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Humility
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Pages 83-85
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Humility
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While we are commanded to overlook the faults of others,
and see their virtues, we are commanded, on the other hand,
to find out our own faults and take no account of our virtues.
Bahá'u'lláh says in the Hidden Words: --
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O Son of Being!
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How couldst thou forge thine own faults and busy
thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is
accursed of Me.
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O Emigrants!
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The tongue I have designed for the mention of Me,
defile it not with detraction. If the fire of self overcome
you, remember your own faults and not the faults of My
creatures, inasmuch as every one of you knoweth his own
self better than he knoweth others.
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`Abdu'l-Bahá says: --
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Let your life be an emanation of the Kingdom of
Christ. He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.
... In the religion of Bahá'u'lláh all are servants and
maidservants, brothers and sisters. As soon as one feels
a little better than, a little superior to, the rest, he is in
a dangerous position, and unless he casts away the seed
of such an evil thought, he is not a fit instrument for the
service of the Kingdom.
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Dissatisfaction with oneself is a sign of progress. The
soul who is satisfied with himself is the manifestation of
Satan, and the one who is not contented with himself is
the manifestation of the Merciful. If a person has a
thousand good qualities he must not look at them; nay,
rather he must strive to find out his own defects and imperfections.
...However much a man may progress,
yet he is imperfect, because there is always a point ahead
of him. No sooner does he look up towards that point
than he become dissatisfied with his own condition, and
aspires to attain to that. Praising one's own self is the
sign of selfishness. -- Diary of Mírzá Ahmad Sohrab,
1914.
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Although we are commanded to recognize and sincerely repent
of our sins, the practice of confession to priests and others is
definitely forbidden. Bahá'u'lláh says in the Glad Tidings: --
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The sinner, when his heart is free from all save God,
must seek forgiveness from God alone. Confession before
the servants (i.e. before men) is not permissible, for it
is not the means or the cause of Divine Forgiveness. Such
confession before the creatures leads to one's humiliation
and abasement, and God -- exalted by His Glory -- does
not wish for the humiliation of His servants. Verily He is
Compassionate and Beneficent. The sinner must, between
himself and God, beg for mercy from the Sea of Mercy
and implore pardon from the Heaven of Forgiveness.
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