Remembering times when we have been forgiven or shown compassion.
• Practicing acts of kindness and compassion towards others.
• Joining groups or organizations that promote peace and understanding.
  

It is important to remember that thoughts of love are not always easy to come by. We may need to be patient and persistent in our efforts to replace thoughts of hatred with thoughts of love. But if we are willing to put in the effort, we can create a more loving and peaceful world.

Here are some specific examples of how to replace thoughts of hate with thoughts of love:

• If you are thinking about how someone has wronged you, try to focus on their good qualities instead. What are they good at? What do they care about?
• If you are feeling angry or resentful, try to remember a time when you were forgiven or shown compassion. How did that make you feel?
• When you see someone who is different from you, try to see them as a fellow human being. What do they have in common with you? What can you learn from them?
• Get involved in activities that promote peace and understanding. This could be volunteering for a peace organization, attending a peace rally, or simply talking to your friends and family about the importance of peace.
  

By replacing thoughts of hate with thoughts of love, we can create a more peaceful and loving world.

1. ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. Paris Talks: Addresses Given by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá in 1911. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 2006, 22. https://archive.org/details/paristalksaddres0000abdu/page/22/mode/2up. ↩
2. Saindon, Marie-Claire. “When a Thought of War.” Stockholm: A Stage and Petruskyrkan, 2021. https://youtu.be/5ad70TJwQqQ. ↩
3. 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 ↩