The Life of the Spirit
Bahá'u'lláh's Revelation affirms that the purpose of our lives is to know God and to attain His presence. Our true identity is our rational soul, whose spiritual development is the very purpose of life.
Four topics are examined below. Under each heading there are reflections, selections from the Bahá'í writings, and further resources.
Every human being possesses an immortal, rational soul that passes through this world for a brief time and continues for eternity to advance towards God. The human soul is the seat of understanding, spiritual perception and free will.
"O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life."
— Bahá'u'lláh, The Hidden Words
Acts of devotion such as prayer, meditation, fasting, pilgrimage, and service to others are inherent to religious life. Through them, individuals and communities gain access to spiritual energy and draw ever closer to God.
Just as a candle's purpose is to provide light, the human soul was created to give generously. We fulfil our highest purpose in a life of service in which we expend our God-given talents, time and material resources for the benefit of others.
The cultivation of spiritual qualities in this world is inseparable from an ongoing refinement of our conduct in which our actions increasingly come to reflect the beauty of our inner spiritual life.