Daily Frameworks for 28 December 2024

Jalál, 18 Masáʼil (Questions), 181 B.E.

Walking Together on a Path of Service

Quotes for Reflection

O SON OF BEING! Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for My manifestation. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. In another passage He hath proclaimed: It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. — Bahá’u’lláh ²

Now the time has come when we must part, but the separation is only of our bodies; in spirit we are united. Ye are the lights which shall be diffused; ye are the waves of that sea which shall spread and overflow the world. Each wave is precious to me, and my nostrils shall be gladdened by your remembrance. Another commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another even as I love you. Great mercy and blessings are promised to the people of your land, but on one condition; that their hearts be filled with the fire of love, that they live in perfect harmony and kindness like one soul in different bodies, like one soul in different bodies. Never forget this; look at one another with the eye of perfection; look at me, follow me, be as I am; take no thought for yourselves or your lives, whether ye eat or whether ye sleep, whether ye are comfortable, whether ye are well or ill, whether ye are with friends or foes, whether ye receive praise or blame; for all these things ye must care not at all. Look at me and be as I am; ye must die to yourselves and to the world, so ye shall be born again and enter the kingdom of heaven. Behold the candle, how it gives light. It weeps its life away drop by drop in order to give forth its flame of light. The time has come when we must part, but the separation is only of our bodies; in spirit we are united forever. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ³

On the other hand, man must acquire heavenly qualities and attain divine attributes. He must become the image and likeness of God. He must seek the bounty of the eternal, become the manifestor of the love of God, the light of guidance, the tree of life and the depository of the bounties of God. That is to say, man must sacrifice the qualities and attributes of the world of nature for the qualities and attributes of the world of God. For instance, consider the substance we call iron. Observe its qualities; it is solid, black, cold. These are the characteristics of iron. When the same iron absorbs heat from the fire, it sacrifices its attribute of solidity for the attribute of fluidity. It sacrifices its attribute of darkness for the attribute of light, which is a quality of the fire. It sacrifices its attribute of coldness to the quality of heat which the fire possesses so that in the iron there remains no solidity, darkness or cold. It becomes illumined and transformed, having sacrificed its qualities to the qualities and attributes of the fire. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ⁴

Bahá’u’lláh proclaims in the Hidden Words that God inspires His servants and is revealed through them. He says, “Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for My manifestation.” Therefore, we learn that nearness to God is possible through devotion to Him, through entrance into the Kingdom and service to humanity; it is attained by unity with mankind and through loving-kindness to all; it is dependent upon investigation of truth, acquisition of praiseworthy virtues, service in the cause of universal peace and personal sanctification. In a word, nearness to God necessitates sacrifice of self, severance and the giving up of all to Him. Nearness is likeness. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ⁵

This is the time for gladness, the day of joy and exhilaration, for, praised be God, all doors are opened wide through the bounty of the Abhá Beauty. But high endeavour and self-sacrifice are needed and the concentration of one’s thoughts is required for the tree of hope to yield its fruit and results to be achieved. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ⁶

Thus I exhort each of you, realizing its power and beauty, to sacrifice all your thoughts, words and actions to bring the knowledge of the Love of God into every heart. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ⁷

Question for Consideration

In a Bahá’í context, what does it mean to sacrifice one’s self to acquire heavenly qualities and attain divine attributes? ⁸

Perplexity Pro Response ⁹

The Bahá’í Faith presents a profound concept of self-sacrifice [9] as a transformative spiritual journey, where individuals strive to shed their lower nature and acquire divine attributes through continuous effort and service to humanity.

Letting Go of Lower Nature

At the core of Bahá’í self-sacrifice lies the concept of abandoning one’s lower nature and worldly attachments. This process involves relinquishing selfish desires, negative attributes, and material preoccupations that hinder spiritual growth [6] [2]. As ‘Abdu’l-Bahá eloquently explains, individuals must “sacrifice the qualities and attributes of the world of nature for the qualities and attributes of the world of God” [4]. This deliberate act of letting go creates space for the cultivation of higher spiritual qualities, enabling believers to align themselves more closely with divine will and purpose.

Acquiring Divine Perfections

The acquisition of divine attributes forms the ultimate goal of self-sacrifice in the Bahá’í Faith. Believers strive to embody virtues such as love, wisdom, compassion, generosity, truthfulness, and purity of heart [3] [8]. This process is likened to iron absorbing heat from fire, where the iron “sacrifices its attribute of solidity for the attribute of fluidity” and “its attribute of darkness for the attribute of light” [4]. By cultivating these heavenly qualities, individuals aim to become reflections of God’s perfections, gradually aligning their character with the divine will and drawing nearer to the Creator [6].

Transformation Through Sacrifice

The process of self-sacrifice in the Bahá’í Faith is likened to a profound spiritual transformation, akin to the metamorphosis of iron in fire. This powerful metaphor illustrates how individuals can fundamentally alter their character and being through sacrificial acts [4]. By relinquishing worldly attachments and negative traits, believers create space for divine attributes to flourish, leading to a complete renewal of their spiritual essence. This transformative journey is not a one-time event but rather a continuous effort requiring vigilance, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to personal growth and service to humanity [6] [3].

Service, Spiritual Growth, and Nearness to God

Service to humanity and spiritual growth are inextricably linked in the Bahá’í understanding of self-sacrifice. By dedicating oneself to “the service of the entire human race,” individuals not only contribute to the betterment of society but also draw closer to God [1]. This selfless dedication is seen as a means of spiritual advancement, with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá emphasizing that “nearness to God necessitates sacrifice of self, severance and the giving up of all to Him” [5]. Through acts of service, believers cultivate divine attributes and align their will with the divine purpose, fostering both personal spiritual development and collective progress towards a more unified world.

Acquiring divine attributes through sacrifice is not a one-time event but a continuous process of spiritual development [8]. It requires ongoing effort, vigilance, and dedication to spiritual growth and service to others.

In essence, the Bahá’í concept of sacrificing oneself to acquire heavenly qualities is about a transformative spiritual journey. It involves consciously striving to let go of lower, material aspects of one’s nature in order to develop and manifest higher, divine attributes, ultimately leading to spiritual growth, service to humanity, and closeness to God. [7]

Citations

[1] Tablets of Baháʾ’u’ʾlláh, Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas – Bahá’í Library Online

[2] The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912 – Bahá’í Library Online

[3] What’s This Thing Called Sacrifice? – BahaiTeachings.org

[4] The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912 – Bahá’í Library Online

[5] The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912 – Bahá’í Library Online

[6] Sacrifice: Letting Go of the Lower for the Higher – Baha’i Blog

[7] Sacrifice – Bahá’í Quotes

[8] Virtues – Bahá’í Quotes

[9] Lights of Guidance: Self-Sacrifice and Service – Bahai.works

Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity

• How can one practically apply self-sacrifice in daily life to attain divine attributes?
• What are some examples of heavenly qualities mentioned in Bahá’í teachings?
• How does self-sacrifice relate to the concept of unity among humans in Bahá’í belief?
• What role does service to humanity play in acquiring divine attributes?
• How does the metaphor of iron and fire illustrate the process of acquiring divine attributes?
• How can one’s spirit be cleansed for God’s manifestation?
• What does it mean to love the whole world in a practical sense?
• How can one become the image and likeness of God?
• What are the steps to sacrifice worldly qualities for divine attributes?
• How does the concept of nearness to God relate to personal sanctification?

1. Bahá’u’lláh. The Hidden Words. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed December 26, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/hidden-words/2#804011987. ↩
2. Bahá’u’lláh. Tablets of Baháʾ’u’ʾlláh, Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Translated by Habib Taherzadeh. 1st ed. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1978, 167. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/tablets-bahaullah/5#403173768. ↩
3. Bahá’u’lláh and ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Bahá’í Scriptures: Selections from the Utterances of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Edited by Horace Holley. Second. New York: Baha’i Publishing Committee, 1928, no. 969, p. 503. https://bahai-library.com/compilations/bahai.scriptures/8.html#503. ↩
4. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Edited by Howard MacNutt. 2nd ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1982, 451-452. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/33#894436423. ↩
5. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Edited by Howard MacNutt. 2nd ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1982, 148. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/11#166983701. ↩
6. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 2018. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/additional-tablets-extracts-talks/175376308/1#135880228. ↩
7. ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Paris Talks: Addresses given by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá in Paris in 1911-1912. 11th British Ed. 1912. Reprint, London, England: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1972, 83. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/paris-talks/3#911940634 ↩
8. Ruhi Institute. Walking Together on a Path of Service. 2.1.1.PE February 2024. Vol. Book 7. 14 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Foundation, 2024, 26-29. Download PDF. ↩
9. Perplexity Pro. “In a Bahá’í context, what does it mean to sacrifice one’s self to acquire heavenly qualities and attain divine attributes?” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 26, 2024. ↩