It is obvious that a very deep relationship exists between
the spirit of man and the world of existence. It often happens that what we see
in a dream comes to pass in wakefulness; indeed, even in wakefulness when the
soul is unfettered, matters come to mind which later appear in visible form.
This shows that between the reasoning power of man and that visible appearance
there is a spiritual connection. Furthermore, the spirit of man has the power
of discovering facts. When this power is realized, problems become easily
resolved. Amusingly, while materialists are engaged in making discoveries
concerning the strata of the earth, they are immersed in the very spiritual
power whose potency and influence they deny. They also claim to forecast coming
events.
(From a conversation by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, June 10, 1912, New York,
‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
September 30, 2013
September 24, 2013
One needs to “purify and sanctify” his/her “spirit from the impurities of the world of nature”
The principle of baptism is purification by repentance. John
admonished and exhorted the people, and caused them to repent; then he baptized
them. Therefore, it is apparent that this baptism is a symbol of repentance
from all sin: its meaning is expressed in these words: “O God! as my body has
become purified and cleansed from physical impurities, in the same way purify
and sanctify my spirit from the impurities of the world of nature, which are
not worthy of the Threshold of Thy Unity!” Repentance is the return from
disobedience to obedience. Man, after remoteness and deprivation from God,
repents and undergoes purification: and this is a symbol signifying “O God!
make my heart good and pure, freed and sanctified from all save Thy love.”
As Christ desired that this institution of John should be
used at that time by all, He Himself conformed to it in order to awaken the
people and to complete the law of the former religion. Although the ablution of
repentance was the institution of John, it was in reality formerly practiced in the religion of God.
Christ was not in need of baptism; but as at that time it
was an acceptable and praiseworthy action, and a sign of the glad tidings of
the Kingdom, therefore, He confirmed it. However, afterward He said the true
baptism is not with material water, but it must be with spirit and with water.
In this case water does not signify material water, for elsewhere it is
explicitly said baptism is with spirit and with fire, from which it is clear
that the reference is not to material fire and material water, for baptism with
fire is impossible.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some Answered Questions’)
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some Answered Questions’)
September 22, 2013
Man needs the assistance of the Holy Spirit to “free himself from the rage of the carnal passions” and become “filled with the eternal bounty”
Man cannot free himself from the rage of the carnal passions
except by the help of the Holy Spirit. That is why He[Christ] says baptism with
the spirit, with water and with fire is necessary, and that it is
essential—that is to say, the spirit of divine bounty, the water of knowledge
and life, and the fire of the love of God. Man must be baptized with this
spirit, this water and this fire so as to become filled with the eternal
bounty. Otherwise, what is the use of baptizing with material water? No, this
baptism with water was a symbol of repentance, and of seeking forgiveness of
sins.
But in the cycle of Bahá’u’lláh there is no longer need of
this symbol; for its reality, which is to be baptized with the spirit and love
of God, is understood and established.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some Answered Questions’)
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some Answered Questions’)
September 16, 2013
The existence of “spirit” in mineral and vegetable
As to the existence of spirit in the mineral: it is
indubitable that minerals are endowed with a spirit and life according to the
requirements of that stage. This unknown secret, too, hath become known unto
the materialists who now maintain that all beings are endowed with life, even
as He saith in the Qur’án, ‘All things are living’.
In the vegetable world, too, there is the power of growth,
and that power of growth is the spirit. In the animal world there is the sense
of feeling, but in the human world there is an all-embracing power. In all the
preceding stages the power of reason is absent, but the soul existeth and
revealeth itself. The sense of feeling understandeth not the soul, whereas the
reasoning power of the mind proveth the existence thereof.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablet to August Forel)
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablet to August Forel)
September 12, 2013
The dependence of human spirit on the divine Spirit
O maid-servant of God! The human spirit hath an impression
and effect in the world, but the divine Spirit giveth life to the souls and
conferreth eternal life upon those who are attracted to the fragrances of God.
This is the Great Cause from the Kingdom of thy Lord.
Be attached to this New Spirit which hath effective power in
the realities of things and creates new creatures.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
September 10, 2013
One’s “spirit” needs to be “healed” as part of “true healing”
All true healing comes from God! There are two causes for
sickness, one is material, the other spiritual. If the sickness is of the body,
a material remedy is needed, if of the soul, a spiritual remedy.
If the heavenly benediction be upon us while we are being
healed then only can we be made whole, for medicine is but the outward and
visible means through which we obtain the heavenly healing. Unless the spirit
be healed, the cure of the body is worth nothing. All is in the hands of God,
and without Him there can be no health in us!
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 19, 1911, Paris; ‘Paris Talks’)
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 19, 1911, Paris; ‘Paris Talks’)
September 6, 2013
“man must be born again” -- "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (Christ)
Christ announced, "That which is born of
the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit,"
meaning that man must be born again. As the babe is born into the light of this
physical world, so must the physical and intellectual man be born into the
light of the world of Divinity. In the matrix of the mother the unborn child
was deprived and unconscious of the world of material existence, but after its
birth it beheld the wonders and beauties of a new realm of life and being. In
the world of the matrix it was utterly ignorant and unable to conceive of these
new conditions, but after its transformation it discovers the radiant sun,
trees, flowers and an infinite range of blessings and bounties awaiting it. In
the human plane and kingdom man is a captive of nature and ignorant of the
divine world until born of the breaths of the Holy Spirit out of physical
conditions of limitation and deprivation. Then he beholds the reality of the
spiritual realm and Kingdom, realizes the narrow restrictions of the mere human
world of existence and becomes conscious of the unlimited and infinite glories
of the world of God. Therefore, no matter how man may advance upon the physical
and intellectual plane, he is ever in need of the boundless virtues of
Divinity, the protection of the Holy Spirit and the face of God.
(‘Abdu'l-Baha, ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace’, Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
(‘Abdu'l-Baha, ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace’, Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
September 1, 2013
The Prophets come to this world to help us educate our own souls
The Prophets have appeared in this world with the mission
that human souls may become the expressions of the Merciful, that they may be
educated and developed, attain to love and amity and establish peace and
agreement.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.; The Promulgation of Universal Peace) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given on 21 April 1912 in Washington D.C.; The Promulgation of Universal Peace) (To read the entire talk please visits Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)
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