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[nabil1030]

I just read the story about Mírzá Adu'l-Fadl in `Akká when the Western pilgrims shower him with so much praise because of his service to the Cause in America. They continued to unstintingly praise him for teaching the Faith to many people, defending the Cause and strengthening the Bahá'í community, until he burst into tears. `Abdu'l-Bahá said this

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a simple man's "answer" to your question...

[ext_217927]

I am thinking of habits. We know we must read from the writings in the morn and eve, to teach our beloved Cause each day, to pray our obligatory prayer(s) and to say Allah'u'Abha 95 times in the prescribed manner, etc. I feel that if a person asks the question you have, the first thing is to mention these religious obligations and ask a rhetorical question, namely:

"Could you be more fulfilled by honing in on each one of these, say one of these a day, and really analyzing why you do it, how you do it, what possibilities surround how it is performed that may help you to gain a better sense of fulfillment from it... etc."

That is to say, you might pray extra and meditate on this for a set time each day and make lists of things that may put you truly in "touch" more with Him when performing said acts. Or you might reach outside you to your blessed community and ask people who you feel comfortable with, or just spiritually close to "How do you perform such an act? How sacred is this act to you? Is it more sacred to you if you perform it in a specific way that you may not do all the time (i.e. maybe someone reads the writings in the direction of the dawn sun on their most spiritually "lifted" days)? Do you regularly feel fulfilled when...?" Maybe you get more specific- "What does 'prostrate' mean to you, and how do you do it. etc." I think you get my point...

So let us get outside of our own way of thinking, if even for the length of one of these conversations to really "explore your options" on how to treat said act in a more spiritual, peaceful and productive way for your soul, thus blotting out any trace of your ego by being constantly occupied by how you can serve better (in this case by performing your duties as a Baha'i) at all times!

Now, beyond that, I am sure there are tons of things one can do, but for me I am still stuck on trying to do these basic things better and better because I think in my mind I am pretty well set on "they are such spiritually potent acts, how can I as a fallible human being, who was created noble, seek out better ways for me to perform them, that my life is GIVEN to Baha'u'llah a little more, even if it is in such humble amounts, each day."

I am quite sure, knowing you, you were asking a far more in depth question than this! In fact I am sure I took it far too basic, but I am a basic guy, so that is what you get! lol

I love you man!

Benjamin