In the Seven Valleys, one of His Writings that outlines the synthesis of the seven stages that each human being goes through in his search for the objective of life, until he reaches the ocean of his "true knowledge," Baha'u'llah describes as the first stage of this voyage "the Valley of Search," Without this valley, and without exercising patience in this search, "the wayfarer on this journey will reach nowhere and attain no goal" (Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys, rev. ed. (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1991, 5). In this phase the "the seeker reacheth a stage wherein he seeth all created things" (ibid. 5). It is at this stage that the ability of the human soul that allows each person to distinguish between "true and false" starts to bear its fruits. In this phase, the human being starts to "know ignorance and knowledge," "doubt and certitude" arriving, at the same time to distinguish between "the morn of guidance from the night of error" (ibid. 8). Proceeding then through the other valleys he will start to "to come out of doubt into certitude" (ibid. 11), which is what will allow him to be able to distinguish between "true and false." (62:3)

With time, those who walk this journey and who start to use this "faculty" gain a very powerful instrument, the "true knowledge," that will allow them to distinguish between "true and false." They therefore become "aware" and know how to decide between true and false in their daily actions. In this way they acquire the ability to adopt a personal behaviour that is ethically correct. If we want to use a metaphor, we can say that the roots of a plant, well planted in the ground and well nourished, will produce a strong tree and therefore tasty and nourishing fruits. Well, the roots are the "spiritual faculty of justice at the individual level," the trunk is the faculty to "distinguish between right and false" and the fruit is the "individual ethical behaviour." The fruit is excellent if the entire structure of the plant is harmonious and complete. Therefore we can conclude that ethics at the individual level is the first fruit of justice. And in turn, justice is an attribute of God. Baha'u'llah says in the Hidden words:
" O son of spirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is justice, turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbour... " (Baha'u'llah : Hidden words from Arabic n.2 ) (62:4)

Get Next Page