Life's Purpose: Achieving Wealth Accumulation?
In the fast-paced world we live in, success is often measured by wealth, social media followers, and popularity. However, according to the Bahá'í teachings, this narrow definition of success overlooks a crucial aspect: the balance between material progress and spiritual development.
The Bahá'í faith, founded in the 19th century, offers a unique perspective on wealth and success. Wealth is praiseworthy, it suggests, if it is acquired through one's efforts and dedicated to altruistic purposes. But the pursuit of wealth and fame alone can lead to selfishness and moral neglect. Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í faith, calls individuals to exert effort not for personal glory but to contribute to the rehabilitation and upliftment of society through wisdom, service, and virtuous action. Material success without spiritual growth does not lead to true happiness or fulfillment.
The impact of this imbalance extends beyond individuals. Families, meant to be centers of love, education, and moral support, can be weakened when members prioritize material gains over spiritual virtues. The Bahá'í teachings advocate for a society where families are nurturing environments that raise wholesome individuals.
Communities also suffer when the pursuit of wealth and fame overshadows unity, justice, and service. The Bahá'í teachings advocate for social and economic development that integrates both material and spiritual well-being, fostering collective progress rather than individualistic pursuit of wealth or fame. This balance creates harmonious societies that advance human dignity and unity.
The Bahá'í teachings do not advocate for complete shunning of wealth or fame, but rather a balance between material and spiritual progress. Poverty is not to be desired, but being poor in material things while rich in God is a wonderful gift. The pursuit of personal interests and advantages is wretched and contemptible, while serving society and promoting civilization and justice is excellent and honorable.
The book of Abdu'l-Baha, "The Secret of Divine Civilization", contains a powerful passage defining the true reasons for human creation. According to this text, humans should strive to establish new bases for human happiness and promote renewed instruments for this end. Happiness derived from material possessions and fame is temporary and unreliable. True success, the Bahá'í teachings suggest, is not measured by wealth, fame, or recognition, but by spending days fulfilling one's purpose by serving human society.
Judging success solely by these measures has harmful effects on society, particularly on youth and the next generation. The loss of fame or wealth can lead to negative consequences such as sadness, self-hatred, addiction, and a feeling of failure in life. Achieving happiness in life is not limited to physical happiness, but also includes spiritual happiness, which is eternal and boundless.
In conclusion, the Bahá'í teachings view the excessive focus on wealth, fame, and material success as detrimental unless these pursuits are guided by spiritual principles and aimed at the betterment of humanity and the unity of mankind. The individual's purpose on this planet should be reconsidered in light of this concept of the true reasons for human creation.
- In line with Bahá'í teachings, it's crucial to balance personal finance, wealth-management, and education-and-self-development, ensuring they serve personal-growth rather than lead to selfishness and moral neglect.
- The Bahá'í faith advocates for families where wealth is not prioritized over spiritual virtues, emphasizing a nurturing environment that promotes personal-finance wisdom, service, and fosters personal-growth.
- To achieve true happiness and fulfillment, the Bahá'í teachings advise that we should focus on personal-finance and wealth-management not for personal glory, but to contribute to the social and economic development of our communities, fostering unity, justice, and personal-growth.
