There have been many wounds in my life and these have given rise to various illnesses. Yet to dwell on them in this public forum would not be conducive to health, nobility, and development. I will say that what I have experienced is no different than what others have experienced. We are all suffering; we are all part of the ailing organism that is mankind.
Praised be to God that I am healing! When I was on Pilgrimage I laid all of my weaknesses at the Sacred Threshold of Baha'u'llah! Would that I had noble qualities to give up to my Beloved! But I am earthly and all I have to give are earthly things. Haply I may develop such spiritual susceptibilities as would make a more worthy sacrifice.
Consider the words of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
I am very happy to greet you here today. This is the second time the breeze of God has wafted over Boston. I am expecting results from this visit and hope that my coming may not be fruitless. The results I expect are these: that the individual soul shall be released from self and desire and freed from the bondage of satanic suggestions. May the mirrors of hearts be cleansed from dust in order that the Sun of Truth may be reflected therein.
Man possesses two kinds of susceptibilities: the natural emotions, which are like dust upon the mirror, and spiritual susceptibilities, which are merciful and heavenly characteristics.
There is a power which purifies the mirror from dust and transforms its reflection into intense brilliancy and radiance so that spiritual susceptibilities may chasten the hearts and heavenly bestowals sanctify them. What is the dust which obscures the mirror? It is attachment to the world, avarice, envy, love of luxury and comfort, haughtiness and self-desire; this is the dust which prevents reflection of the rays of the Sun of Reality in the mirror. The natural emotions are blameworthy and are like rust which deprives the heart of the bounties of God. But sincerity, justice, humility, severance, and love for the believers of God will purify the mirror and make it radiant with reflected rays from the Sun of Truth.
It is my hope that you may consider this matter, that you may search out your own imperfections and not think of the imperfections of anybody else. Strive with all your power to be free from imperfections. Heedless souls are always seeking faults in others. What can the hypocrite know of others' faults when he is blind to his own? This is the meaning of the words in the Seven Valleys. It is a guide for human conduct. As long as a man does not find his own faults, he can never become perfect. Nothing is more fruitful for man than the knowledge of his own shortcomings. The Blessed Perfection says, "I wonder at the man who does not find his own imperfections."
Man possesses two kinds of susceptibilities: the natural emotions, which are like dust upon the mirror, and spiritual susceptibilities, which are merciful and heavenly characteristics.
There is a power which purifies the mirror from dust and transforms its reflection into intense brilliancy and radiance so that spiritual susceptibilities may chasten the hearts and heavenly bestowals sanctify them. What is the dust which obscures the mirror? It is attachment to the world, avarice, envy, love of luxury and comfort, haughtiness and self-desire; this is the dust which prevents reflection of the rays of the Sun of Reality in the mirror. The natural emotions are blameworthy and are like rust which deprives the heart of the bounties of God. But sincerity, justice, humility, severance, and love for the believers of God will purify the mirror and make it radiant with reflected rays from the Sun of Truth.
It is my hope that you may consider this matter, that you may search out your own imperfections and not think of the imperfections of anybody else. Strive with all your power to be free from imperfections. Heedless souls are always seeking faults in others. What can the hypocrite know of others' faults when he is blind to his own? This is the meaning of the words in the Seven Valleys. It is a guide for human conduct. As long as a man does not find his own faults, he can never become perfect. Nothing is more fruitful for man than the knowledge of his own shortcomings. The Blessed Perfection says, "I wonder at the man who does not find his own imperfections."
It is not enough to simply to face the illness within. It is not simply enough to cry out in pain. It is not simply enough to expose myself to love and compassion and forgiveness. It is not enough to heal. I must become strong. We must become strong. We must work together day by day to establish between each other spiritual development and collective health, that is eternal love and unity.
In the past I have healed greatly, yet I remained weak. When I say my friends and spoke of the joys of my healing they did not believe me. A weak body may at one time be ill and at another healthy, but because it is weak it's health is transitory. But a healthy body is resistant to disease. That which burdens a weak body only serves to strengthen a healthy one. And I suspect that the way to develop strength is to endure such hardships, and this "little by little, day by day."
Know that I am doing all this so that I can be like Vahid who gave all that he possessed. Just as he amassed material treasures to give, so am I seeking to garner spiritual treasures. I am sharing with the world the steps along my journey so that there can be no doubt that whatever success I achieve is of my Lord. And when, by my weaknesses, I fall short, take heed and do something different. Because it's not really about me, my success or my failure, it's about the Beloved-- our Beloved.
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