Absolute Poverty and Utter Nothingness

Abstract

This essay briefly explores Bahá’u’lláh’s conceptualization of “poverty” (detachment from the world) and “nothingness” (selflessness); identifies five representatives of the greatest philosophers and prophets of all time—Muhammad, Socrates, Confucius, Buddha, and Jesus; describes each of their conceptualizations of selflessness and detachment; examines some commonalities among them and commonalities with Bahá’u’lláh’s conceptualization; and then closes with some qualifying remarks.