“At the present juncture in the history of man, we see a pervasive meaninglessness reflected in people around us,” states a section on The Meaning of Life from a Baha’i Comprehensive Deepening Program. “Such meaninglessness is a characteristic hallmark (perhaps the dominant symptom) of the collapsing world order. Without meaning in one’s life, on lacks motivation and become apathetic, a condition close to spiritual or psychological death.
With no sense of motivation arising from a sense of destiny and purpose, something else will take its place. In the absence of spiritual motivation, physical desires stand ready to fill the void. If one abandons himself to physical desires and lets them become the determinants of his behavior, he might as well be an animal. To become like an animal, is to become socially irresponsible, unfit as a friend, spouse, parent or citizen – in essence, to sow the seeds of destruction. Greed and violence ultimately become the characteristics of man’s behavior when physical desires are the primary source of his motivation.”
How many groups and organizations are formed around persons of every persuasion seeking identity and purpose to infuse meaning into their lives. How innumerable the individuals who seek such motivation through another individual, with equally limited capacities at best, creating more frustration and restlessness. On our journey to discover our true identity and purpose we not only learn to redirect our own precious energies, misguided tenacity and strong wills, we learn also to respect those qualities in others that once harnessed can become as powerful as wind, water, fire or any other natural force which becomes dangerous and destructive only when unharnessed and out of control.
Among man’s greatest gifts is the unique gift of understanding. A gift not shared by any other form of life. All other Kingdoms are captive to nature or are controlled by instinct. Man alone has been endowed with the qualities of reason and understanding that, through the dangerous weapon of unbridled freedoms, are often manifested in unreasonable behavior and subsequent misunderstanding.
With proper understanding once could easily discern, “That which was applicable to human needs during the early history of the race can neither meet nor satisfy the demands of this day, this period of newness and consummation… The gifts and blessings of the period of youth, although timely and sufficient during the adolescence of mankind, are now incapable of meeting the requirements of its maturity”
Therefore it is not the every evolving changes and chances of time that really matter as much as our individual attitude toward them. Be neither overjoyed at successes and seeming triumphs nor overwhelmed by disappointments and disasters for both shall pass. Neither dwell on your weaknesses or frailty. Put your trust instead in the invincible power of the one true God and be assured of supreme victory.
“This age is indeed as a hundred other ages: should ye gather the yield of a hundred ages, and set that against the accumulated product of our times, the yield of this one era will prove greater than that of a hundred gone before,” state the Baha’i Holly Writings.
