A Mere Code of Laws
nooshin June 14th, 2009
I’ve always thought that a good barometer of a person is how they treat those of a “lower” standing, those they don’t have to impress or feel are equal to them. Ever notice how some people walk past the same security guard day after day, and don’t ever bother to learn his name, or even to acknowledge him? Or the obsequious middle-manager, who does her best to impress her superiors with her charm and friendliness, but in private will make life hell for the assistant who reports to her?
It’s almost as if our behaviour is governed by the worry of what “other people will think”, and by compliance to social norms. So, we do things differently when we think no one is watching. How is it that a queue in a post-office is normally well-behaved and no one would dare to push in, but when we are in our cars we become so bad mannered and aggressive? My theory is that we feel protected by anonymity in our cars, but would have to look people in the eye in the post-office queue.
It was the recent scandal in British politics that has had me thinking a lot about personal accountability and responsibility. Most of those implicated in the expenses-claim uproar did not contravene the rules per se, and seem to mostly justify their actions by saying that they where only doing what all the rest were too. Here in South Africa, we have had a similar debate, about gifts given to those in government. The public discussion was not about whether it was illegal for the minister to accept an expensive car as a gift, but whether it was ethical to do so.
Kitáb-i-Aqdas
In a thesis discussing a variety of subjects relating to society and governance, called “The Secrets of Divine Civilisation”, `Abdu’l-Bahá gives a description of “justice and impartiality”:
This means to have no regard for one’s own personal benefits and selfish advantages, and to carry out the laws of God without the slightest concern for anything else.
So our daily actions, our personal choices, must be made with reference, not to social norms or selfish inclinations, but to the laws of God. This becomes easier when we change our perception and mindset about God’s injunctions: they are not there to restrict or hamper us, but to provide us with loving guidance and ultimate freedom. In the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book of the Bahá’í Faith, Bahá’u’lláh describes the laws and codifications of God as “sweet-smelling” and a “choice Wine”.
Say: From My laws the sweet-smelling savour of My garment can be smelled, and by their aid the standards of Victory will be planted upon the highest peaks. The Tongue of My power hath, from the heaven of My omnipotent glory, addressed to My creation these words: “Observe My commandments, for the love of My beauty.”…Think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws. Nay, rather, We have unsealed the choice Wine with the fingers of might and power.
Having been given the guidance, and the personal autonomy to choose for ourselve, we become accountable for our actions and our choices, not to those that can see but to God, and not for material gains, but towards our own personal spiritual path to perfection.
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I’m reminded of the culture shock I had when traveling abroad for an international adoption. Money had to change hands for many things beyond what I’m used to. I eventually decided the closest american experience is tipping a waiter – it was expected though since it’s done after the service it’s not really a bribe to get service. If you are a regular however I would say it is common that if you tip poorly you may get poor service. I’ve never had a bell-hop taking luggage to a hotel room but that could be a similar process. But when we traveled abroad it seemed like everything ran that way – and sometimes the “tip” came first and sometimes after. We had a hospital stay from some food we ate once and I was told I had to offer to tip the doctor but when I did she told me to keep my money – that it was ok.
I can imagine a significant part of the economy of individual salaries might be based on this tipping which to western eyes would probably seem like bribery to do your job.
As the divine standard spreads I presume such requirements would ceases and that economics would adjust to whatever they should be. Who knows – maybe the doctor was already making that transition.
But another thing I got from reading through the Kitab-i-Aqdas was framed in a Christian context recently – there’s always this debate of faith vs works to get into heaven. I think the Kitab-i-Aqdas reframes that seriously. Faith (recognition of the Manifestation) comes first and is glorified highly, but works (obedience to the laws) is necessary and “neither is acceptable without the other.” So that does away with lip-service!
allah abha