Two kinds of self in the Writings, one which is the individual created by God, the other the dark side[edit]
"Regarding the questions you asked: Self has really two meanings, or is used in two senses, in the Bahá'í writings: one is self, the identity of the individual created by God. This is the self mentioned in such passages as 'he hath known God who hath known himself etc.'. The other self is the ego, the dark, animalistic heritage each one of us has, the lower nature that can develop into a monster of selfishness, brutality, lust and so on. It is this self we must struggle against, or this side of our natures, in order to strengthen and free the spirit within us and help it to attain perfection.
"Self-sacrifice means to subordinate this lower nature and its desires to the more godly and noble side of ourselves. Ultimately, in its highest sense, self-sacrifice means to give our will and our all to God to do with as He pleases. Then He purifies and glorifies our true self until it becomes a shining and wonderful reality."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, December 10, 1947, in Lights of Guidance, no. 386)
Individual is beloved[edit]
"O SON OF BEING!
"With the hands of power I made thee and with the fingers of strength I created thee; and within thee have I placed the essence of My light. Be thou content with it and seek naught else, for My work is perfect and My command is binding. Question it not, nor have a doubt thereof."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Hidden Words, from the Arabic, no. 12)
"THE FIRST VALLEY
"If the travelers seek after the goal of the Intended One (maqsúd), this station appertaineth to the self--but that self which is "The Self of God standing within Him with laws."+F10
"On this plane, the self is not rejected but beloved; it is well-pleasing and not to be shunned. Although at the beginning, this plane is the realm of conflict, yet it endeth in attainment to the throne of splendor. As they have said: "O Abraham of this day, O Friend Abraham of the Spirit! Kill these four birds of prey,"+F11 that after death the riddle of life may be unraveled.
"This is the plane of the soul who is pleasing unto God...
"Likewise is it written, "And be ye not like those who forget God, and whom He hath therefore caused to forget their own selves. These are the wicked doers."+F17 [Qur'án 59:19]"
For self-mastery and awareness, the key is forgetting ourselves; otherwise, we will be less likely to find ourselves[edit]
"Today the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abha are with those who renounce themselves, forget their own opinions, cast aside personalities and are thinking of the welfare of others... Whosoever is occupied with himself is wandering in the desert of heedlessness and regret. The 'Master Key' to self-mastery is self-forgetting. The road to the palace of life is through the path of renunciation."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá: Star of the West, Vol. XVII, p. 348, in Lights of Guidance, no. 390)
Through the search for God (and "death" of our selfish natures), we become acquainted with our true selves[edit]
"Even as He hath revealed: "We will surely show them Our signs in the world and within themselves."1 Again He saith: "And also in your own selves: will ye not then behold the signs of God?"2 And yet again He revealeth: "And be ye not like those who forget God, and whom He hath therefore caused to forget their own selves."3 In this connection, He Who is the eternal King — may the souls of all that dwell within the mystic Tabernacle be a sacrifice unto Him — hath spoken: "He hath known God who hath known himself."
"I swear by God, O esteemed and honoured friend! Shouldst thou ponder these words in thine heart, thou wilt of a certainty find the doors of divine wisdom and infinite knowledge flung open before thy face."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Íqán, par. 107-108, pp. 101-102)
"The more we search for ourselves, the less likely we are to find ourselves; and the more we search for God, and to serve our fellow-men, the more profoundly will we become acquainted with ourselves, and the more inwardly assured. This is one of the great spiritual laws of life."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 18, 1954, in Lights of Guidance, no. 391)
"Likewise is it written, "And be ye not like those who forget God, and whom He hath therefore caused to forget their own selves. These are the wicked doers."+F17 [Qur'án 59:19]"
"THE VALLEY OF TRUE POVERTY AND ABSOLUTE NOTHINGNESS"
"This station is the dying from self and the living in God, the being poor in self and rich in the Desired One. Poverty as here referred to signifieth being poor in the things of the created world, rich in the things of God's world."
To know our selves[edit]
"The first Taráz and the first effulgence which hath dawned from the horizon of the Mother Book is that man should know his own self and recognize that which leadeth unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement, wealth or poverty."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh, pp. 34-35)
Our potential is unlimited though we cannot transcend our station[edit]
"...perfection will never be reached, but great, and ever greater, progress can be made."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 8, 1949, in Lights of Guidance, no. 387)
All existing realities can make progress; Peter cannot become Christ (or God) though in servitude, He can attain to endless perfections[edit]
"...for every being there is a point which it cannot overpass--that is to say, he who is in the condition of servitude, however far he may progress in gaining limitless perfections, will never reach the condition of Deity. It is the same with the other beings. A mineral, however far it may progress in the mineral kingdom, cannot gain the vegetable power. Also in a flower, however far it may progress in the vegetable kingdom, no power of the senses will appear...
"For example, Peter cannot become Christ. All that he can do is, in the condition of servitude, to attain endless perfections; for every existing reality is capable of making progress. As the spirit of man after putting off this material form has an everlasting life, certainly any existing being is capable of making progress; therefore, it is permitted to ask for advancement, forgiveness, mercy, beneficence and blessings for a man after his death because existence is capable of progression.
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, pp. 230-231)
See also[edit]
Best to do one's best and let future take care of itself[edit]
"No one knows what the future holds for him, or to what degree he is spoiling it or creating it; therefore the thing to do is one's daily best and let the future take care of itself."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, dated April 9, 1948, to an individual believer: Spiritualism, Reincarnation and Related Subjects; in Lights of Guidance, no. 1744)
From Lights of Guidance (to further subcategorize)[edit]
The Ego is the Animal Within Us[edit]
"The ego is the animal in us, the heritage of the flesh which is full of selfish desires. By obeying the laws of God, seeking to live the life laid down in our teachings, and prayer and struggle, we can subdue our egos. We call people 'saints' who have achieved the highest degree of mastery over their ego.
"There is no contradiction between Gleanings P 66 and P 262. In one place He says the mirror will never be free from dross, in the other He says it will be 'so cleansed as to be able' etc. It is a relative thing; perfection will never be reached, but great, and ever greater, progress can be made."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 8, 1949, in Lights of Guidance, no. 387)
Life is a Constant Struggle Against Forces Around Us and Our Own "Egos"[edit]
"Life is a constant struggle, not only against forces around us, but above all against our own 'ego'. We can never afford to rest on our oars, for if we do, we soon see ourselves carried down stream again. Many of those who drift away from the Cause do so for the reason that they had ceased to go on developing. They became complacent, or indifferent, and consequently ceased to draw the spiritual strength and vitality from the Cause which they should have. Sometimes, of course, people fail because of a test they just do not meet, and often our severest tests come from each other. Certainly the believers should try to avert such things, and if they happen, remedy them through love. Generally speaking nine-tenths of the friends' troubles are because they don't do the Bahá'í thing, in relation to each other, to the administrative bodies or in their personal lives."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 8, 1949, in Lights of Guidance, no. 388)
The Prophets Are the Only Ones Free of the "Dross of Self"[edit]
"Regarding the questions you asked in your letter: The only people who are truly free of the 'dross of self' are the Prophets, for to be free of one's ego is a hall-mark of perfection. We humans are never going to become perfect, for perfection belongs to a realm we are not destined to enter. However, we must constantly mount higher, seek to be more perfect."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 8, 1949, in Lights of Guidance, no. 389)
Becoming Conscious of Self is a Gradual Process[edit]
"You have asked as to what point in man's evolution he becomes conscious of self. This consciousness of self in man is a gradual process, and does not start at a definite point. It grows in him in this world and continues to do so in the future spiritual world.
"Man can certainly recall past experiences in his evolution, and even when his soul leaves this world it will still remember its past."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 20, 1937, in Lights of Guidance, no. 392)
Man's Evolution is Both Individual and Collective[edit]
"Man's evolution is both individual and collective, because of his twofold relationship to himself and to the society in which he lives. Individual evolution starts with the early stages of one's existence. Consciousness too grows with this evolution."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 14, 1938, in Lights of Guidance, no. 393)
The Cause Has the Spiritual Power to Re-Create Us[edit]
"The believers, as we all know, should endeavour to set such an example in their personal lives and conduct that others will feel impelled to embrace a Faith which reforms human character. However, unfortunately, not everyone achieves easily and rapidly the victory over self. What every believer, new or old, should realize is that the Cause has the spiritual power to re-create us if we make the effort to let that power influence us, and the greatest help in this respect is prayer. We must supplicate Bahá'u'lláh to assist us to overcome the failings in our own characters, and also exert our own will power in mastering ourselves.
"He will certainly pray for the work of the beloved Cause there and especially that new souls may be attracted and embrace the Faith. He will also pray that the believers may, for the sake of God, draw close to each other and not permit each other's short-comings to be a source of disunity and consequently a means of depriving thirsty souls of this life-giving Message! The world is full of evil and dark forces and the friends must not permit these forces to get hold of them by thinking and feeling negatively towards each other."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 27, 1945, in Lights of Guidance, no. 394)
Our Thoughts Should Be Turned Determinedly, Intelligently and Unemotionally to God[edit]
"He was very sorry to hear of the condition of your dear sister. He would advise her to turn her thoughts determinedly and intelligently--by that I mean unemotionally--to God, realising that He is forgiving, that in one moment He can, through His blessed mercy, take away our sense of failure and help us to do better in the future--if we sincerely wish to; to turn to Him in prayer and seek to draw closer to Him; and to accept His Will and submit her own desires and opinions to His wish and plan for her.
"There is a tremendous darkness in the world today, the darkness caused by mankind's going against the Laws of God and giving way to the animal side of human nature. People must recognize this fact, and consciously struggle against pessimism and depression."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 14, 1945, in Lights of Guidance, no. 395)
We Should Focus on the Glory of the Cause and Not on Our Failures[edit]
"Regarding your own condition: He strongly urges you not to dwell on yourself. 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 Bahá'u'lláh which can make of a mere drop a surging sea! You certainly have no right to feel negative; you have embraced this glorious Faith and arisen with devotion to serve it, and your labours are greatly appreciated by both the Guardian and your fellow-Bahá'ís. With something as positive as the Faith and all it teaches behind you, you should be a veritable lion of confidence, and he will pray that you may become so.
"There is, unfortunately, no way that one can force his own good upon a man. The elements of free will is there, and all we believers--and even the Manifestation of God Himself--can do is to offer the truth to mankind. If the people of the world persist, as they seem to be doing, in their blind materialism, they must bear the consequences in a prolongation of their present condition, and even a worsening of it. Our duty as Bahá'ís is to build up such a love and unity within our own ranks that the people will be attracted by this example to the Cause. We also must teach all we can and strengthen the Bahá'í Community in the administration. But more we cannot do to avert the great sufferings which seemingly still lie ahead of the world in its present evil state."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 13, 1947, in Lights of Guidance, no. 396)
Do Not Dwell on Others' Thoughts and Attitudes[edit]
"We must never dwell too much on the attitudes and feelings of our fellow-believers towards us. What is most important is to foster love and harmony and ignore any rebuffs we may receive; in this way the weakness of human nature and the peculiarity or attitude of any particular person is not magnified, but pales into insignificance in comparison with our joint service to the Faith we all love."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, September 19, 1948, in Lights of Guidance, no. 397)
