Following the recitation of opening prayers in the usual manner, the children can spend time learning more of the prayer introduced in the last lesson.
That Is How Bahá’ís Should Be listen HERE
I love the Master
The Master loves me
He shows me how Bahá’ís should be
Trusting in God faithfully
That is how Bahá’ís should be
I love the Master
The Master loves me
He shows me how Bahá’ís should be
Praying for guidance constantly
That is how Bahá’ís should be
I love the Master
The Master loves me
He shows me how Bahá’ís should be
God’s Will, not my will, my prayer will be
That is how Bahá’ís should be
Today the children will memorize a quotation about the quality of detachment. You can introduce the passage to them in the following way.
God has created every good thing in this world for us to enjoy—good health, delicious foods, love and friendship, the beauty of nature, and the power of the mind, which enables us to make discoveries and create inventions to improve the way we live. We should make use of all the bounties that God has given us and be thankful to Him for the joy of living. But we should be careful not to become attached to this world. Our souls must be free at all times; like free and strong birds, they should soar in the heaven of holiness. How sad if a bird remains on the ground, unable to take flight because it is attached to the things around it. Let us memorize the following quotation:
“Know that thy true adornment consisteth in the love of God and in thy detachment from all save Him. . .”
Consists
1. Joey has two sausages and some potatoes for his meal. His meal consists of sausages and potatoes.
2. An egg consists of three parts: the shell, the white, and the yolk.
One day King Maḥmúd decided to go on a royal tour of his kingdom. Preparations began immediately and within a few days the magnificent procession was ready to leave. Ministers, ambassadors, and a great many people of prominence, all wearing their finest clothes, set out with the King, together with his guards and attendants. The King’s faithful servant Ayáz rode by his side, at the very front of the procession.
Each evening the splendid party made camp and the wonderful imperial tent was set up for the King. This tent was the most beautiful tent that anyone had ever seen. Woven from silk of the highest quality, it was decorated with hundreds of jewels and precious stones, which sparkled so brightly in the lamp-light that the light of the moon and stars paled in comparison. Each night the King and his companions feasted and sang. Each morning when the tent was taken down, the jewels were collected and put in a box in the King’s carriage. And so the royal procession went on its way, the King looking contentedly over his peaceful and prosperous kingdom, his companions happily riding and talking during the day, and feasting and singing at night.
One afternoon the King and his entourage were passing through some especially beautiful countryside. So beautiful was it that the King was overcome with a feeling of generosity. He took the jewels from the box and scattered them on the roadside for his companions. As he continued on his way, they all scrambled in great confusion, forgetful of their duties, trying to gather up the precious stones—all that is, except Ayáz. “Look at Ayáz,” they muttered to one another. “He is so proud and arrogant. He cannot even be bothered to pick up any of the jewels that the King has tossed on the roadside.”
“How is it, Ayáz”, the King asked him, “that you do not join the others to gather up my jewels? Are they not precious? Do you not value the things that were mine?”
“Oh, My King,” replied Ayáz. “I have always valued the very least thing that is yours. But to be near you and gaze on your face is more than sufficient for me. Why should I leave your side to scramble for that which you have thrown away?”
And the loyal and steadfast Ayáz rode on by the side of his grateful master, ever vigilant in serving his beloved King.
Once there was a king who had many spiritual qualities and whose deeds were based on justice and loving-kindness. He often envied the dervish who had renounced the world and appeared to be free from the cares of this material life, for he roamed the country, slept in any place when night fell and chanted the praises of his Lord during the day. He lived in poverty, yet thought he owned the whole world. His only possessions were his clothes and a basket in which he carried the food donated by his well-wishers. The king was attracted to this way of life.
Once he invited a well-known dervish to his palace, sat at his feet and begged him for some lessons about detachment. The dervish was delighted with the invitation. He stayed a few days in the palace and whenever the king was free preached the virtues of a mendicant’s life to him. At last the king was converted. One day, dressed in the garb of a poor man, he left his palace in the company of the dervish. They had walked together some distance when the dervish realized that he had left his basket behind in the palace. This disturbed him greatly and, informing the king that he could not go without his basket, he begged permission to return for it. But the king admonished him, saying that he himself had left behind his palaces, his wealth and power, whereas the dervish, who had preached for a lifetime the virtues of detachment, had at last been tested and was found to be attached to this world—his small basket. (From Adib Taherzadeh's Revelation of Baha'u'llah Volume One)
Ask the children to stand sideways in a circle, extending their left arms inward and joining hands at the center. They should now resemble a wheel, with their arms as its spokes. Next have the children turn around the center of the circle like a wheel. After they have done so, ask them to move around the space where the class is being held, while always staying in formation. To add to the challenge, they can try skipping and hopping.
This quotation will always come to mind when contemplating what it means to be detached.
In one CC, we made birds of freedom - how else could this metaphor be extended? Ideas?
lesson14detachment.pdf |
Detachment from the Family Virtues Guide
What Is Detachment?
Detachment is experiencing your feelings without allowing your feelings to control you. It is choosing how you will act in a situation rather than just reacting. Feelings like sadness, happiness, disappointment, joy, frustration, anger - are natural. Everyone has them. Detachment is a way to use your thinking and feeling together so that you don't let your feelings run away with you.
Detachment does not mean you pretend to feel differently than you do. Some people think detachment is being cold or pretending not to care, but when they try it, they find it is a joyful experience. Feelings are wonderful when they belong to us, when we use them to do what we really choose to do.
Detachment meant to feel what you feel, but not have to act on the feelings unless you want to. It's kind of like standing beside yourself and watching what you are feeling as well as feeling it.
Why Practice Detachment?
Detachment is very important for a spiritual being. It allows you to choose the way you are going to act no matter how you feel. It permits you to choose the way you are going to act no matter how you feel. It permits you to be kind to people you do not like, or do a very hard thing because it is the right thing to do.
Detachment helps you to decide what to do about strong feelings like anger. You can decide to use your voice to tell someone how mad you are and why, rather than picking up the nearest object and slamming them with it.
Detachment can give you self-confidence. It is like going to a calm peaceful place within your mind and looking at what is happening without getting swept away.
Without detachment you never know what you're going to do - it depends on how you feel! When you practice detachment a lot, it becomes easier to do, even when your emotions are very strong. Prayer and meditation cab be a big help in learning detachment.
Without detachment, you would stay away from all the things you don't like or which are hard to do - even if it is very important for you to do them. With detachment you can choose to do something you like in moderation rather than eating too much or playing a game too much and neglecting other things you need to do.
How Do You Practice It?
You can practice detachment whenever you have a feeling about something or someone. First, you recognize the feeling - how can you be detached if you do not know what you are detached from? Stop and look at your feelings and thoughts. Ask yourself two questions:
- What am I feeling about this?
- What do I want to do?
Now pay attention to what you want to do. Ask yourself...
- Is it good for me?
- Will it help someone else?
- Is it right?
- Is it the best I can do?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then choose to do something else instead.
Look. Choose. Act.
What would detachment look like if...
- Your mother asked you to do some chores and you feel like playing video games instead?
- Your sister takes your best sweater without asking and you feel really mad?
- You urgently want to win a game or join a team and it doesn't happen?
- Some children tease you in school?
Signs of Success:
Congratulations! You are practising detachment when you...
| Keep trying! You need more practice when you...
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I am aware of my feelings and choose my actions with detachment. I do what is right for me. I choose to be my best self no matter what happens.