Detachment from the Material World
True happiness and freedom come from detachment from material things while fulfilling one's duties in the world.
Bahá'u'lláh's mystical works, especially the Seven Valleys and the Hidden Words, emphasize detachment from worldly attachment as a prerequisite for spiritual progress. This is not withdrawal from the world but freedom within it — fulfilling all duties and responsibilities without the heart being enslaved to material acquisition.
Detachment from worldly things is not withdrawal from the world, but freedom within it.
Bahá'í detachment parallels Buddhist non-attachment and Sufi fana but uniquely integrates it with active social engagement.
Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá
Written about in
- What the Bahá'í Faith says about suffering
Detachment is defined as freedom within the world rather than withdrawal from it. A person keeps their duties and loosens their grip.