"happiness and greatness"
in wealth and poverty
As you may too recall in earlier years at school often at the essay writing class we would be invited or assigned to present papers revolving the comparative themes and questions of ‘knowledge and learning’, ‘money and business’, ‘integrity and virtues’, ‘happiness and success’, and their mutual relations, effects and resulting outcome—within the contexts of “wealth” and “poverty” and the varying concepts, causes and consequences of being “poor” or “rich”. While the students were expected to think and write their own fair deductions and honest opinions on the matters and the assignments seemed to encourage a free exercise of one’s faculties and independent understanding, the obtained marks were not to be affected by the views expressed, but rather be based on the articulation of thoughts, strength of reasoning and logical arguments, writing structure and the level of skills and command of language. Of course the quality of the whole process depended, in one hand, on where the evaluator herself or himself was coming from, the nature and standing of the mental and moral experiences, and the reference points and directions of the ideals with which they were being exercised; and on the other hand, on how true the junior writers were to their values and to the perceptions and logical reasoning of their own minds—and if all indeed were reflecting a pristine originality or whether would be instead adjusted cleverly to please the evaluator in a hope for a higher mark too. Decisions and choices which however subtle and minor at times, would find their roots in each one’s corresponding conditions and states of the within and the without, by turn. With this unassuming preamble, presuming you may have already been taken in mind for moments back to then—for many of you not so long ago, and for some, certainly as near as the present—it could be a worthwhile mental exercise to pause and think for ourselves on these matters now, weighing the relevance and changes, the progressive complexities and facts, comparing the patterns and processes, if were to write such assignments today. Focused on intellectual aspects and deliberate though we may be in reasoning and approval of currents, humanly and personal we cannot but feel affected and overwhelmed—wondering fairly on the limitless abundance and diversions, the forgotten precious and scarce within the extremes and over-growths, dropping in sharp turns the cries and sighs, glittered and colorful but heavy, dull and drooping in exaggerated moods, not satisfied but full, over-achieved and possessed with goods and goods, yet more goods, empty-pocketed though cluttered with cards and credits, from top to toes—strangely too, hardly anyone sees the real money nowadays, it is almost all in the restless figures, fading inks and shaky words...
It is evidently a vast area of discussion, and currently more than ever a major arena of attention and deep concerns, in so many levels and ways. One point that I choose to focus upon and venture to note is that to me, both ‘wealth’ and ‘poverty’, each neither by itself is a good thing nor is otherwise not good—it all depends on what either one accomplishes, and does to us and to others; and the “rich” and “poor” could each merit a fortunate state or be the owner of misery itself—pending on how each one lives and encounters with the corresponding situation. There could be a significant difference in the unexpected outcome of each one, depending on whether one adjusts and harmonizes the related circumstances for the better, or for the worse. And if one has blissfully moved towards better—however rich or poor—is the reached state, is being held stilled and passive in the name of aloofness and contentment, or is the situation kept advancing and developing actively? Is the attitude gratefully content, only yearning for perfection, progressing and positive, transforming itself and everything that is around it to arrive at best?
The terms “wealth” and “poverty” are in every respect relative, and no matter how wealthy in anything someone might be, one can always become wealthier, and likewise is the case with poverty. To have a balanced society with an orderly and harmonious structure, it is really not logical to imagine a world where everyone would be absolutely the same and equal in wealth. And why should it be, when by nature everything in creation, including us of course, is unique and each one’s innate powers and potential abilities are so colorfully different and interestingly diverse? Unquestionably and regardless of differences and variances, everyone is wealthy and in possession of potential capacities, born noble and with equal rights to meet opportunities for developing and perfecting oneself all through one’s life—however so, it is not expected or possible for all to be the same and identical in resulting perfection and its qualities and degrees. Likewise, in material state and practical living circumstances it cannot be expected or be possible to have absolute equality. It is only that no one should be deprived of equal and just opportunities to acquire and enjoy a deserving relative wealth. As the key for the former is recognizing equal rights for every human being, regardless of the degree, kind and intensity of one’s potential capacities; similarly, a dignified and fair minimum level of wealth for every human being should be recognized, moderating the systems in our societies so to eliminate the extremes in poverty and in wealth, having a world where, "All the peoples of the world will enjoy like interests, and the poor shall possess a portion of the comforts of life. Just as the rich are surrounded by their luxuries in palaces, the poor will have at least their comfortable and pleasant places of abode; and just as the wealthy enjoy a variety of food, the needy shall have their necessities and no longer live in poverty.” (From a Talk by `Abdu'l-Baha on May 6, 1912, "Promulgation of Universal Peace", p.103)
Beyond this binding principle, for those minds that gaze ever higher and soar above the limits with nobler aspirations—whatever their standing point, the following passage is a defining lofty standard. It is a mission statement for every individual of today, and a guiding light for present-day societies across the globe which are to nurture and recognize, sustain and value those who are endowed with these matchless gifts and who minister to common good and the betterment of all. I think it should be engraved with choicest diamond on the perceptive and fair golden minds!
Beyond this binding principle, for those minds that gaze ever higher and soar above the limits with nobler aspirations—whatever their standing point, the following passage is a defining lofty standard. It is a mission statement for every individual of today, and a guiding light for present-day societies across the globe which are to nurture and recognize, sustain and value those who are endowed with these matchless gifts and who minister to common good and the betterment of all. I think it should be engraved with choicest diamond on the perceptive and fair golden minds!
“The happiness and greatness, the rank and station, the pleasure and peace, of an individual have never consisted in his personal wealth, but rather in his excellent character, his high resolve, the breadth of his learning and his ability to solve difficult problems.”
(`Abdu’l-Baha, "The Secret of Divine Civilization", p.23)
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