Asceticism
Prohibited[edit]
"The Bahá'í Faith...prohibits...asceticism..."
- (The Faith of Bahá'u'lláh: A World Religion, 14 July 1947, addressed to a United Nations Commission, p. 3; also in Redistribution of Wealth (compilation), sec. 2.1.1)
"In this Book [the Kitáb-i-Aqdas] He...prohibits...asceticism"
- (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 214)
"Asceticism"
- (Kitáb-i-Aqdas, Synopsis and Codification of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, item IV.D.1.y.iii, under "LAWS, ORDINANCES AND EXHORTATIONS" -> "Miscellaneous Laws, Ordinances and Exhortations" -> "Miscellaneous Laws and Ordinances" -> "Prohibitions")
Asceticism is prohibited; all deeds depend on God's acceptance; to enjoy bounties of the open world, engage in what will profit themselves and others, and marry and have children[edit]
"How many a man hath secluded himself in the climes of India, denied himself the things that God hath decreed as lawful, imposed upon himself austerities and mortifications, and hath not been remembered by God, the Revealer of Verses. Make not your deeds as snares wherewith to entrap the object of your aspiration, and deprive not yourselves of this Ultimate Objective for which have ever yearned all such as have drawn nigh unto God. Say: The very life of all deeds is My good pleasure, and all things depend upon Mine acceptance. Read ye the Tablets that ye may know what hath been purposed in the Books of God, the All-Glorious, the Ever-Bounteous. He who attaineth to My love hath title to a throne of gold, to sit thereon in honour over all the world; he who is deprived thereof, though he sit upon the dust, that dust would seek refuge with God, the Lord of all Religions."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 36)
"These verses constitute the prohibition of monasticism and asceticism. See the Synopsis and Codification, section IV.D.1.y.iii.-iv. In the Words of Paradise Bahá'u'lláh amplifies these provisions. He states: "Living in seclusion or practising asceticism is not acceptable in the presence of God," and He calls upon those involved to "observe that which will cause joy and radiance". He instructs those who have taken up "their abodes in the caves of the mountains" or who have "repaired to graveyards at night" to abandon these practices, and He enjoins them not to deprive themselves of the "bounties" of this world which have been created by God for humankind. And in the Tablet of Bishárát, while acknowledging the "pious deeds" of monks and priests, Bahá'u'lláh calls upon them to "give up the life of seclusion and direct their steps towards the open world and busy themselves with that which will profit themselves and others". He also grants them leave "to enter into wedlock that they may bring forth one who will make mention of God"."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 61)
Bahá'ís are not ascetics as God has created the good things of the world for us to enjoy (though not to become attached to them or place above spiritual things)[edit]
"Regarding your questions: by holiness in our Bahá'í teachings is meant attachment to God, His Precepts and His Will. We are not ascetics in any sense of the word. On the contrary, Bahá'u'lláh says God has created all the good things in the world for us to enjoy and partake of. But we must not become attached to them and put them before the spiritual things."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Light of Divine Guidance, vol. 2, p. 71)
Asceticism not sanctioned as in this Cause occupation and labor are devotion, with all needing to obtain a livelihood by exertion and lifting burden of and being comfort to others (though not to be attached to them)[edit]
"It must not be implied that one should give up avocation and attainment to livelihood. On the contrary, in the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh monasticism and asceticism are not sanctioned. In this great Cause the light of guidance is shining and radiant. Bahá'u'lláh has even said that occupation and labor are devotion. All humanity must obtain a livelihood by sweat of the brow and bodily exertion, at the same time seeking to lift the burden of others, striving to be the source of comfort to souls and facilitating the means of living. This in itself is devotion to God. Bahá'u'lláh has thereby encouraged action and stimulated service. But the energies of the heart must not be attached to these things; the soul must not be completely occupied with them. Though the mind is busy, the heart must be attracted toward the Kingdom of God in order that the virtues of humanity may be attained from every direction and source."
The loss of temper, evil, etc. caused by asceticism due to weakness and not praiseworthy[edit]
"By enduring ascetic hardships the powers of nature will undergo dissolution which will result in great weakness whereby one is made incapable of doing anything. He will not show any temper. He will not do any evil. He will not cause a riot; he is quiet. He is wronged; he is like a lamb. But this is due to weakness. But he who has attained spiritual asceticism acquires these attributes by strength of character. When a man by nature, that is to say, by some imperfection of nature, is incapable of committing uncommendable acts, that is nothing in his favor. But if he by sheer force of will and spiritual training attains to a state of character which prevents him from doing such things, this is a great credit to him. The insane man is entirely detached from all bonds and ties; he is absolutely free from all attachments. But this is not a commendation to him. But when the disciples of Christ, who were in a normal state of mind and body let go of everything in life, that is indeed commendable."
- ('Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Volume 8, Issue 6, pp. 60-61; article in Fortnightly Review, June, 1911, by Miss E. S. Stevens)
See also[edit]
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