What's the Use of Praying ?

Today's selection from Reality is another one that compels me to keep my commentary brief.

Seems to be extremely clear advice...

"As to thy question, 'Why pray? What is the wisdom thereof, for God has established everything and executes all affairs after the best order and He ordains everything according to a becoming measure and puts things in their places with the greatest of perfection— therefore what is the wisdom in beseeching and supplicating and in stating one’s wants and seeking help?'

"Know thou, verily, it is becoming in a weak one to supplicate to the Strong One, and it behooveth a seeker of bounty to beseech the Glorious Bountiful One. When one supplicates to his Lord, turns to Him and seeks bounty from His Ocean, this supplication brings light to his heart, illumination to his sight, life to his soul and exaltation to his being.

"During thy supplications to God and thy reciting, 'Thy Name is my healing,' consider how thine heart is cheered, thy soul delighted by the spirit of the love of God, and thy mind attracted to the Kingdom of God! By these attractions one’s ability and capacity increase. When the vessel is enlarged the water increases, and when the thirst grows the bounty of the cloud becomes agreeable to the taste of man. This is the mystery of supplication and the wisdom of stating one’s wants."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, quoted in Esslemont: Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, p. 93

We Are Eternal Souls !

Most of you have undoubtedly heard the saying, "We are souls with a physical body, not physical bodies with a soul."

I feel today's quote from Reality could be chanted as spiritual therapy when we're having trouble accessing our Higher Selves...

"Thou comest from the world of holiness—bind not thine heart to the earth; thou art a dweller in the court of nearness—choose not the homeland of the dust."

Bahá’u’lláh: The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys, "Valley of Contentment", p. 35

Renewal of Religion

It's quite understandable to me how a person could look at the current religions and decide they want none of the organized brands of spirituality.

Thing is, as long as someone is judging the religions by the member's actions, they'll only see the differences and lack of unity.

Today's excerpt from Reality gives us a means to reconcile the differences by looking to the Essence...

"In the beginning the tree was in all its beauty, and full of blossoms and fruits, but at last it became old and entirely fruitless, and it withered and decayed. This is why the True Gardener plants again an incomparable young tree of the same kind and species, which grows and develops day by day, and spreads a wide shadow in the divine garden, and yields admirable fruit. So it is with religions; through the passing of time they change from their original foundation, the truth of the Religion of God entirely departs, and the spirit of it does not stay; heresies appear, and it becomes a body without a soul. That is why it is renewed."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, Chapter 43: "The Two Classes of Prophets", p. 166

What, Really, Is Worship ?

Today's quote from Reality is easy enough to understand but may be hard to "imagine".

We've been told that worship must be in a building, or that it can only be done at a specific time, or, even, sometimes, that living right is worship.

But, learning an art or science...?

"If a man engageth with all his power in the acquisition of a science or in the perfection of an art, it is as if he has been worshipping God in churches and temples."

Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 144

Which Education Is Better ?

Here's another quote from Reality that some (especially some educators) may want to challenge.

As you read, ask yourself which child you would want to relate to...

"Training in morals and good conduct is far more important than book learning. A child that is cleanly, agreeable, of good character, well-behaved -- even though he be ignorant -- is preferable to a child that is rude, unwashed, ill-natured, and yet becoming deeply versed in all the sciences and arts. The reason for this is that the child who conducts himself well, even though he be ignorant, is of benefit to others, while an ill-natured, ill-behaved child is corrupted and harmful to others, even though he be learned. If, however, the child be trained to be both learned and good, the result is light upon light."

Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 135

Science & Religion

It's interesting to me how personal bias in understanding can result in vastly different interpretations of Scripture.

The quote from Reality for today, if presented to a typical scientist, would be deemed to be far too limiting on the freedom they need to do science.

If it were presented to a typical religious person, they would judge it too liberal!


Hmmm...


"O thou true friend! Read, in the school of God, the lessons of the spirit, and learn from love's Teacher the innermost truths. Seek out the secrets of Heaven, and tell of the overflowing grace and favour of God.

"Although to acquire the sciences and arts is the greatest glory of mankind, this is so only on condition that man's river flow into the mighty sea, and draw from God's ancient source His inspiration. When this cometh to pass, then every teacher is as a shoreless ocean, every pupil a prodigal fountain of knowledge. If, then, the pursuit of knowledge lead to the beauty of Him Who is the Object of all Knowledge, how excellent that goal; but if not, a mere drop will perhaps shut a man off from flooding grace, for with learning cometh arrogance and pride, and it bringeth on error and
indifference to God.

"The sciences of today are bridges to reality; if then they lead not to reality, naught remains but fruitless illusion. By the one true God! If learning be not a means of access to Him, the Most Manifest, it is nothing but evident loss."

Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 110

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

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

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