Thought vs. action

There are numerous places in the Baha'i writings where the value of deeds over words is highly exalted. Baha'u'llah says in the Hidden Words, "Say, O brethren! Let deeds, not words, be your adorning."

The word "adorning" is rather appropriately used here, and I'll let you muse about it on your own. Meanwhile, it seems like there are two ways in which we could slip into the tendency of making words, and not deeds, our adorning.

1. Doing some good deeds, but also talking a lot about them: This is where our ego comes into play - we do something good, kind, noble - but want to publicize it to everyone so the world can know how good, kind and noble we are. Unfortunately this thought process in itself pushes us backward along the spiritual path and in some subtle way reduces our goodness, kindness or nobility. Abdu'l Baha, in one of his Paris talks, says, "A man who does great good, and talks not of it, is on the way to perfection." Apart from making us proud and egoistic, talking a lot about our deeds with the intention of glorifying ourselves also prevents us from doing more good deeds - after all, we do have a finite amount of time in our lives, and a minute spent in the adulation of oneself is a minute lost in doing service to the world. It behooves us, therefore, to focus our energies on action, rather than speech. Of course, this does not negate the importance of communication - one does need to share one's ideas with others, communicate the need for good deeds and so on. However, the attitude with which this is done is of paramount importance.

2. Having great, noble and idealistic thoughts - but not translating them into action: This is the classical philosopher's stance - of one who thinks/says and lot and does little. Such an attitude is the result both of indolence and egotism. We like to think noble, idealistic thoughts - and feel happy in the knowledge that at least we are thinking good. But we often lack the motivation to actually go and do something that expresses the idea behind those thoughts/ideals - or other, more mundane things take priority and we just lose sight of the larger picture. Either way, we often theorize a lot without actually acting.

Abdu'l Baha beautifully summarizes how this serves as a true litmus test to distinguish the philosopher from the realized spiritual teacher. He says:

"To this class the majority of philosophers belong, their teachings being high above their actions. This is the difference between philosophers who are Spiritual Teachers, and those who are mere philosophers: the Spiritual Teacher is the first to follow His own teaching; He brings down into the world of action His spiritual conceptions and ideals. His Divine thoughts are made manifest to the world. His thought is Himself, from which He is inseparable. When we find a philosopher emphasizing the importance and grandeur of justice, and then encouraging a rapacious monarch in his oppression and tyranny, we quickly realize that he belongs to the first class: for he thinks heavenly thoughts and does not practice the corresponding heavenly virtues."