Posted by BUPC India On Monday, February 11, 2013 0 comments




















This is the Age of Woman



I.

Onthe first afternoon, while driving, he expressed much interest in rural England, marvelling at the century-old trees, and the vivid green of the woods and downs, so unlike the arid East. "Though it is autumn it seems like spring," he said. The houses with their little plots of ground, suggested a quotation which 'Abdu'l-Bahá gave from Bahá'u'lláh's writings in which the latter alludes to each family having a house with a piece of land. 'Abdu'l-Bahálikened the country to the soul and the city to the body of man, saying,"The body without the soul cannot live. It is good," he remarked,"to live under the sky, in the sunshine and fresh air." Observing a young woman who rode by on horseback with her hair flying free and several who bicycled past on their bicyles unattended, he said, "This is the age of woman. She should receive the same education as her brother and enjoy the same privilege; for all souls are equal before God.Sex, in its relation to the exigencies of the physical plane, has no connection with the Spirit. In this age of spiritual awakening, the world has entered upon the path of progress into the arena of development, where the power of the spirit surpasses that of the body. Soon the spirit will have dominion over theworld of humanity." (`Abdu'l-Baha, `Abdu'l-Bahain London, p. 81)



II.

Manand woman both should be educated equally and equally regarded. (`Abdu'l-Baha, `Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 28)



III.

Woman's Work



'Abdu'l-Bahá'sinterest in women's work and progress is well known, and among the notable leaders who came to see him, may be mentioned Mrs. Annie Besant, President of the Theosophical Society, the organizers of various suffrage bodies, civic and philanthropic workers, the principals of several woman's colleges and lady doctors.



A spirited conversation due to the visit of an ardent suffragist will be long remembered by those who had the privilege of being present. The room was full of men and women, many Persians being seated in their familiar respectful attitude on the floor.



After contrasting the general position of the Eastern and the Western women, and then describing how in many respects the Eastern woman has the advantage of her Western sister, 'Abdu'l-Bahá turned and said to the visitor: "Give me yourreasons for believing that woman today should have the vote?"



Answer:"I believe that humanity is a divine humanity and that it must rise higherand higher; but it cannot soar with only one wing." 'Abdu'l-Bahá expressed his pleasure at this answer, and smiling, replied: "But what will you do if one wing is stronger than the other?" Answer: "Then we must strengthen the weaker wing, otherwise the flight will always be hampered."



'Abdu'l-Bahásmiled and asked: "What will you say if I prove to you that the woman is the stronger wing?"



The answer came in the same bright vein: "You will earn my eternal gratitude!" at which all the company made merry.



'Abdu'l-Baháthen continued more seriously: "The woman is indeed of the greater importance to the race. She has the greater burden and the greater work. Look at the vegetable and the animal worlds. The palm which carries the fruit is the tree most prized by the date grower. The Arab knows that for along journey the mare has the longest wind. For her greater strength and fierceness, the lioness is more feared by the hunter than the lion.



"Themere size of the brain has been proved to be no measure of superiority. The woman has greater moral courage than the man; she has also special gifts which enable her to govern in moments of danger and crisis. If necessary she can become a warrior."



Zenobia



'Abdu'l-Baháasked the company if they remembered the story of Zenobia and of the fall ofPalmyra. He then continued as follows, using his hands in the grave and simplegesticulations characteristic of him:



"Therewas once a Governor in Ancient Syria, who had a beautiful and clever wife. Shewas so capable that when the Governor died, she was made ruler in his stead.The land prospered under her sway, and men acknowledged that she was a betterruler than her husband. After a time the legions of Rome invaded the country,but again and again she drove them out with great confusion. She let down herbeautiful hair, and herself rode at the head of her army, clad in a scarletcloak, wearing a crown of gold, and wielding a two-edged sword in her hand. The Roman Caesar then withdrew his strength from five otherprovinces in order to subdue her. After a long and brave fight Zenobia retiredinto the city of Palmyra, which she strengthened with wonderful fortifications,and there she endured a siege of four months, Caesar being unable to dislodgeher. The food she had stored within the walls at last was gone, and the miseryof her starving and plague-stricken people compelled her to surrender.



"Caesarwas full of admiration for this great woman, because of her courage andendurance, and he asked her to become his wife. But she refused, saying thatshe would never consent to take as her husband the enemy of her people.Thereupon, Caesar was enraged, and determined to humble her. He took her backwith him in his ships to Rome. For his triumphal entry a great procession wasprepared, and the streets were filled with people. In the procession came firstelephants, after the elephants came the camels, after the camels came thetigers and the leopards, after the leopards came the monkeys, and lastly, afterthe monkeys, walked Zenobia with a gold chain round her neck. Still she carriedher head high, and was firm in her determination. Nothing could break herspirit! She refused to become the Empress of Caesar, so she was thrown into adungeon, and eventually she died."



'Abdu'l-Baháceased. Silence fell upon the room, and it was some time before it was broken.



Uponanother occasion 'Abdu'l-Bahá said to a group of friends around him:"Taken in general, women today have a stronger sense of religion than men.The woman's intuition is more correct; she is more receptive and herintelligence is quicker. The day is coming when woman will claim her superiorityto man.



"Womanhas everywhere been commended for her faithfulness. After the Lord Christsuffered, the disciples wept, and gave way to their grief. They thought thattheir hopes were shattered, and that the Cause was utterly lost, till MaryMagdalene came to them and strengthened them saying: 'Do you mourn the body ofOur Lord or His Spirit? If you mourn His Spirit, you are mistaken, for Jesuslives! His Spirit will never leave us!' Thus through her wisdom andencouragement the Cause of Christ was upheld for all the days to come. Herintuition enabled her to grasp the spiritual fact."



'Abdu'l-Baháthen added: "But in the sight of God sex makes no difference. He or she isgreatest who is nearest to God."



Onemorning 'Abdu'l-Bahá, on entering the room looked about and said: "It isjust like a miracle, our being here together. There is no racial, political orpatriotic tie. We are drawn together by the words of Bahá'u'lláh, and in likemanner will all the races of the earth be drawn together. Of this, restassured!" (`Abdu'l-Baha, `Abdu'l-Bahain London, pp. 101-105)



IV.

"Theconfirmations of the Spirit are all those powers and gifts which some are bornwith (and which men sometimes call genius), but for which others have to strivewith infinite pains. They come to that man or woman who accepts his life withradiant acquiescence." (`Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Bahain London, p. 121)



 V.

Heestablishes the equality of man and woman. This is peculiar to the teachings ofBahá'u'lláh, for all other religions have placed man above woman. (`Abdu'l-Baha,Baha'i World Faith, p. 247)



VI.

Allwere shaken but Mary Magdalen. She was a veritable lioness. She gathered theothers together and said, "Why do ye mourn? Did not the Christ foretellhis crucifixion? Arise, and be assured. They have killed but the body; thereality can never die, for it is supreme, eternal, the word of God, the son ofGod. Why, therefore, are ye agitated?" Thus this heroine became the causeof re-establishing the faith of the apostles.



Myhope is that each one of you may become as Mary Magdalen - for this woman wassuperior to all the men of her time and her reality is ever shining from thehorizon of Christ.



Bepure - to be pure is to be selfless. (`Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 50)



VII.

VerilyI read thy letter which showed that thine inner heart is attracted to theBeauty of God and that thou hast entered the Kingdom of God. I beg of God tomake thy feet firm in this right path and to protect thee from violent testsand from calumnies on the part of every woman who hath, like unto JudasIscariot, turned away from the True One and who hath withdrawn herself and isdeprived of the mercy of God. (`Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 356)



VIII.

Asto the question of women being chosen rather than men: In this cycle there weremen who arose through a divine power and who shone forth as the sun from thedawning-point of holiness; and, likewise, there appeared certain women whobecame side by side with men. The expression which you quote, "Every womanwho is directed to the guidance of God in this great age, will surpass men inevery respect," signified that, in this age, certain women will appear whowill surpass some men. It does not mean that they will surpass all the men whohave given their lives as sacrifices in this Cause; for in this wonderful cyclethere appeared such men as his holiness Khudoos, his holiness Bab-el-Bab, hisholiness the "King of Martyrs" and his holiness the "Beloved ofMartyrs," his holiness the great Vaheed, and such ones who have no equalsin the world of existence. (`Abdu'l-Baha, Tabletsof Abdu'l-Baha v2, pp. 335-336)



IX.

JC's Pics:



From Baha'u'llah:



Today the maidservants of God are accountedas men [Imruz ama'u'llah az rijal mahsub].(Payam-i Malakut, p. 231).



Verily, in the eyes of Baha women are thesame as men. All are God's creation, which He created in his image andlikeness, that is, they are manifestations of His names and attributes [Inna an-nisa'a `inda 'l-Baha'i hukmuhunnahukmu 'r-rijal. Fa 'l-kullu khalqun li'llahi, khalaqahum `ala suratihi wamithalihi ay mazahiru asma'ihi wa sifatihi]. (Yazdani, Maqam va Huquq-iZan, p. 12).



O maidservants: Rise for the Cause of theTruth in a masculine way. How many are the women who are mentioned by God inthis day as men, while some men are considered women [Ay kanizan: Mardanih bar amr-i haqq qiyam nima'id. Basi az nisa' kihal-yawm `ind Allah az rijal madhkur va ba`di-yi rijal kih az nisa' mahsub].(Payam-i Malakut,, p. 232).



From `Abdu'l-Baha:



In this most great cycle and this century ofthe preexistent King, human limitations have been lifted and the laws of theworlds of being have been abrogated and annulled. Masculinity and femininity donot depend upon beards, moustaches, athletic strength, and wielding maces.[Masculinity] depends on courage, power, knowledge, steadfastness, uprightness,passion and attraction. How many mistresses of the bridal chamber have beensent forth and how many men have been consigned to headscarves and meekness [Dar in kawr-i a`zam va qarn-i malik-iqidam, hududat-i bashar murtafa` va ahkam-i `avalim-i kawn mansukh va munfasakhast. Dhakuriyyat va anathiyyat va mardanigi va farzanigi bilihyih va sablat vayal va kupal nabudih. Bi himmat va qudrat va ma`rifat va thibat va istaqamat vaishti`al va injidhab budih. Chih bisyar-i rabbat-i hijal mab`uth shudand vabasa mardan kih dar taht-i miqna`ih va havan mahshur shudand] (Yazdani,Maqam va Huquq-i Zan, pp. 13-14).

CHINVAT : NEWSLETTER

Posted by BUPC India On Friday, February 8, 2013 0 comments



"CHINVAT" THE NEWSLETTER.







CYCLE OF THE SIXTH SUN


"Perish that lover who discerneth between the pleasant and the poisonous in his love for his Beloved!"
(Baha'u'llah, PM, VIII)

Dear All,

This final leg of my 2012-2013 Trip completes the birthing of the New Cycle of the 6th Sun.

Many of us have therefore experienced the full radiance of the effulgencies of the Sun of Reality and the new shifting away from the previous former world-cycles of father and mother to this new cycle of the Beloved of Hearts! The Beloved of All the Worlds--the unknown and inscrutable essence beyond essences--and the nurturing sustenance of the sacred inner-relationship of the individual with the Divine Center coupled with a perfect blending of American styled International Universal world culture tempered with Baha'i Attitude and the righteousness of ecstatic spiritual visionary experience is the new hallmark quality of the diamond vehicle soul--firm in the Covenant, on fire with the love of God, and in sync with the "equilibrium" that "hath been upset through the vibrating influence of this most great, this new World Order." (Proc. Baha'u'llah, p. 122).

These powerful and indescribable forces unleashed through the body, minds, hearts, and souls of these believers, firm in the Covenant, who have withstood the test of time (I survived the Mayan Apocalypse and all I got was this t-shirt) is the seed germ--the leaven that leaveneth the whole lump--of a brand new universal culture, universal society, and universal family of man. The Diversity in our community from climate to climate, from personality to personality, from region to region is extreme to say the least. Yet the unifying power of the love of God united with the knowledge of God has proved this to be the indissoluble link--and the firm handle, and the cord stretched betwixt heaven and earth! This is true of all members in good standing of every walk, every persuasion, and every ilk.

Now all the diversity of the world of humanity may be invited to the banquet hall of God--for this diversity in its completeness and universality is comprised within this Universal Body of the  International Community of the Covenant at this time. This brief 11 years period from 2001 until 2012 is the value of Ya (y= 10 and a= 1) in the cry Ya Mustaghath. Ya means "O thou!" Mustaghath values is 2001. 2001 plus 11 is 2012.

In any case as the community whose watchword is "Unity in Diversity" we have our work cut out from us here on Turtle Island (and elsewhere). Turtle Island is another name for this land that is the melting pot of the world--I use this (amongst a diversity of meanings) in reference to the turtle that won the race--a slow relaxed, steadfast pace. In any case America is cleaning up its act. The Mayan prophecy gives a date and a place. That location like that of the Mayan--The Americas. The newly formed United States National Council (USNC) is no exception--and represents the clean-up act from the Baha'i point of view in this land. Will it be successful? I for one cannot say--but the experiment goes forward. Will we lose some of our dearly beloved members, friends, and colleagues in this process? Without a doubt--for those are the eternal mysterious ways of God (See Baha'u'llah's Iqan for more). Our emotion and response: "Say all are created by God! All are His servants! All abide by His bidding!"

How is it I am still here--when there but for the Grace of God go I?
"Perish that lover who discerneth between the pleasant and the poisonous in his love for his Beloved!" (PM, VIII)
I think of Baha'u'llah. I think of Baha'u'llah.

more to come...

your servant,

Neal.

New Bupc Book Published from India.

Posted by BUPC India On Saturday, February 2, 2013 1 comments



BAHA'I UNDER THE PROVISION OF COVEVNANT (BUPC) HAS A NEW BEGINNING HERE IN INDIA.

 THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL BAHA'I COUNCIL OF INDIA (BUPC) IS OUT IN THE OPEN WITH PREFACE BY BELOVED GUARDIAN.
WE HAVE PROVIDED PHOTOS OF THE COVER AND BACK PAGE HERE ALONG WITH PREFACE OF BELOVED GUARDIAN.
 ANY INTERESTED SOUL IS WELCOME TO WRITE TO US FOR THE BOOK AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL PROVIDE THE SAME.
SAMEER.

Posted by BUPC India On Tuesday, December 11, 2012 0 comments


ADDRESS BY 'ABDU'L-BAHA
AT THE FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE
ST MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C.



                                                                     

Sunday, January 12th, 1913

        About one thousand years ago a society was formed in Persia called the Society of the Friends, who gathered together for silent communion with the Almighty.
        They divided Divine philosophy into two parts: one kind is that of which the knowledge can be acquired through lectures and study in schools and colleges. The second kind of philosophy was that of the Illuminati, or followers of the Inner Light. The schools of this philosophy were held in silence. Meditating, and turning their faces to the Source of Light, from that central Light the mysteries of the Kingdom were reflected in the hearts of these people. All the Divine problems were solved by this power of illumination.
        This Society of Friends increased greatly in Persia, and up to the present time their societies exist. Many books and epistles were written by their leaders. When they assemble in their meeting-house they sit silently and contemplate; their leader opens with a certain proposition, and says to the assembly `You must meditate on this problem'. Then, freeing their minds from everything else, they sit and reflect, and before long the answer is revealed to them. Many abstruse divine questions are solved by this illumination.
        Some of the great questions unfolding from the rays of the Sun of Reality upon the mind of man are: the problem of the reality of the spirit of man; of the birth of the spirit; of its birth from this world into the world of God; the question of the inner life of the spirit and of its fate after its ascension from the body.
        They also meditate upon the scientific questions of the day, and these are likewise solved.
        These people, who are called `Followers of the inner light', attain to a superlative degree of power, and are entirely freed from blind dogmas and imitations. Men rely on the statements of these people: by themselves-- within themselves--they solve all mysteries.
        If they find a solution with the assistance of the inner light, they accept it, and afterwards they declare it: otherwise they would consider it a matter of blind imitation. They go so far as to reflect upon the essential nature of the Divinity, of the Divine revelation, of the manifestation of the Deity in this world. All the divine and scientific questions are solved by them through the power of the spirit.
        Bahá'u'lláh says there is a sign (from God) in every phenomenon: the sign of the intellect is contemplation and the sign of contemplation is silence, because it is impossible for a man to do two things at one time--he cannot both speak and meditate.
        It is an axiomatic fact that while you meditate you are speaking with your own spirit. In that state of mind you put certain questions to your spirit and the spirit answers: the light breaks forth and the reality is revealed.
        You cannot apply the name `man' to any being void of this faculty of meditation; without it he would be a mere animal, lower than the beasts.
        Through the faculty of meditation man attains to eternal life; through it he receives the breath of the Holy Spirit--the bestowal of the Spirit is given in reflection and meditation.
        The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during meditation; through it affairs of which man knew nothing are unfolded before his view. Through it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he receives heavenly food.
        Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries. In that state man abstracts himself: in that state man withdraws himself from all outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves. To illustrate this, think of man as endowed with two kinds of sight; when the power of insight is being used the outward power of vision does not see.
        This faculty of meditation frees man from the animal nature, discerns the reality of things, puts man in touch with God.
        This faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the sciences and arts. Through the meditative faculty inventions are made possible, colossal undertakings are carried out; through it governments can run smoothly. Through this faculty man enters into the very Kingdom of God.
        Nevertheless some thoughts are useless to man; they are like waves moving in the sea without result. Butif the faculty of meditation is bathed in the inner light and characterized with divine attributes, the results will be confirmed.
        The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror; if you put it before earthly objects it will reflect them. Therefore if the spirit of man is contemplating earthly subjects he will be informed of these.
        But if you turn the mirror of your spirits heavenwards, the heavenly constellations and the rays of the Sun of Reality will be reflected in your hearts, and the virtues of the Kingdom will be obtained.
        Therefore let us keep this faculty rightly directed-- turning it to the heavenly Sun and not to earthly objects--so that we may discover the secrets of the Kingdom, and comprehend the allegories of the Bible and the mysteries of the spirit.
        May we indeed become mirrors reflecting the heavenly realities, and may we become so pure as to reflect the stars of heaven.

Message from the Beloved Guardian

Posted by BUPC India On Saturday, November 10, 2012 1 comments


MESSAGE FROM THE BELOVED GUARDIAN. (NEAL CHASE)

A new Group has been formed "AbhaParadise".



Allah'u'Abha!

Welcome to AbhaParadise, a free, easy-to-use email group service. Please take a moment to review this message. Details concerning how to access web-features are attached below at the end of this message.

My name is Neal Chase. I became a Baha'i in 1985 after attending Firesides at the home of Dr. Leland Jensen, my mentor in the Faith.

At that time the internet was only beginning. This technology enables the friends from all over the world who are the co-workers and dedicated adherents of the Guardian to associate with one another in the specific focus of the advancing the teaching effort at this time in company with myself, the living promised one who fulfills the criteria of the Baha'i Covenant as well as Prophecy by my prophesied name, prophesied date, prophesied address, and prophesied mission.

The purpose of this is to enable the people to have this type of association with a religious teacher and educator who makes just such an authoritative claim in order that the people may make their own personal adjustments in preparation for meeting and reunion with the Supreme Universal Manifestation of God Himself seated upon the throne of Reality in the afterlife of the next world.

As these two worlds inter-penetrate one another, the true believer who comes into contact with the throne upon the earth (David's throne) undergoes rapid spiritual, emotional, and intellectual acceleration upon "the Path of Positive Knowledge" (Iqan) that Baha'u'llah has described as the "quickening" in His Book of the Covenant (Kitab-i-Ahd).

This group meeting is best styled as the Outer Sanctuary of the Temple of God. In reality it is immediate access to the true "School of the Prophets" and the promised one. Members are free to remove themselves at anytime. 


II. GROUP DESCRIPTION (see photo online)

THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS

"Teaching the Cause is of the utmost importance for it is the head corner-stone of the foundation itself." (W&T, p. 10)

This is a special discussion board for deepening in the cutting edge of the teaching effort.

The focus is upon Baha'i topics relevant to the Cause. Also upon personal expression--the arts and sciences--in harmony with the spiritual teachings for today:

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, that you love one another" (John 13:35 NIV)

The goal is to create a healthful and vibrant space for accelerating both personal and community growth under the provisions of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah.

This space is a place not unlike the Outer Sanctuary of the Temple (see photo) where some of the friends may meet and associate with one another in company with the the Promised One for today who fulfills the Criteria in the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Baha (see page 12 and 15) for the living Guardian of the Baha'i faith seated upon the throne of King David that is to last for ever (Is. 9:6,7; Psalms 89; Proc. Baha'u'llah, p. 89, etc.).

The spiritual atmosphere of decorum, inner-serenity, and support for outer honest expression is maintained by the Positive Spiritual Vortex generated by the Spiritual Maturity of the members themselves united as one soul in one body, active and striving to win their own spiritual stations.

May God advance His Cause through the channel of these invincible and immortal souls!

your servant,

Neal.

III. Henry V - Act 3, Scene 1

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;
    Or close the wall up with our English dead.
    In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
    As modest stillness and humility:
    But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
    Then imitate the action of the tiger;
    Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
    Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
    Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
    Let pry through the portage of the head
    Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it
    As fearfully as doth a galled rock
    O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,
    Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
    Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
    Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
    To his full height. On, on, you noblest English.
    Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!
    Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
    Have in these parts from morn till even fought
    And sheathed their swords for lack of argument:
    Dishonour not your mothers; now attest
    That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.
    Be copy now to men of grosser blood,
    And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman,
    Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
    The mettle of your pasture; let us swear
    That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
    For there is none of you so mean and base,
    That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
    I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
    Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
    Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
    Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'

Labels:

CHINVAT "NEWSLETTER"

Posted by BUPC India On Saturday, October 13, 2012 0 comments





"Moral life consists in the government of one's self.

Immortality is government of a human soul by the Divine Will."

—`Abdu'l-Baha



In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said: "Not my will O Lord, but Thine" (Lk. 22:42 KJV). This teaching shows that it is only when we align our will with the will of God that we enter into sympathetic vibration (like a tuning fork) and receive our rays of the Holy Spirit. Only the human soul has the capacity to receive this possession of the Holy Ghost—to at once possess it and be possessed by it. Through this possession the true lover of Divinity enters into an immortal relationship as it is written: "Behold I died and I am alive for evermore" (Rev. 1:18 RSV) and: "O SON OF MAN! If thou lovest Me, turn away from thyself; and if thou seekest My pleasure, regard not thine own; that thou mayest die in Me and I may eternally live in thee." (Baha'u'llah, HW A7)



The Will of God today as manifested in our personal experiences of immediate Reality is tabernacled through the Covenant of Baha'u'llah (Kitab-i-Ahd) and the sacred Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Baha (W&T) that maintains the sanctity of the Holy Precinct through which the personal spiritual practice of Will Alignment is maintained in both individual and social transformation.



The Twin Holy Documents which together form one single sacred scroll "written within and on the back and sealed with 7 seals" is the appearance of the most Mighty Document in our midst (see "Revelation Explained,", ch. 5 for more). This is the appearance of the Divine Will amongst you and its tabernacling in the Holy Temple of God.



The communion of the Holy Ghost (2 Cor. 13:14 KJV) therefore infuses the LOVE of God and His might, His power, His ecstasy, and His glory within the crucible of the KNOWing Soul that is pure and receptive as it is written in the Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah and the Apostle Paul:


"Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?... What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" (1 Cor. 6:16, 19 KJV)


"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.



"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God [the knowledge of the Real]. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.




"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned...



"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor. 2: 7-10, 12-14, 16 KJV)



"O SON OF BEING! Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent. Thy spirit is My place of revelation; cleanse it for My manifestation." (Baha'u'llah: HW A59)



"O SON OF MAN! The temple of being is My throne; cleanse it of all things, that there I may be established and there I may abide." (Baha'u'llah: HW A58)



"It should be remembered in this connection that the one true God is in Himself exalted beyond and above proximity and remoteness. His reality transcendeth such limitations. His relationship to His creatures knoweth no degrees. That some are near and others are far is to be ascribed to the manifestations themselves.



"That the heart is the throne, in which the Revelation of God the All-Merciful is centered, is attested by the holy utterances which We have formerly revealed.



"Among them is this saying: "Earth and heaven cannot contain Me; what can alone contain Me is the heart of him that believeth in Me, and is faithful to My Cause." How often hath the human heart, which is the recipient of the light of God and the seat of the revelation of the All-Merciful, erred from Him Who is the Source of that light and the Well Spring of that revelation. It is the waywardness of the heart that removeth it far from God, and condemneth it to remoteness from Him. Those hearts, however, that are aware of His Presence, are close to Him, and are to be regarded as having drawn nigh unto His throne." (Baha'u'llah: GL XCIII )



In the union of the Temple of God in which we worship God in the comm-union with God here is the Love of God united with the immediate Knowledge of God (see last chapter of SAQ) where this soul--governed by the Divine Will of God--lives an immortal life immortally.



Those outside have no share in the Bounty of this Enjoyment.



"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony [W&T] and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Rev. 12:10-11 KJV)



Today, the enjoyments and pleasures and bounties of immortality have been given to that company of the Covenant that in alignment with the Divine Will are able to REINFORCE the living Executive Branch as it is written:



"The legislative body must reinforce the executive [Davidic King], the executive must aid and assist the legislative body so that through the close union and harmony of these two forces, the foundation of fairness and justice may become firm and strong, that all the regions of the world may become even as Paradise itself." (W&T, p. 15)



When people awaken to the fulfillment of this spiritual equation in their own lives, they will recognize that the throne of David has been placed by God upon the earth as the catalyst for a transformation unfathomed in its depths—the deep things of God—by any of the prophets and believers who have lived in the prior times. This is set into motion by the test of the Guardianship of the Baha'i Faith which is to last forever (Pslams 89)—the continued lineage of Baha'u'llah through His son `Abdu'l-Baha  seated upon David's throne  as the Presidency and Executive Branch of the  true Universal House of Justice (www.UHJ.net) of Baha'u'llah:



"I, The Ancient Beauty ruleth upon the throne of David.
Thus hath my Pen spoken that which the
histories of bygone ages have related."
~ Proclamation of Baha'u'llah, p. 89



The TRUTH of this Teaching is known only to those who have received the gift of this Real Immortality.



By the Power of the Covenant it is accomplished.



And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, (Hag. 1:14 KJV)



This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit [the Holy Ghost], saith the LORD of hosts. (Zech. 4:6 KJV)



"Moral life consists in the government of one's self. Immortality is government of a human soul by the Divine Will."—`Abdu'l-Baha



Neal Chase,

Guardian.

www.BUPC.org

Chinvat (Newsletter)

Posted by BUPC India On Wednesday, August 29, 2012 0 comments


"A mighty power and supreme potency is hidden and concealed in the world being.
Focus your gaze upon it and upon the direction of its unity,
not upon the differences which are apparent therein."
--Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Ahd: Book of the Covenant.

I am posting this talk of 'Abdu'l-Baha to help to widen the horizon of our perceptions of understanding the nature of the Reality within the Baha'i framework of the Covenant and W&T. This talk supplements chapter LXXXII in Some Answered Questions (SAQ) entitled "pantheism" which in the original language is "the unity of existence" (wahdat al-wujúd). The self-organizing Universe is a mysterious place: "If it is considered with insight, it will be seen that all the forces of the Universe, in the last analysis, serve the Covenant. In the future it shall be made evident and manifest." ('Abdu'l-Baha, Star of the West, 11(14), 242.)

The Promulgation of Universal Peace

"It is evident, then, that each elemental atom of the universe is possessed of a capacity to express all the virtues of the universe. This is a subtle and abstract realization. Meditate upon it, for within it lies the true explanation of pantheism. From this point of view and perception pantheism is a truth, for every atom in the universe possesses or reflects all the virtues of life, the manifestation of which is effected through change and transformation."--'Abdu'l-Baha


Talk given 27 August 1912
Talk at Metaphysical Club
Boston, Massachusetts

Notes by Edna McKinney
Upon the faces of those present I behold the expression of thoughtfulness and wisdom; therefore, I shall discourse upon a subject involving one of the divine questions, a question of religious and metaphysical importance--namely, the progressive and perpetual motion of elemental atoms throughout the various degrees of phenomena and the kingdoms of existence. It will be demonstrated and become evident that the origin and outcome of phenomena are identical and that there is an essential oneness in all existing things. This is a subtle principle appertaining to divine philosophy and requiring close analysis and attention.

The elemental atoms which constitute all phenomenal existence and being in this illimitable universe are in perpetual motion, undergoing continuous degrees of progression. For instance, let us conceive of an atom in the mineral kingdom progressing upward to the kingdom of the vegetable by entering into the composition and fiber of a tree or plant. From thence it is assimilated and transferred into the kingdom of the animal and finally, by the law and process of composition, becomes a part of the body of man. That is to say, it has traversed the intermediate degrees and stations of phenomenal existence, entering into the composition of various organisms in its journey. This motion or transference is progressive and perpetual, for after disintegration of the human body into which it has entered, it returns to the mineral kingdom whence it came and will continue to traverse the kingdoms of phenomena as before. This is an illustration designed to show that the constituent elemental atoms of phenomena undergo progressive transference and motion throughout the material kingdoms.

In its ceaseless progression and journeyings the atom becomes imbued with the virtues and powers of each degree or kingdom it traverses. In the degree of the mineral it possessed mineral affinities; in the kingdom of the vegetable it manifested the augmentative virtue or power of growth; in the animal organism it reflected the intelligence of that degree; and in the kingdom of man it was qualified with human attributes or virtues.

Furthermore, the forms and organisms of phenomenal being and existence in each of the kingdoms of the universe are myriad and numberless. The vegetable plane or kingdom, for instance, has its infinite variety of types and material structures of plant life-- each distinct and different within itself, no two exactly alike in composition and detail--for there are no repetitions in nature, and the augmentative virtue cannot be confined to any given image or shape. Each leaf has its own particular identity--so to speak, its own individuality as a leaf. Therefore, each atom of the innumerable elemental atoms, during its ceaseless motion through the kingdoms of existence as a constituent of organic composition, not only becomes imbued with the powers and virtues of the kingdoms it traverses but also reflects the attributes and qualities of the forms and organisms of those kingdoms. As each of these forms has its individual and particular virtue, therefore, each elemental atom of the universe has the opportunity of expressing an infinite variety of those individual virtues. No atom is bereft or deprived of this opportunity or right of expression. Nor can it be said of any given atom that it is denied equal opportunities with other atoms; nay, all are privileged to possess the virtues existent in these kingdoms and to reflect the attributes of their organisms. In the various transformations or passages from kingdom to kingdom the virtues expressed by the atoms in each degree are peculiar to that degree. For example, in the world of the mineral the atom does not express the vegetable form and organism, and when through the process of transmutation it assumes the virtues of the vegetable degree, it does not reflect the attributes of animal organisms, and so on.

It is evident, then, that each elemental atom of the universe is possessed of a capacity to express all the virtues of the universe. This is a subtle and abstract realization. Meditate upon it, for within it lies the true explanation of pantheism. From this point of view and perception pantheism is a truth, for every atom in the universe possesses or reflects all the virtues of life, the manifestation of which is effected through change and transformation. Therefore, the origin and outcome of phenomena is, verily, the omnipresent God; for the reality of all phenomenal existence is through Him. There is neither reality nor the manifestation of reality without the instrumentality of God. Existence is realized and possible through the bounty of God, just as the ray or flame emanating from this lamp is realized through the bounty of the lamp, from which it originates. Even so, all phenomena are realized through the divine bounty, and the explanation of true pantheistic statement and principle is that the phenomena of the universe find realization through the one power animating and dominating all things, and all things are but manifestations of its energy and bounty. The virtue of being and existence is through no other agency. Therefore, in the words of Baha'u'llah, the first teaching is the oneness of the world of humanity.

When the man who is spiritually sagacious and possessed of insight views the world of humanity, he will observe that the lights of the divine bounty are flooding all mankind, just as the lights of the sun shed their splendor upon all existing things. All phenomena of material existence are revealed through the ray emanating from the sun. Without light nothing would be visible. Similarly, all phenomena in the inner world of reality receive the bounties of God from the source of divine bestowal. This human plane, or kingdom, is one creation, and all souls are the signs and traces of the divine bounty. In this plane there are no exceptions; all have been recipients of their bestowals through the heavenly bounty. Can you find a soul bereft of the nearness of God? Can you find one whom God has deprived of its daily sustenance? This is impossible. God is kind and loving to all, and all are manifestations of the divine bounty. This is the oneness of the world of humanity.

But some souls are weak; we must endeavor to strengthen them. Some are ignorant, uninformed of the bounties of God; we must strive to make them knowing. Some are ailing; we must seek to restore them to health. Some are immature as children; they must be trained and assisted to attain maturity. We nurse the sick in tenderness and the kindly spirit of love; we do not despise them because they are ill. Therefore, we must exercise extreme patience, sympathy and love toward all mankind, considering no soul as rejected. If we look upon a soul as rejected, we have disobeyed the teachings of God. God is loving to all. Shall we be unjust or unkind to anyone? Is this allowable in the sight of God? God provides for all. Is it befitting for us to prevent the flow of His merciful provisions for mankind? God has created all in His image and likeness. Shall we manifest hatred for His creatures and servants? This would be contrary to the will of God and according to the will of Satan, by which we mean the natural inclinations of the lower nature. This lower nature in man is symbolized as Satan--the evil ego within us, not an evil personality outside.

Baha'u'llah teaches that the foundations of the divine religion are one reality which does not admit of multiplicity or division. Therefore, the commandments and teachings of God are one. The religious differences and divisions which exist in the world are due to blind imitations of forms without knowledge or investigation of the fundamental divine reality which underlies all the religions. Inasmuch as these imitations of ancestral forms are various, dissensions have arisen among the people of religion. Therefore, it is necessary to free mankind from this subjection to blind belief by pointing the way of guidance to reality itself, which is the only basis of unity.

Baha'u'llah says that religion must be conducive to love and unity. If it proves to be the source of hatred and enmity, its absence is preferable; for the will and law of God is love, and love is the bond between human hearts. Religion is the light of the world. If it is made the cause of darkness through human misunderstanding and ignorance, it would be better to do without it.

Religion must conform to science and reason; otherwise, it is superstition. God has created man in order that he may perceive the verity of existence and endowed him with mind or reason to discover truth. Therefore, scientific knowledge and religious belief must be conformable to the analysis of this divine faculty in man.

Prejudices of all kinds--whether religious, racial, patriotic or political--are destructive of divine foundations in man. All the warfare and bloodshed in human history have been the outcome of prejudice. This earth is one home and native land. God has created mankind with equal endowment and right to live upon the earth. As a city is the home of all its inhabitants although each may have his individual place of residence therein, so the earth's surface is one wide native land or home for all races of humankind. Racial prejudice or separation into nations such as French, German, American and so on is unnatural and proceeds from human motive and ignorance. All are the children and servants of God. Why should we be separated by artificial and imaginary boundaries? In the animal kingdom the doves flock together in harmony and agreement. They have no prejudices. We are human and superior in intelligence. Is it befitting that lower creatures should manifest virtues which lack expression in man?

Baha'u'llah has proclaimed and promulgated the foundation of international peace. For thousands of years men and nations have gone forth to the battlefield to settle their differences. The cause of this has been ignorance and degeneracy. Praise be to God! In this radiant century minds have developed, perceptions have become keener, eyes are illumined and ears attentive. Therefore, it will be impossible for war to continue. Consider human ignorance and inconsistency. A man who kills another man is punished by execution, but a military genius who kills one hundred thousand of his fellow creatures is immortalized as a hero. One man steals a small sum of money and is imprisoned as a thief. Another pillages a whole country and is honored as a patriot and conqueror. A single falsehood brings reproach and censure, but the wiles of politicians and diplomats excite the admiration and praise of a nation. Consider the ignorance and inconsistency of mankind. How darkened and savage are the instincts of humanity!

Baha'u'llah has announced that no matter how far the world of humanity may advance in material civilization, it is nevertheless in need of spiritual virtues and the bounties of God. The spirit of man is not illumined and quickened through material sources. It is not resuscitated by investigating phenomena of the world of matter. The spirit of man is in need of the protection of the Holy Spirit. Just as he advances by progressive stages from the mere physical world of being into the intellectual realm, so must he develop upward in moral attributes and spiritual graces. In the process of this attainment he is ever in need of the bestowals of the Holy Spirit. Material development may be likened to the glass of a lamp, whereas divine virtues and spiritual susceptibilities are the light within the glass. The lamp chimney is worthless without the light; likewise, man in his material condition requires the radiance and vivification of the divine graces and merciful attributes. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit he is lifeless. Although physically and mentally alive, he is spiritually dead. 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.

The Promulgation of Universal Peace
pages 284-289