The Next Life

It's been said that lack of belief in a life after this earthly one is the prime reason for bad behavior.

If there's nothing after this, what's the use of struggling for virtues? Where's the reason to do any striving that reaches beyond death? And, since death will wipe the slate clean, do whatever you want...

As today's excerpt says, "...the ignorance of a thing is no proof of its non-existence."

~~~

"All divine philosophers and men of wisdom and understanding, when observing these endless beings, have considered that in this great and infinite universe all things end in the mineral kingdom, that the outcome of the mineral kingdom is the vegetable kingdom, the outcome of the vegetable kingdom is the animal kingdom and the outcome of the animal kingdom the world of man. The consummation of this limitless universe with all its grandeur and glory hath been man himself, who in this world of being toileth and suffereth for a time, with divers ills and pains, and ultimately disintegrates, leaving no trace and no fruit after him. Were it so, there is no doubt that this infinite universe with all its perfections has ended in sham and delusion with no result, no fruit, no permanence and no effect. It would be utterly without meaning. They were thus convinced that such is not the case, that this Great Workshop with all its power, its bewildering magnificence and endless perfections, cannot eventually come to naught. That still another life should exist is thus certain, and, just as the vegetable kingdom is unaware of the world of man, so we, too, know not of the Great Life hereafter that followeth the life of man here below. Our non-comprehension of that life, however, is no proof of its nonexistence. The mineral world, for instance, is utterly unaware of the world of man and cannot comprehend it, but the ignorance of a thing is no proof of its non-existence. Numerous and conclusive proofs exist that go to show that this infinite world cannot end with this human life."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Tablet to August Forel, pp. 13-14

God's "...endless mercy..."

In my struggles with my Self (these many years) the one thing I needed to learn, above all others, was the Infinite Greatness of my Creator. Most cultures just don't pass on the True Measure of God's All-Hallowed Existence...

"A drop of the billowing ocean of His endless mercy hath adorned all creation with the ornament of existence, and a breath wafted from His peerless Paradise hath invested all beings with the robe of His sanctity and glory. A sprinkling from the unfathomed deep of His sovereign and all-pervasive Will hath, out of utter nothingness, called into being a creation which is infinite in its range and deathless in its duration. The wonders of His bounty can never cease, and the stream of His merciful grace can never be arrested. The process of His creation hath had no beginning, and can have no end.

"In every age and cycle He hath, through the splendorous light shed by the Manifestations of His wondrous Essence, recreated all things, so that whatsoever reflecteth in the heavens and on the earth the signs of His glory may not be deprived of the outpourings of His mercy, nor despair of the showers of His favors. How all-encompassing are the wonders of His boundless grace! Behold how they have pervaded the whole of creation. Such is their virtue that not a single atom in the entire universe can be found which doth not declare the evidences of His might, which doth not glorify His holy Name, or is not expressive of the effulgent light of His unity. So perfect and comprehensive is His creation that no mind nor heart, however keen or pure, can ever grasp the nature of the most insignificant of His creatures; much less fathom the mystery of Him Who is the Day Star of Truth, Who is the invisible and unknowable Essence."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection XXVI, pp. 61-62

God's "...gracious favor..."

Happy Thanks Giving !!!

"I can have no doubt that should the holy breaths of Thy lovingkindness and the breeze of Thy bountiful favor cease, for less than the twinkling of an eye, to breathe over all created things, the entire creation would perish, and all that are in heaven and on earth would be reduced to utter nothingness."

Bahá’u’lláh: Prayers and Meditations, Selection LVIII, p. 90

"The tie of servitude established between the worshiper and the adored One, between the creature and the Creator, should in itself be regarded as a token of His gracious favor unto men, and not as an indication of any merit they may possess. To this testifieth every true and discerning believer."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection XCIV, p. 194

"In the beginning was the Word"

Today's quote is so crystal clear to me I really can't comment . . .

"The solar system is dark and obscure, and in it the sun is the center of light, and all the planets of the system revolve around its might and are partakers of its bounty. The sun is the cause of life and illumination, and the means of the growth and development of all the beings of the solar system; for without the bounty of the sun no living being could exist: all would be dark and destroyed. Therefore, it is evident and clear that the sun is the center of light and the cause of the life of the beings of the solar system.

"In like manner, the Holy Manifestations of God are the centers of the light of reality, of the source of mysteries, and of the bounties of love. They are resplendent in the world of hearts and thoughts, and shower eternal graces upon the world of spirits; They give spiritual life and are shining with the light of realities and meanings. The enlightenment of the world of thought comes from these centers of light and sources of mysteries. Without the bounty of the splendor and the instructions of these Holy Beings the world of souls and thoughts would be opaque darkness. Without the irrefutable teachings of those sources of mysteries the human world would become the pasture of animal appetites and qualities, the existence of everything would be unreal, and there would be no true life. That is why it is said in the Gospel: 'In the beginning was the Word,' meaning that it became the cause of all life."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, Chapter 42: "The Power and Influence of the Divine Manifestations", pp. 162-163

"...the mysteries of divine knowledge..."

Today's quote uses three other Spiritual Metaphors for God's Manifestations: "...the Wellspring of His knowledge, the Heaven of His wisdom, and the Ark of His mysteries..."

Other Writings show that the Manifestation--the Word of God--has, associated with His soul, the same Creative Energies that brought the Universe into existence. They are helping us from the inside-out and we are usually quit unaware of how much we depend on Their Power to sustain us:

"Shouldst thou desire to apprehend these celestial allusions, to witness the mysteries of divine knowledge, and to become acquainted with His all-encompassing Word, then it behoveth thine eminence to inquire into these and other questions pertaining to thine origin and ultimate goal from those whom God hath made to be the Wellspring of His knowledge, the Heaven of His wisdom, and the Ark of His mysteries. For were it not for those effulgent Lights that shine above the horizon of His Essence, the people would know not their left hand from their right, how much less could they scale the heights of the inner realities or probe the depths of their subtleties!"

Bahá’u’lláh: Gems of Divine Mysteries, paragraph 17, pp. 14-15

Divine Physicians

I've included many quotes here dealing with the Manifestations of God.

Down a bit in the right column (under the waving kitty) is a box called Jiglu Tags that you can use to find past posts about the "Manifestations" or "Prophets" [and, if your browser permits, the words just might be a different color and underlined and link right into the previous posts list!].

Today's quote employs the brilliant metaphor of the Divine "Physician" prescribing for us the Remedy for the Illnesses we encounter during our Journey here on Earth . . .

"The Prophets of God, the supreme Manifestations, are like skilled physicians, and the contingent world is like the body of man: the divine laws are the remedy and treatment. Consequently, the doctor must be aware of, and know, all the members and parts, as well as the constitution and state of the patient, so that he can prescribe a medicine which will be beneficial against the violent poison of the disease. In reality the doctor deduces from the disease itself the treatment which is suited to the patient, for he diagnoses the malady, and afterward prescribes the remedy for the illness. Until the malady be discovered, how can the remedy and treatment be prescribed? The doctor then must have a thorough knowledge of the constitution, members, organs and state of the patient, and be acquainted with all diseases and all remedies, in order to
prescribe a fitting medicine.

"Religion, then, is the necessary connection which emanates from the reality of things; and as the supreme Manifestations of God are aware of the mysteries of beings, therefore, They understand this essential connection, and by this knowledge establish the
Law of God."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, Chapter 40: "The Knowledge of the Divine Manifestations", pp. 158-159

God's Supreme Mercy

God doesn't "need" us; God "wants" us . . .

The greatest sages, thinkers, and philosophers have endeavored to reckon God's "Reasons" and they couldn't.

God Is . . .

We are...

Let's Celebrate !!!

"Consider the mercy of God and His gifts. He enjoineth upon you that which shall profit you, though He Himself can well dispense with all creatures."

Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Aqdas, paragraph 59, p. 40

How Powerful Are They ?

Today's quote is about the supernatural Power of the Manifestations of God.

These Manifestations include but are not limited to: Noah, Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh.

"The Holy Manifestations are the sources of miracles and the originators of wonderful signs. For Them, any difficult and impracticable thing is possible and easy. For through a supernatural power wonders appear from Them; and by this power, which is beyond nature, They influence the world of nature. From all the Manifestations marvelous things have appeared."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, Chapter 22: "Miracles", p. 100

Don't Worry, Be Happy !

God Loves Laughter !

"O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart.
Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand.
Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be
sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being.

"O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let
trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant
things of life.

"O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself.
I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord."

- 'Abdu'l-Bahá