(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Jamal-i-Burujirdi, 1290 ? [1873-1874], to Jamal Burujirdi -- BH01034)
Beyond self-doubt: capacity discovered through service
disregarding own capacity in teaching the Cause
Editorial introduction
The portion of some may lie in the palm of a hand, that of others fill a cup, and the cup is no less full for being small. Bahá’u’lláh’s counsel not to weigh the size of the receptacle sets the tone for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s repeated plea: look not at your own capacity but at the grace of the Lord, which turns a drop into a sea, an atom into a sun, a seed into a laden tree. The earth cannot give itself life, yet it need not bewail its barrenness while sun and rain exist. The Báb reminds His disciples of Abraham against Nimrod and Moses with only a staff. Moses himself, protesting that he could not speak, was given help and a brother to stand with him, a story in which felt inadequacy does not cancel a calling [1]. Confidence of this kind is active: it begins, perseveres, learns by serving, and holds results loosely, since quick success is not always lasting. The journey leads on through the meaning of weakness, the wider discipline of disregarding one’s own capacity, and the spiritual prerequisites that prepare a person to teach.
Selected passages
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903-Dec-26, to Alma Knobloch -- AB01895)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-May-22, to Baha'is of Chicago, IL -- AB00388)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablet of the Divine Plan (Northeastern states I), 1916-Mar-26, to Baha'is of the Northeastern States -- AB00956)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Brotherhood Church on 1912-May-19 -- ABU0152)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Nov-18 in Paris -- ABU0416)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Oct-24 in Paris -- ABU0281)
How often has one unlettered soul become the source of guidance for the entire world.
Therefore thou shouldst also trust in God and despite the absence of material means engage in this most profitable trade for thy wealth lies in the Bounty of the Blessed Beauty and in His grace.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911 ca., to Ahmad Ali Mamaqani -- AB07962)
Look not at thy capacity and ability; nay, look at the grace of thy Lord in these days and at the gift of His Kingdom, the like of which hath never been seen by the eye of existence in former cycles.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902-Sep-04, to Margaret B Peeke -- AB00671)
O thou who art attracted to the Fragrances of God!
Consider not thy capacity and merit, nay rather consider the grace of thy Lord, the Clement, the Merciful.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902 or < -- AB07132)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to the Baha'is at Rauscher's Hall in Washington, 1912-Nov-09 -- ABU0260)
Do ye not look upon your own capacities. Rest ye assured in the bounties of the Blessed Perfection. He shall change the drop into an ocean and the moth into an eagle. He changes the stone into the precious ruby and the scintilla into the world-illuminating sun.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- ABU1722)
Therefore do thou not behold thine own capability and ability; nay, during the hour that thou art teaching the Cause of God, turn thy face towards the Kingdom of Abha, beg for divine confirmations and with the utmost confidence and power open thy tongue and speak out boldly all that with which thy heart is inspired.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Aug-16 -- AB09725)
Therefore, look not to thine own capacity and capability. Rather, when teaching, turn thy face to the Abha Kingdom, seek divine confirmations, and with perfect assurance and power, open thy tongue and speak whatsoever is inspired in thy heart.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mavaddat, Inayatullah son of Abdur-Rahim -- AB08275)
(Bahá’u’lláh, to Sin Farid Zi -- BH03550)
(The Báb, Farewell address to the Letters of the Living, 1260-08 ca. -- BBU0001)
Look thou not upon thine own capability; the invisible divine confirmations are great and the protection and providence of the Beauty of ABHA is the helper and the assistant. When a drop draws help from the ocean, it is an ocean in itself, and a little seed, through the outpouring of rain, the favor of the sun and the soul-refreshing breeze, will become a tree with the utmost freshness, full of leaves, blossoms and fruits. Therefore, do not consider thy capacity and merit, but rely upon the infinite bounty and trust to His Highness the Almighty.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-May-29, to Saichiro Fugita -- AB02701)
This time I want to send you with a new spirit, a new strength, to enlighten California, and to engage in teaching the Cause in the utmost power. Do not look to yourselves; look to the Bounty of Baha'u'llah; constantly look to His Favor. Do not say you have not capacity; look to the great bounties of Baha'u'llah. One seed becomes a big harvest, a small seed a big tree, one wave an ocean. He makes the dark dust a beautiful garden. This is His power.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at 309 W 78th St in New York, 1912-Jul-19 -- ABU2013)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908 or <, to Muhammad Quli et al -- AB00128)
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
...you must not say that you are dust. Nay, rather, you must look at the effulgence of the Sun of Reality, which ever shines upon you. You must look at the cloud of the Kingdom that ever pours down its rain upon you. You must feel the breeze of Providence that ever blows toward you.
(Memories of Abdu'l-Baha, by Ramona Allen Brown, p. 80)
...do not look upon thy capacity ... nay, rather, look upon the infinite grace of the Bounty of Abha...
TAB.243
At all times we must look at the greatness of the Cause, and remember that Baha'u'llah will assist all who arise in His service. When we look at ourselves, we are sure to feel discouraged by our shortcomings and insignificance!
COC#1977 (12 Dec. 1950 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
Each one of us, if we look into our failures, is sure to feel unworthy and despondent, and this feeling only frustrates our constructive efforts and wastes time. The thing for us to focus on is the glory of the Cause and the Power of Baha'u'llah which can make of a mere drop a surging sea!
COC#1715 (13 Oct. 1947 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
You should never look at your own limitations, much less allow them to deter you from promoting the Message. For the believers ... are after all but mere channels through which God carries His message to mankind. They are instruments whereby He communicates His will to his people. The friends, therefore, must cease looking at their own deficiencies in a way that would kill in them the spirit of initiative and of service.
(18 Mar. 1934 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
Baha'u'llah and the Master have both urged us repeatedly to disregard our own handicaps and lay our whole reliance upon God. He will come to our help if we only arise and become an active channel for God's grace. Do you think it is the teachers who make converts and change human hearts? No, surely not. They are only pure souls who take the first step, and then let the spirit of Baha'u'llah move them and make use of them. If any one of them should even for a second consider his achievements as due to his own capacities, his work is ended and his fall starts.
COC#1703 (31 Mar. 1932 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi), Ruhi6.2.11, Ruhi7.1.9 (last paragraph)
You should not look at your limitations, but derive full confidence at the thought that, however limited your resources and capacities may be, your efforts will be reinforced by Divine confirmations, provided you do your share and discharge your obligations as a believer, fully and conscientiously. Your perseverance will, even as a magnet, draw upon you the favours and blessings of Baha'u'llah.
LG#407 (30 Jan. 1939 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
Whatever the particular field of service you may choose, whether teaching or administrative, the essential is for you preserve, and not to allow any consciousness of your limitations to dampen your zeal, much less to deter you from serving joyously and actively.
LG#408 (6 Feb. 1939 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
If the friends always waited until they were fully qualified to do any particular task, the work of the Cause would be almost at a standstill! But the very act of striving to serve, however unworthy one may feel, attracts the blessings of God and enables one to become more fitted for the task. Today the need is so great on the part of humanity to hear of the Divine Message, that the believers must plunge into the work, wherever and however they can, heedless of their own shortcomings, but ever heedful of the crying need of their fellow-men to hear of the teachings in their darkest hour of travail.
COC#1952, Ruhi6.2.19 (4 May 1942 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
Do not feel discouraged if your labours do not always yield an abundant fruitage. For a quick and rapidly-won success is not always the best and the most lasting. The harder you strive to attain your goal, the greater will be the confirmations of Baha'u'llah, and the more certain you can feel to attain success. Be cheerful, therefore, and exert yourself with full faith and confidence.
UD.436, COC#1947 (3 Feb. 1937 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
Continue exploring
For thought and discussion
Questions to carry forward
- What do the images of a vessel, mirror, seed, and drop suggest about capacity as something received and developed?
- How can awareness of a limitation become useful preparation rather than a reason never to begin?
- What does the account of Moses and Aaron contribute to thinking about help, companionship, and a calling?
- How might learning through service combine confidence, conscientious effort, and openness to correction?
- What changes when progress is judged by sustained growth rather than immediate or abundant results?