“Every noble quality belongs to man's spiritual nature”
Our Spiritual reality
Spirituality is the practical application of the virtues in our daily lives. The process of developing one’s spiritual capacities is called spiritual growth or simply spirituality.
“Every good habit, every noble quality belongs to man's spiritual nature” 1
“Man has two powers, and his development two aspects. One power is connected with the material world and by it he is capable of material advancement. The other power is spiritual and through its development his inner, potential nature is awakened” 2
If we make the objective of life to learn about the spiritual qualities, to focus the power of our love and attraction to them, and to employ our will to act according to them, we will have embarked on a spiritual lifestyle. For example if we choose peace and dedicate ourselves to its cause, we have chosen a spiritual lifestyle. The same holds true for other choices such as truthfulness, trust, justice, compassion, cooperation, beauty, humility, service and all other spiritual qualities. When we dedicate our lives to something greater than ourselves (ie: Goodwill and Peace to all Mankind), we take ourselves from the centre and make betterment of the world the objective of our lives. In this way, we become selfless and noble. True Understanding of our Nobility is the Ultimate Goal of our Human Existence.
"Honesty, virtue, wisdom and a saintly character redound to the exaltation of man, while dishonesty, imposture, ignorance and hypocrisy lead to his abasement. By My life! Man's distinction lieth not in ornaments or wealth, but rather in virtuous behaviour and true understanding."(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 57)
In order to develop these spiritual capacities we need to exercise them.
“For if the spiritual qualities of the soul, .. are never used, they become atrophied, enfeebled, and at last incapable” 3
Hence life should be seen as an eternal process of joyous spiritual discovery and growth.
“Man is, in reality, a spiritual being, and only when he lives in the spirit is he truly happy. This spiritual longing and perception belongs to all human alike..” 4
"This spiritual longing and perception belongs to all human alike"
1, 2. 3, 4 Baha’i Scripture (selections from the writings of Abdu’l-Baha)