The Sunday Mail
Flora Teckie : A Bahá’í Perspective
WE often wonder if there is a higher, nobler purpose to life than devoting it merely to the pursuit of material goals. Bahá’u’lláh says: “Wert thou to attain to but a dewdrop of the crystal waters of divine knowledge, thou wouldst readily realise that true life is not the life of the flesh but the life of the spirit . . .”Our true identity is, therefore, our rational soul. It is the rational soul, whose free will and powers of understanding enable us to continually better ourselves and our society.
Of course, pursuing a nobler purpose in life does not mean that we should neglect the material aspects of life. It implies progressing materially and spiritually, together and simultaneously, since the two are complementary.
It also implies that the processes of individual progress and social advancement should be harmonised.
In the Bahá’í view, a fundamental purpose of our life is to contribute to the progress of the world civilisation – as Bahá’u’lláh says:
“All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilisation.”
As individuals, we need to develop the powers and capacities latent within us, so that we may contribute our share to an ever-advancing civilisation. The purpose of education is to influence and guide this process.
As such, education should lead to the discovery and perfection of one’s capabilities and instil a commitment to serve the best interests of one’s community and the world as a whole. To achieve this, we need moral empowerment as well as intellectual development. We need to advance individually and also to contribute to the advancement of civilisation.
Such education should cultivate tolerance, love, brotherhood, equality, compassion, understanding, humility, and an active commitment to justice. Furthermore, it should nurture in the individual an appreciation for the richness and importance of the world’s diverse cultural, religious and social systems and encourage unity in diversity.
Bahá’u’lláh’s statement that all people “have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilisation” implies that every person has both the right and the responsibility to contribute to this important enterprise, whose goal is nothing less than the peace and prosperity of humanity.
It is in relation to the Creator, and the purpose which that Creator has fixed for His creatures, that human existence has meaning.
The purpose of our lives, according to the Bahá’í Writings, is to know God and to worship Him, in addition to carrying forward an ever-advancing civilisation. Knowledge and worship of God lead us to the love of God; love of God in turn leads us to obedience to His commandments and service in His path.
Serving God and humanity gives life meaning and purpose, and prepares us for the moment the soul separates from the body and continues on its eternal journey towards God.
Civilisation, Bahá’u’lláh says, has evolved to the point where unity of mankind has become of paramount necessity. Therefore, it should be an important goal in our lives, to work towards unity for humanity, upon which depends our well-being, peace and security.
As Bahá’u’lláh says: “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.”
The purpose of our lives is, therefore, to know and to worship God. It is to work towards establishing unity of humanity and cultivating attributes, skills, virtues and qualities that will enable us to contribute our share to the building of an ever-advancing civilisation.
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