Daily Frameworks for 19 March 2025

’Idál, 19 ‘Alá’ (Loftiness), 181 B.E.

Walking Together on a Path of Service

Quotes for Reflection:

God grant thou shalt ever be bright and radiant, beaming with the light of the Sun of Truth, and mayest unloose thy tongue in magnifying the Name of God, which is the most laudable of all acts. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

All Art is a gift of the Holy Spirit. When this light shines through the mind of a musician, it manifests itself in beautiful harmonies. Again, shining through the mind of a poet, it is seen in fine poetry and poetic prose. When the Light of the Sun of Truth inspires the mind of a painter, he produces marvellous pictures. These gifts are fulfilling their highest purpose, when showing forth the praise of God. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá ²

The Holy Spirit is the Light from the Sun of Truth bringing, by its infinite power, life and illumination to all mankind, flooding all souls with Divine Radiance, conveying the blessings of God’s Mercy to the whole world. The earth, without the medium of the warmth and light of the rays of the sun, could receive no benefits from the sun. — Abdu’l-Bahá ³

A man may have attained to a high degree of material progress, but without the light of truth his soul is stunted and starved. Another man may have no material gifts, may be at the bottom of the social ladder, but, having received the warmth of the Sun of Truth, his soul is great and his spiritual understanding is enlightened. — Abdu’l-Bahá ⁴

Question for Consideration

Section 2 of Unit 3, “Promoting the Arts at the Grassroots,” in Book 7: Walking Together on a Path of Service introduces consideration about spiritual influences on creative, artistic expression. Given the quotes above, what is the purpose of artistic expression? Where does the gift of art come from? How does the gift of art manifest itself through the mind of an artist? ⁵

Perplexity Pro Response ⁶

Purpose of Artistic Expression

According to the quotes provided, the purpose of artistic expression is showing forth the praise of God. This means that art, when inspired by the “Light of the Sun of Truth,” is meant to glorify and honor the divine. It serves as a means to express spiritual truths and convey the blessings of God’s mercy to humanity.

Origin of the Gift of Art

The gift of art is described as a gift of the Holy Spirit. This implies that artistic talent and creativity are divine in origin, bestowed upon individuals to serve a higher purpose. The Holy Spirit is seen as the Light from the Sun of Truth, “bringing life and illumination to all mankind.”

Manifestation of Art through the Mind of an Artist

The gift of art manifests itself through the mind of an artist when the Light of the Sun of Truth inspires them. This inspiration can result in various forms of artistic expression, such as beautiful harmonies in music, fine poetry and poetic prose in literature, and marvelous pictures in painting. Each form of art is a reflection of the divine light shining through the artist’s mind.

In essence, the gift of art is not merely a human talent but a divine endowment that, when nurtured and expressed, can elevate both the artist and the audience to a higher spiritual plane.

Perplexity Pro Response — Deeper Dive

The Bahá’í Faith offers a profound perspective on the spiritual nature of art, viewing artistic expression as a divine gift meant to glorify God and illuminate humanity with spiritual truths.

Purpose of Artistic Expression

According to Bahá’í teachings, artistic expression serves a higher purpose beyond mere aesthetics or entertainment. Its primary aim is “showing forth the praise of God,” acting as a conduit for divine inspiration and spiritual truths. This perspective elevates art to a sacred endeavor, where creative works become a means of glorifying the divine and conveying the “blessings of God’s Mercy to the whole world.” By fulfilling this purpose, artists contribute to the spiritual enlightenment of humanity, using their talents to illuminate souls with “Divine Radiance” and foster a deeper connection to the transcendent.

Divine Origin of Art

The Bahá’í writings attribute the gift of art to a divine source, describing it as “a gift of the Holy Spirit.” This spiritual origin elevates artistic talent beyond mere human capability, positioning it as a channel for divine inspiration. The creative process is seen as a collaboration between the artist’s mind and the “Light from the Sun of Truth,” which manifests in various forms:

• Music: The divine light produces “beautiful harmonies” through musicians
• Poetry: It results in “fine poetry and poetic prose” through poets
• Visual arts: Painters create “marvellous pictures” when inspired by this light
  

This perspective emphasizes that artistic gifts reach their “highest purpose” when used to praise and glorify God, suggesting that true artistic fulfillment comes from aligning creative expression with spiritual intentions.

Artistic Inspiration and Manifestation

The Light of the Sun of Truth, as described by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, serves as the catalyst for artistic inspiration, manifesting uniquely through each artist’s mind. This divine illumination transforms abstract spiritual concepts into tangible creative expressions, whether through harmonious melodies, poetic verses, or vivid paintings. The artist becomes a vessel for conveying spiritual truths, with their work reflecting the “infinite power” of the Holy Spirit in bringing “life and illumination to all mankind.” This process of artistic manifestation not only enriches the creator but also has the potential to spiritually nourish those who experience the art, regardless of their material circumstances or social standing.

Spiritual Impact of Art

Art, when infused with spiritual inspiration, has the power to transcend material limitations and touch the human soul. This transformative quality of spiritually-inspired art is highlighted in ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s teachings, which suggest that even those without material advantages can experience profound spiritual enlightenment through artistic expression. The impact of such art extends beyond aesthetic appreciation, potentially elevating the spiritual understanding of both the creator and the audience, regardless of their social or economic status.

• Art serves as a medium for spiritual growth and understanding
• It can bridge social and economic divides through shared spiritual experiences
• The transformative power of art lies in its ability to convey divine truths and inspire spiritual reflection
  

Follow-Up Questions Proposed by Perplexity

• How does the Holy Spirit influence different art forms?
• What role does the Sun of Truth play in artistic creativity?
• How can artistic expression be used to magnify the Name of God?
• What is the relationship between spiritual illumination and artistic talent?
• How does material progress compare to spiritual enlightenment in terms of artistic expression?
• How does art influence spiritual practices and rituals?
• What are some famous artists who have credited their work to spiritual inspiration?
• How does the spiritual impact of art differ across cultures?
• Can art therapy be considered a form of spiritual practice?
• How does the spiritual dimension of art affect its reception by audiences?

1. 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, 234-235. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/tablets-bahaullah/7#539623055. ↩
2. Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. “The Importance of the Arts in Promoting the Faith.” Bahá’í Reference Library, August 1998. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/compilations/importance-art/4#811351930. ↩
3. ’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, 58-59. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/paris-talks/2#421799954. ↩
4. ’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, 31. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/paris-talks/2#844028343. ↩
5. 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, 133-134. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#WLK. ↩
6. Perplexity Pro. “Spiritual Influences on Artistic Expression.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. March 17, 2025. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/god-grant-thou-shalt-ever-be-b-YGMhrpQZStGK.JtXWY9aDw. ↩