In the following hidden word, Baha’u’llah stresses the importance of having a heart that is characterised by serene happiness, so that a person can unite with him.
“O human child, exult in the joyful serenity of your heart, so that you are ready to meet me and be a mirror for my beauty.”
Arabic hidden word 36 (For the official translation, see here.)
The Arabic word that I have translated here as “joyful serenity” is surūr, which means a state of happiness, joy or gladness coupled with tranquillity or a restful mind. This instruction brings us close to what Baha’u’llah is asking the person to do with their heart. He wants it to be full of positive emotion – to be serenely happy and joyful.
But, he is not commanding a person to do this just because he is well meaning and wants people to be happy; he is commanding it because, as the second half of the sentence indicates, it has huge spiritual consequences. Without it, a person is not going to meet him or mirror his beauty. Their heart is not going to function as a clearing house for spiritual knowledge, because it is gummed up with worldly concerns.
On the other hand, the heart that is freed from other concerns can work like spiritual wings. It will create in the person feelings of upliftment, contentment and wonder, and induce a kind of saintly perspective, expressed in characteristics such as sensitivity, patience, kindness and understanding. The person looks on things with a merciful eye rather than a judgemental one, and shows the love of God to others.