Becoming a True Seeker

How do we find and internalize the beautiful spiritual truths and actions contained in the Baha’i teachings?  We become true seekers:

The true seeker hunteth naught but the object of his quest, and the lover hath no desire save union with his beloved.  Nor shall the seeker reach his goal unless he sacrifice all things.  That is, whatever he hath seen, and heard, and understood, all must he set at naught, that he may enter the realm of the spirit, which is the City of God. – Baha’u’llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 7.

Baha’u’llah described the qualities of the true seeker, one who searches for deep meaning in life and for God with all of the ardor implied in such a spiritual quest:

O My brother!  When a true seeker determineth to take the step of search in the path leading unto the knowledge of the Ancient of Days, he must, before all else, cleanse his heart, which is the seat of the revelation of the inner mysteries of God, from the obscuring dust of all acquired knowledge… He must so cleanse his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein, lest that love blindly incline him to error, or that hate repel him away from the truth…

That seeker must, at all times, put his trust in God, must renounce the peoples of the earth, must detach himself from the world of dust, and cleave unto Him Who is the Lord of Lords.  He must never seek to exalt himself above any one, must wash away from the tablet of his heart every trace of pride and vain-glory, must cling unto patience and resignation, observe silence and refrain from idle talk.  For the tongue is a smoldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison.  Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul.  The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century. 

That seeker should, also, regard backbiting as grievous error, and keep himself aloof from its dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul.  He should be content with little, and be freed from all inordinate desire.  He should treasure the companionship of them that have renounced the world, and regard avoidance of boastful and worldly people a precious benefit.  At the dawn of every day he should commune with God, and, with all his soul, persevere in the quest of his Beloved.  He should consume every wayward thought with the flame of His loving mention, and, with the swiftness of lightning, pass by all else save Him.  He should succor the dispossessed, and never withhold his favor from the destitute. He should show kindness to animals, how much more unto his fellow-man, to him who is endowed with Our purpose in revealing these convincing and weighty utterances is to impress upon the seeker that he should regard all else beside God as transient, and count all things save Him, Who is the Object of all adoration, as utter nothingness. the power of utterance.  He should not hesitate to offer up his life for his Beloved, nor allow the censure of the people to turn him away from the Truth. He should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfil.  With all his heart he should avoid fellowship with evil-doers, and pray for the remission of their sins.  He should forgive the sinful, and never despise his low estate, for none knoweth what his own end shall be.  How often hath a sinner attained, at the hour of death, to the essence of faith, and, quaffing the immortal draught, hath taken his flight unto the Concourse on high!  And how often hath a devout believer, at the hour of his soul’s ascension, been so changed as to fall into the nethermost fire! 

These are among the attributes of the exalted, and constitute the hall-mark of the spiritually-minded. They have already been mentioned in connection with the requirements of the wayfarers that tread the path of Positive Knowledge.  When the detached wayfarer and sincere seeker hath fulfilled these essential conditions, then and only then can he be called a true seeker.  Whensoever he hath fulfilled the conditions implied in the verse:  “Whoso maketh efforts for Us,” he shall enjoy the blessings conferred by the words:  “In Our Ways shall We assuredly guide him.” – Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 264.

These guidelines from the Baha’i teachings for true spiritual seekers point us toward a path of inner discovery, deep meaning and pure love. 

Adapted from One With All The Earth, © Kalimat Press 2003, All Rights Reserved.