Regarding
the questions you asked: self has really two meanings, or is used in two senses,
in the Baha'i writings; one is self, the identity of the individual created by
God. This is the self mentioned in such passages as 'he hath known God who hath
known himself etc.' The other self is the ego, the dark, animalistic heritage
each one of us has, the lower nature that can develop into a monster of
selfishness, brutality, lust and so on. It is this self we must struggle
against, or this side of our natures, in order to strengthen and free the
spirit within us and help it to attain perfection.
Self-sacrifice
means to subordinate this lower nature and its desires to the more godly and
noble side of ourselves. Ultimately, in its highest sense, self sacrifice means
to give our will and our all to God to do with as He pleases. Then He purifies
and glorifies our true self until it becomes a shining and wonderful reality.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer,
December 10, 1947; compilation: Lights of Guidance)
