Knowing Your True Self:Knowing Your True Self:A Bahá'í PerspectiveA Bahá'í Perspective

Rodney H. ClarkenRodney H. Clarken

http://www-instruct.nmu.edu/education/http://www-instruct.nmu.edu/education/rclarken/rclarken/

Copyright 2003Copyright 2003

Man Should Know His Own Man Should Know His Own SelfSelf

• The first Taraz and the first The first Taraz and the first effulgence which hath dawned from effulgence which hath dawned from the horizon of the Mother Book is the horizon of the Mother Book is that man should know his own self that man should know his own self and recognize that which leadeth and recognize that which leadeth unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement, wealth or poverty. abasement, wealth or poverty. (Tablets of (Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 34-5)Bahá'u'lláh, p. 34-5)

True Loss Is Ignorance of True Loss Is Ignorance of SelfSelf

• True loss is for him whose days have True loss is for him whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his been spent in utter ignorance of his self. self. (Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 156)(Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 156)        

God’s Purpose in Sending God’s Purpose in Sending ProphetsProphets

• God’s purpose in sending His Prophets God’s purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true them to the light of true understanding. The second is to understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquility of ensure the peace and tranquility of mankind, and provide all the means mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established. by which they can be established. (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 79-80) (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 79-80)

Self Has Two Meanings in Self Has Two Meanings in Bahá'í Writings Bahá'í Writings • . . . self has really two meanings, or is used in two . . . self has really two meanings, or is used in two

senses, in the Bahá'í writings; one is self, the senses, in the Bahá'í writings; one is self, the identity of the individual created by God. This is the identity of the individual created by God. This is the self mentioned in such passages as "he hath known self mentioned in such passages as "he hath known God who hath know himself", etc. The other self is God who hath know himself", etc. The other self is the ego, the dark, animalistic heritage each one of the ego, the dark, animalistic heritage each one of us has, the lower nature that can develop into a us has, the lower nature that can develop into a monster of selfishness, brutality, lust and so on. It is monster of selfishness, brutality, lust and so on. It is this self we must struggle against, or this side of our this self we must struggle against, or this side of our natures, in order to strengthen and free the spirit natures, in order to strengthen and free the spirit within us and help it to attain perfection . . . . within us and help it to attain perfection . . . . (Letter (Letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 10 December 1947 to an written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, 10 December 1947 to an individual believer)individual believer)      

Bahá'í View on Ego/Lower Bahá'í View on Ego/Lower SelfSelf• Bahá'u'lláh speaks of "the evil of egotism" Bahá'u'lláh speaks of "the evil of egotism"

and "captives of egotism“. and "captives of egotism“. • `Abdu'l-Bahá refers to "the rust of egotism” `Abdu'l-Bahá refers to "the rust of egotism”

and tells of “the subtlety of the ego of man. It and tells of “the subtlety of the ego of man. It is the Tempter (the subtle serpent of the is the Tempter (the subtle serpent of the mind) and the poor soul not entirely mind) and the poor soul not entirely emancipated from its suggestions is deceived emancipated from its suggestions is deceived until entirely severed from all save God." until entirely severed from all save God."

• "As long as the ego is subjected to carnal "As long as the ego is subjected to carnal desires, sin and error continue."desires, sin and error continue."

Overcoming the EgoOvercoming the Ego

• `Abdu'l-Bahá promised that with assiduous `Abdu'l-Bahá promised that with assiduous effort "Man will become free from egotism; effort "Man will become free from egotism; he will be released from the material world . . he will be released from the material world . . . ". "

• The ego is the animal in us, the heritage of The ego is the animal in us, the heritage of the flesh which is full of selfish desires. By the flesh which is full of selfish desires. By obeying the laws of God, seeking to live the obeying the laws of God, seeking to live the life laid down in our teachings, and prayer life laid down in our teachings, and prayer and struggle, we can subdue our egos. We and struggle, we can subdue our egos. We call people "saints" who have achieved the call people "saints" who have achieved the highest degree of mastery over their highest degree of mastery over their ego. ego. (Letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer (Letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer dated 8 January 1949)dated 8 January 1949)

Key to Self-Mastery is Self-Key to Self-Mastery is Self-ForgettingForgetting

• Whosoever has lost himself has found Whosoever has lost himself has found the universe and the inhabitants the universe and the inhabitants thereof. Whosoever is occupied with thereof. Whosoever is occupied with himself is wandering in the desert of himself is wandering in the desert of heedlessness and regret. The "master-heedlessness and regret. The "master-key" to self-mastery is self-forgetting. key" to self-mastery is self-forgetting. The road to the palace of life is through The road to the palace of life is through the path of renunciation. the path of renunciation. (Star of the West, vol. 17, (Star of the West, vol. 17,

no. 2, p. 348)no. 2, p. 348)

Attaining Is the Result of the Attaining Is the Result of the Exertion of Own Spiritual Exertion of Own Spiritual FacultiesFaculties• There can be no doubt whatever that, in There can be no doubt whatever that, in

consequence of the efforts which every consequence of the efforts which every man may consciously exert and as a result man may consciously exert and as a result of the exertion of his own spiritual of the exertion of his own spiritual faculties, this mirror [of His beauty] can be faculties, this mirror [of His beauty] can be so cleansed from the dross of earthly so cleansed from the dross of earthly defilements and purged from satanic defilements and purged from satanic fancies as to be able to draw nigh unto the fancies as to be able to draw nigh unto the meads of eternal holiness and attain the meads of eternal holiness and attain the courts of everlasting fellowship. . . courts of everlasting fellowship. . . (Gleanings (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. CXXIV, p. 262) from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. CXXIV, p. 262)

A True Knowledge of Your Own A True Knowledge of Your Own SelfSelf• O My servants! Could ye apprehend with what O My servants! Could ye apprehend with what

wonders of My munificence and bounty I have willed wonders of My munificence and bounty I have willed to entrust your souls, ye would, of a truth, rid to entrust your souls, ye would, of a truth, rid yourselves of attachment to all created things, and yourselves of attachment to all created things, and would gain a true knowledge of your own selves -- a would gain a true knowledge of your own selves -- a knowledge which is the same as the comprehension knowledge which is the same as the comprehension of Mine own Being. Ye would find yourselves of Mine own Being. Ye would find yourselves independent of all else but Me, and would perceive, independent of all else but Me, and would perceive, with your inner and outer eye, and as manifest as the with your inner and outer eye, and as manifest as the revelation of My effulgent Name, the seas of My revelation of My effulgent Name, the seas of My loving-kindness and bounty moving within you. Suffer loving-kindness and bounty moving within you. Suffer not your idle fancies, your evil passions, your not your idle fancies, your evil passions, your insincerity and blindness of heart to dim the luster, or insincerity and blindness of heart to dim the luster, or stain the sanctity, of so lofty a station . . .  stain the sanctity, of so lofty a station . . .  (Gleanings (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. CLIII, p. 326-27)from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. CLIII, p. 326-27)

Life Is a Constant StruggleLife Is a Constant Struggle

• Life is a constant struggle, not only against Life is a constant struggle, not only against forces around us, but above all against our forces around us, but above all against our own "ego". We can never afford to rest on own "ego". We can never afford to rest on our oars, for if we do, we soon see ourselves our oars, for if we do, we soon see ourselves carried downstream again....Generally carried downstream again....Generally speaking nine-tenths of the friends' troubles speaking nine-tenths of the friends' troubles are because they don't do the Bahá'í thing, are because they don't do the Bahá'í thing, in relation to each other, to the in relation to each other, to the administrative bodies or in their personal administrative bodies or in their personal lives. lives. (8 January 1949 letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to (8 January 1949 letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer in Principles of Bahá'í Administration)an individual believer in Principles of Bahá'í Administration)

Turn Your Back To the Turn Your Back To the DarknessDarkness• We must not only be patient with others, We must not only be patient with others,

infinitely patient, but also with our own infinitely patient, but also with our own poor selves, remembering that even the poor selves, remembering that even the Prophets of God sometimes got tired and Prophets of God sometimes got tired and cried out in despair! . . .He urges you to cried out in despair! . . .He urges you to persevere and add up your persevere and add up your accomplishments, rather than to dwell on accomplishments, rather than to dwell on the dark side of things. Everyone's life has the dark side of things. Everyone's life has both a dark and bright side. The Master both a dark and bright side. The Master says: turn your back to the darkness and says: turn your back to the darkness and your face to Me. your face to Me. (22 October 1949 letter written on (22 October 1949 letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer)behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer)

Power of the Cause to Recreate Power of the Cause to Recreate UsUs

• ……not everyone achieves easily and rapidly not everyone achieves easily and rapidly the victory over self.... the Cause has the the victory over self.... the Cause has the spiritual power to re-create us if we make spiritual power to re-create us if we make the effort to let that power influence us, the effort to let that power influence us, and the greatest help in this respect is and the greatest help in this respect is prayer. We must supplicate Bahá'u'lláh to prayer. We must supplicate Bahá'u'lláh to assist us to overcome the failings in our assist us to overcome the failings in our own characters, and also exert our own own characters, and also exert our own will power in mastering ourselves. will power in mastering ourselves. (27 January (27 January 1945 letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)1945 letter on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)

Our True DestiniesOur True Destinies

• The Writings are rich in allusions to the The Writings are rich in allusions to the individual and his integrity, but also to the individual and his integrity, but also to the social disciplines based upon the moral social disciplines based upon the moral precepts of the Faith, precepts which each precepts of the Faith, precepts which each of us must heed lest we fail to reflect in our of us must heed lest we fail to reflect in our lives those virtues propounded by the great lives those virtues propounded by the great Teacher for our day, and hence fail to meet Teacher for our day, and hence fail to meet our true destinies as spiritual beings. our true destinies as spiritual beings. (4 August (4 August 1977 letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an 1977 letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an

individual believer)individual believer)

Holy Scriptures on Higher Holy Scriptures on Higher SelfSelf

• "And also in your own selves: will ye "And also in your own selves: will ye not, then, behold the signs of God?“not, then, behold the signs of God?“

• ““And be ye not like those who forget And be ye not like those who forget God, and whom He hath therefore God, and whom He hath therefore caused to forget their own selves." caused to forget their own selves."

• "He hath known God who hath known "He hath known God who hath known himself." himself." (From the Quran, quoted in Gleanings from (From the Quran, quoted in Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. XC, pp. 177-78)     the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. XC, pp. 177-78)    

Purpose of Prophets to Purpose of Prophets to Manifest Potential Forces of Manifest Potential Forces of True SelfTrue Self• Through the Teachings of this Day Star of Through the Teachings of this Day Star of

Truth every man will advance and develop Truth every man will advance and develop until he attaineth the station at which he until he attaineth the station at which he can manifest all the potential forces with can manifest all the potential forces with which his inmost true self hath been which his inmost true self hath been endowed. It is for this very purpose that in endowed. It is for this very purpose that in every age and dispensation the prophets every age and dispensation the prophets of God and His chosen Ones have of God and His chosen Ones have appeared amongst men, and have evinced appeared amongst men, and have evinced such power as is born of God and such such power as is born of God and such might as only the Eternal can reveal. might as only the Eternal can reveal. (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. XXVII, p. 68)    (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. XXVII, p. 68)    

Potentiality Manifested Only Potentiality Manifested Only Through Your Own VolitionThrough Your Own Volition

• Know thou that all men have been created Know thou that all men have been created in the nature made by God, the Guardian, in the nature made by God, the Guardian, the Self-Subsisting. Unto each one hath the Self-Subsisting. Unto each one hath been prescribed a pre-ordained measure, been prescribed a pre-ordained measure, as decreed in God's mighty and guarded as decreed in God's mighty and guarded Tablets. All that which ye potentially Tablets. All that which ye potentially possess can, however, be manifested only possess can, however, be manifested only as a result of your own volition. Your own as a result of your own volition. Your own acts testify this truth . . . acts testify this truth . . . (Gleanings from the (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. LXXVII, p. 149) Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. LXXVII, p. 149)

Success Depends on Own Success Depends on Own ExertionsExertions

• Success or failure, gain or loss, must, Success or failure, gain or loss, must, therefore, depend upon man’s own therefore, depend upon man’s own exertions. The more he striveth, the exertions. The more he striveth, the greater will be his progress. greater will be his progress. (Gleanings (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 81-2) from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 81-2)

Ultimate Goal of Human Ultimate Goal of Human ExistenceExistence

• ……the ultimate goal of human the ultimate goal of human existence which is the station of true existence which is the station of true understanding and nobility. understanding and nobility. (Gleanings (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 194) from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 194)

Man Is a Mine Rich in GemsMan Is a Mine Rich in Gems

• Regard man as a mine rich in gems Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom . . . benefit therefrom . . . (Gleanings from the (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. CXXII, p. 260) Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. CXXII, p. 260)

Let Your Vision Be World-Let Your Vision Be World-EmbracingEmbracing

• Let your vision be world-embracing, Let your vision be world-embracing, rather than confined to your own self rather than confined to your own self . . . . . . (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. XLIII, p. 94) (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. XLIII, p. 94)

    

The Remedy the World The Remedy the World NeedsNeeds• Every age hath its own problem, and every Every age hath its own problem, and every

soul its particular aspiration. The remedy soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require. Be which a subsequent age may require. Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements. on its exigencies and requirements. (Gleanings (Gleanings

from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. CVI, p. 213)from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, sec. CVI, p. 213)        

I Knew My Love, Therefore I I Knew My Love, Therefore I CreatedCreated

• Veiled in My immemorial being and Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty. beauty. (Hidden Words, Arabic #3)(Hidden Words, Arabic #3)

The EndThe End

•

Tests Are Benefits From GodTests Are Benefits From God

• Tests are benefits from God, for Tests are benefits from God, for which we should thank Him. Grief which we should thank Him. Grief and sorrow do not come to us by and sorrow do not come to us by chance, they are sent to us by the chance, they are sent to us by the Divine Mercy for our own perfecting. Divine Mercy for our own perfecting. (Paris Talks, p. 50)(Paris Talks, p. 50)

Psychology a Young and Psychology a Young and Inexact ScienceInexact Science

• Psychology is still a very young and inexact Psychology is still a very young and inexact science, and as the years go by Bahá'í science, and as the years go by Bahá'í psychologists, who know from the teachings psychologists, who know from the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh the true pattern of human life, of Bahá'u'lláh the true pattern of human life, will be able to make great strides in the will be able to make great strides in the development of this science, and will help development of this science, and will help profoundly in the alleviation of human profoundly in the alleviation of human suffering. (12 January 1973 letter to an suffering. (12 January 1973 letter to an individual believer, Universal House of individual believer, Universal House of Justice) Justice)