Istiqlál, 14 Qudrat (Power), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
O WAYFARER in the path of God! Take thou thy portion of the ocean of His grace, and deprive not thyself of the things that lie hidden in its depths. Be thou of them that have partaken of its treasures. A dewdrop out of this ocean would, if shed upon all that are in the heavens and on the earth, suffice to enrich them with the bounty of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. With the hands of renunciation draw forth from its life-giving waters, and sprinkle therewith all created things, that they may be cleansed from all man-made limitations and may approach the mighty seat of God, this hallowed and resplendent Spot. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Question for Consideration:
What are some things that prevent us from receiving our portion of God’s grace? 2
Google Bard Response:
According to the quotation from Bahá’u’lláh, there are several things that can prevent us from receiving our portion of God’s grace:
- Selfishness and materialism: When we are focused on our own needs and desires, we close ourselves off from the boundless love and grace of God.
- Pride and arrogance: When we believe that we are superior to others, we create a barrier between ourselves and God.
- Fear and doubt: When we are afraid of failure or judgment, we hold ourselves back from reaching our full potential and receiving God’s blessings.
- Ignorance and apathy: When we are unaware of God’s love and grace, or when we are indifferent to it, we miss out on the opportunity to experience its transformative power.
To overcome these obstacles and receive our full share of God’s grace, we must cultivate the following qualities:
- Humility and selflessness: We must recognize that we are all equal in the eyes of God and that our true worth comes from serving others.
- Openness and receptivity: We must be open to receiving God’s love and grace, and we must actively seek it out in our prayers and meditations.
- Faith and trust: We must have faith in God’s goodness and trust that He will provide for our needs.
- Knowledge and understanding: We must learn about God’s teachings and strive to understand His ways.
When we cultivate these qualities, we create an open channel through which God’s grace can flow into our lives. We become more compassionate, loving, and forgiving, and we experience a greater sense of peace and joy. We also become more effective agents of positive change in the world.
As Bahá’u’lláh says, “A dewdrop out of this ocean would, if shed upon all that are in the heavens and on the earth, suffice to enrich them with the bounty of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” Let us all open our hearts to receive the boundless grace of God and share it with the world.
- Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed November 16, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/7#398961098. ↩
- 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, 39. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 