Kamál, 17 Qudrat (Power), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
Ye are even as the bird which soareth, with the full force of its mighty wings and with complete and joyous confidence, through the immensity of the heavens, until, impelled to satisfy its hunger, it turneth longingly to the water and clay of the earth below it, and, having been entrapped in the mesh of its desire, findeth itself impotent to resume its flight to the realms whence it came. Powerless to shake off the burden weighing on its sullied wings, that bird, hitherto an inmate of the heavens, is now forced to seek a dwelling-place upon the dust. Wherefore, O My servants, defile not your wings with the clay of waywardness and vain desires, and suffer them not to be stained with the dust of envy and hate, that ye may not be hindered from soaring in the heavens of My divine knowledge. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Question for Consideration:
Complete the sentences below.
The bird to which Bahá’u’lláh refers in this quotation is the …
This bird is an inhabitant of the …
If its wings are sullied, the bird is forced to seek its home in the … 2
Google Bard Response:
Here are the completed sentences:
- The bird to which Bahá’u’lláh refers in this quotation is the human soul.
- This bird is an inhabitant of the spiritual realm.
- If its wings are sullied, the bird is forced to seek its home in the material world.
In this metaphorical passage, Bahá’u’lláh compares the human soul to a bird that has the potential to soar to great heights of spiritual understanding and connection with God. However, if the soul becomes attached to material desires and worldly pursuits, its wings are weighed down and it is unable to reach its full potential.
The bird’s wings represent the soul’s spiritual faculties, such as love, compassion, and wisdom. When these faculties are sullied by negative qualities such as envy, hate, and pride, the soul is unable to ascend to the spiritual realm. Instead, it becomes trapped in the material world, where it is subject to suffering and limitations.
Bahá’u’lláh urges us to keep our souls pure and unblemished so that we can soar freely in the limitless expanse of divine knowledge and experience the true joy and fulfillment that comes from living a spiritual life.
- Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed November 19, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/8#897308121. ↩
- 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, 40-41. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 