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.
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 Shoghl Effendi
to an individual believer, December
10,
1947; compilation: ‘Lights of Guidance’)
