They have not properly understood that man’s supreme honor and real happiness lie in self-respect, in high resolves and noble purposes, in integrity and moral quality, in immaculacy of mind. They have, rather, imagined that their greatness consists in the accumulation, by whatever means may offer, of worldly goods. (Abdu’l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 18)
It’s so hard to be raised in a culture steeped in materialism and consumerism, where comparing myself to my neighbors is the norm. I’ve grown up learning that I will be happy when. When I have the next greatest thing. When I have the best of things. When I have more. When I have better than those around me. When, when, when!
So I love that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá reminds me that my supreme honor and real happiness is a choice not the result of circumstances. I can make a decision in any moment to be happy and if I don’t know how to do it, this quote is a great place to start because it gives me concrete steps I can take. What can I do in this moment that will give me:
- self-respect?
- high resolves?
- noble purposes?
- integrity?
- moral quality?
- immaculacy of mind?
Now, don’t you feel happier already? I know I do!
Knowing there is a secret to happiness and I’ve got it, I am grateful!
What jumped out for you as you read through today’s meditation? I’d love it if you would share so we can all expand our knowledge of the Writings!
If you liked this meditation, you might also like my book Learning How to Be Happy
Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die, and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust. – The Hidden Words
dear Susan you are right, if I don’t work on my self to develop these 6 qualities to the higher level as you listed, I would feel what would be the purpose of my life? then confused and unhappy. thank God I am trying to
High resolves? What does that mean? So I looked up ‘resolve’. Resolve (noun) means a firm determination to do something. So to me a high resolve would be a firm determination to do something with purity of thought; a spiritually guided action decided through prayer. And that reminded me of the quote by Bahá’u’lláh, “Whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways we will assuredly guide them”.
Wonderful addition Marian! Thanks for looking that up and sharing your understanding!
Dear Susan,
I am sure that more than one time over the years I heard, in the scarce moments
when somebody guessed the
“purpose of life”, that it was
“to be happy”. I couldn’t really
disagree with the desire, but
somehow contentment sounded like more of a “side
effect” than a worthy goal.
In fact, the idea sounded kind
of near-sighted and self-centered. Its doomed folly
has been the subject of many
songs, if we needed convincing. If we finally look
for the right perspective in
religious scriptures, we see
it has always been a theme:
happiness really is a paradoxical side effect of forgetting our own comfort
and boldly stepping out and
higher.
Yes, that’s absolutely right, Steve!
I’m reminded of this pilgrim’s note:
dear Steve Eaton, yes you are right, therefore, mindfulness requires, to be aware and examining my behaviors everyday that unexpectedly I might fall to this dark self- centered. Bahai’u’llah Counsels; “Bring thyself to account each day ere thou art summoned to a reckoning . . .”
Absolutely right, Simin! It’s so easy to fall back if we aren’t constantly calling ourselves to account.