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Flora Teckie, Baha’i Perspective
Our efforts to conform to the laws and teachings of God should be a consequence of our belief in our creator, and it is natural that our belief in him would be translated into constructive deeds.
Otherwise, what does it mean to have faith if it is not manifested in our daily actions, and in our relationships within our families, or in our communities?
Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith, says: “The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds” and “let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct.
“It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth”.
Some people think that spirituality and daily practical life are two separate issues.
Moral and spiritual behaviours should be practiced at home and at work as much as in a place of worship
Our moral and spiritual advancement is crucial to our well-being in both this life and the next.
Bahá’u’lláh says: “Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting”.
Developing our spiritual capacities, in the Bahá’í view, is a fundamental purpose of life, because these capacities will endure eternally, whereas the physical capacities are temporary.
The soul, along with its capacities, is immortal.
For that reason, we are called upon to make a special effort to develop our eternal spiritual capacities.
This, of course, does not imply that our physical capacities are not important. The appropriate use of our physical capacities aid us in the process of spiritual development and growth.
Individual and social transformation
Some approaches to moral education have been contributing to promoting a passive concept of a moral person: to be good meaning to keep out of trouble.
But to keep out of trouble, or to merely know what is moral and ethical, is not enough.
One needs to become consciously and actively engaged in performing actions that promote individual and social transformation. One can define moral persons as social actors, who, having effected change in themselves, also feel the responsibility of contributing towards the transformation of the social order.
Such responsibility, however, should be towards the human race and not only towards one’s own race, ethnic group, or religion.
Sectarianism and prejudice lead to dependence on restrictive moral views, and contribute to various antisocial attitudes undermining our own and also others’ social and spiritual well-being.
Belief and recognition of the fundamental oneness of the human race is the key to overcoming prejudice and restrictive moral values.
The Bahá’í Writings state: “Let your vision be world-embracing, rather than confined to your own self”, and “That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the entire human race. … Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth”.
Knowledge, volition and action
We all admire good deeds and noble actions and would like to be treated well by others. To know or to admire what is moral and ethical is not enough.
According to the Bahá’í Writings: “By faith is meant, first, conscious knowledge, and second, the practice of good deeds” and that, “The attainment of any object is conditioned upon knowledge, volition and action.
Unless these three conditions are forthcoming there is no execution or accomplishment.
In the erection of a house it is first necessary to know the ground and design the house suitable for it; second, to obtain the means or funds necessary for the construction; third, to actually build it.” and “All of us know that International Peace is good; that it is conducive to the general welfare of humanity and the glory of man; but we are in need of will, volition and action. We must act”.
The first condition in the process of spiritual development is awareness that this process is useful, necessary and realistically possible.
The main key to such awareness is the knowledge of the messengers of God.
The primary purpose of God in revealing his will through his messengers is to effect a transformation in the moral and material conditions of humanity.
The transformation called for by Bahá’u’lláh is directed to our inner character as individuals, and to the organisation of society.
It is a transformation that should lead to cooperation, compassion, rectitude of conduct, and justice.
Of course, no one walking in the spiritual path may make a claim to perfection.
But through daily effort we can progressively reflect in our conduct the teachings of God, no matter how difficult to attain they may seem to be. Bahá’u’lláh counsels: “Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer than its yesterday”.
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