"...a dewdrop of the crystal waters of divine knowledge..."

Today's quote is so clear to me I have no comments...

"Wert thou to attain to but a dewdrop of the crystal waters of divine knowledge, thou wouldst readily realize that true life is not the life of the flesh but the life of the spirit. For the life of the flesh is common to both men and animals, whereas the life of the spirit is possessed only by the pure in heart who have quaffed from the ocean of faith and partaken of the fruit of certitude. This life knoweth no death, and this existence is crowned by immortality. Even as it hath been said: 'He who is a true believer liveth both in this world and in the world to come.' If by 'life' be meant this earthly life, it is evident that death must needs overtake it.

"Similarly, the records of all the scriptures bear witness to this lofty truth and this most exalted word."

Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Íqán, paragraph 128, pp. 110-111

Divine Revelation Regenerates the Soul

I've had quite a bit to say about the Manifestations of God in this blog.

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

Individually Each is and collectively All are the Word of God.

The Writings I access for this blog have much to say about these All-Powerful Messengers of God...

"Since the Sanctified Realities, the supreme Manifestations of God, surround the essence and qualities of the creatures, transcend and contain existing realities and understand all things, therefore, Their knowledge is divine knowledge, and not acquired—that is to say, it is a holy bounty; it is a divine revelation."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, Chapter 40: "The Knowledge of the Divine Manifestations", pp. 157-158

"….the Power of the Holy Spirit shineth radiantly in the realities of the Messengers of God, and strengtheneth Their will in such wise as to influence a great nation for thousands of years and to regenerate the human soul and revive mankind."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Tablet to August Forel, p. 27

What IS Love ?

Ever "fallen in love"?

Ever fallen out?

Ever have a "loved one" hurt you tragically?

Ever hurt a "loved one" tragically?

Is what we're talking about really Love?

Consider today's quote:

"Know thou of a certainty that Love is the secret of God's holy Dispensation, the manifestation of the All-Merciful, the fountain of spiritual outpourings. Love is heaven's kindly light, the Holy Spirit's eternal breath that vivifieth the human soul. Love is the cause of God's revelation unto man, the vital bond inherent, in accordance with the divine creation, in the realities of things. Love is the one means that ensureth true felicity both in this world and the next. Love is the light that guideth in darkness, the living link that uniteth God with man, that assureth the progress of every illumined soul. Love is the most great law that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle, the unique power that bindeth together the divers elements of this material world, the supreme magnetic force that directeth the movements of the spheres in the celestial realms. Love revealeth with unfailing and limitless power the mysteries latent in the universe. Love is the spirit of life unto the adorned body of mankind, the establisher of true civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of imperishable glory upon every high-aiming race and nation.

"Whatsoever people is graciously favoured therewith by God, its name shall surely be magnified and extolled by the Concourse from on high, by the company of angels, and the denizens of the Abha Kingdom. And whatsoever people turneth its heart away from this Divine Love -- the revelation of the Merciful -- shall err grievously, shall fall into despair, and be utterly destroyed. That people shall be denied all refuge, shall become even as the vilest creatures of the earth, victims of degradation and shame.

"O ye beloved of the Lord! Strive to become the manifestations of the love of God, the lamps of divine guidance shining amongst the kindreds of the earth with the light of love and concord.

"All hail to the revealers of this glorious light!"

Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 27-28

All for Love...

In my spiritual Journey, I've learned that not hurting people is good but it's much better to positively love them.

There are some "Don't's" in all Faiths.

Spirituality becomes amazing when we graduate to the "Do's".

Positively Loving
Proactively Helping
Joyous Sacrifice

It's quite a rational response when we understand that our own creation was accomplished by Love...

"O SON OF MAN! Veiled in My immemorial being and in the ancient eternity of My essence, I knew My love for thee; therefore I created thee, have engraved on thee Mine image and revealed to thee My beauty."

Bahá’u’lláh: The Hidden Words, Arabic #3

"Thou didst bring mankind into being to know Thee and to serve Thy Cause, that their station might thereby be elevated upon Thine earth and their souls be uplifted by virtue of the things Thou hast revealed in Thy Scriptures, Thy Books and Thy Tablets."

Bahá’u’lláh: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, "Ishráqát" or "Splendours", p. 111

"Word" of God

Some say the Word of God is a particular Faith's Scripture, and they're right.

Some say the Word is all the world's Scriptures, and they're right.

Some say the Word is actually the Existence of the Manifestation of God Who revealed the Scripture, and they're right, too.

Some say much more:

"Such as communicate the generating influence and such as receive its impact are indeed created through the irresistible Word of God which is the Cause of the entire creation, while all else besides His Word are but the creatures and the effects thereof. Verily thy Lord is the Expounder, the All-Wise.

"Know thou, moreover, that the Word of God—exalted be His glory—is higher and far superior to that which the senses can perceive, for it is sanctified from any property or substance. It transcendeth the limitations of known elements and is exalted above all the essential and recognized substances. It became manifest without any syllable or sound and is none but the Command of God which pervadeth all created things. It hath never been withheld from the world of being. It is God’s all-pervasive grace, from which all grace doth emanate. It is an entity far removed above all that hath been and shall be.
....
"Every thing must needs have an origin and every building a builder. Verily, the Word of God is the Cause which hath preceded the contingent world—a world which is adorned with the splendours of the Ancient of Days, yet is being renewed and regenerated at all times. Immeasurably exalted is the God of Wisdom Who hath raised this sublime structure."

Bahá’u’lláh: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, "Lawh-i-Hikmat" or "Tablet of Wisdom", pp. 140-141

"...to know Him and to love Him..."

Back in the 60s (at least in the U.S.A.) the question, "What's the meaning of life?", was used so often it began to lose it's meaning...

Old men with beards sitting on the peaks of mountains waiting for the Meaning of Life to reveal Itself were the metaphysical mascots of the era.

Like many other folks I took the mascots seriously but never let on, except to very close friends who loved me in spite of my beliefs...

So, how about the Meaning of the Whole of Creation?

"Having created the world and all that liveth and moveth therein, He, through the direct operation of His unconstrained and sovereign Will, chose to confer upon man the unique distinction and capacity to know Him and to love Him—a capacity that must needs be regarded as the generating impulse and the primary purpose underlying the whole of creation...."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection XXVII, p. 65

The Soul

As long as we feel we're physical beings having spiritual experiences, we'll continue to miss our calling.

Once we claim the fact that we're spiritual creatures having a physical experience, we can begin to live our True Existence.

"Know, verily, that the soul is a sign of God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath failed to grasp, and whose mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope to unravel. It is the first among all created things to declare the excellence of its Creator, the first to recognize His glory, to cleave to His truth, and to bow down in adoration before Him. If it be faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will, eventually, return unto Him."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection LXXXII, pp. 158-159

"Verily I say, the human soul is, in its essence, one of the signs of God, a mystery among His mysteries. It is one of the mighty signs of the Almighty, the harbinger that proclaimeth the reality of all the worlds of God. Within it lieth concealed that which the world is now utterly incapable of apprehending."

Bahá’u’lláh: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, Selection LXXXII, p. 160

"Dost thou reckon thyself only a puny form when within thee the universe is folded?"

Bahá’u’lláh quoting ‘Alí: The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys, "Valley of Wonderment", p. 34

"...wealth without gold ... immortality without death."

I grew up with the spiritual ideas of a loving Jesus and a very angry God -- confusing as hell!

Many clerics preach a mean, vindictive God.

The various world Scriptures I've read give the Vision of an All-Loving God Who has designed the universe as a vast teaching experience.

Naturally, if we break Nature's and/or God's Laws, we'll end up earning some punishment -- as a loving parent would slap down their child's hand if it were too near the flames . . .

Notwithstanding the various trials and tribulations of our physical existence, God has prepared remarkable, awesome rewards for those who follow His Will:

"When the channel of the human soul is cleansed of all worldly and impeding attachments, it will unfailingly perceive the breath of the Beloved across immeasurable distances, and will, led by its perfume, attain and enter the City of Certitude. Therein he will discern the wonders of His ancient wisdom, and will perceive all the hidden teachings from the rustling leaves of the Tree—which flourisheth in that City. With both his inner and his outer ear he will hear from its dust the hymns of glory and praise ascending unto the Lord of Lords, and with his inner eye will he discover the mysteries of "return" and "revival." How unspeakably glorious are the signs, the tokens, the revelations, and splendours which He Who is the King of names and attributes hath destined for that City!

"The attainment of this City quencheth thirst without water, and kindleth the love of God without fire. Within every blade of grass are enshrined the mysteries of an inscrutable wisdom, and upon every rose-bush a myriad nightingales pour out, in blissful rapture, their melody. Its wondrous tulips unfold the mystery of the undying Fire in the Burning Bush, and its sweet savours of holiness breathe the perfume of the Messianic Spirit. It bestoweth wealth without gold, and conferreth immortality without death. In every leaf ineffable delights are treasured, and within every chamber unnumbered mysteries lie hidden."

Bahá’u’lláh: The Kitáb-i-Íqán, paragraph 217, pp. 182-183

The Human Animal

Please note the red "Disclaimer" link in the right column.

I truly believe that many people ignore spiritual practices because all they can see are the apparent contradictions of Life.

Sometimes (in some lives), for awhile, it seems advisable to take the "easy" road--to avoid struggle and the effort to rise above animal comforts...

"Man is in the highest degree of materiality, and at the beginning of spirituality—that is to say, he is the end of imperfection and the beginning of perfection. He is at the last degree of darkness, and at the beginning of light; that is why it has been said that the condition of man is the end of the night and the beginning of day, meaning that he is the sum of all the degrees of imperfection, and that he possesses the degrees of perfection. He has the animal side as well as the angelic side, and the aim of an educator is to so train human souls that their angelic aspect may overcome their animal side. Then if the divine power in man, which is his essential perfection, overcomes the satanic power, which is absolute imperfection, he becomes the most excellent among the creatures; but if the satanic power overcomes the divine power, he becomes the lowest of the creatures. That is why he is the end of imperfection and the beginning of perfection. Not in any other of the species in the world of existence is there such a difference, contrast, contradiction and opposition as in the species of man."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, Chapter 64: "The State of Man and His Progress after Death", pp. 235-236