“The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun”
Spirituality
Spirituality is the practical application of the virtues in our daily lives. The process of developing one’s spiritual capacities is called spiritual growth, spiritual progress or simply spirituality. Bahá'u'lláh teaches that the only true and enduring happiness for human beings lies in the pursuit of this spiritual development.
“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.” (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 171)
“By My life! The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof. Whoso attaineth unto it is accounted as a jewel among men.” (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 36)
“Every good habit, every noble quality belongs to man's spiritual nature.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 60)
Is it true that some people are simply spiritual and some aren’t?
“The human reality may be compared to a seed. If we sow the seed, a mighty tree appears from it. The virtues of the seed are revealed in the tree; it puts forth branches, leaves, blossoms, and produces fruits. All these virtues were hidden and potential in the seed. Through the blessing and bounty of cultivation these virtues became apparent. Similarly the merciful God our creator has deposited within human realities certain virtues latent and potential.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 267)
“Spiritual longing and perception belongs to all men alike” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 72)
So why do so many people show so little spiritual qualities and commit injustices, cruelties and crimes?
“In man there are two natures; his spiritual or higher nature and his material or lower nature. In one he approaches God, in the other he lives for the world alone. Signs of both these natures are to be found in men. In his material aspect he expresses untruth, cruelty and injustice; all these are the outcome of his lower nature. The attributes of his Divine nature are shown forth in love, mercy, kindness, truth and justice, one and all being expressions of his higher nature. Every good habit, every noble quality belongs to man’s spiritual nature, whereas all his imperfections and sinful actions are born of his material nature. If a man’s Divine nature dominates his human nature, we have a saint.”. (Abdu’l-Baha Paris Talks, p. 60)
“if the spiritual qualities of the soul, open to the breath of the Divine Spirit, are never used, they become atrophied, enfeebled, and at last incapable; whilst the soul's material qualities alone being exercised, they become terribly powerful -- and the unhappy, misguided man, becomes more savage, more unjust, more vile, more cruel, more malevolent than the lower animals.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 96)
The Baha’i writings tell us that the spiritual reason for our life on earth is to provide us with a training ground; our life is a period of growth during which we focus on the development of our innate spiritual and intellectual capacities.
“Man is like unto a tree. If he be adorned with fruit, he hath been and will ever be worthy of praise and commendation. Otherwise a fruitless tree is but fit for fire. The fruits of the human tree are exquisite, highly desired and dearly cherished. Among them are upright character, virtuous deeds and a goodly utterance.” (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 257)
“The purpose of the creation of man is the attainment of the supreme virtues of humanity through descent of the heavenly bestowals.” (Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 4)
Therefore life should be seen as an eternal process of joyous spiritual discovery and growth.
“The wisdom of the appearance of the spirit in the body is this: the human spirit is a Divine Trust, and it must traverse all conditions; for its passage and movement through the conditions of existence will be the means of its acquiring perfections.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 313)
"The fruits of the human tree are exquisite, highly desired and dearly cherished. Among them are upright character, virtuous deeds and a goodly utterance.”