Istijlál, 11 Sharaf (Honor), 181 B.E.
Walking Together on a Path of Service
Quotes for Reflection
This is the Day whereon the most grievous veil was torn asunder and the Scene of transcendent purity was made manifest; the Day whereon the face of God smiled with the joy of reunion, and the gates of His presence were flung open to the embodiments of His beauty and majesty and to them that had pierced the veils of glory through the power born of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise; the Day whereon all things visible and invisible cried out: “Hallowed be the Lord, the most excellent of all creators!” — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Praise be to God that through the grace and favour of the Ancient Beauty—may my life be offered up for His loved ones—such servants have been gathered beneath the standard of the Covenant as have perfumed the world through the gentle breezes wafting from the gardens of their hearts, and flooded the realm of splendours with the light shining from their faces. They are the manifestations of the manifold bounties of the ever-living Lord and the exponents of the signs and tokens of the Great Announcement. They are the dawning-places of the stars of guidance and the daysprings of the mysteries of loving-kindness, the sweet savours of the rose-gardens of Divine Unity and the fragrances of the meads of Oneness, the immovable mountains of the Covenant and Testament and the wellsprings of the soft-flowing waters of joy and certitude, the fruitful trees of the paradise of faith and the birds of holiness soaring above the meadows of understanding, the shining lamps in the assemblage of divine mysteries and the embodiments of purity in the gathering of the righteous. They are graciously aided by the hosts of the Abhá Kingdom and favoured with the assistance of the angels of the celestial Concourse. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 2
Divine nearness is dependent upon attainment to the knowledge of God, upon severance from all else save God. It is contingent upon self-sacrifice and to be found only through forfeiting wealth and worldly possessions. It is made possible through the baptism of water and fire revealed in the Gospels. Water symbolizes the water of life, which is knowledge, and fire is the fire of the love of God; therefore, man must be baptized with the water of life, the Holy Spirit and the fire of the love of the Kingdom. Until he attains these three degrees, nearness to God is not possible. This is the process by which the Bahá’ís of Persia have attained it. They gave their lives for this station, sacrificed honor, comfort and possessions, hastened with the utmost joy to the place of martyrdom; their blood was spilled, their bodies were tortured and destroyed, their homes pillaged, their children carried into captivity. They endured all these conditions joyfully and willingly. Through such sacrifice nearness to God is made possible. And be it known that this nearness is not dependent upon time or place. Nearness to God is dependent upon purity of the heart and exhilaration of the spirit through the glad tidings of the Kingdom. Consider how a pure, well-polished mirror fully reflects the effulgence of the sun, no matter how distant the sun may be. As soon as the mirror is cleaned and purified, the sun will manifest itself. The more pure and sanctified the heart of man becomes, the nearer it draws to God, and the light of the Sun of Reality is revealed within it. This light sets hearts aglow with the fire of the love of God, opens in them the doors of knowledge and unseals the divine mysteries so that spiritual discoveries are made possible. All the Prophets have drawn near to God through severance. We must emulate those Holy Souls and renounce our own wishes and desires. We must purify ourselves from the mire and soil of earthly contact until our hearts become as mirrors in clearness and the light of the most great guidance reveals itself in them. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 3
Question for Consideration
Using information from the quotes above and previous sections in Walking Together on a Path of Service, summarize insights about motivation using the following words and phrases: transitory, permanent, joy, purity of heart, understanding, advance, Word of God, environment, roots, thirst for knowledge, attainment unto God’s unfailing guidance, attraction to beauty. 4
Perplexity Pro Response 5
The writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá offer profound insights into spiritual motivation, emphasizing the pursuit of divine nearness through purity of heart, self-sacrifice, and a thirst for knowledge, while contrasting transitory worldly pursuits with the permanent joy of spiritual attainment.
Purity of Heart and Divine Nearness
The path to divine nearness is characterized by a process of purification and detachment from worldly concerns. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá emphasizes that this journey requires:
- Severance from all attachments except God
- Self-sacrifice and forfeiting of material possessions
- Baptism with the “water of life” (knowledge) and the “fire of the love of God”
As the heart becomes purified, it transforms into a “pure, well-polished mirror” capable of fully reflecting divine light, regardless of physical distance. This purification opens the doors to spiritual discoveries and unveils divine mysteries, allowing the seeker to advance in their understanding of the Word of God. The Bahá’ís of Persia exemplified this process, willingly enduring great sacrifices and martyrdom to attain spiritual nearness, demonstrating that true motivation stems from an unwavering focus on eternal spiritual truths rather than fleeting material concerns.
Spiritual Thirst for Divine Knowledge
The quest for divine knowledge serves as a powerful motivator on the spiritual path, acting as a thirst that propels seekers towards deeper understanding and closeness to God. This thirst for knowledge is symbolized by the “water of life” in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s teachings, emphasizing its essential role in attaining divine nearness. As the heart becomes purified, it not only reflects divine light but also gains the capacity to unlock spiritual mysteries and make profound discoveries. This process of gaining knowledge and understanding is intrinsically linked to the concept of advancing along the path of faith, with each new insight bringing the seeker closer to “God’s unfailing guidance.” The pursuit of spiritual knowledge thus becomes a self-reinforcing cycle, where increased understanding fuels a greater desire for closeness to the divine, driving continuous growth and transformation.
Joy and Attraction to Beauty
The spiritual journey is illuminated by profound joy and an attraction to divine beauty, as evidenced in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Despite facing severe trials, the Bahá’ís of Persia endured their hardships “joyfully and willingly,” demonstrating that true spiritual motivation transcends worldly suffering. This joy is closely linked to the “exhilaration of the spirit through the glad tidings of the Kingdom,” which sets hearts aglow with divine love. The beauty of the spiritual realm is described in vivid, poetic language, with believers characterized as “sweet savours of the rose-gardens of Divine Unity” and “fruitful trees of the paradise of faith.” This attraction to spiritual beauty serves as a powerful motivator, drawing seekers towards the “embodiments of His beauty and majesty” and inspiring them to strive for the attainment of divine nearness.
The Interplay of Transitory and Permanent
The spiritual journey illuminated by Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá contrasts transitory worldly motivations with the enduring drive towards divine nearness. While material pursuits offer fleeting satisfaction, the permanent joy of spiritual attainment provides a lasting foundation for personal growth. This distinction is exemplified by the Bahá’ís of Persia, who willingly sacrificed worldly comforts and even their lives for the eternal rewards of spiritual nearness, demonstrating that true motivation transcends temporary earthly concerns.
A Nurturing Environment
Rooted in the fertile soil of faith, spiritual motivation flourishes in an environment that nurtures the soul’s innate attraction to divine beauty. This environment, characterized by the “standard of the Covenant” and the company of like-minded seekers, fosters a collective spiritual atmosphere that sustains individual growth. As hearts become purified through detachment and sacrifice, they reflect the “light of the most great guidance,” transforming transitory struggles into stepping stones towards permanent spiritual attainment.
In conclusion, true spiritual motivation is rooted in the permanent reality of divine nearness, achieved through purity of heart, understanding of spiritual truths, and attraction to divine beauty. This motivation transcends transitory worldly concerns, leading to a joy that persists even in the face of material sacrifices and challenges.
Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity
- How does the concept of purity of heart influence one’s relationship with God?
- What role does self-sacrifice play in achieving divine nearness?
- How can one attain the knowledge of God mentioned in the quotes?
- What is the significance of the “water of life” and “fire of the love of God” in spiritual baptism?
- How do the Bahá’ís of Persia exemplify the process of attaining nearness to God?
- How do transitory and permanent motivations impact long-term goal achievement?
- What are some examples of transitory motivations in everyday life?
- How can one identify if their motivations are transitory or permanent?
- What strategies can help shift transitory motivations to permanent ones?
- How do transitory and permanent motivations affect personal growth?
- Bahá’u’lláh. Days of Remembrance. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed January 7, 2025. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/days-remembrance/4#764426453. ↩
- ’Abdu’l-Bahá. Light of the World: Selected Tablets of ’Abdu’l-Bahá. 1st ed. Haifa: Bahá’í World Center, 2021. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/light-of-the-world/5#753023675. ↩
- ’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, 147-148. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/11#021995680. ↩
- 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, 49. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#WLK. ↩
- Perplexity Pro. “Using information from the quotes above and previous sections in Walking Together on a Path of Service, summarize insights about motivation using the following words and phrases: transitory, permanent, joy, purity of heart, understanding, advance, Word of God, environment, roots, thirst for knowledge, attainment unto God’s unfailing guidance, attraction to beauty.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. January 7, 2025. ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 