sacrifice and suffering are two closely related subjects. and we are also told that "until a being setteth his foot in the plane of sacrifice, he is bereft of every favour and grace..." (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 76)
sacrifice: the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim. (from dictionary.com)
it is of course easier for me to just lie down in my couch and watch tv than do something else that is useful, such as studying or working on some project. but of what positive effect will I then be, both to myself and others? (this is of course disregarding those times when someone indeed is very tired and in need of rest.) read this:
"Men who suffer not, attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardeners is that one which, when the summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit.
The labourer cuts up the earth with his plough, and from that earth comes the rich and plentiful harvest. The more a man is chastened, the greater is the harvest of spiritual virtues shown forth by him. A soldier is no good General until he has been in the front of the fiercest battle and has received the deepest wounds.
The prayer of the prophets of God has always been, and still is: Oh God, I long to lay down my life in the path to Thee! I desire to shed my blood for Thee, and to make the supreme sacrifice."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 51)
so obviously we have to suffer and sacrifice ourselves to develop and grow as human beings. to sacrifice, means to make something holy. our higher, spiritual, nature has to be put above the lower, animal, nature. but here comes the interesting/paradoxical part: if what we are giving up is less important than what we will be gaining, there is no sacrifice. in effect, it is only a perceived sacrifice, because we believe something else to be more important. and in one sense, if we tell ourselves that we are making a sacrifice, we really aren't, because then we are only doing the right thing.
we also have to remember that as we have different spiritual capacities, what is difficult for one person to prioritize might be more difficult than for someone else. we always have to compare to our own situation and challenges. and obviously, no one is so perfect that they are able to always make the right choice, choosing what's best for us and our spiritual long-term growth. it's all a process, and optimally we would of course never have to make any sacrifices, but always doing what's most beneficial to us.
sacrifice: the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim. (from dictionary.com)
it is of course easier for me to just lie down in my couch and watch tv than do something else that is useful, such as studying or working on some project. but of what positive effect will I then be, both to myself and others? (this is of course disregarding those times when someone indeed is very tired and in need of rest.) read this:
"Men who suffer not, attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardeners is that one which, when the summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit.
The labourer cuts up the earth with his plough, and from that earth comes the rich and plentiful harvest. The more a man is chastened, the greater is the harvest of spiritual virtues shown forth by him. A soldier is no good General until he has been in the front of the fiercest battle and has received the deepest wounds.
The prayer of the prophets of God has always been, and still is: Oh God, I long to lay down my life in the path to Thee! I desire to shed my blood for Thee, and to make the supreme sacrifice."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 51)
so obviously we have to suffer and sacrifice ourselves to develop and grow as human beings. to sacrifice, means to make something holy. our higher, spiritual, nature has to be put above the lower, animal, nature. but here comes the interesting/paradoxical part: if what we are giving up is less important than what we will be gaining, there is no sacrifice. in effect, it is only a perceived sacrifice, because we believe something else to be more important. and in one sense, if we tell ourselves that we are making a sacrifice, we really aren't, because then we are only doing the right thing.
we also have to remember that as we have different spiritual capacities, what is difficult for one person to prioritize might be more difficult than for someone else. we always have to compare to our own situation and challenges. and obviously, no one is so perfect that they are able to always make the right choice, choosing what's best for us and our spiritual long-term growth. it's all a process, and optimally we would of course never have to make any sacrifices, but always doing what's most beneficial to us.
No comments:
Post a Comment