"Happiness and Greatness"
in wealth and poverty

As you may too recall in earlier years at school often at the essay-writing class we would be invited or assigned to present papers on the comparative themes and questions of ‘knowledge and learning’, ‘freedom and loyalty’, ‘courage and restraint’, ‘confidence and humility’, ‘generosity and gain’, ‘business and service’, ‘integrity and virtues’, ‘happiness and success’, and their mutual relations, effects and resulting outcome—within the contexts of “progress” and “growth, “wealth” and “poverty” -- and the relevant concepts, varying causes and practical consequences of being or becoming “poor” or “rich”.  While the students were expected to think and write their own fair deductions and honest opinions on the matters, and that the assignments seemed to encourage only a free exercise of each one’s intellectual faculties, moral perceptions and independent understanding—with the obtained marks to be greatly affected only by the quality and creativity of thoughts, strength of reasoning and logical arguments, power of articulation and writing structure, and the level of skills and command of language(s)—it often was otherwise. The quality and integrity of the whole process depended in one hand on the evaluators, that from where they were coming from, what were the nature and standing of their mental and moral experiences, and on the basis of which reference points and directions of the ideals theirs were being exercised; on the other hand, on how true and faithful the junior writers were to their own thoughts and values, to the perceptions and logical reasoning of their own minds, and whether indeed theirs reflected all through a pristine originality, rather than having been adjusted cleverly and/or quietly borrowed from others’ to please the evaluator in a hope of winning a higher mark. Decisions and choices of the kinds which however might have appeared subtle and minor at times, could have found their roots in each one’s corresponding conditions, upbringing circumstances and tastes, and the growing states of within and without respectively.  Presuming this cursory preamble may have already taken you in mind for moments back in time, of today or of yesterdays, it could be a worthwhile mental exercise to pause and think for ourselves on these themes again now, comparing patters and processes, and weighing their relevance and change, progressive complexities, proven insufficiencies and/or growing facts, as if were to write such assignments today.

Focused only on practical aspects and intellectually deliberate though we may be in reasoning and approval of currents, and however too reluctant to venture leaving the loud and crowded flow to step high and take a positive break in mind, nobly human and personal we cannot but dare to pull our powers above and sentiments aright, affected and overwhelmed—wondering fairly on the limitless abundance and diversions, the forgotten precious and scarce within the extremes and over-growths, the blinding flashes, deafening trumpets and dizzying twists, dropping in sharp turns the cries and sighs, glittered and colorful but heavy, dull and drooping in exaggerated moods, not satisfied but full, over-achieved and possessed of swinging dramas and objects, yet craving for more and more goods, empty-pocketed though carrying wallets and purses cluttered with cards and credits, from top to toes—strangely too, hardly anyone sees and touches the real money nowadays; all is almost only in restless figures, fading inks and shaky words, moving as ghosts like drifting shadows, each at his and their doors pausing a moment and then is hers and yours, vanishing in a blink and here again it goes…  

The themes of “wealth and poverty” and issues of being “rich or poor” is evidently very complex and a vast area of discussion, and currently more than ever a major arena of attention and deep concerns in so many levels and ways.  One point that I choose to focus upon primarily and highlight, is that ‘wealth’ or ‘poverty’ each by itself is neither a good thing nor not good; it all depends on what each one accomplishes, what each one makes us or does to us and to others; and the “rich” and the “poor” could each merit a fortunate state or be the misery itself—pending what each one learns, grows into and adapts to, how each one lives and encounters the corresponding circumstances and situation.   There could be a significant difference in the unexpected outcome of each one, depending on whether one adjusts and harmonizes the related circumstances for the better, or for the worse. And if one has blissfully moved towards the better—however rich or poor—has the state to which one has arrived been held stilled and passive in the name of aloofness and contentment, or has the situation kept advancing and developing actively? And last but not the least, whether the attitude of either one has been gratefully content and blissfully patient, only yearning to transform oneself and the others’ along as well, to ascend and excel, directed towards perfection and positive progress?

“You must turn attention more earnestly to the betterment of the conditions of the poor.  Do not be satisfied until each one with whom you are concerned is to you as a member of your family.  Regard each one either as a father, or as a brother, or as a sister, or as a mother, or as a child. If you can attain to this, your difficulties will vanish, you will know what to do.” (“Revealed by `Abdu’l-Baha; “`Abdu’l-Baha in London”, p. 91)

The terms “wealth” and “poverty” are in every respect relative, and no matter how wealthy in anything someone might be, one can always become wealthier, and likewise is the case with the poverty. To have a balanced society with an orderly and harmonious structure, it is really not logical to imagine a world where everyone would be absolutely the same and equal in wealth. And why should it be, when by nature everything in creation, including ourselves of course, is unique and each one’s innate powers and potential abilities are so colorfully different and interestingly diverse? Unquestionably and regardless of differences and variances, everyone is wealthy and in possession of potential capacities, born noble and with equal rights to meet opportunities for developing and perfecting oneself all through one’s life—however so, it cannot be expected nor would it be possible for all to be the same and identical in qualities and in the degrees and levels of perfections.  Likewise, in material status and practical circumstances it would not be possible and cannot be expected to form and maintain absolute equality. What is most necessary and fundamentally binding on humanity is to uphold and adhere to the kind of principles which would secure and be conducive to the establishment of a situation where no one would be deprived of equal opportunities to acquire and enjoy a deserving wealth relevant to and in compliance with each one’s potential and apparent abilities, as well as exerted efforts and personal volitions.  As the key for the former is recognizing equal rights for every human being, regardless of the degree, kind and intensity of each one’s potential capacities; similarly, a dignified and fair minimum level of wealth for every human being should be recognized, moderating the systems in our societies so to eliminate the extremes in poverty and in wealth; thus, having a world where, "All the peoples of the world will enjoy like interests, and the poor shall possess a portion of the comforts of life. Just as the rich are surrounded by their luxuries in palaces, the poor will have at least their comfortable and pleasant places of abode; and just as the wealthy enjoy a variety of food, the needy shall have their necessities and no longer live in poverty.” (From a Talk by `Abdu’l-Baha on May 6, 1912, "Promulgation of Universal Peace", p.103)

Beyond this binding principle, for those minds that gaze ever higher and soar above the limits with nobler aspirations—whatever their standing point, the following passage is a defining lofty standard. It is a mission statement for every perceptive and high-minded individual, as well as a guiding light in all walks of life for leading, observant and resourceful figures of present-day societies—who are to recognize and nurture, honor and value those who are endowed with these matchless gifts and who diligently minister to common good and the betterment of all.  It should be inscribed with choicest diamonds on the perceptive and fair golden minds!

“The happiness and greatness, the rank and station, the pleasure and peace, of an individual have never consisted in his personal wealth, but rather in his excellent character, his high resolve, the breadth of his learning and his ability to solve difficult problems.”

(`Abdu’l-Baha, "The Secret of Divine Civilization", p.23)

You are welcome to visit the recent posts on my two other blogs—English and bilingual—below:

Inked ThinkPenhttp://inkedthinkpen.blogspot.ca/
Timeless Treasures: Words with Meanings
http://timelesstreasureswordswithmeanings.blogspot.ca/