Sunday, September 30, 2007

Evolution of Religion

Many folk are turned off by religion because they feel the forms of worship are outmoded--not fit for our modern world.

Some folk feel that the moral dimension of religion should be modernized.

Many of the last group actually want to do away with morals...

Today's excerpt from Reality explores how Religion must Evolve:

"Note thou carefully that in this world of being, all things must ever be made new. Look at the material world about thee, see how it hath now been renewed. The thoughts have changed, the ways of life have been revised, the sciences and arts show a new vigour, discoveries and inventions are new, perceptions are new. How then could such a vital power as religion -- the guarantor of mankind's great advances, the very means of attaining everlasting life, the fosterer of infinite excellence, the light of both worlds -- not be made new? This would be incompatible with the grace and lovingkindness of the Lord."

Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 52

Saturday, September 29, 2007

the Faith of God

So many times in life, people want a closer relationship with God, look into various forms of religion, and decide that they can't decide...

Rarely do the various organized systems of worship give easy answers with which all Truth-Seekers can readily agree.

Today's excerpt from Reality is here presented as an easy answer about the purpose of religion.

What do you think?

"The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men."

Bahá’u’lláh: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, "Lawh-i-Maqsúd" or "Tablet of Maqsúd", p. 168

Friday, September 28, 2007

God’s Purpose Unfolding in Time

Once again, I feel inadequate to the task of commentary...

At least there's a variety of quotes from Reality so their meanings can be compared.

I'll rely on something that was given commentary by me in a past post: it doesn't take high brain intelligence to understand Scripture; just a relatively Pure Heart...

"In every age and century, the purpose of the Prophets of God and their chosen ones hath been no other but to affirm the spiritual significance of the terms 'life, 'resurrection,' and 'judgment.'"

Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Íqán, paragraph 128, p. 110

"....in every age the light of God hath, to outward seeming, been quenched by the peoples of the earth, and the Lamps of God extinguished by them."

Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Íqán, paragraph 136, p. 117

"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 allencompassing are the wonders of His boundless grace! Behold how they have pervaded the whole of creation."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection XXVI, p. 62

"....He ["God"] hath ordained that in every age and dispensation a pure and stainless Soul be made manifest in the kingdoms of earth and heaven."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection XXVII, p. 66

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Child Abuse

Blog Catalog is promoting a Bloggers Unite Against Abuse day, today !

So, I began searching for an appropriate quote in Reality...

Didn't find one seemingly appropriate enough.

But, the Scriptural Writings that Reality comes from are like an Ocean.

Here's the quote I chose, to unite with other bloggers against abuse:

"Let the mothers consider that whatever concerneth the education of children is of the first importance. Let them put forth every effort in this regard, for when the bough is green and tender it will grow in whatever way ye train it. Therefore is it incumbent upon the mothers to rear their little ones even as a gardener tendeth his young plants. Let them strive by day and by night to establish within their children faith and certitude, the fear of God, the love of the Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and traits. Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary. It is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child's character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal abuse."

Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 125

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Seven Candles of Unity

Most folk, if they thought about it, would claim that we need Peace in the World before we can have Unity.

Well, here's another example that people need guidance from beyond their ego consciousness to find Truth.

Turns out we need Unity before Peace can flourish.

Think about it...

Today's quote from Reality explores seven "candles" of unity that humanity is striving to light.

"In cycles gone by, though harmony was established, yet, owing to the absence of means, the unity of all mankind could not have been achieved. Continents remained widely divided, nay even among the peoples of one and the same continent association and interchange of thought were well nigh impossible. Consequently intercourse, understanding and unity amongst all the peoples and kindreds of the earth were unattainable. In this day, however, means of communication have multiplied, and the five continents of the earth have virtually merged into one. And for everyone it is now easy to travel to any land, to associate and exchange views with its peoples, and to become familiar, through publications, with the conditions, the religious beliefs and the thoughts of all men. In like manner all the members of the human family, whether peoples or governments, cities or villages, have become increasingly interdependent. For none is self-sufficiency any longer possible, inasmuch as political ties unite all peoples and nations, and the bonds of trade and
industry, of agriculture and education, are being strengthened every day. Hence the unity of all mankind can in this day be achieved.

"Verily this is none other but one of the wonders of this wondrous
age, this glorious century. Of this past ages have been deprived, for this century — the century of light — hath been endowed with unique and unprecedented glory, power and illumination. Hence the miraculous unfolding of a fresh marvel every day. Eventually it will be seen how bright its candles will burn in the assemblage of man.

"Behold how its light is now dawning upon the world’s darkened
horizon. The first candle is unity in the political realm, the early glimmerings of which can now be discerned. The second candle is unity of thought in world undertakings, the consummation of which will erelong be witnessed. The third candle is unity in freedom which will surely come to pass. The fourth candle is unity in religion which is the corner-stone of the foundation itself, and which, by the power of God, will be revealed in all its splendour. The fifth candle is the unity of nations—a unity which in this century will be securely established, causing all the peoples of the world to regard themselves as citizens of one common fatherland. The sixth candle is unity of races, making of all that dwell on earth peoples and kindreds of one race. The seventh candle is unity of language, i.e., the choice of a universal tongue in which all peoples will be instructed and converse. Each and every one of these will inevitably come to pass, inasmuch as the power of the Kingdom of God will aid and assist in their realization."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selection #15, pp. 31-32

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Order in the World

Hardly any commentary on today's excerpt from Reality...

To me, it's just completely perfect...

"O ye the elected representatives of the people in every land! Take ye counsel together, and let your concern be only for that which profiteth mankind and bettereth the condition thereof, if ye be of them that scan heedfully. Regard the world as the human body which, though at its creation whole and perfect, hath been afflicted, through various causes, with grave disorders and maladies. Not for one day did it gain ease, nay its sickness waxed more severe, as it fell under the treatment of ignorant physicians, who gave full rein to their personal desires and have erred grievously. And if, at one time, through the care of an able physician, a member of that body was healed, the rest remained afflicted as before. Thus informeth you the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

"We behold it, in this day, at the mercy of rulers so drunk with pride
that they cannot discern clearly their own best advantage, much less recognize a Revelation so bewildering and challenging as this. And whenever any one of them hath striven to improve its condition, his motive hath been his own gain, whether confessedly so or not; and the unworthiness of this motive hath limited his power to heal or cure.

"That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and
mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith. This can in no wise be achieved except through the power of a skilled, an allpowerful and inspired Physician. This, verily, is the truth, and all else naught but error."

Bahá’u’lláh addressing Queen Victoria: Summons of the Lord of Hosts, "Súriy-i-Haykal" or "Súrih of the Temple", paragraphs 174- 176, pp. 90-91

Sunday, September 23, 2007

True Paradise

It's been said that Heaven and Hell are not places we might inhabit when we die but "states of being" we live through here on Earth.

Consider this excerpt from Reality:

"....there is no greater torture than being veiled from God, and no more severe punishment than sensual vices, dark qualities, lowness of nature, engrossment in carnal desires. When they are delivered through the light of faith from the darkness of these vices, and become illuminated with the radiance of the sun of reality, and ennobled with all the virtues, they esteem this the greatest reward, and they know it to be the true paradise."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, Chapter 60: "The Immortality of the Spirit", p. 224

Saturday, September 22, 2007

I have to do WHAT ?!?

It seems the hardest thing for Seekers to do is Submit to God's Will.

In fact, so many people say with apparent pride, "I'm spiritual but not religious."

Modern "spirituality" has a lot of room for personal willfulness and merely "human" desires...

If we conceived of God as our Creator, you'd think that obedience would be rather swift and happy.

Thing is, He gave us the ability to choose...

Most of us choose our own small, selfish worlds instead of God's Worlds.

So, today's quote from Reality could be rather hard to swallow:

"O thou who hast surrendered thy will to God! By self-surrender and perpetual union with God is meant that men should merge their will wholly in the Will of God, and regard their desires as utter nothingness beside His Purpose. Whatsoever the Creator commandeth His creatures to observe, the same must they diligently, and with the utmost joy and eagerness, arise and fulfil. They should in no wise allow their fancy to obscure their judgment, neither should they regard their own imaginings as the voice of the Eternal."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection CLX, p. 337

Friday, September 21, 2007

A Clear Message

One of the lessons I've learned about Spirituality by pondering the Writings represented in the compilation Reality is that understanding the Scriptures doesn't depend on high marks in intellectual subjects.

People who have a relatively pure heart are in the "position" to understand the Words of the Prophets and Messengers of God.

Today's quote from Reality is an example and also a "definition" of the Pure Heart we all need...


"O YE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MINDS TO KNOW AND EARS TO HEAR!


"The first call of the Beloved is this: O mystic nightingale! Abide not
but in the rose-garden of the spirit. O messenger of the Solomon of love! Seek thou no shelter except in the Sheba of the well-beloved, and O immortal phoenix! dwell not save on the mount of faithfulness. Therein is thy habitation, if on the wings of thy soul thou soarest to the realm of the infinite and seekest to attain thy goal."

Bahá’u’lláh: The Hidden Words, Persian #1