Spiritual Development

Section 1: Our Twofold Nature 878 words

Questions for Reflection

1. What does it mean, to you, to be a spiritual person? Is that the same as being a good person, or different?

2. Baha'is believe the soul develops qualities here that it needs in the next life, like a child in the womb developing organs for this world. How does that framing make you think about life on this earth day to day?

Reading

Throughout history, humanity has pondered the fundamental questions of existence: Who are we? Why are we here?

Baha'u'llah teaches that we are spiritual beings, created out of divine love.

"Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty."

But we are not merely physical beings. Baha'u'llah affirms that every human being possesses a rational soul, which is the true seat of our personality and consciousness. This soul is our essential reality, eternal and conscious, capable of knowing and loving God. While our bodies are temporary, the soul survives physical death and continues to exist in other spiritual worlds.

Taken together, the Baha'i teachings describe human beings as having a twofold nature. We have a higher, spiritual nature, capable of reflecting God's attributes such as kindness, generosity, justice, and love. And we have an egotistical nature, pulled toward self-interest and the satisfaction of immediate desires.

Spiritual development is the ongoing work of subordinating the lower nature to the higher. In the Baha'i view, this is the central work of human life.

Abdu'l-Baha explain that in this world, we are developing our souls for the next world just like a baby developed its body in the womb for use in this world.

"In the beginning of his human life man was embryonic in the world of the matrix (the womb). There he received capacity and endowment for the reality of human existence. The forces and powers necessary for this world were bestowed upon him in that limited condition. In this world he needed eyes; he received them ... in the other. He needed ears; he obtained them there in readiness and preparation for his new existence. The powers requisite in this world were conferred upon him in the world of the matrix ...

In this world he must prepare himself for the life beyond. That which he needs in the world of the Kingdom (the next world) must be obtained here. Just as he prepared himself in the world of the matrix by acquiring forces necessary in this sphere of existence, so, likewise, the indispensable forces of the divine existence must be ... attained in this world."

In this world, we develop our souls by acquiring spiritual attributes (love, justice, compassion, truthfulness, patience) that will prepare us for the eternal life to come. Every experience, every challenge, every relationship is an opportunity to develop these qualities of our souls.

Where do these qualities come from? They are not ours to invent. Love, justice, compassion, and patience belong first to God. Our work is to become the kind of being capable of reflecting them. Abdu'l-Baha offers an image for this:

"The light of the sun becomes apparent in each object according to the capacity of that object. The difference is simply one of degree and receptivity. The stone would be a recipient only to a limited extent; another created thing might be as a mirror wherein the sun is fully reflected; but the same light shines upon both.

The most important thing is to polish the mirrors of hearts in order that they may become illumined and receptive of the divine light. One heart may possess the capacity of the polished mirror; another, be covered and obscured by the dust and dross of this world. Although the same Sun is shining upon both, in the mirror which is polished, pure and sanctified you may behold the Sun in all its fullness, glory and power, revealing its majesty and effulgence; but in the mirror which is rusted and obscured there is no capacity for reflection, although so far as the Sun itself is concerned it is shining thereon and is neither lessened nor deprived. Therefore, our duty lies in seeking to polish the mirrors of our hearts in order that we shall become reflectors of that light and recipients of the divine bounties which may be fully revealed through them."

The light and love of God is constant. We were made to reflect it. But we cannot reflect it unless we are oriented to the light and able to reflect it in the world.

The daily shape of polishing a mirror and turning it toward the sun is the work of the next section.

Questions for Discussion

1. The lower nature is described not as evil but as inherited, something to be subdued rather than cast out. If the lower self stays with us our whole life, what does it mean to live well with it, rather than at war with it?

2. The womb analogy reframes this whole life as preparation for what comes next. If that's true, what does it suggest about the things we usually treat as urgent? About the things we usually ignore?

Section 2: Developing Spirituality 922 words

Growing Spiritually

Understanding who we are and why we exist naturally leads to the practical question: How do we actually develop these spiritual capacities?

But first a pre-amble, Baha'u'llah revealed a body of teachings to give us guidance on how to grow spiritually and make best use of our lives. He warned against reading them as a list of rules:

"Think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws. Nay, rather, We have unsealed the choice Wine with the fingers of might and power. To this beareth witness that which the Pen of Revelation hath revealed. Meditate upon this, O men of insight!"

With the pre-amble completed, Baha'u'llah revealed a set of practices for exactly this work.

Immersion in the Sacred Writings

Baha’u’llah calls us to “immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.” Regular reading of the sacred texts opens our hearts and minds to divine guidance. The Word of God has creative and transformative powers. It doesn’t just inform us; it changes us. Baha’is are instructed to read the writings of the Bab and Baha’u’llah at least in the morning and evening.

Meditation and Reflection

It's not enough simply to read or recite prayers. We are guided to thoughtfully consider their meanings and apply them to our lives. This deepens our understanding and helps us to internalise divine teachings.

In many of Baha'u'llah's writings He explicitly calls upon the reader to "ponder" or "reflect" to understand the hidden meaning of something.

Daily Prayer

To develop spiritually Baha'u'llah guides us to pray daily. Prayer is spiritual communion with God, our opportunity to express love, seek guidance, and draw closer to the Divine. Sincere prayer has a profound effect on the soul, helping us become more and more spiritual and steadfast in God's love.

Much like the way the blood and food of its mother sustains the child in the womb, the spiritual nourishment of prayer and meditation fuels our connection with God and sustains our spiritual life in this world. Abdu'l-Baha explains:

"All the time too that the child is in the womb of its mother, it receives all its life and nourishment from outside of itself; if it were cut off from that life, it would be in a dead state; so it is with the soul here, if it is cut off from its spiritual food, it is dead."

To nourish the soul, Baha'u'llah instructs us to pray individually and in groups and while we are free to use whatever words we like to speak with God, says that the prayers that have been revealed are the most potent.

Baha'u'llah revealed three obligatory prayers (short, medium, and long) and instructed His followers to recite one of these each day individually. In addition Baha'u'llah revealed many other prayers to be leveraged as desired.

Of the Long Obligatory Prayer, Baha'u'llah stated that it "should be said at those times when one feeleth himself in a prayerful mood. In truth, it hath been revealed in such wise that if it be recited to a rock, that rock would stir and speak forth; and if it be recited to a mountain, that mountain would move and flow."

Fast Annually

Baha'is observe a nineteen-day fast each year, abstaining from food and drink from dawn to sunset. This practice symbolizes one's detachment from the things of this world and reminds us of our spiritual nature and dependence on God.

Bring Yourself to Account Daily

Baha'u'llah counsels: "Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning; for death, unheralded, shall come upon thee and thou shalt be called to give account for thy deeds." Regular self-examination keeps us honest about our spiritual progress and our finite time on this earth.

Daily Work

The Baha'i teachings elevate work to a sacred dimension. Abdu'l-Baha explains: "Briefly, all effort and exertion put forth by man from the fullness of his heart is worship, if it is prompted by the highest motives and the will to do service to humanity." Whether we are teachers, farmers, engineers, artists, or healthcare workers, our daily work becomes an act of worship when performed with excellence and in the spirit of service.

Serving Others

Beyond our professions, we are called to direct service: caring for those who are vulnerable, contributing to our communities, sharing the teachings of Baha'u'llah with others, and working for justice. Baha'u'llah exhorts us to become "a source of all goodness unto men, and an example of uprightness to mankind."

Baha'u'llah offers both a vision and an invitation: We are spiritual beings created in love, placed on earth to prepare for eternity while carrying forward an ever-advancing civilization, and given clear guidance on how to fulfill this sacred purpose.

The choice, and the journey, is ours.

Questions for Discussion

1. The reading insists these are not a code of laws but a "choice Wine." These are tools for transformation, not compliance. In practice, what's the difference between treating a spiritual practice as a rule and treating it as nourishment?

2. Baha'u'llah says the Long Obligatory Prayer, recited rightly, could stir a rock and move a mountain. What do you make of that claim? Would you approach prayer differently if you believed it?

3. The closing line says, "The choice, and the journey, is ours." What does it actually mean to choose a spiritual life?