The Duality

Read time 4 minutes.

Link to Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

I think the parable of the wheat and the tares might be connected to this idea of ego and the animal nature. The idea is to eventually overcome the animal nature and separate from it with the ultimate separation being death when the spirit of a person moves on while the animal nature, that stems from the physical body, goes back to the elements.

*The following is an outline by Gemini created from the quotes found on the Baha’i Quotes website concerning the ego.

The Concept of Ego in the Baháʼí Faith

I. Defining the Ego: Two Natures of Man

• The Lower/Material Nature (The “Ego” or “Self” to struggle against):
  • Symbolized as Satan, the subtle serpent, or the Tempter within (1)
  • Leads to wickedness, lust, carnal desires, sin, and error (2)
  • Manifests as anger, passion, ignorance, prejudice, greed, envy, covetousness, jealousy, suspicion (3)
  • Causes attachment to the “Kingdom of Names” (fame, recognition, worldly accomplishments) (4)
  • Imprisons man in self, changes him into an animal, unable to distinguish good from evil (5)
  • The “animal in us, the heritage of the flesh which is full of selfish desires” (6)
  • Prevents spiritual ascent and can imperil spiritual life (7)
  • Its complete elimination implies perfection, which man cannot fully attain, but it can be increasingly subordinated (8)
• The Higher/Spiritual Nature (The “Self” to know and cultivate):
  • Approaches God, expresses truth, love, mercy, kindness, and justice (9)
  • “He hath known God who hath known himself etc.” (10)
  • Consulting the “higher self” or “spirit” within for guidance (11)
  • Leads to piety and the fear of God (12)
  • Associated with virtues like humility, self-effacement, detachment, and service to others (13)
  • The “Lord of Love” shining in the hearts, leading to self-forgetting in service (14)

II. Manifestations and Consequences of Ego

• Selfishness and Personal Ambition:
  • Following promptings of the self leads to wickedness and lust (15)
  • Seeking leadership through stratagems and instilling doubts (16)
  • Neglecting duties for selfish aims, taking extortion (17)
  • Caring for oneself only is an “animal propensity” (18)
  • Occupied with oneself leads to heedlessness and regret (19)
  • Ambitious nature and lack of spirituality blinded family members of Baháʼu’lláh (20)
  • Human society often trains individuals to develop ego and seek self-importance, success, and power (21)
• Attachment to the Kingdom of Names:
  • Taking pride in accomplishments, seeking fame and popularity (22)
  • Attributing God’s attributes (like generosity or knowledge) to oneself rather than God, boosting one’s ego (23)
  • Being pleased by praise and offended by criticism (24)
  • Failure to subdue ego leads to loss of faith, goodness, and virtue (25)
  • The “most difficult task for a Baháʼí,” potentially lasting a lifetime (26)
• Hindrance to Spiritual Progress:
  • Prevents man from ascending to realms of holiness (27)
  • Keeps one a captive of habit and desire (28)
  • The ego is a “veil” between man and God (29)
  • Makes tests more difficult as one draws closer to the Manifestation (30)
  • Prevents true appreciation of the Word of God and His Covenant (31)
  • Hinders the flow of divine bounties (32)

III. Overcoming the Ego

• Subduing the Ego through Divine Guidance:
  • Consuming egotistical veils with the “fire of oneness” for the sake of God (33)
  • Following “Him Who is the Possessor of all created things” (34)
  • Repentance and return to God (35)
  • Obeying the laws of God, living the Baháʼí teachings, prayer, and struggle (36)
  • Renouncing oneself, forgetting opinions, casting aside personalities, and thinking of others’ welfare (37)
  • “Self-forgetting” is the “Master Key’ to self-mastery” (38)
• Cultivating Virtues and Qualities:
  • Piety and fear of God (39)
  • Humility and self-effacement (40)
  • Justice, mercy, kindness, willingness to accept hardships for others (41)
  • Detachment from earthly things, passion, desire, and self-glory (42)
  • Fidelity, integrity, unwavering faith in God (43)
  • In consultation, manifesting love, unity, detachment, harmony, devotion, courtesy, patience (44)
• The Continuous Struggle:
  • Life is a “constant struggle” against our own ego (45)
  • Spiritual progress implies “ever-increasingly subordinating” the ego (46)
  • The “battle within the soul” continues as long as the ego dictates (47)
  • Saints have achieved the “highest degree of mastery over their ego” (48)
  • Realizing that virtues are manifestations of God’s attributes, not intrinsically one’s own (49)
  • Not being discouraged by undue criticism or pleased with praise (50)

IV. Examples of Ego Overcome

• Disciples during the Days of Baghdad:
  • Demonstrated utter nothingness, forgot their own names, their hearts emptied of aught else but adoration for Baháʼu’lláh (51)
  • Became “spiritual giants” and shed imperishable luster on the Cause of God (52)

Footnotes

1. Abdu'l-Bahá, *Bahá’í Scriptures*, p. 487;Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 286; Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 513
2. Baháʼu’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 41; Baháʼu’lláh, Bahá’í World Faith, p. 184
3. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í Scriptures, p. 241
4. Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 25; Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 39
5. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 133-134
6. Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 113
7. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í Scriptures, p. 241; Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v1, p. 129
8. Shoghi Effendi, Living the Life, p. 11
9. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 60
10. Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 113
11. Abdu'l-Bahá, *Paris Talks*, p. 179;Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 242
12. Baháʼu’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 41
13. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Lights of Guidance, p. 114; Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 22
14. Mundaka Upanishad, Eknath Easwaran Translation, Part III, 1-5
15. Baháʼu’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 41
16. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 214
17. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá v2, p. 403
18. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 41
19. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Lights of Guidance, p. 114
20. Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant, p. 26-27
21. Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 22; Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 39
22. Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 25; Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 39
23. Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 25; Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 39
24. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 189
25. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 264
26. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 41; Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 28
27. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’í Scriptures, p. 241
28. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Philosophy, p. 133-134
29. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 43
30. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v1, p. 129
31. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v1, p. 129
32. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 43
33. Baháʼu’lláh, Bahá’í Scriptures, p. 134
34. Baháʼu’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 41
35. Baháʼu’lláh, Bahá’í World Faith, p. 184
36. Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, p. 453; Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 113
37. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Lights of Guidance, p. 114
38. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Lights of Guidance, p. 114
39. Baháʼu’lláh, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, p. 41
40. Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 22; Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 39
41. `Abdu’l-Bahá, Foundations of World Unity, p. 41
42. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 215
43. Universal House of Justice, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 119
44. Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant, p. 36-37
45. Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 113
46. Shoghi Effendi, Living the Life, p. 11
47. Adib Taherzadeh, The Child of the Covenant, p. 36-37
48. Shoghi Effendi, Unfolding Destiny, p. 453; Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 113
49. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 41; Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 28
50. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 189
51. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 214-216
52. Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh v2, p. 214

Matthew 13: 24-30

²⁴ Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; ²⁵ but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. ²⁶ But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. ²⁷ So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ ²⁸ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ ²⁹ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”