Petty bickerings and jealousies make one lose all the traces of spirituality, excommunicate a person from the divine company of the worthy ones, submerge one in the sea of phantasms, suffer one to become cold and pessimistic and throw him headlong into the depths of despair and helplessness! (Abdu’l-Baha, “Star of the West,” Vol. V, No. 1, p. 6)
Wow, this is such a clear warning about all the reasons to let go of our bickering and jealousy:
- makes us lose all traces of spirituality
- excommunicates us from the divine company of the worthy ones
- submerges us in the sea of phantasms (delusions, fantasies, figments of imagination)
- suffers us to become cold and pessimistic
- throws us headlong into the depths of despair and helplessness
It’s interesting that bickering and jealousy are paired together here. In my mind, bickering goes on externally between me and someone else, where jealousy goes on inside my head, and yet both have the same results.
I often find myself jealous of those who are married, have careers and contact with adult children and grandchildren. According to this quote, I can see that I lose all traces of spirituality by feeling sorry for myself. I excommunicate myself when I isolate and separate myself from those I envy, not wanting to experience the feelings of “less than” or be pitied. Focusing on what I don’t have keeps me from being grateful for all that I do have, and from developing a relationship with God as my primary relationship, keeping me from achieving my purpose in life. When I look ahead and see only more of the same, I definitely become pessimistic and thrown into the depths of despair and helplessness.
Knowing all of this gives me a great motivation to let go of bickering and jealousy and 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 Letting Go of Criticizing Others
I have similar issues as you. Without a family of my own life often feels lonely and empty. Doesn’t Maslow’s hierarchy rate belonging/ love as a fundamental need? Don’t our teachings instruct us to marry young. We are not just spiritual beings when we are in the physical. Baby monkeys die and children develop poorly without love and human contact. Surely adults are not immune to rge harm of being disconnected. Social isolation harms the elderly. I believe mourning something we don’t have which is a fundamental human need should not be disallowed or denied as a valid grief. The sacrifice to try to live a pure life causes much sadness for many of us. I know I am not alone. I have friends with a deep sadness. It is what we choose. But it is not easy going. I do have this book and have found it helpful.
I agree, Pam. I’m certainly trying to process the grief around not having parents who loved and protected me and looking at how that’s impacted my ability to give and receive love, and left me feeling very lonely and isolated. It’s not well understood or talked about as a legitimate form of grief, especially 50 years after the fact! I’m glad you found the book helpful! I teach what I need to learn myself!