Thursday, January 10, 2008

"In this journey the seeker becometh witness to a myriad changes..."


One of the greatest challenges I can imagine is finding Truth in the Den of Deniers.

Feels like the World has been such a Den for so long now...

"What 'oppression' is greater than that which hath been recounted? What 'oppression' is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go for it and from whom to seek it?"

Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 31

Since most spiritual folk believe God is All-Good, it seems to make much sense that, in such a Dark World, He Sees great value in His creatures exerting themselves to find His Path:

"Know thou of a truth that the seeker must, at the beginning of his quest for God, enter the Garden of Search. In this journey it behoveth the wayfarer to detach himself from all save God and to close his eyes to all that is in the heavens and on the earth. There must not linger in his heart either the hate or the love of any soul, to the extent that they would hinder him from attaining the habitation of the celestial Beauty. He must sanctify his soul from the veils of glory and refrain from boasting of such worldly vanities, outward knowledge, or other gifts as God may have bestowed upon him. He must search after the truth to the utmost of his ability and exertion, that God may guide him in the paths of His favour and the ways of His mercy. For He, verily, is the best of helpers unto His servants. He saith, and He verily speaketh the truth: 'Whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways shall We assuredly guide him.'(Qur’án 29:69) And furthermore: 'Fear God and God will give you knowledge.'(Qur’án 2:282)

"In this journey the seeker becometh witness to a myriad changes and transformations, confluences, and divergences. He beholdeth the wonders of Divinity in the mysteries of creation and discovereth the paths of guidance and the ways of His Lord. Such is the station reached by them that search after God, and such are the heights attained by those who hasten unto Him."

Bahá’u’lláh, Gems of Divine Mysteries, pp.36-37