Learning Felicity

Understanding and Independence of Soul; Nobility and Distinction of Humanity

Wouldn’t any intelligent mind, a free soul invested with clear, sound and healthy perception, one who enjoys fairness in heart and treasures his and her sight by focusing it on bright and lofty visions, welcome new discoveries and learning, going beyond age-old habits and traditions beclouded with diverse prejudices, inherited bias and hatreds?! Let’s think a moment and then ask ourselves, why in this time and period which we in the name of freedom sink ourselves so liberally and often in extremes into the floods and flows of commodities and merchandise of every sort—physical, mental and emotional alike—generously unaware and easily uncaring we allow them to dominate and govern our thoughts and sentiments, our time and resources? Domination and influence which often is labeled as ‘motivating the freedom of choice’, but as we may helplessly realize too from time to time, it is in actuality and practice the manipulation and even abuse of all what we possess, our power of differentiation and deducting ability and choice included. Why then, I earnestly wonder and genuinely suggest, not giving ourselves a chance to hear and read these thoughts, receiving the information and learning, exploring and investigating for ourselves whether indeed they bear the truth? Isn’t the highest advantage of humanity, indeed the very singular reason which distinguishes mankind from the other creatures—however cherished, lovely and charming though they each in relevant degrees and rightful measures may be and are—that the human beings are gifted by intelligence and granted with the power of understanding, vision and sight? What harm would there be to expose our searching selves entangled as they are in the whirlpool of this troubled, confused and at times lamentably frightening and morally degenerated society, towards a horizon which breaths light and rains down refreshing insights? Such a blissful break that would be for our silently yearning and innately noble souls, born for and living only to grow and attain the summit of perfection and glory!

“O SON OF SPIRIT! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.” (Revealed by Baha’u’llah, “Hidden Words”, Arabic #13)

To a vigilantly perceptive and fairly observing mind of the present society, this should not be hard to be heard in agreement that, “Human character is debased, confidence is shaken, the nerves of discipline are relaxed, the voice of human conscience is stilled, the sense of decency and shame is obscured, conceptions of duty, of solidarity, of reciprocity and loyalty are distorted, and the very feeling of peacefulness, of joy and of hope is gradually extinguished…” (Shoghi Effendi, “WOB”, p. 187)

“The wrong in the world continues to exist just because people talk only of their ideals, and do not strive to put them into practice. If actions took the place of words, the world’s misery would very soon be changed into comfort.” (Talk by `Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks”, pp. 16-17)

“God has given man the eye of investigation by which he may see and recognize truth. He has endowed man with ears that he may hear the message of reality and conferred upon him the gift of reason by which he may discover things for himself. This is his endowment and equipment for the investigation of reality. Man is not intended to see through the eyes of another, hear through another’s ears nor comprehend with another’s brain. Each human creature has individual endowment, power and responsibility in the creative plan of God.” (`Abdu’l-Baha, “Promulgation of Universal Peace”, p. 293)

“Man's distinction lieth not in ornaments or wealth, but rather in virtuous behaviour and true understanding.” (From “Tablets of Baha’u’llah”, p. 57)

“O Thou kind Lord! We are servants of Thy Threshold, taking shelter at Thy holy Door. We seek no refuge save only this strong pillar, turn nowhere for a haven but unto Thy safekeeping. Protect us, bless us, support us, make us such that we shall love but Thy good pleasure, utter only Thy praise, follow only the pathway of truth.”