devotion; sacrifice; consecration in teaching the Cause
Editorial introduction
Devotion shows in small arithmetic: how the hours of a day are spent, which comforts are let go, whose need is noticed first. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes to a husband and wife to consecrate their nights and days together to the Word of God, and to others that the sole object of a life should be its teaching. Such language is ardent, and it is meant to be. It speaks of forsaking rest, of sacrificing ambition, of crossing oceans to lands untouched by one’s ancestors, of people who bore persecution and counted it a gift. Yet the fire is never separated from sincerity, loyalty, and the living of the life, since knowledge without these kindles nothing. The Bhagavad-gītā’s counsel to do one’s duty without clinging to its fruits offers a kindred discipline of motive from another tradition [1]. To follow devotion further is to ask what spiritual prerequisites a teacher needs, where confidence and courage come from when the way is hard, and how zeal can be kept warm without burning the people it hopes to serve.
Arise thou, in unison with his honor [thy husband], to serve with the utmost devotion and consecrate your time, night and day, to promote the Word of God, to diffuse the fragrances of God and to guide all the people of the earth.
In any case, I am always awaiting good news from you, for you made such a commitment to serve at the Sacred Threshold with utmost sincerity of heart, self-sacrifice and purity of soul, and with perfect sanctity.
O heralds of the Covenant! Your letter was received and learning of its contents brought the utmost joy, for it indicated that you have arisen with heart and soul and, beneath the banner of the Covenant, have devoted yourselves to sacrifice in the path of Baha'u'llah.
Dedicate your lives to the service of the Beloved of Truth and sacrifice all your ambitions in the Path of the Merciful.
Day and night we must think and plan how to become more self-sacrificing in the Path of God, how to become more faithful and loyal in the religion of God, how to concentrate all our attentions around the promotion of the Word of God, and how to renounce our will and choose the Will of God. Having attained to this spiritual condition the Divine Confirmations will encircle us...
Let every soul make the sole object and entire concern of his being nothing less than the teaching of the Faith of God, the diffusion of its fragrances, and the upraising of His Word.
Our aim is not to rest but to become assisted to serve the Cause no matter where we are. Our purpose is to become enabled to render service at the Holy Threshold. If this is realized it will be very good, otherwise life itself is meaningless.
Seek not a moment's rest nor ask for comfort. Open thy tongue and turn to the Abha Kingdom and present proofs.
We must sacrifice our comfort for Him; sacrifice all our conditions in the pathway of His service. If we do this, our service will be productive of great results. Otherwise God will raise up souls to do this work in our stead.
Some of the friends of the All-Merciful have forsaken their physical comfort and ease, and have gone from city to city and village to village diffusing the divine fragrances.
He has travelled toward the West, leaving behind his sweet country, and has accepted hardships in Thy Path. … He has forsaken rest and composure, tranquility and peacefulness, serenity and calmness, and has journeyed to that distant clime - - a land which is not touched by the feet of his fathers and ancestors - - in order to diffuse Thy Fragrances, upraise Thy Flags, spread Thy Words and elucidate Thy Proofs.
You forsook your own comfort and rest and sacrificed your life and wealth in the love of God.
Through his zeal, he will sacrifice everything in the path of God, and quaff from the chalice of eternal life.
Praise be to God that the Favors and Bounties of Baha'u'llah have caused the appearance of such friends who are the spreaders of the Glad-tidings and ready at every moment to sacrifice their lives. They think of no other idea save self-sacrifice, they dream of no other thought save self-sacrifice. With heart and soul they are devoted to the Cause.
The believers of God have accepted this Cause through self-sacrifice. They have given up their lives for it. They have accepted happily chains and fetters in order to promote these Teachings.
How sweet then is that moment when a true lover sacrifices his life in the path of the Beloved, and with tear-filled eyes and an enkindled heart, sets forth toward the abode of the Heart's Desire.
Consider what the Disciples of His Holiness Christ did by throwing away comfort and rest and devoting all their times to the promotion of the Cause.
They [the apostles] gathered on top of a mountain, and made a pact whereby they would consent to bear tribulations, renounce their comfort, and spread guidance.
O thou daughter of the Kingdom! When his honor, Mr. Remey, returned to the Holy Land from his trip to China, Japan and India, and presented himself with the utmost glad tidings and happiness, he remembered the friends through absolute love and asked for them in the Threshold of Holiness, protection and providence from His Highness the One. Truly I say this beloved of Abduil Baha left his native land, turned his back upon the comforts and pleasures of home, accepted the difficulties of travel, and crossed the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.
O ye two lovers of the Beauty of ABHA! Ere long the Word of God will display a wonderful influence and finally that region (America) will become the paradise of ABHA. Consequently, strive ye bravely that this aim may be accomplished in the near future. Striving means this: Ye must live and move according to the divine commands and behests, be united in loving with ecstasy and joy; do not take any rest but engage continually in the service of the Cause of God.
These souls know no rest - they strive night and day to complete the tasks assigned to them.
At every breath they have sacrificed a hundred thousand lives and have not rested for a moment upon the pillow of comfort.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
The first and most important qualification of a Baha'i Teacher is, indeed, unqualified loyalty and attachment to the Cause. Knowledge is, of course essential; but compared to devotion it is secondary in importance.
Entire and selfless devotion is what is most needful. The brighter our torch burns, the more light will it give and the more readily will it impart its blaze to others....
Teaching the Cause meets with the greatest response when the person is completely consecrated to that work, as consecration and devotion bring the confirmations of the Holy Spirit.
Dedication to the heavenly task, complete consecration to the noble mission, and living the life, are the qualities needed for success in the teaching field. These virtues attract the confirmations of the Holy Spirit, and thus the individual becomes the reed through which that Holy Spirit may confirm the seeking souls. (30 Dec. 1953 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
Teaching the Cause of God is the source of divine confirmation; however, teaching is dependent upon complete dedication to the Cause, and complete consecration. If an individual can become a reed through which the Holy Spirit may move to another individual who is being contacted, then there will be true success and spiritual growth on the part of the recipient of the Message. Thus the state of dedication and consecration of the individual is most important in the teaching work.
...if one is completely dedicated, seeking each day how to bring some of the spirit of life to a seeker, and sacrifices time, wealth, and person to the Faith he serves, then he will surely win great victories, and his teaching work be confirmed.
For thought and discussion