8th Chapter
The person with utmost goodness is like water, it benefits all (quenches thirst and washes dirt) and doesn’t fight with any, yet willingly settles in unpopular places (the lowest position).

He is close to Tao.

If a man lives in the right community (associates with the right people),
his mind is calm like deep water that can’t be disturbed,
he treats others with loving-kindness,
his word is trustworthy,
he manages things with righteousness,
Then he can do the best at that moment.

A man with attributes of water has no conflict with the world and no one complains about him.

Implications from the Holy Books

Those who show mercy have the attributes of water, they are in a lowly position and they benefit others. The Baha’i Writings tell us humility exalts man and allows him to attain the ideal virtues. Acquiring ideal virtues is a way to glorify God/Tao.

O son of man! If thine eyes be turned towards mercy, forsake the things that profit thee and cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbor that which thou choosest for thyself. Humility exalteth man to the heaven of glory and power, whilst pride abaseth him to the depths of wretchedness and degradation. —Bahá’u’lláh, Words of Paradise

A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. — Proverbs 29:23
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. — Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever. — Psalm 111:10
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” — 1 Peter 5:5
And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ” — Job 28:28

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it [a]robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. — Philippians 2:5-11

Go Back to the List of Chapters