The Sunday Mail
Flora Teckie A Bahá’í Perspective
WE often reflect on how to attain lasting happiness and contentment in our lives. We see all around us, people trying to discover answers to this question. Many try to find happiness through material objects by acquiring a better house, a new car or a faster computer.Relationships that are for gratification of physical desires or losing weight in order to become physically more attractive are viewed as keys to happiness. Some even try to achieve happiness through dangerous means, such as turning to alcohol or drugs.
More and more people are realising, however, that these answers do not bring about true and lasting happiness. The happiness resulting from these activities is temporary, as stated in the Bahá’í Writings:
“Happiness consists of two kinds; physical and spiritual. The physical happiness is limited; its utmost duration is one day, one month, one year. … Spiritual happiness is eternal and unfathomable. This kind of happiness appeareth in one’s soul with the love of God and suffereth one to attain to the virtues and perfections of the world of humanity”.
Material objects and physical solutions do not result in lasting happiness because they fail to fulfil the basic purpose of our existence. The purpose of our lives is not just to acquire material means, to be entertained, or to satisfy our physical desires. Our lives have a more noble purpose, a spiritual purpose. According to the Bahá’í Writings: “In man there are two natures; his spiritual or higher nature and his material or lower nature. In one he approaches God, in the other he lives for the world alone.”
Of course, a degree of material comfort is necessary and we have legitimate physical needs that have to be catered for such as food, shelter, companionship, and protection from threateningforces. But, we cannot find fulfilment in these necessities and these should not become the purpose of our lives.
Our physical accomplishments have to be reinforced by spiritual perfections, if we are to attain lasting happiness. The Bahá’í Writings state that: “…until material achievements, physical accomplishments and human virtues are reinforced by spiritual perfections,luminous qualities and characteristics of mercy, no fruit or result shall issue there from, nor will the happiness of the world of humanity, which is the ultimate aim, be attained”.
Lasting happiness is also conditional to our unity. We need to overcome the misunderstandings and prejudices that are the cause of strife between various segments of our societies. The Bahá’í Writings state: “Until all nations and peoples become united by the bonds of the Holy Spirit in this real fraternity, until national and international prejudices are effaced in the reality of this spiritual brotherhood, true progress, prosperity and lasting happiness will not be attained by man”.
There is a close relationship between joy and spirituality. According to the Bahá’í Writings: “… the trials which beset our every step, all our sorrow, pain, shame and grief, are born in the world of matter; whereas the spiritual Kingdom never causes sadness. A man living with his thoughts in this Kingdom knows perpetual joy. The ills all flesh is heir to do not pass him by, but they only touch the surface of his life, the depths are calm and serene…. If material anxiety envelops you in a dark cloud, spiritual radiance lightens your path. Verily, those whose minds are illumined by the Spirit of the Most High have supreme consolation”.
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