’Idál, 03 Sharaf (Honor), 181 B.E.
Walking Together on a Path of Service
Quotes for Reflection
It behooveth whosoever willeth to journey for the sake of God, and whose intention is to proclaim His Word and quicken the dead, to bathe himself with the waters of detachment, and to adorn his temple with the ornaments of resignation and submission. Let trust in God be his shield, and reliance on God his provision, and the fear of God his raiment. Let patience be his helper, and praiseworthy conduct his succorer, and goodly deeds his army. Then will the concourse on high sustain him. Then will the denizens of the Kingdom of Names march forth with him, and the banners of Divine guidance and inspiration be unfurled on his right hand and before him. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Striving meaneth this, that ye should live and move according to the divine counsels and admonitions and be filled with zeal and fervour, that ye should seek no rest and be engaged at all times in service. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 2
O Lord, brighten Thou my face with the lights of Thy bestowals, light Thou mine eyes with beholding the signs of Thine all-subduing might; delight my heart with the glory of Thy knowledge that encompasseth all things, gladden Thou my soul with Thy soul-reviving tidings of great joy, O Thou King of this world and the Kingdom above, O Thou Lord of dominion and might, that I may spread abroad Thy signs and tokens, and proclaim Thy Cause, and promote Thy Teachings, and serve Thy Law, and exalt Thy Word. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 3
Let all your striving be for this, to become the source of life and immortality, and peace and comfort and joy, to every human soul, whether one known to you or a stranger, one opposed to you or on your side. Look ye not upon the purity or impurity of his nature: look ye upon the all-embracing mercy of the Lord, the light of Whose grace hath embosomed the whole earth and all who dwell thereon, and in the plenitude of Whose bounty are immersed both the wise and the ignorant. Stranger and friend alike are seated at the table of His favor. Even as the believer, the denier who turneth away from God doth at the same time cup his hands and drink from the sea of His bestowals. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 4
To the degree that the home front crusader is himself cleansed of these impurities, liberated from these petty preoccupations and gnawing anxieties, delivered from these prejudices and antagonisms, emptied of self, and filled by the healing and the sustaining power of God, will he be able to combat the forces arrayed against him, magnetize the souls of those whom he seeks to convert, and win their unreserved, their enthusiastic and enduring allegiance to the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh. — Shoghi Effendi 5
Developments since then have served only to demonstrate further the efficacy of a sequence of courses that seeks to build capacity for service by concentrating on the application of the spiritual insights gained through profound study of the Writings. Participants are exposed to a body of knowledge that fosters a set of related habits, attitudes and qualities and are assisted in sharpening certain skills and abilities needed to carry out acts of service. Discussions that revolve around the Creative Word, in the serious and uplifting atmosphere of a study circle, raise the level of consciousness about one’s duties to the Cause and create an awareness of the joy one derives from teaching the Faith and serving its interests. The spiritual context in which specific deeds are addressed endows them with significance. Confidence is patiently built as the friends engage in progressively more complex and demanding acts of service. Yet, above all, it is reliance on God that sustains them in their endeavors. How abundant the accounts of believers who enter the teaching field with trepidation only to find themselves bolstered by confirmations on all sides. Seeing the possibilities and opportunities before them with new eyes, they witness first hand the power of Divine assistance, as they strive to put into practice what they are learning and achieve results far exceeding their expectations. That the spirit of faith born out of intimate contact with the Word of God has such an effect on souls is by no means a new phenomenon. What is heartening is that the institute process is helping such large numbers experience the transforming potency of the Faith. To extend this edifying influence to hundreds of thousands more should be the object of intense effort over the next five years. — Universal House of Justice 6
Question for Consideration
What attitudes and behaviors characterize those who effectively proclaim the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, promote His Teachings, and exalt the Word of God through acts of service? 7
Perplexity Pro Response 8
Quotes for reflection from Bahá’í writings offer profound insights into the spiritual qualities, attitudes, and behaviors of those who adhere to Bahá’í principles such as detachment, reliance on God, universal love, and continuous learning in the path of service.
Spiritual Qualities
Bahá’ís strive to embody a range of spiritual qualities that form the foundation of their service. These include:
- Detachment from worldly concerns, described by Bahá’u’lláh as “bathing oneself with the waters of detachment” [1]
- Submission to God’s will, adorning oneself with “the ornaments of resignation and submission” [1]
- Unwavering trust in God, which serves as a shield and provision
- Patience as a helper and praiseworthy conduct as a supporter
- Fear of God, portrayed as a “raiment” enveloping one’s entire being [1]
These qualities, when cultivated, enable believers to overcome challenges and attract divine assistance in their efforts to promote the Teachings and exalt the Word of God through acts of service.
Attitudes
Zeal and fervor characterize the attitudes of those who effectively serve the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá describes striving as living “according to the divine counsels and admonitions” [2] with ceaseless engagement in service. This passionate dedication is coupled with an all-embracing love that extends to every soul, regardless of their background or attitude towards the Faith. Believers are encouraged to become a source of “life and immortality, and peace and comfort and joy” [3] for all, looking beyond perceived impurities to see the divine essence in each individual. This universal love reflects the “all-embracing mercy of the Lord” [3] and enables servants to approach their work with joy and compassion, fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity and spiritual growth.
Behaviors
Effective teachers of the Bahá’í Faith engage in continuous learning and application of spiritual insights gained through profound study of the Writings. They participate in study circles that foster habits, attitudes, and skills necessary for service, raising their consciousness about their duties to the Cause. These individuals approach teaching with confidence, progressively taking on more complex and demanding acts of service. Reliance on divine assistance is paramount, as many enter the teaching field with initial trepidation only to find themselves “bolstered by confirmations on all sides” [4]. This process of serving and teaching leads to personal transformation, allowing believers to witness firsthand the power of Divine assistance and achieve results that often exceed their expectations.
Spiritual Transformation
Service to the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh has a profound transformative effect on individuals, as highlighted by the Universal House of Justice. Through engaging in progressively more complex acts of service, believers witness “first hand the power of Divine assistance” [4] and achieve results that often surpass their initial expectations. This transformative process is not limited to a select few but is accessible to large numbers through the institute process, which helps participants experience the “transforming potency of the Faith” [4]. The spiritual growth that occurs through intimate contact with the Word of God and its application in service is described as a powerful force that can be extended to “hundreds of thousands more” [4] through concentrated effort.
In conclusion, those who effectively teach the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh in service to humanity are characterized by a deep spiritual connection, unwavering faith, universal love, and a commitment to continuous learning and application of the Teachings. They approach service with joy, patience, and detachment, relying on God’s assistance and striving for personal transformation as they contribute to the advancement of the Faith.
Citations
[2] Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks – Bahá’í Reference Library
[3] Selections from the Writings of ʻAbduʼl-Bahá – Bahá’í Reference Library
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How can I cultivate detachment and resignation in my daily life?
- What are practical ways to build trust and reliance on God?
- How can patience and praiseworthy conduct assist in my spiritual journey?
- What role does goodly deeds play in sustaining one’s faith?
- How can I integrate the principles of Bahá’u’lláh into my daily routine?
- How does service transform individuals and communities?
- What are the key elements that make service transformative?
- How can transformative service impact social justice?
- What are some examples of transformative service in history?
- How can businesses incorporate transformative service practices?
- Effendi, Shoghi. This Decisive Hour: Messages from Shoghi Effendi to the North American Baháʾís, 1932-1946. Bahá’í Reference Library, 2002. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/shoghi-effendi/decisive-hour/3#904615813. ↩
- ’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/852329960/1#235310227. ↩
- ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Selections from the Writings of ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. Translated by Marzieh Gail. Reprint. Wilmette, Illinois: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1996, 174-175. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/selections-writings-abdul-baha/7#612342412. ↩
- ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Selections from the Writings of ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. Translated by Marzieh Gail. Reprint. Wilmette, Illinois: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1996, 256-257. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/selections-writings-abdul-baha/9#748013769. ↩
- Effendi, Shoghi. Citadel of Faith: Messages to America, 1947-1957. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed December 30, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/shoghi-effendi/citadel-faith/5#522827866. ↩
- Universal House of Justice. “27 December 2005 – To the Conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors.” Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed December 30, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20051227_001/1#381406812. ↩
- 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, 38-39. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#WLK. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “What attitudes and behaviors characterize those who effectively proclaim the Cause of Bahá’u’lláh, promote His Teachings, and exalt the Word of God through acts of service?” Edited by Steve Bosserman. December 30, 2024. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 