Learning Felicity

Worthy Progress, Conscious Existence, and Breathing Life

“This is a sign of progress: The person who is satisfied with himself is the manifestation of Satan and the one who is not satisfied is the manifestation of the Merciful One. An egotist does not progress but the one who thinks himself imperfect will seek perfection for himself and will progress. If a man has a thousand good qualities, he must not look at them. He must search always for his shortcomings. For example, if a man has a building which is well-constructed and fully decorated but which has a small crack in one of its walls, he will, no doubt, forget the rest and turn his whole attention to repairing that crack. Furthermore, the attainment of absolute perfection for a human being is impossible; thus, however much he may progress he is still imperfect and has above him a point higher than himself. And the instant he sees this point he will not be satisfied with himself.” (Words of `Abdu’l-Baha, 21 August 1912, Green Acre, “Mahmud’s Diary”)

The Baha’i writings boldly emphasize and state that the ultimate goal of human existence and purpose of life for every human soul is that each one should attain moral and spiritual excellence, which is in the highest sense the alignment of one's inner being and outward behavior with the will of an All-Loving, All-Merciful Creator; a Will that is so vividly and clearly crystallized in the revealed Texts and expounded in the teachings and exhortations of the Faith and Its Founders. Each individual has been bestowed with an innate potential and a unique destiny by God--a destiny which unfolds and shapes in accordance with the free exercise of one’s faculties and will power when faced with diverse choices and challenges, and presented by options and opportunities in one’s life—a freedom and right to practice and develop one’s potential which is not only everyone’s gift and advantage, but is at the same time his and her responsibility and purpose in life. Through moral exercise of the divinely conferred free will, and vigilantly perceiving the manifold opportunities provided for the development of one’s potential, each could only and shall attain spiritual glory and advancement.

"Were man to appreciate the greatness of his station and the loftiness of his destiny he would manifest naught save goodly character, pure deeds, and a seemly and praiseworthy conduct."

(“Tablets of Baha’u’llah”, p, 172)