Daily Frameworks for 20 September 2023

’Idál, 13 ʻ’Izzat (Might), 180 B.E.

Reflections on the Life of the Spirit

Quote for Reflection:

Backbiting, slander and dwelling on the faults of others have been repeatedly condemned by Bahá’u’lláh. In the Hidden Words, He clearly states: “O Son of Being! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.” And again: “O Son of Man! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to this I bear witness.” This strong admonition is further reiterated in His last work, “the Book of My Covenant”: “Verily I say, the tongue is for mentioning what is good, defile it not with unseemly talk. God hath forgiven what is past. Henceforward everyone should utter that which is meet and seemly, and should refrain from slander, abuse and whatever causeth sadness in men.” ¹

Question for Consideration:

What should we think of before breathing the sins of others? ²

Google Bard Response:

Before breathing the sins of others, we should think of the following:

• Our own sins. As Bahá’u’lláh says, “How couldst thou forget thine own faults and busy thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.” We should all strive to be humble and to focus on our own shortcomings before judging others.
• The consequences of our words. When we talk about the sins of others, we can damage their reputation, hurt their feelings, and even cause them to lose opportunities. We should always be mindful of the impact our words can have on others.
• The fact that everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect, and we all make mistakes from time to time. When we judge others for their sins, we are forgetting our own humanity and our own need for forgiveness.
• The fact that God is the only one who can truly judge. We should not put ourselves in the place of God by judging others. Instead, we should focus on being kind and compassionate, and on helping others to grow and learn.
  

Here are some specific things to keep in mind when thinking about whether or not to talk about the sins of others:

• Is it necessary? Will talking about this person’s sin help them in some way?
• Is it kind? Will it hurt them or damage their reputation?
• Is it true? Do I have all the facts?
• Is it productive? Will it lead to a positive outcome?
  

If the answer to any of these questions is no, then it is best to keep silent.

Instead of talking about the sins of others, we should focus on talking about their good qualities. We should also focus on being kind and compassionate, and on helping others to grow and learn.

1. Bahá’u’lláh. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed September 20, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/kitab-i-aqdas/12#392967566. ↩
2. 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, 10. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩