When Abdu’l-Baha came to North America, He would often ask people, “Are you happy?”
I’m not sure how that went over with folks back then. To me the question is a bit on the personal side. Maybe even intrusive. But it is all in the delivery. So why did the Master ask this question so often? Maybe happiness is more important to us in this world than we give it credit. After all when Browne visited with Baha’u'llah Himself, didn’t he hear the following words:
We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations…
From this, it would seem that atleast one of Baha’u'llah’s goals is for us to be happy. Hmm… so maybe there is more to this happiness business. Think about it for a second. Just give it a go. Ask yourself, am I happy?
You don’t have to tell anyone. Just contemplate the question for yourself. If you’d like, you can of course share the results by leaving a comment below (anonymously if you like).
Someone who has achieved happiness is Matthieu Ricard - or so it would seem from his MRI scans. The 60 year old Ricard is the French interpreter for the Dalai Lama and as a Buddhist has meditated for more than 10,000 hours.
Ricard claims that, “Our life can be greatly transformed by even a minimal change in how we manage our thoughts and perceive and interpret the world. Happiness is a skill. It requires effort and time.” He has written a book on happiness which will be published next month. If you can’t wait, check out his previous book, The Monk and the Philosopher.
I observed an interesting phenomena when I shared Ricard’s story with my friends. The response of my fellow Baha’is was quite homogenous and ran along the line of, “This man knows nothing. True happiness is only achieved through Baha’u'llah.” Meanwhile, the response of my non-Baha’i friends was quite heterogenous running from atheists who scoffed at his Buddhist beliefs to those who were quite interested to learn more about him and meditation. There were was even one who went on a caffeine induced rant on the merits of meditation and their practice of it.
I dare hypothesize that had Abdu’l-Baha met (or even hear of Ricard) He would have been quite pleased and showered him with praise and love. I imagine that because I’ve read many vignettes of Him meeting fervent believers (of other religions) where He only offered them love and praise. He never admonished them, rebuked them or seemed at all haughty… claiming that they were wasting their time since Baha’u'llah has now come.
Sadly I find that this sort of mistake is made by a lot of Baha’is. I made it too for a long time (too long). I often thought of the Baha’i Faith, and by proxy myself, as somewhat superior. It was the last and most recent religion, was it not? It did have all the answers, right?
sigh
How foolish I feel to think back to those times.
Ignorance is truly bliss.
I’m puzzled by your post. It might sound harsh for a Baha’i to say that the Baha’i Faith is superior to other religions, and I’ve never heard one say that in so many words, but isn’t that basically what the Baha’i Faith teaches, in the sense that it’s the only religion relevant to the modern age, and all others are obsolete (and distorted to boot)? Why would there be such an emphasis in the Writings on teaching if it didn’t matter whether or not people were Baha’i?
It’s true that there are vignettes of Abdu’l-Baha being nice to non-Baha’is without calling upon them to join the Faith. But then there are times when he told people the beliefs of X religion are wrong, and the truth is found in the Baha’i teachings.
Jonah,
the difference is that Abdu’l-Baha’s words originate from love whereas the reaction from Baha’is towards Ricard originates from pride and disdain. People can instantly sense such things. And it turns them off. As it should.
Jonah wrote
“Why would there be such an emphasis in the Writings on teaching if it didn’t matter whether or not people were Baha’i?”
Here’s how ‘Abdu’l-Baha defines “being a Baha’i”
“To be a Baha’i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.” - Abdu’l-Baha
That quote can be found on the official website of the Baha’is of the United States - http://www.bahai.us/being-bahai
As Baquia says, ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s words originate from love. Teaching is love, not conversion. Being a Baha’i is love, not feelings of superiority.
Jonah wrote
“Why would there be such an emphasis in the Writings on teaching if it didn’t matter whether or not people were Baha’i?”
Here’s how ‘Abdu’l-Baha defines “being a Baha’i”
“To be a Baha’i simply means to love all the world; to love humanity and try to serve it; to work for universal peace and universal brotherhood.” - Abdu’l-Baha
I’m sorry, I still don’t understand. You would agree with me, wouldn’t you, that there is a strong emphasis on the importance of teaching, both in the Baha’i Writings and in the Plans? Why is teaching important?
To be a Bahai Teacher!
This is a vast subject that a selection of quotes could never adequately explain - as one needs to practice the art with deep reflection.
My own definition of spiritual teaching is:
Applying virtues and wise counsel in every situation – with the realisation that these are inspired by the Divine.
The question of which system to teach is personal.
For Bahai’s it is personal study and prayer, active participation in the faith, and service to others.
The art of teaching, I believe, requires that every human is to be both a teacher and learner.
But teaching and learning is not easy. We have to overcome prejudices, develop strategies, step into the unknown, and reflect deeply on mysteries of creation.
Nevertheless, people I feel are the best feedback to see if you are doing this correctly. Thus, the need to teach is established.
Furthermore, we have to reflect deeply on our own motivations:
“Not by the force of numbers, not by the mere exposition of a set of new and noble principles, not by an organized campaign of teaching — no matter how world-wide and elaborate in its character — not even by the staunchness of our faith or the exaltation of our enthusiasm, can we ultimately hope to vindicate in the eyes of a critical and sceptical age the supreme claim of the Abha Revelation. One thing, and only one thing, will unfailingly and alone secure the undoubted triumph of this sacred Cause, namely, the extent to which our own inner life and private character mirror forth in their manifold aspects the splendour of those eternal principles proclaimed by Bahá’u'lláh.”
Thus the priority for the spiritual warrior is to apply virtues in all situations, and to meditate deeply upon why, and how effectively, they are doing this – regardless to which faith they prescribe teaching is universal.
Hello? Is this thing on?
My question is this: Doesn’t the Baha’i Faith in some sense claim superiority over other religions? I appreciate the thoughts expressed by Baquia, Steve and David and their generosity in trying to help me. But none of them have actually addressed my question. Saying that Abdu’l-Baha (or anyone else) spoke in love doesn’t preclude him speaking with a sense of superiority. You can be loving and superior at the same time.
Let me use as an example a passage (from Shoghi Effendi?) that David quoted in his last comment:
… not even by the staunchness of our faith or the exaltation of our enthusiasm, can we ultimately hope to vindicate in the eyes of a critical and sceptical age the supreme claim of the Abha Revelation. One thing, and only one thing, will unfailingly and alone secure the undoubted triumph of this sacred Cause …
Now, what is the supreme claim of the Abha Revelation? Why is it necessary to secure the undoubted triumph of this sacred Cause?
Jonah,
I think there are Baha’is that believe their Faith to be superior to other religions, but I have yet to find anything in the Baha’i Writings which support this.
As you know, the Baha’i Faith believes in progressive revelation and that it is only the latest religion in a line which goes into the past and will extend into the future infinitely.
As for you Q re the necessity to secure triumph for the Cause, this kind of flowery language is in all religions and all it means is that the believers have a duty to their Faith. A duty to participate, implement the teachings, give financial support, teach, etc.
I think there are Baha’is that believe their Faith to be superior to other religions, but I have yet to find anything in the Baha’i Writings which support this.
Since this thread has dropped from the first page of your blog, maybe it’d be a good idea to move the discussion (if anyone’s still reading) to my blog. Click my name above to go there.
My short answer is see the Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 433-436, for an example. Abdu’l-Baha might be speaking in love, but he is most definitely saying that the Baha’i Faith is superior to the other existing religions. I’ll expand on that on my blog.