u'llah teaches that one's whole life should
be a prayer, that work done in the right spirit is worship, that every
thought, word and deed devoted to the Glory of God and the good of one's
fellows is prayer, in the truest sense of the world.(24)

CHAPTER 7: HEALTH AND HEALING

Turning the face towards God brings healing to the body, the mind and the
soul.--'ABDU'L-BAHA.

Body and Soul

According to the Baha'i teaching the human body serves a temporary purpose
in the development of the soul, and, when that purpose has been served, is
laid aside; just as the eggshell serves a temporary purpose in the
development of the chick, and, when that purpose has been served, is
broken and discarded. 'Abdu'l-Baha says that the physical body is
incapable of immortality, for it is a composite thing, built up of atoms
and molecules, and, like all things that are composed, must, in time,
become decomposed.

The body should be the servant of the soul, never its master, but it
should be a willing, obedient and efficient servant, and should be treated
with the consideration which a good servant deserves. If it is not
properly treated, disease and disaster result, with injurious consequences
to master as well as servant.

Oneness of All Life

The essential oneness of all the myriad forms and grades of life is one of
the fundamental teachings of Baha'u'llah. Our physical health is so linked
up with our mental, moral and spiritual health, and also with the
individual and social health of our fellowmen, nay, even with the life of
the animals and plants, that each of these is affected by the others to a
far greater extent than is usually realized.

There is no command of the Prophet, therefore, to whatever department of
life it may primarily refer, which does not concern bodily health. Certain
of the teachings, however, have a more direct bearing on physical health
than others, and these we may now proceed to examine.

Simple Life

'Abdu'l-Baha says:--

Economy is the foundation of human prosperity. The spendthrift is
always in trouble. Prodigality on the part of any person is an
unpardonable sin. We must never live on others like a parasitic
plant. Every person must have a profession, whether it be literary
or manual, and must live a clean, manly, honest life, an example
of purity to be imitated by others. It is more kingly to be
satisfied with a crust of stale bread