Balancing a profession-education with pioneering-service
Letters[edit]
Reconciling need to be detached with learning a trade[edit]
"Another friend asked, "In the Tablets it is stated that we must be severed and detached. In another place it is stated that we must learn a trade or profession. Do not these two statements contradict each other?" 'Abdu'l-Baha replied, "In the Cause of Baha'u'llah, it is incumbent upon every soul to acquire a trade and an occupation. For example, I know how to weave or make a mat, and you know some other trade. This, in itself is an act of worship, provided that it is conducted on the basis of utmost honesty and faithfulness.
"And this is the cause of prosperity. Yet, in spite of being so occupied, if the heart is not chained and tied to this world, and is not troubled by current events, neither hindered by wealth from rendering service to mankind, nor grieved because of poverty, - then this is human perfection. Otherwise in a state of poverty, to manifest generosity and in a state of weakness to claim justice - this can easily be (said, but it is not a proof of man's attainments and alertness."
- (From an article written by Dr. Z. Baghdadi entitled "'Abdu'l-Baha in America", published in "Star of the West", Vol. 19, No. 7, p. 219; Compilation on Arts and Crafts, sec. II, no. 6)
Not to be exclusively immersed in material studies and denial of leisure when God is the fundamental purpose of all learning[edit]
"Although the sole and fundamental purpose of all learning, and the toil and labour thereof, is attainment unto, and the recognition of, this station, yet they are all immersed in the pursuit of their material studies. They deny themselves every moment of leisure, and utterly ignore Him, Who is the Essence of all learning, and the one Object of their quest! Methinks, their lips have never touched the cup of divine Knowledge, nor do they seem to have attained even a dewdrop of the showers of heavenly grace."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, par. 153)
See also[edit]
A good Bahá'í devotes time (in general) both to material needs and service to the Cause (as called for in two verses in the Aqdas)[edit]
"The advice that Shoghi Effendi gave you regarding the division of your time between serving the Cause and attending to your other duties was also given to many other friends both by Bahá’u’lláh and the Master. It is a compromise between the two verses of the Aqdas, one making it incumbent upon every Bahá’í to serve the promotion of the Faith and the other that every soul should be occupied in some form of occupation that will benefit society. In one of His Tablets Bahá’u’lláh says that the highest form of detachment in this day is to be occupied with some profession and be self-supporting. A good Bahá’í, therefore, is the one who so arranges his life as to devote time both to his material needs and also to the service of the Cause."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, letter to an individual believer, 26 February 1933, in Lights of Guidance, no. 2109; also at https://bahai-library.com/uhj_share_time_god )
Note on Aqdas references[edit]
- The verses in question appear they may be par. 35 regarding promotion of the Faith and par. 33 regarding an occupation.
Divide one's day in half[edit]
"...Share your time with God. Spend half of the day in search of livelihood, guaranteeing your material life and dignified appearance, and dedicate the other half in the acquisition of moral virtues and service at the threshold of God..."
- (Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, quoted on back cover of "Economics of the Future" (see here for a discussion of this verse))
See also[edit]
- A pilgrim's note of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, in Star of the West, vol. 24, issue 4, pp. 106-107
Balancing the claims of the Cause of God and the claims of one's profession is delicate and intensely personal to be resolved in the heart of each individual; it is possible to do both, even if sometimes one must sacrifice for the apparent good of the Cause[edit]
"The Universal House of Justice has received your letter mailed 23rd January, 1987 concerning the obligation of a Bahá'í who is elected to an office which requires full-time service. We are asked to share with you an excerpt of a letter dated 7th August 1980 written on behalf of the House of Justice addressed to an individual believer facing a problem similar to the one you pose.
"'The delicate balance between the claims of the Cause of God and the claims of one's profession is an intensely personal matter which can only be resolved eventually in the heart and soul of each individual. Many Bahá'ís have become, and are, distinguished in their professions and at the same time have rendered and are rendering great services to the Cause and it is obviously possible to achieve distinction in one's profession and calling and to serve the Cause of God at the same time. The House of Justice realizes, however, that circumstances can conspire, at critical times in the fortunes of the Faith, to require individuals to make the heart-searching decision of sacrificing one's own prospects for the apparent good of the Cause. Here again, the history of the Cause provides many examples of believers who have willingly foregone promotion in, or even the continued practice of, their professions in order to meet the needs of the Faith. As in all difficult decisions facing individual believers, the God-given process of consultation is available to them, and every individual may consult either one of the institutions of the Faith or an individual officer, such as a Counsellor or Board member, or even one or two friends of his own choosing. Even then, however, the eventual decisions rests with the individual himself.'"
- (From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, February 9, 1987; in Lights of Guidance, no. 114)
