“God’s greatest gift to man is that of intellect, or understand,” we read in the Baha’i Holy Writings. “Understanding is the power by which man acquires his knowledge of the several kingdoms of creation and various stages of existence, as well as much which is invisible,” – The Reality of Man.
Blurring the vision of understanding however we often find the smallest word in Webster’s dictionary, ego, through which any number of blockers arise undetected. Among them prejudice, “an emotional commitment to a falsehood that no amount of proof will alter.” Therefore this monster of undetermined facets and dimensions, greatly determines (or distorts as the case may be) our perspective and motivation, whether racial, religious, political, national, academic or a multitude of others, often disguised as “Pride” – depending on who has it. If it’s mine, it’s pride; if it’s yours, it’s prejudice.
The best antidote for such wide spread poison is love – another word greatly misunderstood. Our understanding of the word is usually reduced to material and other transitory things of life as youth, beauty, a single individual or to lust for the material things that generally attract each. Few indeed are fully acquainted with a higher love, purified through the Supreme Purifier that sees things and people, not just as they are but as they should be and dedicates themselves to the promotion of that realization. Such purified love is impossible solely on the lower level for people on an ever-increasing scale are too unlovable – through the societal poison being perpetually injected from every direction.
Let us not fool ourselves into thinking that we are spiritually or otherwise strong enough to love all of God’s children, the good, the bad and especially the unlovable, who need love more than anyone. If through potent prayers, however, our own on a daily basis, along with those of Holy Souls, we can remove that “pith of self” (ego) that God’s love might flow through us. There in lies the difference. Through such purified love one can become gentler in words and deeds a virtue in this misguided society associated with weakness while just the opposite is evidenced. Anyone who would dare to be different enough to show gentleness and love unashamed in today’s insensitive times is strong indeed – especially if a male.
Through true understanding one can clearly discern as in 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous and boastful. Love is not arrogant and rude… Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never fails…”
Indeed, “In the world of existence there is no force greater than the magnet of love, state the Baha’i Holy Writings, could ye be but understand.
Investigate!
