Istiqlál, 15 ʻ’Izzat (Might), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
It is my hope that you may consider this matter, that you may search out your own imperfections and not think of the imperfections of anybody else. Strive with all your power to be free from imperfections. Heedless souls are always seeking faults in others. What can the hypocrite know of others’ faults when he is blind to his own? This is the meaning of the words in the Seven Valleys. It is a guide for human conduct. As long as a man does not find his own faults, he can never become perfect. Nothing is more fruitful for man than the knowledge of his own shortcomings. The Blessed Perfection says, “I wonder at the man who does not find his own imperfections.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 1
Question for Consideration:
What should we remember when we think of other people’s faults? 2
Google Bard Response:
When we think of other people’s faults, we should remember the following:
- We all have imperfections. No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. It is important to be understanding and forgiving of others, just as we would want them to be understanding and forgiving of us.
- Judging others does not make us better. In fact, it often makes us worse. When we focus on the faults of others, we become more critical and less compassionate. We also lose sight of our own imperfections.
- It is better to focus on our own improvement than on the faults of others. When we focus on ourselves, we can make positive changes in our own lives. We can also become better people and better friends.
The passage from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that you quoted is a reminder that it is important to focus on our own shortcomings rather than the shortcomings of others. He says that “nothing is more fruitful for man than the knowledge of his own shortcomings.” When we know our own weaknesses, we can work on improving them. We can also become more compassionate and understanding of others.
Here are some additional tips for remembering what to remember when thinking of other people’s faults:
- Try to see things from their perspective. Why might they be behaving the way they are? What might they be going through?
- Consider their strengths as well as their weaknesses. Everyone has good qualities and bad qualities. It is important to see the whole person, not just their flaws.
- Remember that you don’t know everything about them. You may not know the full story behind their behavior. It is important to be humble and to avoid judging others too quickly.
- Focus on the present moment. Don’t dwell on the past or worry about the future. Instead, focus on building a positive relationship with the person in the present moment.
It is also important to remember that we are all on a journey of spiritual growth. We are all learning and growing, and we are all making mistakes. When we judge others, we forget that they are on the same journey as us. We also forget that we are all connected. When we hurt others, we hurt ourselves.
When we focus on our own improvement and on building positive relationships with others, we create a better world for everyone.
- ’Abdu’l-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Edited by Howard MacNutt. 2nd ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1982, 244. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/17#700778835. ↩
- 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 ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 