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Flora Teckie-A Bahai Perspective
We all have a passion and desire for change, for the betterment of our lives. With great interest, we often embark on a journey to continually improve our material possessions and surroundings.
But what about the spiritual aspects of life? Do they not also need a renewal, a transformation? How often does one pay attention to personal spiritual growth and renewal?
It is the Bahá’í view that personal spiritual transformation and the development of spiritual capacities are not only conducive to lasting joy, and peaceful association with those with whom we live, work and associate, but are also required in preparation for the spiritual worlds beyond this earthly existence.
The Bahá’í Writings state: “ . . . we must thank God that He has created for us both material blessings and spiritual bestowals. He has given us material gifts and spiritual graces, outer sight to view the lights of the sun and inner vision by which we may perceive the glory of God”.
There is an important link between the material and spiritual aspects of life. The body is the instrument of the soul’s development in this earthly life, and as such physical health and development cannot be neglected.
Material means are essential for humanity to be able to pursue its spiritual and other goals, as long as we use our material means towards the primary goal in life: fostering our soul’s progress, and contributing towards the spiritual and material transformation of our societies.
According to the Bahá’í Writings: “ . . . only if material progress goes hand in hand with spirituality can any real progress come about, and the Most Great Peace reign in the world. If men followed the Holy Counsels and the Teachings of the Prophets, if Divine Light shone in all hearts and men were really religious, we should soon see peace on earth and the Kingdom of God among men. The laws of God may be likened unto the soul and material progress unto the body. If the body was not animated by the soul, it would cease to exist”.
Balancing the material and spiritual aspects in life
Human nature has two sides: the material and the spiritual. The spiritual side exhibits attributes such as compassion, kindness, truthfulness, courtesy, generosity, justice, love, and trustworthiness, which are essential for individual and social transformation.
The willingness to sacrifice our immediate self-interest for the pursuit of higher goals is one of the manifestations of our spiritual side.
On the other hand, we have legitimate physical needs which cry for satisfaction: food, shelter, companionship, and protection from threatening forces. However, it is important that the material and the spiritual aspects in our lives advance together for humanity to prosper and be happy.
As human beings, we are the highest form of life, not because of the material side of our nature, but because of our spirit. Some think that the body exists by itself and that the spirit depends on it.
On the contrary, the body depends on the spirit. Although we exist on earth in physical bodies, our essential identity is defined by an invisible, rational, and everlasting soul.
Bahá’u’lláh confirmed the existence of a separate, rational soul for every human being. In this life, He said, the soul is related to the physical body. It provides the underlying animation for the body and is our real self. When we die, the soul continues to live.
We can compare the body to a car and the soul as the driver, using this vehicle for its journey through earthly life. As such it is important to cater for the needs of both the body (the vehicle) and the soul (the driver). While material means are necessary, the eternal part is our soul, and we should not live on earth as if our physical life and pleasures are all that matter.
There is a need to maintain a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of life while allowing our spiritual nature to take control, in the same way as the driver should be in control of a vehicle, and not vice versa.
Our spiritual capacities can be developed through our individual relationship with God. This relationship can be fostered through prayer, meditation, regular study of the Holy Writings, moral self-discipline, and service to humanity.
Acceptance of the teachings of the Messengers of God and obedience to the laws They reveal are the essential requirement for our spiritual development and growth.
The development of our spiritual capacities will help in building a better world, as the Bahá’í Holy Writings state: “ . . . we must strive to become more spiritual, more luminous, to follow the counsel of the Divine Teaching, to serve the cause of unity and true equality, to be merciful, to reflect the love of the Highest on all men, so that the light of the Spirit shall be apparent in all our deeds, to the end that all humanity shall be united, the stormy sea thereof calmed, and all rough waves disappear from off the surface of life’s ocean henceforth unruffled and peaceful”.
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