Joanna

Is it OK for a Bahai believer to use a gym or do sports to stay fit/healthy? I don't mean necessarily in competitions, but just like if you enjoy going to the gym regularly to do some exercise or doing other stuff like swimming, going for walks and such? There's some sports we do in a gym and there's also those we do in nature like hiking, biking, swimming etc.

Are those things allowed?

Lunitik

Why would you think such things weren't allowed? At my local Baha'i Center, during meetings, there are usually 20 or so kids playing soccer and/or football. Also, note that Baha'u'llah has said we should be the healthiest and fittest amongst the human race - sort of difficult to be fit and healthy if we do not work out.

Joanna

It's just something I read somewhere, but I may have misunderstood what was being said! However, I am glad for your answer! thanks, I agree, it is good to be healthy and stay fit

LordOfGoblins

hmmm. My dad always used to say to my brother "why dont you concentrate on building your spiritual muscles instead so much on your physical ones" (he is a buff gym junkie).
Just a thought...

Joanna

I see what he means, to overly care about the physical appearance isn't really seen as a good thing in mos world religions, but I was referring more to being active physically and having a good physical health Moderation is key I suppose

Lunitik

Certainly agree with this!

Isn't this really the key with all religions though? Moderation. There really is no value to being overly attached to anything in this world, including our physical appearances, but alas, our bodies are just as much a gift as our soul. Both require attention in my opinion.

Also, let us not forget that Baha'u'llah has said to consult a physician on matters of health. I doubt you'll find a doctor that says we should not live healthy active lives.

Tobias

Why they should not?

Rani

Although I did not include the full long message, this text below demonstrates that Shoghi Effendi has extolled engaging in sport and exercise.

Frankly, I think most of us need more of it! I know of a baha'i who is very dedicated to the Faith and serves it in a high capacity, and his family has told me that he jogs often 3 times a day! He feels he needs it to be most effective in fulfilling his other duties. And some people need more than others. Go for it and enjoy and be thankful for well-being!

The Function of Sports in Life

by Shoghi Effendi

Published in The Students' Union Gazette, pages 28-30

American University of Beirut, 1914

'..... If we consider sports from a general point of view and consider their relation to the life of the ancient people we must inevitably come to the conclusion that sports if well conducted, have always raised the standard of the nation to a very high degree.

Nations which have played an important role in the Ancient History have all felt the necessity of sports and have introduced these athletic contests in their own domains.


Our next (aim) is to examine the results of sports or better, their function. The fact that athletics, a branch of sports, is of great advantage to life is evident to the experienced student of modern European Colleges. The argument which established its necessity is opposed by ignorant people yet it has grown nowadays into an irrefutable fact. Athletics are necessary if not indispensable for the future success of the nation as well as of the individual. "A sound mind in a sound body" was the motto of the Greeks and the model of the strong, healthy and vigorous Spartans. Their carrying out of the plan was a cause for the long existence of Greece and for its luxuriant literary culture. This model in just the same way should be put into action if we wish to have any success in this world.


Athletics refresh the body, tranquilize and enlighten the mind, and develop moral character. As a concrete example let us take a student in his college activities. The student who does exercise is always fresh and vigorous, he seldom gets sick and tired. His jovial character, his good disposition and his interest in life are his chief characteristics.


Moreover in exercising, the student gets animated, his blood is purified and consequently his mind becomes more apt to receive the ideas and thoughts found in his lessons. The health which he acquires will help him to work harder and he becomes more successful. A weak person seldom can endure the hardship of school-life, the trouble of memorizing and persevering in his daily lessons. Lastly when a student is busy with athletics during recess time his ideas do not deviate any more to the path of impurity, to think of such trivial things and the health and strength which he acquires will help him in overcoming such temptations. Generally a healthy person is endowed with a will stronger than that of a weak person.


We see therefore that athletics ameliorate the condition of a person during all his college course.

Sports, in general, have had an important and estimable function in life and will inevitably in future be regarded as the indispensable factor for intellectual and moral growth.'


Source: Function of Sports in Life, The

arthra

Rani,

Thanks for sharing that excerpt from the 1914 American University of Beirut!



We know that Shoghi Effendi climbed mountains...

Shoghi Effendi had rented a tiny room, the attic under the eaves, for which he paid about one franc a night. The ceiling was so low that when his uncle-in-law, a big man, came to see him, he could not stand upright. There was a small bed, a basin and a pitcher of cold water to wash with. Interlaken is in the heart of the Bernese Oberland and the starting point for innumerable excursions into the surrounding mountains and valleys. Often long before sunrise Shoghi Effendi would start out, dressed in knee breeches, a Norfolk jacket and black wool puttees on his legs, sturdy mountain boots, and a small cheap canvas rucksack on his back and carrying a cant. He would take a train to the foot of some mountain or pass and begin his excursion, walking often ten to sixteen hours, usually alone, but sometimes accompanied by whichever young relative was with him; they could seldom stand the pace and after a few days would start making their excuses.

~ Ruhiyyih Khanum, The Priceless Pearl, p. 59

From the Aqdas weapons are permitted for certain sports:

There are a
number of other situations in which weapons are needed and
can be legitimately used; for instance, in countries where
people hunt for their food and clothing, and in such sports
as archery, marksmanship, and fencing.

(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 241)

Compilation on "Vying in Service"

(Published in Bahá'í Canada Supplement, issue #4, January 1989)

3 June 1987

The Universal House of Justice was very interested to learn from your letter of 30 April 1987 that studies are being undertaken on the characteristics of human society at the level of maturity, paying particular attention to the aspects of competition. We are directed to send you the enclosed compilation entitled Vying in Service including excerpts taken from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá, from letters and cables of Shoghi Effendi and from letters written on his behalf, which the House of Justice hopes will prove valuable to you.

As you point out, when competition is a striving for excellence, it becomes a challenge. For example, in study, sport, the promotion of courage, endurance and so on, the individual's endeavour can lead to personal development and is praiseworthy. If, however, the advantage is won by causing direct loss to others, such competition produces negative results and is undesirable.

(The Universal House of Justice, 1987 Jun 03, Compilation on Vying in Service)

BadBent

Really would be nice to find out the source of this anti-exercise thought, Joanna.

If they are anti-exercise then there would be two schools of thought. One is that exercise can help you live longer and serve the community better.

I always used the excuse "O OFFSPRING OF DUST! Be not content with the ease of a passing day, and deprive not thyself of everlasting rest..." Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words #39.

So my practice is to get out of the house every day and the gym is a good place to go, if you can talk to people and perhaps interest them in the Baha'i Faith. It is not a good idea to confine your activities to Baha'is because then you'll reduce your contact with potential seekers.

I believe the national Spiritual Assembly gave it's approval to the Spirit Run a few years back. That was a lot of exercise. Maybe it was too much exercise. I prefer bicycling and always stop on rides to talk to people and spark some curiosity about the Faith. Even if mentioning I rode to a Baha'i Conference in Montreal once. Mention the name of the Faith, that's all. Using your sport to teach is a good thing, IMHO.

The only down side of a gym would be "public showers" and anything you might contact through communal use of exercise equipment. HOWEVER, the reason for "no public showers" was the 1800's practice of reusing the water. Common sense would be to wear some rubber sandals in the shower and wipe the sweat off machines before you use them. But then common sense isn't.

Have fun...
BadBent