Daily Frameworks for 20 July 2024

Jalál, 09 Kalimát (Words), 181 B.E.

Releasing the Powers of Junior Youth

Quotes for Reflection:

O CHILDREN OF ADAM! Holy words and pure and goodly deeds ascend unto the heaven of celestial glory. Strive that your deeds may be cleansed from the dust of self and hypocrisy and find favor at the court of glory; for ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored One, accept naught but absolute virtue and deeds of stainless purity. This is the daystar of wisdom and of divine mystery that hath shone above the horizon of the divine will. Blessed are they that turn thereunto. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

Purge your hearts of worldly desires, and let angelic virtues be your adorning. Strive that by your deeds you may bear witness to the truth of these words of God, and beware lest, by ‘turning back,’ He may ‘change you for another people,’ who ‘shall not be your like,’ and who shall take from you the Kingdom of God. The days when idle worship was deemed sufficient are ended. The time is come when naught but the purest motive, supported by deeds of stainless purity, can ascend to the throne of the Most High and be acceptable unto Him. — The Báb ²

Again, is there any deed in the world that would be nobler than service to the common good? Is there any greater blessing conceivable for a man, than that he should become the cause of the education, the development, the prosperity and honor of his fellow-creatures? No, by the Lord God! The highest righteousness of all is for blessed souls to take hold of the hands of the helpless and deliver them out of their ignorance and abasement and poverty, and with pure motives, and only for the sake of God, to arise and energetically devote themselves to the service of the masses, forgetting their own worldly advantage and working only to serve the general good. “They prefer them before themselves, though poverty be their own lot.” (Qur’án 59:9.) “The best of men are those who serve the people; the worst of men are those who harm the people.” — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ³

Question for Consideration

What insights do the quotes above give us about how we should live a moral life and not cause harm to anyone? ⁴

Gemini Response:

The quotes offer valuable insights into living a moral life and avoiding causing harm:

Focus on the Purity of Motive

• Holy Words and Pure Deeds: Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes the importance of “holy words” and “pure and goodly deeds.” Actions motivated by self-interest or hypocrisy are seen as lacking value.
• Absolute Virtue: The Báb states that only “absolute virtue and deeds of stainless purity” will be accepted by God. This highlights the importance of inner purity alongside good deeds.
  

Detachment from Worldly Desires

• Angelic Virtues: The Báb calls for purging hearts of “worldly desires” and being adorned with “angelic virtues.” This suggests a life focused on spiritual qualities rather than material pursuits.
  

Active Service to Others

• Service to the Common Good: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sees service to others as the “noblest deed.” He emphasizes the importance of uplifting and empowering others, especially the helpless.
• Selfless Service: He highlights the importance of service with “pure motives” and “only for the sake of God,” putting the needs of others before personal gain.
  

Avoiding Harm

• Beware of Turning Back: The Báb warns against “turning back” from serving God and potentially being replaced by “people” who are not your “like.” This suggests that neglecting our moral duties can have negative consequences.
  

Overall

Living a moral life goes beyond simply avoiding harmful actions. The quotes emphasize the importance of inner purity, acting with selfless motives, and actively serving the betterment of others. True morality is a combination of refraining from harm and actively contributing to the well-being of humanity.

ChatGPT Response:

The quotes from Bahá’u’lláh, The Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá provide profound insights into living a moral life characterized by purity of motive, service to others, and avoidance of harm. Here are some critical insights derived from these passages:

Purity of Deeds and Intentions

Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes that our actions should be free from self-interest and hypocrisy. Deeds must be done with pure intentions to please God, which highlights the importance of sincerity in all our actions.

The Báb reiterates this by urging us to purge our hearts of worldly desires and adorn ourselves with angelic virtues. He stresses that only deeds performed with the purest motives are acceptable to God.

Service to Humanity

‘Abdu’l-Bahá speaks about the nobility of serving the common good. He points out that the greatest blessing is to contribute to the education, development, prosperity, and honor of others. This service should be done selflessly, for the sake of God, and not for personal gain.

Moral Responsibility

All three quotes emphasize our moral responsibility to act with righteousness and virtue. We are encouraged to rise above self-centered motives and dedicate ourselves to the well-being of others.

Avoiding Harm

By focusing on pure and goodly deeds, as well as serving others, we inherently avoid causing harm. The quotes suggest that our actions should always aim to uplift and benefit others rather than bring harm.

Transformation of Self and Society

There is a call to personal transformation by purifying motives and deeds. This, in turn, leads to the betterment of society as a whole. By transforming ourselves, we contribute to the greater good.

Divine Accountability

The quotes remind us of our accountability to God. There will come a time when only deeds of absolute virtue and purity will be acceptable to Him. This perspective encourages us to constantly strive for moral excellence.

In summary, these quotes teach that living a moral life involves sincere and pure intentions, dedicated service to others, avoidance of harm, and a continuous effort to rise to higher standards of virtue. They highlight that true righteousness is demonstrated through selfless actions aimed at benefiting humanity and that this is ultimately what is valued and accepted in the eyes of God.

Claude Response:

These profound quotes from Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá offer several keen insights into living a moral life and avoiding harm to others:

• Purity of intention and action: All three emphasize the importance of pure motives and deeds. Bahá’u’lláh speaks of “pure and goodly deeds” ascending to heaven, while the Báb stresses that “naught but the purest motive, supported by deeds of stainless purity,” is acceptable to God.
• Transcending self-interest: The quotes encourage moving beyond selfish desires and hypocrisy. Bahá’u’lláh advises to cleanse deeds from “the dust of self and hypocrisy,” while ‘Abdu’l-Bahá praises those who forget “their own worldly advantage.”
• Service to others: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá particularly emphasizes service as the highest form of righteousness. He speaks of helping the helpless and working for the common good as noble deeds.
• Spiritual growth and transformation: The quotes suggest that moral living involves continuous spiritual development. The Báb calls for adorning oneself with “angelic virtues,” implying an ongoing process of self-improvement.
• Accountability: These passages suggest divine judgment. Bahá’u’lláh mentions “assayers of mankind” who will accept only “absolute virtue and deeds of stainless purity.”
• Prioritizing others: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá quotes the Qur’an to illustrate the virtue of preferring others before oneself, even in times of personal hardship.
• Avoiding harm: While not explicitly stated, emphasizing pure deeds, service, and preferring others imply that causing harm is antithetical to moral living. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá directly states that the worst people are “those who harm the people.”
• Active engagement: These passages call for active participation in good deeds, not just passive avoidance of wrong. The Báb warns against “idle worship,” suggesting faith must be paired with action.
• Universal applicability: The references to “children of Adam” and service to the masses suggest these principles are meant for all humanity, not just a select group.
• Divine connection: The quotes frame moral living as a way to connect with the divine, with good deeds ascending to “celestial glory” and finding favor in “the court of glory.”
  

In essence, these passages present a vision of a moral life that is active, selfless, pure in intention, focused on service and spiritual growth, and universal in its application. They suggest that avoiding harm is not just about refraining from negative actions but actively engaging in positive ones that uplift others and society.

Pi Response:

The quotes provided emphasize the importance of living a virtuous and moral life by focusing on purity of intentions, selfless service to others, and contributing to the betterment of society. Here’s a summary of the key themes found in these quotes:

• Purity of deeds and intentions: Bahá’u’lláh highlights the significance of aligning our actions with holy words and good deeds that are free from selfishness and hypocrisy. Pursuing absolute virtue and purity in our deeds allows them to be accepted in the divine realm and contributes to the spiritual growth of the individual.
• Selflessness and service: The Báb encourages believers to purge their hearts of worldly desires and focus on serving the common good. By putting the needs of others before our own and striving for purity in our actions, we can bring about the education, development, and prosperity of our fellow human beings.
• Avoiding harm and promoting unity: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stresses the nobility of service to others and the importance of working for the general good. By prioritizing the well-being of others and striving to serve the masses, we can create a more harmonious and just society, avoiding actions that may harm or disadvantage others.
  

In summary, these quotes provide insights into how individuals can lead moral lives and avoid causing harm to others by cultivating purity of intentions, engaging in selfless service, and prioritizing the well-being and unity of society. By striving for these ideals, we can contribute to humanity’s spiritual progress and create a more peaceful and compassionate world.

1. Bahá’u’lláh. The Hidden Words. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed July 19, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/hidden-words/3#810818726. ↩
2. Zarandī, Nabīl. The Dawn-Breakers: Nabíl’s Narrative of the Early Days of the Baháʾí Revelation. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. 1932. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʾí Publishing Trust, 1970, 93. https://bahai-library.com/books/dawnbreakers/chapters/3.html#93. ↩
3. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. The Secret of Divine Civilization. Translated by Marzieh Gail. 2nd Edition | Reprint. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʾí Publishing Trust, 1975, 2-3. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/secret-divine-civilization/4#555673920. ↩
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, 27-28. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#JY1.