I am a captive; rid me of my bondage, by the power of Thy might and through the force of Thy will, that I may soar on the wings of detachment towards the loftiest summits of Thy creation.
Prayers and Meditations by Baháʼu’lláh, p. 103.
During this time of increased stress and anxiety, disease, dissension and strife, people are living more often in conditions that sadden and trouble them. It can be difficult to feel hopeful and to find ways to experience happiness and joy. In the Baháʼí teachings, sadness and suffering are acknowledged as a necessary part of the human experience, stemming from two principal sources. These are, first, our own actions that are not in alignment with the laws of God/spiritual principles and second, those sufferings that are necessary for the perfecting of our character.
On the first point, Shoghi Effendi wrote:
There is a tremendous darkness in the world today, the darkness caused by mankind’s going against the Laws of God and giving way to the animal side of human nature. People must recognize this fact, and consciously struggle against pessimism and depression.
Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 113
Since the foundation of religion is to bring about love and harmony and to safeguard the interests of humanity so we can all progress and advance, the laws of God are considered absolutely necessary for this purpose. To apply this thinking, laws of God that bring about happiness are not about things such as, for example, dietary restrictions, that over time would need to be changed. Rather they are indicators of behaviour that benefit us individually, others collectively and society as a whole. For a start, consider the 10 commandments as examples of laws that are necessary for our wellbeing. Society is certainly safer and able to pursue our many interests when no one is being murdered, people are not sleeping with each other’s partners and parents are shown respect.
Within the Baháʼí context, we experience more joy when the children and youth in our communities are given opportunities to grow and develop, serve others and develop their talents and faculties. When people in disagreement listen to each other and respond with love and honesty, problems can be more easily solved than with fighting, judgements and harsh words. And when everyone has equal opportunity to access education, work and basic human necessities, joy also expands and sadness is reduced. These are spiritual principles that bring about joy and happiness.
Yet even in a world where everyone is living in alignment with spiritual principles, we will experience sadness as a part of becoming mature and caring human beings. Losing a loved one, caring for someone who is ill, not being chosen for a job we wanted, having friends move away – all these types of suffering are part of perfecting our character. We develop empathy and responsiveness to others when we experience pain and we learn to overcome obstacles when we persevere through difficulties, discovering latent talents in the process. The flip side of suffering, is that as we acknowledge the role sadness and difficulty play in our lives, we understand that what God really wants for us is to fully experience love and joy. As we learn to reduce the sadness around us we become receptive to the love and joy that is our destiny, and play our parts in the spiritualization of the planet.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes:
Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness. But when sadness visits us we become weak, our strength leaves us, our comprehension is dim and our intelligence veiled. The actualities of life seem to elude our grasp, the eyes of our spirits fail to discover the sacred mysteries, and we become even as dead beings.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 35.
In another passage, He gives us a window of understanding into how to detach from sadness and open to joy.
There is no human being untouched by these two influences; but all the sorrow and the grief that exist come from the world of matter—the spiritual world bestows only the joy!
Attach not thyself to anything unless in it thou seest the reality of God – this is the first step into the court of eternity. The earth life lasts but a short time, even its benefits are transitory; that which is temporary does not deserve our heart’s attachment…. Detachment does not consist in setting fire to one’s house, or becoming bankrupt or throwing one’s fortune out of the window, or even giving away all of one’s possessions. Detachment consists in refraining from letting our possessions possess us. –
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 134.
The principle is that life and our immediate experiences, while impacting us, are nonetheless transitory. When we realize that we possess our possessions and not the other way around, we experience detachment. When we understand that emotions lead us to seek spiritual answers, we can ask curious questions about what we need to learn from sadness. On this thought, there is a lovely passage about what to do next if prayer and thoughtful reflection cannot help us to detach from sorrow. That next step is to find someone to serve, to help, to support.
Be not the slave of your moods, but their master. But if you are so angry, so depressed and so sore that your spirit cannot find deliverance and peace even in prayer, then quickly go and give some pleasure to someone lowly or sorrowful, or to a guilty or innocent sufferer! Sacrifice yourself, your talent, your time, your rest to another, to one who has to bear a heavier load than you.
N.B. Although this is from pilgrim notes by Dr. Josephine Fallscheer taken on 5 August 1910 and cannot be authenticated, they are in keeping with the consistent orientation of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to be of service to humanity and be a source of good for others.
On this topic, here is some sound advice by Shoghi Effendi about being patient with moods, those of others and our own, by consciously turning our faces towards the light:
We must not only be patient with others, infinitely patient, but also with our own poor selves, remembering that even the Prophets of God sometimes got tired and cried out in despair!
He urges you to persevere and add up your accomplishments, rather than to dwell on the dark side of things. Everyone’s life has both a dark and bright side. The Master said: turn your back to the darkness and your face to Me.
Shoghi Effendi, From a letter dated 22 October 1949 to an individual believer
In closing, I would like to offer this consoling prayer to say in times of sadness and difficulty. I find it helps me see the transience of life and to focus on the power of the love of God to release pain and suffering, if only I remember to put my trust in Him.
O thou who art turning thy face towards God! Close thine eyes to all things else, and open them to the realm of the All-Glorious. Ask whatsoever thou wishest of Him alone; seek whatsoever thou seekest from Him alone. With a look He granteth a hundred thousand hopes, with a glance He healeth a hundred thousand incurable ills, with a nod He layeth balm on every wound, with a glimpse He freeth the hearts from the shackles of grief. He doeth as He doeth, and what recourse have we? He carrieth out His Will, He ordaineth what He pleaseth. Then better for thee to bow down thy head in submission, and put thy trust in the All-Merciful Lord.
Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, sec. 22