Six Steps to Spiritual Growth

This is a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 1 September 1983 to a National Spiritual Assembly in Europe about the "six steps"

Dear Bah�'� Friends,
������Europe has suffered so appallingly in past centuries from persecutions and conflicts inspired by religious differences and fanaticism that there has been a revulsion against religion. Many Europeans have become sceptical, scornful of religious practices, and reluctant either to discuss religious subjects or to give credence to the power of faith. This turning away from religion has been powerfully reinforced by the growth of materialism, and has produced a combination of physical well-being and spiritual aridity that is having catastrophic results, socially and psychologically, on the population.

This intellectual and emotional atmosphere creates problems for the Bah�'� community in two ways. Its effect upon a large portion of the non-Bah�'� population makes it difficult for Bah�'�s to convey the Message to others. Its effect upon the Bah�'�s is more subtle, but no less harmful: if not consciously combatted, it can lead the believers to neglect those spiritual exercises which are the very fountainhead of their spiritual strength and the nourishment of their souls.

Bah�'u'll�h has stated quite clearly in His Writings the essential requisites for our spiritual growth, and these are stressed again and again by 'Abdu'l-Bah� in His talks and Tablets. One can summarize them briefly in this way: (see the "Steps" panel)

These points, expressed in other words, have already been conveyed to the friends in Europe by the Counsellors, but the House of Justice wishes to stress them, because they represent the path towards the attainment of true spirituality that has been laid down by the Manifestation of God for this age.

It is striking how private and personal the most fundamental spiritual exercises of prayer and meditation are in the Faith. Bah�'�s do, of course, have meetings for devotions, as in the Mashriqu'l-Adhk�r or at Nineteen Day Feasts, but the daily Obligatory Prayers are ordained to be said in the privacy of one's chamber, and meditation on the Teachings is, likewise, a private individual activity, not a form of group therapy. In His talks 'Abdu'l-Bah� describes prayer as 'conversation with God', and concerning meditation He says that "while you meditate you are speaking with your own spirit. In that state of mind you put certain questions to your spirit and the spirit answers: the light breaks forth and reality is revealed."

There are, of course, other things that one can do to increase one's spirituality. For example, Bah�'u'll�h has specified no procedures to be followed in meditation, and individual believers are free to do as they wish in this area, provided that they remain in harmony with the Teachings, but such activities are purely personal and should under no circumstances be confused with those actions which Bah�'u'll�h Himself considered to be of fundamental importance for our spiritual growth. Some believers may find that it is beneficial to them to follow a particular method of meditation, and they may certainly do so, but such methods should not be taught at Bah�'� Summer Schools or be carried out during a session of the School because, while they may appeal to some people, they may repel others. They have nothing to do with the Faith and should be kept quite separate so that enquirers will not be confused.

The House of Justice is confident that if the believers throughout Europe will conscientiously strive to increase their spirituality in the six ways outlined above, and become aware in their inmost beings that in all their services they are but vehicles for the confirming power of God, they will attract the hearts of their fellow citizens and penetrate the miasma of materialism that veils the sight of so many of their countrymen. Effort, activity, unity and constant reliance on the power of Bah�'u'll�h will assuredly overcome all obstacles."

(On behalf of the Universal House of Justice, 1 September 1983 to a National Spiritual Assembly in Europe)