’Idál, 19 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:
Determine whether the following statements are true:
Worldly attachments impede our spiritual progress.
Our waywardness and vain desires hold us back from flying in the heavens of divine knowledge.
Envy and hatred are natural traits of the human being and do not burden the soul.
We can rid ourselves of the burdens that prevent us from soaring through the immensity of the heavens by detaching ourselves from the things of this world.
The soul’s home is in this world. 2
Google Bard Response:
Sure, here are the statements and whether they are true or false based on the quote:
Statement: Worldly attachments impede our spiritual progress.
Answer: True. The quote explicitly states that the bird’s “hunger” for the “water and clay of the earth below it” causes it to become “entwined in the meshes of desire” and prevents it from resuming its flight to the heavens. This metaphor suggests that worldly attachments, such as the desire for wealth, power, or fame, can weigh us down and prevent us from reaching our full spiritual potential.
Statement: Our waywardness and vain desires hold us back from flying in the heavens of divine knowledge.
Answer: True. The quote uses the phrase “clay of waywardness and vain desires” to describe the burdens that weigh on the soul’s wings. This suggests that our negative qualities, such as selfishness, greed, and arrogance, can prevent us from achieving spiritual enlightenment.
Statement: Envy and hatred are natural traits of the human being and do not burden the soul.
Answer: False. The quote directly states that envy and hatred are among the “dust” that stains the soul’s wings and prevents it from soaring. This suggests that these negative emotions are not natural or harmless, but rather they are obstacles to our spiritual growth.
Statement: We can rid ourselves of the burdens that prevent us from soaring through the immensity of the heavens by detaching ourselves from the things of this world.
Answer: True. The quote urges us to “defile not your wings with the clay of waywardness and vain desires” and to “suffer them not to be stained with the dust of envy and hate.” This suggests that by detaching ourselves from material attachments and negative emotions, we can free ourselves to pursue spiritual knowledge and enlightenment.
Statement: The soul’s home is in this world.
Answer: False. The quote implies that the soul’s true home is in the “heavens of divine knowledge.” The bird’s descent to the “water and clay of the earth below it” is seen as a temporary detour, and the ultimate goal is for the soul to return to its heavenly abode.
- Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed November 21, 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, 41. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 