28th Chapter
A man knows his masculine power,
but he prefers showing his feminine power,
gentle and soft like a stream to nourish others.
Because he continuously nourishes others’ lives
and doesn’t stop,
His heart returns to the gentleness and softness of an infant.

A man knows that when he spreads the light, fame will follow,
but he chooses to remain obscure,
helps others and lets them be the example of success.
Because he lets others set an example before himself
and does not let the great virtue slip away from him,
his heart can return to the ultimate truth.

A man knows what makes a being become glorious,
but he chooses to have a lowly appearance,
he allows others to pour their burden over him like a valley that can contain everything.
He lets this great virtue become the channel for what he offers to the world,
So, his heart returns to simplicity.

A great instrument of Tao is one with the virtue of simplicity. If he has been invited to serve his people, he will be able to unite people’s hearts, because he is truly serving the benefit of others.

Implications from the Holy Books

O SON OF SPIRIT!
My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting. —Bahá’u’lláh, The Hidden Words, Arabic 1

……the loved ones of God to be forbearing towards their fellowmen, and to be so sanctified and detached from all things, and to evince such sincerity and fairness, that all the peoples of the earth may recognize them as the trustees of God amongst men.
Behold, O Dhabíh, the works which God, the Sovereign Truth, hath wrought. Say thou: How great, how very great, is the power of His might that encompasseth all worlds! Exalted, immeasurably exalted, is His detachment above the reach and ken of the entire creation! Glorified, glorified be His meekness—a meekness that hath melted the hearts of them that have been brought nigh unto God! ── Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh 115

Go Back to the List of Chapters