SECTION 1

Arising to Serve is the second in a sequence of courses offered by the Ruhi Institute that seek to combine study and action. Its aim is to help you advance further along the path of service you have entered as you strive to fulfill a twofold purpose: to pursue your own spiritual and intellectual growth and to contribute to the transformation of society. From your participation in the first course, you must already realize that the path to which we are referring is defined by a series of acts of service, acts that we carry out with our eyes fixed on the goal of a new world order as envisioned in the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Thus, much of what we call “walking the path of service” consists of our efforts to apply His teachings to our own lives and to the life of humanity. He Himself speaks of His Revelation in these terms:

“O My servants! My holy, My divinely ordained Revelation may be likened unto an ocean in whose depths are concealed innumerable pearls of great price, of surpassing luster. It is the duty of every seeker to bestir himself and strive to attain the shores of this ocean, so that he may, in proportion to the eagerness of his search and the efforts he hath exerted, partake of such benefits as have been preordained in God’s irrevocable and hidden Tablets.”1

In this first unit, our thoughts turn to the joy that fills our hearts as we discover the pearls of wisdom that lie in the ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation and share them with others. Already from your study of Book 1 you have seen how exquisitely beautiful are the pearls of divine guidance found in His Writings. Let us ponder on a few excerpts more:

“The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch.”2

“The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee.”3

“Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.”4

“All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.”5

“The world passeth away, and that which is everlasting is the love of God.”6

“Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it thy radiance and seek none other than Me. For I have created thee rich and have bountifully shed My favor upon thee.”7

You may wish to memorize these short passages over time.

SECTION 2

To begin your deliberations on the main theme of this unit, reread the first passage quoted in the previous section and carry out the following exercises:

The Joy of Teaching – 3

1.

Complete the sentences below.

1. It is our duty to ___________________ ourselves and ___________________ _____________ the _______________ of the ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation.
2. We should strive to attain the shores of the ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation so that we may partake of such _____________________ as have been preordained in God’s irrevocable and hidden Tablets.
3. The benefits we partake of the ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation will be pro- portional to ______________________________________________________ ________________________________________ .

What does it mean to “bestir” oneself? ___________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

What does it mean to “strive to attain” something? _________________________ __________________________________________________________________

What should every seeker strive to attain? ________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

What does it mean for one thing to be “in proportion” to another? _____________ __________________________________________________________________

Bahá’u’lláh tells us that we will receive the benefits of the ocean of His Revelation in proportion to the efforts we exert.

1. Give some examples of the efforts we exert that make us the recipients of these benefits: ________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________
2. Give some examples of the benefits we receive: ________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________

2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

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Arising to Serve

SECTION 3

Knowing that Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is like an ocean in whose depths lie pearls of inestimable value, we each exert the utmost effort to partake of its benefits and to help others to attain unto its shores. But how far, we may ask ourselves, are the shores of this ocean from us? Bahá’u’lláh declares:

“O My servants! The one true God is My witness! This most great, this fathomless and surging Ocean is near, astonishingly near, unto you. Behold it is closer to you than your life-vein! Swift as the twinkling of an eye ye can, if ye but wish it, reach and partake of this imperishable favor, this God-given grace, this incorruptible gift, this most potent and unspeakably glorious bounty.”8

1. To what does the phrase “this most great, this fathomless and surging Ocean” refer? __________________________________________________________________
2. How close is this ocean to us?__________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
3. How quickly can we reach this ocean? ___________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
4. Complete the following sentences:
   1. The most great ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is near, _______________ _____________ , unto us.
   2. The ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation is _____________ to us than our life-vein.
   3. Swift as the __________________________________ we can, if we only wish it, ______________ and _____________________ of the ocean of His Revelation.
   4. Swift as the twinkling of an eye we can, ______________________________ , reach and partake of the ocean of His Revelation.

SECTION 4

Having reached the shores of the ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation, we draw from its treasures and share liberally and unconditionally with others its pearls of divine guidance, which we continually discover in our own study, prayer and meditation and in our efforts to serve His Cause and humanity. You may wish to take some time to memorize the following passage, a constant reminder of the sacredness of this duty:

“O wayfarer in the path of God! Take thou thy portion of the ocean of His grace, and deprive not thyself of the things that lie hidden in its depths. Be thou of them that have partaken of its treasures. A dewdrop out of this ocean would, if shed

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upon all that are in the heavens and on the earth, suffice to enrich them with the bounty of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. With the hands of renunciation draw forth from its life-giving waters, and sprinkle therewith all created things, that they may be cleansed from all man-made limitations and may approach the mighty seat of God, this hallowed and resplendent Spot.”9

SECTION 5

As we advance through the institute courses, carrying out the study and action they require, our capacity for service will grow, and we will be able to undertake acts of service that bring immense joy to our hearts and assist us in fulfilling our twofold purpose—acts such as teaching classes for the spiritual education of children, engaging junior youth in a program for their spiritual empowerment, and helping a group of friends study the books of the main sequence. All throughout this journey, the Word of God, which we will be sharing with others, young and old, will be our constant source of inspiration. It is only proper, then, that we should meditate often on its power and its effect on the human heart. In the following quotation, Bahá’u’lláh speaks of this power:

“The Word of God may be likened unto a sapling, whose roots have been implanted in the hearts of men. It is incumbent upon you to foster its growth through the living waters of wisdom, of sanctified and holy words, so that its root may become firmly fixed and its branches may spread out as high as the heavens and beyond.”10

1. To what may the Word of God be compared? ______________________________ __________________________________________________________________

2. Where have the roots of the tree of the Word of God been planted? ____________ __________________________________________________________________

3. How should we foster the growth of this tree? _____________________________ __________________________________________________________________

4. To what heights can this tree grow? _____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

5. Explain in a few sentences why sharing the Word of God with others is of the utmost importance.

       ____________________________________________________________________
       ____________________________________________________________________
       ____________________________________________________________________
       ____________________________________________________________________
       ____________________________________________________________________

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SECTION 6

Let us think of the various activities that occupy us in our daily lives. We nourish our bodies. We study to acquire new knowledge and to expand our mental capacity. We work and develop skills that enable us to live as productive members of society. We engage in sports and recreation. Numerous activities like these, all important for our intellectual progress and material well-being, occupy a large portion of our time. But then there are in each day those special moments, charged with spirituality, when we engage in prayer; when we deepen, alone or with friends, our knowledge of divine teachings; or when, in any one of a myriad ways, we help those around us to discover the pearls hidden in the ocean of Bahá’u’lláh’s Revelation. Are not these moments precious beyond measure? Is there any greater joy than being able to partake of these heavenly blessings?

We should always remember how ‘Abdu’l-Bahá encouraged us to dedicate ourselves to the upliftment of humanity:

“We are all united in one Divine purpose, no material motive is ours, and our dearest wish is to spread the Love of God throughout the world!”11

Suppose the opportunity arises for you to share with a friend one of the quotations from Section 1 that you have memorized. Where does the joy you feel in your heart come from? Naturally, you hope your friend will be uplifted by the words of Bahá’u’lláh. But what if he or she does not show the enthusiasm you were expecting? Does the joy in your heart simply vanish? Why not?

       ____________________________________________________________________
       ____________________________________________________________________
       ____________________________________________________________________
       ____________________________________________________________________
       ____________________________________________________________________

SECTION 7

When we realize that, of all the things we do in our lives, the moments we spend sharing the Word of God with others are invested with special blessings, we arrive at a most significant conclusion: that the joy we derive from service lies in the act itself. We hope, of course, that the acts of service we perform will yield worthy results, but if we are too attached to the results, if we are overly affected by praise or criticism, we will lose the joy of teaching. That which should inspire us to serve is the love of God, not the desire to have success, to receive benefits, or to gain recognition. Detachment from all these is a requisite of joyful service. Studying the following quotations will help you reflect on this theme:

“O Man of Two Visions! Close one eye and open the other. Close one to the world and all that is therein, and open the other to the hallowed beauty of the Beloved.”12

“O Friends! Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die, and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust.”13

The Joy of Teaching – 7

1. 2.

3. 4. 5. 6.

“O Son of Utterance! Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all save Me; for My sovereignty endureth and My dominion perisheth not. If thou seekest another than Me, yea, if thou searchest the universe forevermore, thy quest will be in vain.”14

“O Befriended Stranger! The candle of thine heart is lighted by the hand of My power, quench it not with the contrary winds of self and passion. The healer of all thine ills is remembrance of Me, forget it not. Make My love thy treasure and cherish it even as thy very sight and life.”15

“Detachment is as the sun; in whatsoever heart it doth shine it quencheth the fire of covetousness and self. He whose sight is illumined with the light of understanding will assuredly detach himself from the world and the vanities thereof. . . . Let not the world and its vileness grieve you. Happy is he whom riches fill not with vain-glory, nor poverty with sorrow.”16

Does being detached from this world mean living like a hermit? ______________

Is it possible to be detached from this world and to possess things at the same time? __________________________________________________________________

Is a person who dedicates practically every hour of life to his or her work detached from the things of this world? __________________________________________

Is a person who works only enough to satisfy his or her basic needs and spends the rest of the time doing nothing detached from this world? ____________________

Is a person unable to tolerate material discomfort in the field of service detached from the world? _____________________________________________________

There are many things to which we can be attached besides material possessions. To what would you be attached if you were a person who

• −  wants to give up when he or she performs an act of service and no one acknowledges it? _____________________________________________________________
• −  feels demoralized when someone does not accept the ideas he or she is sharing? ________________________________________________________________− hides his or her beliefs out of fear of rejection by others? _________________ ________________________________________________________________Detachment does not imply aloofness or lack of care. Which of the following could be a sign that one is not detached?

  ____ To derive joy from seeing the progress of others
  ____ To stop teaching a class when a few children misbehave

7.

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Arising to Serve

____ To brag about one’s accomplishments
____ To study hard and feel content with the progress one makes
____ To work hard to develop one’s capacity to serve the common good ____ To strive for excellence in one’s occupation
____ To exercise cleanliness and keep a clean and tidy home
____ To take care of one’s belongings
____ To care for the well-being of others
____ To be disheartened when not praised for one’s efforts

8. So important is detachment for each one of us that it is suggested you memorize all the quotations in this section.

SECTION 8

To receive the bounties of a joyous life of service to humanity, we must be willing to exert effort, and our efforts may require some degree of sacrifice. We use the word “sacrifice” frequently in our daily lives. If a friend is returning from a trip at dawn, we may wake early to pick her up. We may say that we have sacrificed a few hours of sleep. Someone dear to us becomes sick; we forgo a few hours of our favorite pastime to care for him. There are occasions in life when we must work extremely hard, and we may think we are sacrificing comfort in order to meet a goal.

We all have the utmost desire to serve the Cause, generously offering our time and energy and, to the extent possible, a portion of our material resources. When we do so, we should remember that, on the path of service, we may give up things of this world, but what we receive is true joy as we grow spiritually. We will have the opportunity to reflect more on the nature of sacrifice in future courses. What is important to recognize from the very beginning is that it involves renouncing that which is lower for the higher, just as the seed sacrifices itself so a tree can be born. Sacrifice is the bearer of joy, and this joy will not be ours unless we are willing to exert consistent effort.

Bahá’u’lláh states:

“Labor is needed, if we are to seek Him; ardor is needed, if we are to drink the nectar of reunion with Him; and if we taste of this cup, we shall cast away the world.”17

And ‘Abdu’l-Bahá advises us:

“. . . rest ye not, seek ye no composure, attach not yourselves to the luxuries of this ephemeral world, free yourselves from every attachment, and strive with heart and soul to become fully established in the Kingdom of God. Gain ye the heavenly treasures. Day by day become ye more illumined. Draw ye nearer and nearer unto the threshold of oneness.”18

The Joy of Teaching – 9

We all believe that, to achieve our goals, we must exert effort. But this simple belief has certain implications in practice that we should not forget. For one, it is necessary to remember that there is a correspondence between the amount of energy required and the level of difficulty of the goal or task at hand. We are deceiving ourselves if we think it can be accomplished with less. But the magnitude of exertion is not the only factor to be taken into account. There is need for consistency and perseverance. Focus is required. The habit of completing tasks, not jumping from one to another and leaving work undone, is essential. Halfhearted efforts do not bear fruit. Imagine a weekly class for the spiritual education of children. The teacher must dedicate a certain number of hours to prepare for each class, remain entirely focused throughout its duration on helping the students understand the content of the lesson, pay regular visits to the parents of the youngsters, and follow their individual progress, week after week. What is the fate of a class whose teacher prepares only occasionally, brings the session to an early and abrupt end when tired, and fails to devote the necessary time to thinking about each child and discussing his or her progress with the parents? And what if the class is simply canceled whenever the teacher wishes to attend to some other obligation, say, to be with a friend who is visiting from out of town?

These few remarks are to convince us that we must give attention to both the amount and the quality of the effort every endeavor we undertake demands. This holds true not only for the acts of service in which we engage; it applies equally to our own development. Even the spiritual habits we considered in the first book of this series—to pray regularly, to read the Writings every day, to ponder how to bring our lives in conformity with the teachings, to participate wholeheartedly in devotional gatherings—depend on continued exertion. Below are a number of statements related to effort. Deciding which ones are true will help you reflect further on this matter:

____ If you are smart, you don’t need to work hard.
____ Why go the long way; always look for a shortcut.
____ No pain, no gain.
____ Dream big; your wishes will come true.
____ The greater the prize, the greater the striving.
____ The greater the effort, the sweeter the reward.
____ If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
____ Why work when you can get others to do it for you?
____ If it takes too much effort, it’s not meant to be.
____ Small steps—frequent and consistent—can go a long way.
____ Nothing worth having comes easily.
____ Excellence demands wholehearted dedication.
____ The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
____ Just getting by is not good enough.
____ We should not wait for things to happen; we should pursue them. ____ Success is a matter of luck.

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____ We won’t achieve our twofold purpose by magic. ____ We must bring ourselves to account each day.

We walk the path of service, striving to achieve our own spiritual and intellectual growth and to contribute to the transformation of society. It is clear that the pursuit of this twofold purpose demands a great deal of effort on our part. Bahá’u’lláh tells us:

“The incomparable Creator hath created all men from one same substance, and hath exalted their reality above the rest of His creatures. Success or failure, gain or loss, must, therefore, depend upon man’s own exertions. The more he striveth, the greater will be his progress.”19

You may wish to memorize the above passage if you have not already done so.

SECTION 9

To be able to derive joy from service, we should nurture certain attitudes in ourselves. For example, we must be thankful for the bounty of service God has bestowed upon us; it is unthinkable to imagine that we are doing God a favor when we serve His Cause. We must also learn to avoid pessimism and approach life with an optimistic view of the world. Obstacles on the path of service can be turned into stepping-stones to further progress. Even amid difficulties, we look with eyes of faith to the future. The following words of ‘Abdu’l- Bahá point to the hope and optimism that should characterize our efforts:

1.

“In the beginning, how small is the seed, yet in the end it is a mighty tree. Look ye not upon the seed, look ye upon the tree, and its blossoms, and its leaves and its fruits.”20

“Know then the vital import of this tiny seed that the true Husbandman hath, with the hands of His mercy, sown in the ploughed fields of the Lord, and watered with the rain of bestowals and bounties and is now nurturing in the heat and light of the Daystar of Truth.”21

“When you see a tree growing and developing, be hopeful of its outcome. It will blossom and bear fruit eventually. If you see dry wood or old trees, there is no hope whatever of fruitage.”22

“Wherefore must the loved ones of God, laboriously, with the waters of their striving, tend and nourish and foster this tree of hope.”23

“If the heart turns away from the blessings God offers how can it hope for happiness? If it does not put its hope and trust in God’s Mercy, where can it find rest?”24

To reflect on the above passages, complete the following sentences:

In the beginning, how small is the seed, yet in the end _______________________ _______________ .

The Joy of Teaching – 11

2. We should not look at the tiny seed but at _________________________________ _______________________________________ .
3. We should recognize, then, the importance of the tiny seed that God has, with the hands of His mercy, __________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ __________________________________ .
4. When we see a tree growing and developing, we should be ___________________ _____________________ .
5. When we see a tree growing and developing, we should be hopeful it will _________ ____________________________________________ .
6. With the waters of our striving, we should _________________________________ __________________________________________________ .
7. If the heart turns away from the blessings God offers ____________________________ _____________________ ?
8. If the heart does not put its hope and trust in God’s Mercy, ___________________ _____________________ ?Now, reflect for a moment: Do you agree that our joyful and hopeful spirit combined

with a posture of humble gratitude is a source of joy to others? And, let us always keep in mind that, in arising to serve the Cause, we bear the glad tidings of the dawn of a new Day, the Day of the ingathering of humankind. May the words of Bahá’u’lláh resound in our hearts:

“Happy are they who act; happy are they who understand; happy the man that hath clung unto the truth, detached from all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth.”25

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REFERENCES

1. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1983, 2017 printing), CLIII, par. 5, p. 369.
2. Ibid., CXXXII, par. 3, p. 326.
3. Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 2003, 2012 printing), Arabic no. 2, p. 3.
4. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, CVI, par. 1, p. 241.
5. Ibid., CIX, par. 2, p. 243.
6. Bahá’u’lláh, in Women: Extracts from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi and the Universal House of Justice, compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1986, 1997 printing), no. 53, p. 26.
7. The Hidden Words, Arabic no. 11, p. 6.
8. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, CLIII, par. 5, p. 370.
9. Ibid., CXXIX, par. 1, p. 316.
10. Ibid., XLIII, par. 9, p. 109.
11. From a talk given on 19 November 1911, published in Paris Talks: Addresses Given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1911 (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing, 2006, 2016 printing), no. 32.2, p. 121.
12. The Hidden Words, Persian no. 12, p. 26.
13. Ibid., Persian no. 14, p. 26.
14. Ibid., Arabic no. 15, p. 7.
15. Ibid., Persian no. 32, p. 33.
16. Bahá’u’lláh, in The Bahá’í World: Volume One, 1925–1926 (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1926, 1980 printing), p. 42.
17. The Call of the Divine Beloved: Selected Mystical Works of Bahá’u’lláh (Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 2018), no. 2.12, p. 17.
18. Tablets of the Divine Plan: Revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to the North American Bahá’ís (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1993, 2006 printing), no. 13.6, pp. 95–96.
19. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, XXXIV, par. 8, p. 91.

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20. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing, 2010, 2015 printing), no. 40.3, pp. 118–19.
21. Ibid., no. 40.3, p. 119.
22. From a talk given on 11 May 1912, published in The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912 (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing, 2012), par. 2, p. 153.
23. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, no. 206.13, pp. 356–57.
24. From a talk given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on 21 November 1911, published in Paris Talks,no. 34.8, p. 133.
25. Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf (Wilmette: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1988, 2016 printing), p. 139.

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