Source of Joy!

 

"Happiness has a direct influence in preserving our health while being upset causes illness. The basis of eternal happiness is spirituality and divine virtue, which is not followed by sorrow. But physical happiness is subject to a thousand changes and vicissitudes.”  (Words of `Abdu’l-Baha, 19 June 1912, in New York, “Mahmud’s Diary”)

 

What is the true source of happiness that is supreme and spiritual?

 

Because of the existence of ‘spirit’ and endowed with its powers—a spirit that is enkindled by the light of faith--man is capable to overcome every hardship, every obstacle, winning them over as a whole or the least able not to be influenced and affected by them.   

 

The human body like that of the animals’ is of course subject to nature's laws, nature’s limitations, and at times its distressing and destructive pressures. However so, man is blessed to be endowed with another gift far too potent and superior to that of the animals’; and that is his/her rational and intellectual reality, and the intellectual reality of man predominates over the nature and all of its powers.  All these sciences and advancements which we enjoy and benefit from in our lives, have once been hidden and the recondite secrets of the nature, all were unknowable entities even to it, the nature, itself—which it has ever been captive by their rules and concealed mysteries in it itself.  Man, however, was enabled to discover these mysteries, progressed in unraveling the secrets of the existence; he brought the hidden realities out of the plane of the unseen into the plane of the visible and seen.  This proves that human being's existence endows powers and capacities which the nature does not possess. The intellectual faculties and potential capacities of the man are themselves the powers of his superior nature and spiritual reality; that is, his spirit—'the human spirit'. 

 

Owing to the spirit and its powers, in a like manner that we humans overcome the limitations and pressing rules of the nature, we are capable and could overcome the effects of worldly sorrows, set-backs and calamities which may descend on us in the course of our physical lives—pending of course the relevant development of each of our spirits and spiritual growth at any given time and stage of our existence.  Even if the hardships and struggles coming our ways may affect us, with ever-advancing spiritual strength and ever-growing spiritual powers innate in our souls, they may touch us and our being only on the surface, unable to take away our true joy and happiness.   

 

Such a joy, such a happiness, created by and nourished and empowered with the spiritual forces of heavenly radiance and faith, will by turn attract positive energies to our thoughts and work, will empower our faculties of mind and its understanding, and will inspire our vision and foresight, leading us up to unimaginable heights of success and felicity.  "Joy gives us wings!"*

 

 

“One of the bounties of religion and faith is the attainment of peace of the heart and soul and the joy of spirit and conscience. This station can only be gained through faith and understanding. Peace of mind is the soul's delight, as it is the means of acquiring that extraordinary state in which man finds happiness in times of affliction and tranquillity in trouble. In spite of poverty he acquires a sense of affluence and in a state of riches and power he offers help and protection to the weak because the well-assured soul is like a tree which has strong roots and is not shaken by any event. This cannot be attained except through complete faith and understanding.”

(Words of `Abdu’l-Baha, 29 November 1912, “Mahmud’s Diary”)

 

Please click on the link and enjoy:

Create in me a pure heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=priSx7SvZ5Q

 

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/

As the bird soars higher in sky, it is only seen smaller

Have you ever noticed, and then thought and reflected about it?  Well, other than that of the obvious and known which the physical science has long discovered and explained?

Only for those who are on the ground, the flying birds seem small. And the higher one soars, the smaller it becomes.  Some birds may forge so up and high that they appear no more and vanish from the earthly eyes. Earthly eyes that often fly very low, jump a bit here and there in intervals, some perhaps even only content with a minimal moving around, picking up seeds and warms to indulge and then with drooping moods take shelter under a dark shadow, rest their heavy and muddy wings in idleness and sloth.  But for those who aspire the heights and do fly themselves, the flying birds are always the giants; the emblems of courage, high energy and grace they are—what the other ones seek and are inspired by, find as sources of pride and lofty examples to be learned and followed by.  Their power of example imparts growth and success, encourages and uplifts the others’ flights, and generously embraces and sustains the beginning heights.

The truest giants never flinch and pause, they keep flying and aim ever higher, complacency and selfish pride has no chance to win them by; their feathers are strongest but velvet soft, have no colors but shine like rainbows and light bulbs, and they neither mind rebuffs nor hear in their heads lingering applauds. They focus on their flights and mind and care to pull others too along up and high. They compete well, but with their own capacities and potential, hoping to be the first, and if they keep flying without any stops or doubts, smiling with sunshines and giving cheers to stars, they will, and “They shall be first among the pure, the free and the wise.” (Cited by Shoghi Effendi, The Guardian of the Baha’i Faith, “The Art of The Living”)

Please click on the link and enjoy:

Rise high...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLnfWlGxw0c

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/

Joyous Art of Living

Confidence, Optimism, Faith

Every day counts. Every moment must be treasured. Life is short and fleeting. No breath to loose, no glance to miss, no beat to be passed without inner joy pumping into ones entire being, animating radiance, optimism and delight, reflecting light and goodness on the path of whomsoever his/her path might be crossed on the day to day life. This is life. This spirit is living itself, is the reward, the perfection. Celebrate and enjoy, and thus build a day which you shall remember with smile and sense of fulfillment--and others shall too, cherish high and for long, having been led and learned by example to make life worthwhile, recalling as they advance with sweet memories thereof. This is greatness. This is leadership! Be a fine leader and lead, and have a splendid day as the sun rises for a new one tomorrow.

“Be calm, be strong, be grateful, and become a lamp full of light, that the darkness of sorrows be annihilated, and that the sun of everlasting joy arise from the dawning-place of heart and soul, shining brightly.” (`Abdu'l-Baha; “Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha”, v.2, p. 405)

“Consider the light of the lamp.  Though an external object may interfere with its radiance, the light itself continueth to shine with undiminished power.  In like manner, every malady afflicting the body of man is an impediment that preventeth the soul from manifesting its inherent might and power.  When it leaveth the body, however, it will evince such ascendancy, and reveal such influence as no force on earth can equal.  Every pure, every refined and sanctified soul will be endowed with tremendous power, and shall rejoice with exceeding gladness.  Consider the lamp which is hidden under a bushel.  Though its light be shining, yet its radiance is concealed from men.  Likewise, consider the sun which hath been obscured by the clouds.  Observe how its splendor appeareth to have diminished, when in reality the source of that light hath remained unchanged. The soul of man should be likened unto this sun, and all things on earth should be regarded as his body.  So long as no external impediment interveneth between them, the body will, in its entirety, continue to reflect the light of the soul, and to be sustained by its power.”  (“Gleanings From The Writings Of Baha’u’llah”, p. 154)

The difference between the happiness which is real and the one which is mere illusion is that once we reach to the former and earn it, we treasure it dearly, do not want it to vanish, eagerly trying and pursuing to have more; in the case of the later, however, once we possess it we feel satisfied and at times without even enjoying it fully, our focus gets distracted and our mind begins wondering about the meaning of our life, silently confused and distressed too perhaps, searching for happiness! The eagerness and sentiment caused by and resulted from the real one is a holistic joy as it enriches both the soul and the mind, adorns both the spiritual and material abodes of ones being, while the later and passing one only meets the material, the mortal and fleeting needs and pursuits and thus itself mortal with no lasting trace and effect, drifts away like a shadow.  The world of matter, therefore, sheds on us sorrow and despair along with its pleasures and happiness; where "the spiritual world bestows only joy."

Please click on the link and enjoy:

Pure and radiant heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U141AajCCuA