Spiritual Teachings/Prayer and Meditation
7. Prayer and Meditation[edit]
Bahá’u’lláh teaches that everyone must pray. Prayer causes a connection between one's soul and God. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, "While man prays he sees himself in the presence of God." 8 Since prayer is the language of love, Bahá’ís will naturally want to turn to their Beloved often. Bahá’u’lláh instructs Bahá’ís to pray at least once a day, using one of the three obligatory prayers. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá notes that praying early in the morning and at night "is conducive to the joy of hearts."9
How should one pray? First one must free himself from all worldly thoughts and turn to God, Who says: "O Son of Light! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it." 10 Often man talks with God using the prayers which come from his own heart and which express his needs and desires. At other times he uses the prayers revealed by the Manifestations. These prayers have a special power because they are part of the creative word of God. They also teach man how to pray. When Jesus was asked by His disciples how to pray, He gave them the Lord's Prayer. Bahá’u’lláh and the Center of His Covenant, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, have also revealed many prayers to guide and nourish man's soul.
Are prayers always answered? ‘Abdu’l-Bahá assures man that "God will answer the prayer of every servant if that prayer is urgent. His mercy is vast, illimitable." 11 However the answer to one's prayers may not be a "yes" or come in the way one expects. Sometimes man, in his ignorance, asks for things which might be harmful to him. God, the All-Knowing, the All-Merciful, must then, like a loving Father, say "no."
In addition to praying with words, one can pray with actions. Deeds which are performed to the glory of God and in service to mankind are prayers in action. Bahá’u’lláh says one's whole life should be a beautiful prayer.
Prayer and meditation are both ways in which man follows Bahá’u’lláh’s instruction to "Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all
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the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.’’ 12 Meditation is a type of thought or reflection during which man withdraws from the world and turns his inner vision to the mysteries of God. He sees with spiritual eyes and discovers the deeper meanings of things.
Meditation is the key for opening the doors of God’s mysteries. Through meditation man receives new insights and is inspired to make new inventions or to raise the sciences and arts to a new level. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says that “Through the faculty of meditation man . . . receives the breath of the Holy Spirit. . . . Through it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he receives heavenly food.” 13 He also says, “The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during meditation. . . .” 14
Not all thoughts which come to man during meditation are inspired by God. Many are useless products of vain imagining. Man’s soul is like a mirror. If the mirror is turned to the world during meditation, it will reflect worldly things. If the mirror is turned to the spiritual kingdom, it will reflect the beauty of God. One should direct his thoughts toward the mysteries of the
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spiritual world and meditate on the life and teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.
As with prayer, one must follow meditation with action. New understandings and insights must be demonstrated by pure and holy deeds. These deeds are the fruit of meditation.
8. Work as Worship[edit]
‘Abdu’l-Bahá says that worship is serving mankind and ministering to the needs of the people. As one studies the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and sees how He helped and comforted all who came to Him, one’s heart is filled with the desire to follow ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s example and become a worshiping servant. Every Bahá’í can serve mankind through his work.
In this new age Bahá’u’lláh has raised work done in the spirit of service to the level of worship. No longer is one’s job separated from religious life. In fact, having some type of job is a command of God. Everyone who is physically able must work, whether as a farmer, factory or office worker, teacher, doctor, student, or housewife. Any form of honest work performed in a spirit of service is acceptable to God.