Spiritual Teachings/Work as Worship

Spiritual Teachings

Proofread once

[Page 11] 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

‘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. [Page 12] Whatever his job, one should work to the best of his ability. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says that the man who makes a piece of notebook paper as well as he possibly can is worshiping and giving praise to God. When one remembers that work is worship, he will want to offer only his best to God.

9. Life after Death

All the Messengers of God have taught that the soul of man lives on after the death of the body. When the body dies, the soul is untouched. If one breaks a bird’s cage, the bird is not hurt. The same is true of the soul of man. Man’s body is like the cage, and his soul is like the bird. Death is simply the time when the soul finishes with the body and begins its journey through the next world. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, “The soul is eternal, immortal.”¹⁵ After separation from the body the soul will continue to develop until it reaches the presence of God.

Although man sees death as an ending, it is really a beginning. Escape from the body is a new birth, and the soul enters into a freer, fuller life. Man cannot understand the next life any more than an unborn child can understand this life. Bahá’ís know that the next world offers peace and spiritual gifts to those who truly believe in God. Bahá’u’lláh says, “I have made death a messenger of joy to thee.”¹⁶ He assures man that death leads to a life more beautiful than can be imagined in this world.