God's Manifestations

The quote I selected from Reality for today could be the most challenging yet; even for those who definitely believe in God.

The key concept of this quote is the "Manifestation". It doesn't specify but other Writings of the Author stipulate that Abraham, Moses, Christ, Krishna, Buddha, and Muhammad, among others, are Manifestations of God.

Some folks balk big-time at this idea and others say, "Well, right on, that sounds extremely correct."

How do you feel about it?

"The door of the knowledge of the Ancient Being hath ever been, and will continue for ever to be, closed in the face of men. No man’s understanding shall ever gain access unto His holy court. As a token of His mercy, however, and as a proof of His loving-kindness, He hath manifested unto men the Day Stars of His divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity, and hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with the knowledge of His own Self. Whoso recognizeth them hath recognized God. Whoso hearkeneth to their call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso testifieth to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the truth of God Himself.. Whoso turneth away from them, hath turned away from God, and whoso disbelieveth in them, hath disbelieved in God. Every one of them is the Way of God that connecteth this world with the realms above, and the Standard of His Truth unto every one in the kingdoms of earth and heaven. They are the Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences of His Truth, and the signs of His glory."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection
XXI, pp. 49-50

God Alone

Today, again, I'm selecting a powerful quote from Reality that, in no uncertain terms, stresses the Glory and Inscrutability of God.

When I was a young man, I was a fairly bothersome know-it-all.

Now that I'm in my sixties and facing the most debilitating health challenges of my life, I'm much more tractable, more willing to let others' lack of knowledge slide, and question myself closely about whether I really do know what I think I know.

I'll attempt to summarize the following eloquent quote in a few words: I am far above a rock in development and complexity. God is so much farther above me than I am above the rock that it's near silly to even try to contemplate by how much...

"The Essence of the Divine Entity and the Unseen of the unseen is holy above imagination and is beyond thought. Consciousness doth not reach It. Within the capacity of comprehension of a produced (or created) reality that Ancient Reality cannot be contained. It is a different world; from it there is no information; arrival thereat is impossible; attainment thereto is prohibited and inaccessible. This much is known: It exists and Its existence is certain and proven— but the condition is unknown. All the philosophers and the doctors know that It is, but they were perplexed in the comprehension of Its existence and were at last discouraged, and in great despair they left this world. For the comprehension of the condition and mysteries of that Reality of realities and Mystery of mysteries there is need for another power and another sense. That power and sense is not possessed by mankind, therefore they have not found any information."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in the compilation Japan Will Turn Ablaze, "Tablet of
‘Abdu’l-Bahá to Mr. Kanichi Yamamoto", p. 23

GOD

I leave all discussions about whether there is a God to other venues.

This blog is for Believers or, at least, Seekers...

Assuming God Is, God must be All-Powerful, -Seeing, -Knowing, -Understanding, -Etc...

I'm a writer but I can't depict God with words.

I'm one of His creatures but I don't understand Him.

It even gets a little frustrating when I try...

That's one reason I've shifted my focus in this blog to commentary on quotes from the Compilation Reality--I get to speak but I can also share True Eloquence:

"All that the sages and mystics have said or written have never exceeded, nor can they ever hope to exceed, the limitations to which man’s finite mind hath been strictly subjected. To whatever heights the mind of the most exalted of men may soar, however great the depths which the detached and understanding heart can penetrate, such mind and heart can never transcend that which is the creature of their own conceptions and the product of their own thoughts. The meditations of the profoundest thinker, the devotions of the holiest of saints, the highest expressions of praise from either human pen or tongue, are but a reflection of that which hath been created within themselves, through the revelation of the Lord, their God. Whoever pondereth this truth in his heart will readily admit that there are certain limits which no human being can possibly transgress. Every attempt which, from the beginning that hath no beginning, hath been made to visualize and know God is limited by the exigencies of His own creation—a creation which He, through the operation of His own Will and for the purposes of none other but His own Self, hath called into being. Immeasurably exalted is He above the strivings of human mind to grasp His Essence, or of human tongue to describe His mystery. No tie of direct intercourse can ever bind Him to the things He hath created, nor can the most abstruse and most remote allusions of His creatures do justice to His being. Through His world-pervading Will He hath brought into being all created things. He is and hath ever been veiled in the ancient eternity of His own exalted and indivisible Essence, and will everlastingly continue to remain concealed in His inaccessible majesty and glory. All that is in heaven and all that is in the earth have come to exist at His bidding, and by His Will all have stepped out of utter nothingness into the realm of being. How can, therefore, the creature which the Word of God hath fashioned comprehend the nature of Him Who is the Ancient of Days?"

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection
CXLVIII, pp. 317-318

It's Certainly Worth The Effort !

Two posts ago, I wrote this:

"Then follows a listing of traits that we certainly expect in our Saints but, in each one of us?!? Appears so... Also appears there's a Supreme Reason to ask this of us all: 'In this way, the light of divine guidance will shine forth, and the blessings of God will cradle all mankind....'"

And, if that listing of spiritual traits we all should work to own seemed only for potential Saints, today's quote from Reality specifies how we should go about attaining those traits...

Seems like we should all strive to be "Saints", eh?

"Only when the lamp of search, of earnest striving, of longing desire, of passionate devotion, of fervid love, of rapture, and ecstasy, is kindled within the seeker’s heart, and the breeze of His lovingkindness is wafted upon his soul, will the darkness of error be dispelled, the mists of doubts and misgivings be dissipated, and the lights of knowledge and certitude envelop his being. At that hour will the Mystic Herald, bearing the joyful tidings of the Spirit, shine forth from the City of God resplendent as the morn, and, through the trumpet-blast of knowledge, will awaken the heart, the soul, and the spirit from the slumber of heedlessness. Then will the manifold favors and outpouring grace of the holy and everlasting Spirit confer such new life upon the seeker that he will find himself endowed with a new eye, a new ear, a new heart, and a new mind. He will contemplate the manifest signs of the universe, and will penetrate the hidden mysteries of the soul. Gazing with the eye of God, he will perceive within every atom a door that leadeth him to the stations of absolute certitude. He will discover in all things the mysteries of Divine Revelation, and the evidences of an everlasting Manifestation."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection
CXXV, p. 267

Response from one of our Email Reporters to "Time Is So Short"

Alex,
The other day I found these quotes below on OCEAN [ed: a free program of searchable spiritual Writings]. They seem to contradict each other but I know they don't in reality. To me there is an interesting juxtaposition of the points made in these quotes because there are instances where we are not to show kindness but we are told to always show kindness even if people are not nice to us.... What are your thoughts? ~ Sandy

Well, I've often found apparent contradictions in spiritual writings. One solution is to analyze the context and historical period. Another solution is to broaden one's perspective.

How about Christ saying in one place, "I and my Father are one." and in another, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven."

So, in the last post I said, "Some souls may say, 'Gee, I thought spiritual people were supposed to talk nice! '"

And, here are Sandy's two apparently contradictory quotes:

"One of the teachings is that love and faithfulness must so prevail in the hearts that men may see the stranger as a friend, the sinner as an intimate fellow, may count enemies as allies, regard foes as loving comrades, call their executioner the giver of life, consider the denier as a believer and the unbeliever as a faithful one -- that is, men must behave in such a manner as may befit the believers, the faithful, the friend and the confidant."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Section, p. 413

MERCY AND JUSTICE

"The foundation of the Kingdom of God is laid upon justice, fairness, mercy, sympathy and kindness to every soul. Then strive ye with heart and soul to practice love and kindness to the world of humanity at large, except to those souls who are selfish and insincere. It is not advisable to show kindness to a person who is a tyrant, a traitor or a thief because kindness encourages him to become worse and does not awaken him. The more kindness you show to a liar the more he is apt to lie, for he thinks that you know not, while you do know, but extreme kindness keeps you from revealing your knowledge."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Baha'i World Faith - ‘Abdu’l-Bahá Section, p. 412

Time Is So Short . . .

Today's quote from the compilation Reality is, I feel, beautiful and very true but awesomely challenging.

It begins with "Soon will your swiftly-passing days be over...." and this is the constant challenge during such a short earthly existence...

Then the Writer calls the world a "rubbish-heap". Some souls may say, "Gee, I thought spiritual people were supposed to talk nice! " Well, in other Writings it is explained that the use of the term "world" means "only worldly" or "merely materialistic".

Then follows a listing of traits that we certainly expect in our Saints but, in each one of us?!? Appears so... Also appears there's a Supreme Reason to ask this of us all: "In this way, the light of divine guidance will shine forth, and the blessings of God will cradle all mankind...."

This may be the most challenging quote from Reality yet but it certainly promises a purely heavenly result.

"Soon will your swiftly-passing days be over, and the fame and riches, the comforts, the joys provided by this rubbish-heap, the world, will be gone without a trace. Summon ye, then, the people to God, and invite humanity to follow the example of the Company on high. Be ye loving fathers to the orphan, and a refuge to the helpless, and a treasury for the poor, and a cure for the ailing. Be ye the helpers of every victim of oppression, the patrons of the disadvantaged. Think ye at all times of rendering some service to every member of the human race. Pay ye no heed to aversion and rejection, to disdain, hostility, injustice: act ye in the opposite way. Be ye sincerely kind, not in appearance only. Let each one of God’s loved ones centre his attention on this: to be the Lord’s mercy to man; to be the Lord’s grace. Let him do some good to every person whose path he crosseth, and be of some benefit to him. Let him improve the character of each and all, and reorient the minds of men. In this way, the light of divine guidance will shine forth, and the blessings of God will cradle all mankind: for love is light, no matter in what abode it dwelleth; and hate is darkness, no matter where it may make its nest. O friends of God! That the hidden Mystery may stand revealed, and the secret essence of all things may be disclosed, strive ye to banish that darkness for ever and ever."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
Selection #1, p. 3

Who Can Find The Truth ?

Christ's disciples were mostly people of no social account. In the early days of His Mission, Muhammad was not known for social power or renown. Moses was a murderer...

Yet we all know folk who pride themselves on what they own or who they control or, who feel better in direct proportion to who bows down to them.

Today's quote from Reality addresses this:

"How often the most insignificant of men have acknowledged the
truth, while the most learned have remained wrapt in veils. Thus in
every Dispensation a number of souls enter the fire by reason of
their following in the footsteps of others."

The Báb: Selections from the Writings of the Báb, "Excerpts from
the Persian Bayán", pp. 90-91, citing Váhid IV, Chapter 18

Who are You listening to for the Truth ?

I think The One wrong action that confuses more people about religion, spirituality and God than anything else is to rely exclusively on what other humans think and say (including what the clergy says...).

We may want to talk to others we trust to check-in with their opinions but we must never forget that it is opinion.

Yes, Truth is Truth, no doubt. Yet, humans are humans with our well-known ability to refract the Truth through the lens of our egos into partial truths.

We must face God ourselves to find the Truth then celebrate the muti-faceted expression of it with our fellow humans!

I find the following quote from Reality particularly powerful:

"… they that tread the path of faith, they that thirst for the wine of
certitude, must cleanse themselves of all that is earthly—their ears
from idle talk, their minds from vain imaginings, their hearts from
worldly affections, their eyes from that which perisheth. They
should put their trust in God, and, holding fast unto Him, follow in
His way. Then will they be made worthy of the effulgent glories of
the sun of divine knowledge and understanding, and become the
recipients of a grace that is infinite and unseen, inasmuch as man
can never hope to attain unto the knowledge of the All-Glorious, can
never quaff from the stream of divine knowledge and wisdom, can
never enter the abode of immortality, nor partake of the cup of
divine nearness and favour, unless and until he ceases to regard the
words and deeds of mortal men as a standard for the true
understanding and recognition of God and His Prophets."

Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Íqán, paragraphs 1-2, pp. 3-4

Humans really DO need help running their lives !!!

Very short commentary today since the quote below is a "follow-on" to yesterday's excerpt from Reality. Here we have more about how mere humans have tried and failed to guide humanity...

"We can well perceive how the whole human race is encompassed
with great, with incalculable afflictions. We see it languishing on its
bed of sickness, sore-tried and disillusioned. They that are
intoxicated by self-conceit have interposed themselves between it
and the Divine and infallible Physician. Witness how they have
entangled all men, themselves included, in the mesh of their
devices. They can neither discover the cause of the disease, nor have
they any knowledge of the remedy. They have conceived the straight
to be crooked, and have imagined their friend an enemy."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection
CVI, p. 213