RE: Spiritual disease

[Sandra Chamberlain]

Dear Matt,   Your question generated many profound thoughts and scriptural references, thank you!  One aspect, I don't believe has been expressed is *susceptibility* to a disease of the spirit.  >From the earliest days of my Baha'i life I've found this quote from Abdu'l-Baha to be one of the most unambiguous warnings contained in the Writings:     "This [self love] is a strange trait and means of the destruction of many important souls in the world. If man be imbued with all good qualities but be selfish, all the other virtues will fade or pass away and eventually he will grow worse."  (Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha p. 136)   Elsewhere, Abdu'l-Baha also provides us with the *inoculation* against this particular disease of the spirit,  #7 of the seven qualifications (of the divinely enlightened soul):   "EVANESCENCE OR HUMILITY. That is to say, man must become evanescent in God. Must forget his own selfish conditions that he may thus arise to the station of sacrifice."  (Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha p. 459-60)   To be truly humble before God is a challenge we all face in this technological age.  The advancements of humankind are such that, even by association, we are at risk for becoming proud, arrogant, and assertive.   After many years in the company of indigenous people who (the elders in particular) seem to have an innate humility it was a source of wonder and envy to me.  In the broadest sense I have concluded that through environmental conditions and lacking in material sustenance;  they were inculcated with a recognition of total reliance on the benevolence and mercy of God and with a spirit of sacrificial acquiescence.   Lovingly, Sandra ---------- You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://list.jccc.net/cgi-bin/lyris.pl?enter=bahai-st news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)