“Men who suffer not, attain no perfection.”
Hardship leading to happiness
In the Baha’i writings we are reminded that we must ever be happy and joyful no matter what earthly conditions surround us:
“The realm of joy hath been ushered in; be not sorrowful! The hidden mystery hath been made manifest; be not disheartened!” (Baha'u'llah, Tabernacle of Unity)
“Spiritual happiness is eternal and unfathomable. This kind of happiness appeareth in one's soul with the love of God...” (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 673)
It is also explained that sufferings and hardships are an unavoidable part of physical life and can be assets for personal and communal spiritual growth and lead to a happier existence.
“Physical pain is a necessary accompaniment of all human existence, and as such is unavoidable. As long as there will be life on earth, there will be also suffering, in various forms and degrees. But suffering, although an inescapable reality, can nevertheless be utilised as a means for the attainment of happiness.” (Shoghi Effendi- compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 280)
So should a spiritual person be unaffected by the trials and difficulties of life and never feel pain, anxiety or sadness?
“From the beginning of time sorrow and anxiety, regret and tribulation, have always been the lot of every loyal servant of God. Ponder this in thine heart and consider how very true it is....” (Compilations, Bahiyyih Khanum, p. 5)
“The lives of the Founders of our Faith clearly show that to be fundamentally assured does not mean that we live without anxieties, nor does being happy mean that there are not periods of deep grief when, like the Guardian, we wrap ourselves in a blanket, pray and supplicate, and give ourselves time for healing in preparation for the next great effort.” (Shoghi Effendi, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 117)
“We must not only be patient with others, infinitely patient!, but also with our own poor selves, remembering that even the Prophets of God sometimes got tired and cried out in despair!” (Shoghi Effendi's secretary on his behalf, Unfolding Destiny, p. 456)
But the Holy Writings also teach us that hardship and tests are benefits from God and means for our spiritual progress. Our greatest spiritual growth and character development does not happen during times of prosperity and comfort, they occur rather during times of hardship and suffering.
“Men who suffer not, attain no perfection.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 50)
“Grief and sorrow do not come to us by chance, they are sent to us by the Divine Mercy for our own perfecting.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 50)
“We must realize that everything which happens is due to some wisdom and that nothing happens without a reason.” (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 47)
In fact being fundamentally happy also includes periods of anxiety and grief. The Holy writings remind us that suffering is necessary for the progress of our soul and attainment of true happiness:
“Through suffering he will attain to an eternal happiness which nothing can take from him.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 178)
“To attain eternal happiness one must suffer. He who has reached the state of self-sacrifice has true joy. Temporal joy will vanish.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 178)
“Men who suffer not, attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardeners is that one which, when the summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, pp. 50-51)
“But suffering, although an inescapable reality, can nevertheless be utilised as a means for the attainment of happiness.” (Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha'i Community, p. 434)
So we need to change the way we look at all of life’s tests that come our way:
“The mind and spirit of man advance when he is tried by suffering. The more the ground is ploughed the better the seed will grow, the better the harvest will be. Just as the plough furrows the earth deeply, purifying it of weeds and thistles, so suffering and tribulation free man from the petty affairs of this worldly life until he arrives at a state of complete detachment. His attitude in this world will be that of divine happiness. Man is, so to speak, unripe: the heat of the fire of suffering will mature him. Look back to the times past and you will find that the greatest men have suffered most.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 178)
“...Suffering, although an inescapable reality, can nevertheless be utilized as a means for the attainment of happiness.”