Greetings!
Another thing to remember is that both spirituality and becoming fully Baha'i are ongoing processes, not overnight miracles!
So we all strive to improve and, eventually, to "arrive" at what we truly should be and attain.
(BTW, you'll have to think about getting yourself another handle for once you're no longer a one-year-old "baby" Baha'i. :-)
Cheers,
Bruce
Baha'i purity, etc
-
BruceDLimber
- Posts: 189
- Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2006 5:34 pm
- Location: Rockville, Maryland, USA
In my own experience, giving up masturbation is much easier than giving up pornography. I became a Baha'i when I was sixteen, at which time masturbation was regular. It took about 2-3 years to give it up. But I stopped doing it totally a few years ago, so I think I can definitely say that I'm over it. And if I can do it, anyone can:-). I'm not even tempted. It is just second nature for me to not do it. I'm very happy about that.
Pornography for me is much more difficult. I might go several months, sometimes over a year without it, and without missing it or desiring it in anyway, but then I just have a moment of weakness. It's quite revolting when that happens, and I always feel sick afterwards, no matter how little I look at. I pray to God to protect me from that.
The keys to living a chaste life for me are:
1. Be convinced that pornography and masturbation are actually forbidden in the Faith. Baha'u'llah didn't mention it explicitly, but look at these quotations:
On behalf of Shoghi Effendi:
"Chastity implies both before and after marriage an unsullied, chaste sex life. Before marriage absolutely chaste, after marriage absolutely faithful to one's chosen companion. Faithful in all sexual acts, faithful in word and in deed."
"With reference to the question you have asked concerning the Bahá'í attitude towards the problem of sex and its relation to marriage: The Bahá'í Teachings on this matter (...) are very clear and emphatic. (...) Sex relationships of any form, outside marriage, are not permissible..."
"The Bahá'í Faith recognizes the value of the sex impulse, but condemns its illegitimate and improper expression such as free love, companionate marriage and others, all of which it considers positively harmful to man and to the society in which he lives."
"Concerning your question whether there are any legitimate forms of expression of the sex instinct outside of marriage; according to the Bahá'í Teachings no sexual act can be considered lawful unless performed between lawfully married persons."
And from the Universal House of Justice:
"While recognizing the divine origin and force of the sex impulse in man, religion teaches that it must be controlled, and Bahá'u'lláh's law confines its expression to the marriage relationship."
This quotations clearly forbid masturbation as it is obviously an expression of the sex impulse which is not within a marriage relationship.
As for pornography, the House of Justice has written:
"The Bahá'í youth should study the teachings on chastity and, with these in mind, should avoid any behaviour which would arouse passions which would tempt them to violate them. In deciding what acts are permissible to them in the light of these considerations the youth must use their own judgement, following the guidance of their consciences and the advice of their parents."
If you consult your own conscience, I'm sure you will agree that looking at pornography is an activity which arouses passions which tempt you to violate the Baha'i teachings on chastity.
2. Read the Kitab-i-Aqdas and try to realise what an honour and responsibility it is to be human, to be a Baha'i, how God has created you noble, and how pure, modest and chaste we ought to be.
Here are some of the most beautiful quotes from the Aqdas:
"We, verily, have commanded you to
refuse the dictates of your evil passions and corrupt
desires, and not to transgress the bounds which the Pen
of the Most High hath fixed, for these are the breath of
life unto all created things." Verse 3
"We, verily, have made music
as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may
be lifted up unto the realm on high; make it not,
therefore, as wings to self and passion." Verse 51
"O people of the world! Follow not the promptings
of the self, for it summoneth insistently to wickedness
and lust; follow, rather, Him Who is the Possessor of all
created things, Who biddeth you to show forth piety,
and manifest the fear of God." Verse 64
"These, verily, are the Laws of God; transgress
them not at the prompting of your base and selfish
desires. Observe ye the injunctions laid upon you by
Him Who is the Dawning-place of Utterance. The
sincere among His servants will regard the precepts set
forth by God as the Water of Life to the followers of
every faith, and the Lamp of wisdom and loving
providence to all the denizens of earth and heaven." Verse 29
3. Obey the other laws of the Faith, as they help you to build up a spiritual relationship with God, which is ultimately the only thing strong enough to help you overcome you weaknesses.
Especially important are:
A. Obligatory Prayer
B. Reading the Writings of the Manifestation every morning and evening:
"Recite ye the verses of God every morn and
eventide. Whoso faileth to recite them hath not been
faithful to the Covenant of God and His Testament,
and whoso turneth away from these holy verses in this
Day is of those who throughout eternity have turned
away from God." Kitab-i-Aqdas Verse 149
C. Praying every morning and evening and giving thanks to God:
"Reflect, O people, on the grace and blessings of your
Lord, and yield Him thanks at eventide and dawn." Kitab-i-Aqdas Verse 33
"Blessed is he who, at the hour of dawn, centring
his thoughts on God, occupied with His remembrance,
and supplicating His forgiveness, directeth his steps to
the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar and, entering therein, seateth
himself in silence to listen to the verses of God, the
Sovereign, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Say: The
Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is each and every building which
hath been erected in cities and villages for the
celebration of My praise. Such is the name by which it
hath been designated before the throne of glory, were
ye of those who understand.
They who recite the verses of the All-Merciful in
the most melodious of tones will perceive in them that
with which the sovereignty of earth and heaven can
never be compared. From them they will inhale the
divine fragrance of My worlds -- worlds which today
none can discern save those who have been endowed
with vision through this sublime, this beauteous
Revelation. Say: These verses draw hearts that are pure
unto those spiritual worlds that can neither be
expressed in words nor intimated by allusion. Blessed
be those who hearken." Kitab-i-Aqdas Verses 115-116
4. Associate with Baha'is, as they won't tempt you break these laws and some of them are very spiritual people from whom you can learn and adopt the most beautiful of manners and attitudes, to such a degree that you won't even consider your sexual impulses any more, because you will be so immersed in the world of the spirit and your mind will be so purified from all things pertaining to dunyaa (dunyaa is an Arabic word, meaning the Earth, this world, the world below as opposed to the world above, the transitory world as opposed to the heavenly world).
O FRIEND!
In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold. Treasure the companionship of the righteous and eschew all fellowship with the ungodly.
O MY SON!
The company of the ungodly increaseth sorrow, whilst fellowship with the righteous cleanseth the rust from off the heart. He that seeketh to commune with God, let him betake himself to the companionship of His loved ones; and he that desireth to hearken unto the word of God, let him give ear to the words of His chosen ones.
O SON OF DUST!
Beware! Walk not with the ungodly and seek not fellowship with him, for such companionship turneth the radiance of the heart into infernal fire.
O SON OF MY HANDMAID!
Wouldst thou seek the grace of the Holy Spirit, enter into fellowship with the righteous, for he hath drunk the cup of eternal life at the hands of the immortal Cup-bearer and even as the true morn doth quicken and illumine the hearts of the dead.
5. Fear God
"Fear ye God; God will teach you" Qur'an, 2.282
"Purify thou, first, thy soul with the waters of renunciation, and adorn thine head with the crown of the fear of God, and thy temple with the ornament of reliance upon Him." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf (ESW), p. 2
"Every cause needeth a helper. In this Revelation the hosts which can render it victorious are the hosts of praiseworthy deeds and upright character. The leader and commander of these hosts hath ever been the fear of God, a fear that encompasseth all things, and reigneth over all things." ESW, p. 26
"The fear of God hath ever been the prime factor in the education of His creatures." ESW, p. 26
"The fear of God hath ever been a sure defence and a safe stronghold for all the peoples of the world. It is the chief cause of the protection of mankind, and the supreme instrument for its preservation." ESW p.27
Pornography for me is much more difficult. I might go several months, sometimes over a year without it, and without missing it or desiring it in anyway, but then I just have a moment of weakness. It's quite revolting when that happens, and I always feel sick afterwards, no matter how little I look at. I pray to God to protect me from that.
The keys to living a chaste life for me are:
1. Be convinced that pornography and masturbation are actually forbidden in the Faith. Baha'u'llah didn't mention it explicitly, but look at these quotations:
On behalf of Shoghi Effendi:
"Chastity implies both before and after marriage an unsullied, chaste sex life. Before marriage absolutely chaste, after marriage absolutely faithful to one's chosen companion. Faithful in all sexual acts, faithful in word and in deed."
"With reference to the question you have asked concerning the Bahá'í attitude towards the problem of sex and its relation to marriage: The Bahá'í Teachings on this matter (...) are very clear and emphatic. (...) Sex relationships of any form, outside marriage, are not permissible..."
"The Bahá'í Faith recognizes the value of the sex impulse, but condemns its illegitimate and improper expression such as free love, companionate marriage and others, all of which it considers positively harmful to man and to the society in which he lives."
"Concerning your question whether there are any legitimate forms of expression of the sex instinct outside of marriage; according to the Bahá'í Teachings no sexual act can be considered lawful unless performed between lawfully married persons."
And from the Universal House of Justice:
"While recognizing the divine origin and force of the sex impulse in man, religion teaches that it must be controlled, and Bahá'u'lláh's law confines its expression to the marriage relationship."
This quotations clearly forbid masturbation as it is obviously an expression of the sex impulse which is not within a marriage relationship.
As for pornography, the House of Justice has written:
"The Bahá'í youth should study the teachings on chastity and, with these in mind, should avoid any behaviour which would arouse passions which would tempt them to violate them. In deciding what acts are permissible to them in the light of these considerations the youth must use their own judgement, following the guidance of their consciences and the advice of their parents."
If you consult your own conscience, I'm sure you will agree that looking at pornography is an activity which arouses passions which tempt you to violate the Baha'i teachings on chastity.
2. Read the Kitab-i-Aqdas and try to realise what an honour and responsibility it is to be human, to be a Baha'i, how God has created you noble, and how pure, modest and chaste we ought to be.
Here are some of the most beautiful quotes from the Aqdas:
"We, verily, have commanded you to
refuse the dictates of your evil passions and corrupt
desires, and not to transgress the bounds which the Pen
of the Most High hath fixed, for these are the breath of
life unto all created things." Verse 3
"We, verily, have made music
as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may
be lifted up unto the realm on high; make it not,
therefore, as wings to self and passion." Verse 51
"O people of the world! Follow not the promptings
of the self, for it summoneth insistently to wickedness
and lust; follow, rather, Him Who is the Possessor of all
created things, Who biddeth you to show forth piety,
and manifest the fear of God." Verse 64
"These, verily, are the Laws of God; transgress
them not at the prompting of your base and selfish
desires. Observe ye the injunctions laid upon you by
Him Who is the Dawning-place of Utterance. The
sincere among His servants will regard the precepts set
forth by God as the Water of Life to the followers of
every faith, and the Lamp of wisdom and loving
providence to all the denizens of earth and heaven." Verse 29
3. Obey the other laws of the Faith, as they help you to build up a spiritual relationship with God, which is ultimately the only thing strong enough to help you overcome you weaknesses.
Especially important are:
A. Obligatory Prayer
B. Reading the Writings of the Manifestation every morning and evening:
"Recite ye the verses of God every morn and
eventide. Whoso faileth to recite them hath not been
faithful to the Covenant of God and His Testament,
and whoso turneth away from these holy verses in this
Day is of those who throughout eternity have turned
away from God." Kitab-i-Aqdas Verse 149
C. Praying every morning and evening and giving thanks to God:
"Reflect, O people, on the grace and blessings of your
Lord, and yield Him thanks at eventide and dawn." Kitab-i-Aqdas Verse 33
"Blessed is he who, at the hour of dawn, centring
his thoughts on God, occupied with His remembrance,
and supplicating His forgiveness, directeth his steps to
the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar and, entering therein, seateth
himself in silence to listen to the verses of God, the
Sovereign, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Say: The
Mashriqu'l-Adhkar is each and every building which
hath been erected in cities and villages for the
celebration of My praise. Such is the name by which it
hath been designated before the throne of glory, were
ye of those who understand.
They who recite the verses of the All-Merciful in
the most melodious of tones will perceive in them that
with which the sovereignty of earth and heaven can
never be compared. From them they will inhale the
divine fragrance of My worlds -- worlds which today
none can discern save those who have been endowed
with vision through this sublime, this beauteous
Revelation. Say: These verses draw hearts that are pure
unto those spiritual worlds that can neither be
expressed in words nor intimated by allusion. Blessed
be those who hearken." Kitab-i-Aqdas Verses 115-116
4. Associate with Baha'is, as they won't tempt you break these laws and some of them are very spiritual people from whom you can learn and adopt the most beautiful of manners and attitudes, to such a degree that you won't even consider your sexual impulses any more, because you will be so immersed in the world of the spirit and your mind will be so purified from all things pertaining to dunyaa (dunyaa is an Arabic word, meaning the Earth, this world, the world below as opposed to the world above, the transitory world as opposed to the heavenly world).
O FRIEND!
In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of love, and from the nightingale of affection and desire loosen not thy hold. Treasure the companionship of the righteous and eschew all fellowship with the ungodly.
O MY SON!
The company of the ungodly increaseth sorrow, whilst fellowship with the righteous cleanseth the rust from off the heart. He that seeketh to commune with God, let him betake himself to the companionship of His loved ones; and he that desireth to hearken unto the word of God, let him give ear to the words of His chosen ones.
O SON OF DUST!
Beware! Walk not with the ungodly and seek not fellowship with him, for such companionship turneth the radiance of the heart into infernal fire.
O SON OF MY HANDMAID!
Wouldst thou seek the grace of the Holy Spirit, enter into fellowship with the righteous, for he hath drunk the cup of eternal life at the hands of the immortal Cup-bearer and even as the true morn doth quicken and illumine the hearts of the dead.
5. Fear God
"Fear ye God; God will teach you" Qur'an, 2.282
"Purify thou, first, thy soul with the waters of renunciation, and adorn thine head with the crown of the fear of God, and thy temple with the ornament of reliance upon Him." Epistle to the Son of the Wolf (ESW), p. 2
"Every cause needeth a helper. In this Revelation the hosts which can render it victorious are the hosts of praiseworthy deeds and upright character. The leader and commander of these hosts hath ever been the fear of God, a fear that encompasseth all things, and reigneth over all things." ESW, p. 26
"The fear of God hath ever been the prime factor in the education of His creatures." ESW, p. 26
"The fear of God hath ever been a sure defence and a safe stronghold for all the peoples of the world. It is the chief cause of the protection of mankind, and the supreme instrument for its preservation." ESW p.27
ma shaa'a allaah! I have just seen a most wonderful verse in the Aqdas, which directly relates to pornography:
"Hold ye fast unto refinement under all conditions, that
your eyes may be preserved from beholding what is
repugnant both to your own selves and to the dwellers
of Paradise." Kitab-i-Aqdas, verse 46
How could this verse possibly be more clear, more beautiful, or more powerful. It is truly a miracle. O God, protect us from our satanic desires!
"Hold ye fast unto refinement under all conditions, that
your eyes may be preserved from beholding what is
repugnant both to your own selves and to the dwellers
of Paradise." Kitab-i-Aqdas, verse 46
How could this verse possibly be more clear, more beautiful, or more powerful. It is truly a miracle. O God, protect us from our satanic desires!