Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláhBahá'u'lláh
Religion
Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahai Faith -- Doctrines
That seeker should, also, regard backbiting as grievous error, and keep
himself aloof from its dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the
light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul. He should be
content with little, and be freed from all inordinate desire. He should
treasure the companionship of them that have renounced the world, and
regard avoidance of boastful and worldly people a precious benefit. At the
dawn of every day he should commune with God, and, with all his soul,
persevere in the quest of his Beloved. He should consume every wayward
thought with the flame of His loving mention, and, with the swiftness of
lightning, pass by all else save Him. He should succor the dispossessed,
and never withhold his favor from the destitute. He should show kindness
to animals, how much more unto his fellow-man, to him who is endowed with
the power of utterance. He should not hesitate to offer up his life for
his Beloved, nor allow the censure of the people to turn him away from the
Truth. He should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for
himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfil. With all his heart he
should avoid fellowship with evil-doers, and pray for the remission of
their sins. He should forgive the sinful, and never despise his low
estate, for none knoweth what his own end shall be. How often hath a
sinner attained, at the hour of death, to the essence of faith, and,
quaffing the immortal draught, hath taken his flight unto the Concourse on
high! And how often hath a devout believer, at the hour of his soul’s
ascension, been so changed as to fall into the nethermost fire!
Our purpose in revealing these convincing and weighty utterances is to
impress upon the seeker that he should regard all else beside God as
transient, and count all things save Him, Who is the Object of all
adoration, as utter nothingness.
These are among the attributes of the exalted, and constitute the
hall-mark of the spiritually-minded. They have already been mentioned in
connection with the requirements of the wayfarers that tread the path of
Positive Knowledge. When the detached wayfarer and sincere seeker hath
fulfilled these essential conditions, then and only then can he be called
a true seeker. Whensoever he hath fulfilled the conditions implied in the
verse: “Whoso maketh efforts for Us,” he shall enjoy the blessings
conferred by the words: “In Our Ways shall We assuredly guide him.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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