Daily Frameworks for 16 July 2024

Fidál, 05 Kalimát (Words), 181 B.E.

Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth

Quotes for Reflection:

O SON OF EARTH! Know, verily, the heart wherein the least remnant of envy yet lingereth, shall never attain My everlasting dominion, nor inhale the sweet savors of holiness breathing from My kingdom of sanctity. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

And amongst the realms of unity is the unity of rank and station. It redoundeth to the exaltation of the Cause, glorifying it among all peoples. Ever since the seeking of preference and distinction came into play, the world hath been laid waste. It hath become desolate. Those who have quaffed from the ocean of divine utterance and fixed their gaze upon the Realm of Glory should regard themselves as being on the same level as the others and in the same station. Were this matter to be definitely established and conclusively demonstrated through the power and might of God, the world would become as the Abhá Paradise.
Indeed, man is noble, inasmuch as each one is a repository of the sign of God. Nevertheless, to regard oneself as superior in knowledge, learning or virtue, or to exalt oneself or seek preference, is a grievous transgression. Great is the blessedness of those who are adorned with the ornament of this unity and have been graciously confirmed by God. — Bahá’u’lláh ²

I HOPE that in this nether world thou shalt attain unto heavenly light, thou wilt free the souls from the gloom of nature, which is the animal kingdom, and cause them to reach lofty stations in the human kingdom. Today all people are immersed in the world of nature. That is why thou dost see jealousy, greed, the struggle for survival, deception, hypocrisy, tyranny, oppression, disputes, strife, bloodshed, looting and pillaging, which all emanate from the world of nature. Few are those who have been freed from this darkness, who have ascended from the world of nature to the world of man, who have followed the divine Teachings, have served the world of humanity, are resplendent, merciful, illumined and like unto a rose garden. Strive thine utmost to become godlike, characterized with His attributes, illumined and merciful, that thou mayest be freed from every bond and become attached at heart to the Kingdom of the incomparable Lord. This is Bahá’í bounty, and this is heavenly light. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ³

Question for Consideration

How do the quotes above help to think about how purified of earthly desires and free from the slightest trace of jealousy our hearts must be so we are not consumed by it and instead feel sincere joy in the achievements of others? ⁴

Gemini Response:

The Bahá’í quotes provide several insights on how to cultivate a heart free from envy and filled with joy for others’ achievements:

Equality and Unity

• Oneness of Rank: Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the importance of “unity of rank and station.” He discourages seeking superiority or distinction and urges people to see themselves as equals. This fosters an environment where celebrating each other’s achievements comes naturally.
• Humanity as One: Abdu’l-Bahá describes humanity as one “rose garden.” This perspective encourages seeing others’ successes as contributing to humanity’s collective flourishing rather than individual competition.
  

Focus on Service

• Freeing Souls from Gloom: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá calls upon us to “free the souls from the gloom of nature” and help them reach “lofty stations.” This shifts the focus from personal gain to serving humanity and contributing to the collective good. By finding joy in the progress of others, we contribute to this process.
• Serving the World of Humanity: He emphasizes serving “the world of humanity.” When we focus on contributing positively to the world, we are less likely to be consumed by envy.
  

Spiritual Development

• Freedom from Nature’s Darkness: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá describes envy, greed, and other negative traits as stemming from the “world of nature.” He encourages us to strive for the “world of man,” characterized by divine qualities. Spiritual development helps us transcend these earthly desires.
• Godlike Attributes: He calls upon us to strive to become “godlike,” characterized by “mercy” and “illumination.” Cultivating these qualities fosters genuine happiness for others’ achievements.
  

Overall

The quotes suggest that overcoming envy and finding joy in others’ success requires a shift in perspective. By focusing on unity, service, and spiritual development, we can cultivate a heart that celebrates the achievements of others and contributes to humanity’s collective progress. We are all seen as part of a whole, where individual success contributes to the betterment of all. This is a lifelong pursuit, and the Bahá’í teachings offer a framework for this spiritual journey.

ChatGPT Response:

The quotes provided offer profound insights into the spiritual requirements and benefits of purifying the heart from envy and jealousy, and they underscore the importance of spiritual unity and humility. Here’s a breakdown of how these teachings help us think about this purification process:

Bahá’u’lláh’s Emphasis on Purity from Envy

• “The heart wherein the least remnant of envy yet lingereth, shall never attain My everlasting dominion, nor inhale the sweet savors of holiness breathing from My kingdom of sanctity.”
• This statement highlights the necessity of completely removing envy from our hearts to attain spiritual growth and divine favor. It teaches that even a small amount of envy can obstruct our connection with the divine and prevent us from experiencing spiritual blessings. This encourages self-reflection and a dedicated effort to cleanse our hearts of negative emotions.
  

Unity of Rank and Station

• “Ever since the seeking of preference and distinction came into play, the world hath been laid waste… Those who have quaffed from the ocean of divine utterance… should regard themselves as being on the same level as the others and in the same station.”
• Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the destructive nature of seeking superiority and the importance of viewing ourselves as equals. This principle of unity fosters an environment where jealousy and competition are minimized, and mutual support and genuine joy in others’ achievements are promoted. By seeing everyone as equal, we are less likely to feel jealous and more likely to celebrate the successes of others.
  

Humility and Rejection of Superiority

• “To regard oneself as superior in knowledge, learning or virtue… is a grievous transgression.”
• This teaching further reinforces humility. Recognizing that everyone is a repository of the sign of God helps us understand that no one is inherently superior. Such humility prevents the development of envy and encourages us to be happy for others’ progress and accomplishments.
  

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s Call to Transcendence

• “Few are those who have been freed from this darkness, who have ascended from the world of nature to the world of man… Strive thine utmost to become godlike, characterized with His attributes.”
• This passage calls for personal transformation and the pursuit of divine attributes. We can rise above negative emotions like jealousy by striving to be merciful, illumined, and detached from worldly bonds. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá encourages us to adopt divine qualities, which naturally leads to sincere joy in the achievements of others as our focus shifts from self-centered desires to collective well-being and spiritual growth.
  

Practical Application

• Self-Reflection and Prayer: Regularly reflect on your feelings and pray for assistance in purifying your heart from envy and jealousy. This can help you remain vigilant and proactive in addressing these emotions.
• Cultivating Humility: Practice humility by acknowledging the achievements of others and reminding yourself that everyone is equally valuable. This can be done through acts of service and expressions of gratitude.
• Encouraging Unity: Promote unity in your community by fostering inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and supported. Celebrate others’ successes as if they were your own.
• Developing Divine Attributes: Strive to embody qualities such as love, compassion, and generosity. By focusing on these positive attributes, you can naturally diminish feelings of jealousy and enhance your capacity for sincere joy in others’ successes.
  

By integrating these teachings into our lives, we can work towards purifying our hearts, freeing ourselves from jealousy, and fostering sincere joy in the achievements of others. In this way, we can ultimately contribute to a more harmonious and spiritually enriched community.

Claude Response:

These profound quotes from Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá offer deep insights into the spiritual importance of freeing ourselves from envy, jealousy, and the desire for superiority. They emphasize several key points that help us understand how to purify our hearts and rejoice in others’ achievements:

Incompatibility of envy with spiritual growth

The first quote states that even the slightest trace of envy in one’s heart prevents attaining “everlasting dominion” and experiencing true spiritual sanctity. This underscores how detrimental envy is to our spiritual progress and how thoroughly we must work to eliminate it.

Unity and equality of all people

Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the importance of recognizing the inherent nobility and equality of all humans. By understanding that we are all “on the same level” and “in the same station,” we can overcome the desire for preference and distinction that leads to jealousy and conflict.

Harm of seeking superiority

The quotes state that seeking to exalt oneself or claiming superiority in knowledge, virtue, or status is a “grievous transgression.” This attitude harms the individual and “lays waste” on the world, creating desolation and conflict.

Transcending the “world of nature”

‘Abdu’l-Bahá describes how most people are immersed in the “world of nature” or the “animal kingdom,” characterized by jealousy, greed, and struggle. To overcome these base instincts, we must ascend to the “human kingdom” by following divine teachings and serving humanity.

Cultivation of divine attributes

The path to freeing ourselves from jealousy involves striving to become “godlike,” developing attributes such as mercy, illumination, and detachment from worldly bonds. This spiritual growth allows us to become “like unto a rose garden,” bringing beauty and fragrance to the world.

Joy in unity and divine confirmation

Bahá’u’lláh speaks of the “great blessedness” of those who attain unity and are “graciously confirmed by God.” This suggests that by overcoming jealousy and embracing the oneness of humanity, we open ourselves to divine blessings and true joy.

To apply these teachings in purifying our hearts and feeling sincere joy in others’ achievements, we can:

• Regularly reflect on the equality and inherent nobility of all people.
• Practice humility by consciously avoiding feelings of superiority.
• Actively work on developing spiritual qualities like mercy, detachment, and illumination.
• Recognize jealousy as a base instinct of the “world of nature” and strive to transcend it.
• Focus on serving humanity and contributing to the greater good rather than personal gain or recognition.
• Cultivate gratitude for the blessings in our own lives and the progress of humanity as a whole.
• Celebrate others’ achievements as advancements for humanity, seeing them as collective rather than individual triumphs.
  

By internalizing these teachings and consistently working on our spiritual growth, we can gradually purify our hearts of jealousy and instead experience genuine joy in the success and happiness of others, recognizing that their achievements contribute to the progress and unity of all humanity.

Pi Response:

The quotes emphasize the importance of purifying our hearts from earthly desires, jealousy, and the pursuit of superiority, highlighting how this spiritual transformation contributes to unity, love, and genuine happiness. Here’s a breakdown of how each quote addresses this:

Bahá’u’lláh’s first quote warns that even the slightest remnant of envy hinders one’s spiritual progress and connection to the divine realm. This quote underlines the need to eradicate jealousy from our hearts to experience the fullness of spiritual life and divine blessings.

Bahá’u’lláh’s second quote discusses the significance of unity in rank and station, stressing that seeking preference and distinction leads to destruction. Instead, it encourages considering oneself equal to others, fostering a sense of shared humanity and spiritual kinship. By valuing unity and humility, people can collectively create a more harmonious and exalted society akin to a heavenly paradise.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s quote highlights the detrimental effects of being consumed by the world of nature, characterized by greed, jealousy, and struggle. It encourages striving for spiritual growth, serving humanity, and embodying divine attributes such as illumination and mercy. In doing so, individuals can transcend their base desires and attachments, fostering genuine joy in the achievements of others and contributing to a more spiritually enlightened world.

In summary, these quotes emphasize the transformative power of purifying our hearts from jealousy and earthly desires. By doing so, we can experience a deeper connection to the divine, foster unity and love among people, and ultimately cultivate sincere joy in the accomplishments of others. This process ultimately elevates both the individual and society, reflecting the divine attributes of love, compassion, and oneness.

1. Bahá’u’lláh. The Hidden Words. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/hidden-words/3#909712031. ↩
2. “It is clear from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, as well as from those of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá and the interpretations of the Guardian, that the proper functioning of human society requires the preservation of ranks and classes within its membership. The friends should recognize this without envy or jealousy, and those who occupy ranks should never exploit their position or regard themselves as being superior to others. About this Bahá’u’lláh has written…”
   Universal House of Justice. “27 March 1978 – To all National Spiritual Assemblies” Bahá’í Reference Library, Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/19780327_001/1#674275230. ↩
3. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Selections from the Writings of ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. Translated by Marzieh Gail. Reprint. Wilmette, Illinois: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1996, 206. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/selections-writings-abdul-baha/8#784118156. ↩
4. Ruhi Institute. Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth. 2.1.21.PE July 2022. Vol. Book 5. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Foundation, 2021, 26-27. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#JY1.