More on the journey to eternity

In this audio, I look at the two stages on our journey to God, which Baha'u'llah calls "The City (or Valley) of Search" and "The City (or Valley) of Divine Unity". These stages are described in two books: The Seven Valleys and Gems of Divine Mysteries. Using passages from Gems, I discuss how, in the City of Search, we see contradictions in the world and that, if we want to journey on to the City of Divine Unity, we must detach from these things - and, in fact, all in heaven and earth. In the City of Divine Unity, we stop seeing contradictions and begin to see God in everything. Hence our unease about the world around us is transformed into an understanding of God's purpose, and we find contentment in his all-encompassing oneness.

To listen to the audio, click the play button or listen to "More on the journey to eternity" as a downloaded MP3.

Here's the link to The Seven Valleys.

Here is the first passage from Gems of Divine Mysteries:

"It behoveth him who is a wayfarer in the path of God and a wanderer in His way to detach himself from all who are in the heavens and on the earth. He must renounce all save God, that perchance the portals of mercy may be unlocked before his face and the breezes of providence may waft over him. And when he hath inscribed upon his soul that which We have vouchsafed unto him of the quintessence of inner meaning and explanation, he will fathom all the secrets of these allusions, and God shall bestow upon his heart a divine tranquillity and cause him to be of them that are at peace with themselves." Gems of Divine Mysteries, paragraph 33

Here is the second passage from Gems of Divine Mysteries:

"In this station [the City of Divine Unity] the truth of the unity of God and of the signs of His sanctity is established. Thou shalt indeed see them all rising above the bosom of God’s might and embraced in the arms of His mercy; nor can any distinction be made between His bosom and His arms. To speak of change or transformation in this plane would be sheer blasphemy and utter impiety, for this is the station wherein the light of divine unity shineth forth, and the truth of His oneness is expressed, and the splendours of the everlasting Morn are reflected in lofty and faithful mirrors." Gems of Divine Mysteries, paragraph 41

Here is the saying Baha'u'llah often quotes: "Knowledge is a light which God casteth into the heart of whomsoever He willeth." (Baha'u'llah: Kitab-i-Iqan, p46)

Knowledge and virtue

In this audio, I explain what I see as the "state of being" that stands behind the virtues that Baha'u'llah emphasises, which include forbearance, resignation to what God wills, contentment with God's will, patience, and thankfulness in the face of tribulation. I suggest that these virtues are all linked by one "state of being" in which we sort of 'stand back' within ourselves and become detached from what's happening to us. I liken it to seeing our body and soul as a kind of theatre, in which we sit in the audience watching the drama of our life unfold on the stage.

This inner state of being reminds me of what Baha'u'llah says about knowledge. He divides it into two kinds: divine and satanic. He says that the principle that governs divine knowledge is "Fear God; God will teach you". Again, I think this means 'standing back' within ourselves and allowing ourselves to be guided by God about what's going on in the drama. In this way, we become a 'director' of the drama, along with God. Although I don't spell it out in the audio, I'm suggesting that the shared direction gives us the knowledge and understanding to achieve the forbearance, resignation, contentment and patience Baha'u'llah is asking of us.

To listen to the audio, click the play button or listen to "Knowledge and virtue" as a downloaded MP3.

Here is the passage from Gleanings:

"The virtues and attributes pertaining unto God are all evident and manifest, and have been mentioned and described in all the heavenly Books. Among them are trustworthiness, truthfulness, purity of heart while communing with God, forbearance, resignation to whatever the Almighty hath decreed, contentment with the things His Will hath provided, patience, nay, thankfulness in the midst of tribulation, and complete reliance, in all circumstances, upon Him. These rank, according to the estimate of God, among the highest and most laudable of all acts. All other acts are, and will ever remain, secondary and subordinate unto them..." Gleanings, section CXXXIV

Here are passage from the Kitab-i Iqan (Book of Certitude):

"Know verily that Knowledge is of two kinds: Divine and Satanic. The one welleth out from the fountain of divine inspiration; the other is but a reflection of vain and obscure thoughts. The source of the former is God Himself; the motive-force of the latter the whisperings of selfish desire. The one is guided by the principle: 'Fear ye God; God will teach you;' the other is but a confirmation of the truth: 'Knowledge is the most grievous veil between man and his Creator.' The former bringeth forth the fruit of patience, of longing desire, of true understanding, and love; whilst the latter can yield naught but arrogance, vainglory and conceit." Kitab-i Iqan, paragraph 76

The reciprocal nature of contentment

In this audio, I discuss how the state of contentment is an immediate, reciprocal connection with God through our heart. This state is explained in this sentence from Baha'u'llah: "Then know that your love for God is God's good-pleasure with you and your good-pleasure with him."

To listen to the audio, click the play button or listen to "The reciprocal nature of contentment" as a downloaded MP3.

Here is the passage from Gems of Divine Mysteries:

"It behoveth him who is a wayfarer in the path of God and a wanderer in His way to detach himself from all who are in the heavens and on the earth. He must renounce all save God, that perchance the portals of mercy may be unlocked before his face and the breezes of providence may waft over him. And when he hath inscribed upon his soul that which We have vouchsafed unto him of the quintessence of inner meaning and explanation, he will fathom all the secrets of these allusions, and God shall bestow upon his heart a divine tranquillity and cause him to be of them that are at peace with themselves." Baha'u'llah: Gems of Mysteries, para 33


Here are the hidden words I read:

"O SON OF LIGHT! Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it." Arabic no 16


"O SON OF MAN! Sorrow not save that thou art far from Us. Rejoice not save that thou art drawing near and returning unto Us." Arabic no 35


Here is the passage from City of Radiant Acquiescence:

"Then know that your love for God is God's good-pleasure with you and your good-pleasure with him. This is the religious path that was ordained by the right hand of God's wisdom, and it shall not change with a change of prophets, nor is it renewed by the advent of a new messenger. Rather, all enjoin this upon the people, and it is a trust of God deposited in the hearts of the sincere." City of Radiant Acquiescence, para 8

Justice

In this audio, I discuss the concept of justice and how it is similar to the concept of detachment. Both concepts are central to Baha'u'llah's revelation.

The idea of justice presupposes that a person is not swayed by bias, prejudice or corruption from looking at a matter in a straightforward and fair manner. Similarly, detachment from the world requires that we not allow ourselves to be swayed by anything in the world from turning to God. To achieve this, Baha'u'llah talks about the need for us to free ourselves from feelings of love and hate, for these can both steer us away from the truth.

As is often the case, Baha'u'llah acts as a sort of psychologist by teaching us the correct way to perceive the world and the correct inner states to adopt when responding to the world.

I discuss Arabic Hidden Word no 2, in which Baha'u'llah talks about justice and its importance to him. He says that we must turn toward it and focus on it, if we desire God and want God to confide in us. He explains that justice aids us to see through our own eyes and know with our own knowledge, as opposed to relying on others.

In light of this, I discuss the fact that many Baha'is believe that the only way to understand Baha'u'llah is to rely on what Abdul-Baha, the Guardian and the House of Justice say. I respond by saying that, while their writings may help us to understand what Baha'u'llah says, they cannot help us to attain within ourselves the states of being that Baha'u'llah is asking us to adopt. Each individual must do that for themselves.

To listen to the audio, click the play button or listen to "Justice" as a downloaded MP3.

Here is the passage from Words of Wisdom:

"The essence of all that We have revealed for thee is Justice, is for man to free himself from idle fancy and imitation, discern with the eye of oneness His glorious handiwork, and look into all things with a searching eye." Baha'u'llah: Words of Wisdom

Here is the quote from the Book of Certitude:

"He must so cleanse his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein, lest that love blindly incline him to error, or that hate repel him away from the truth." Baha'u'llah: Book of Certitude (Kitab-i Iqan) para 213

Here is the hidden word I discuss:

"O son of justice! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes." Arabic Hidden Word no 2

Here is a quote in which Baha'u'llah talks about knowing him through himself:

"Meditate diligently upon the Cause of thy Lord. Strive to know Him through His own Self and not through others. For no one else besides Him can ever profit thee. To this all created things will testify, couldst thou but perceive it." Baha'u'llah: Gleanings LXXVI

Detachment

In this audio, I discuss two passages from Baha'u'llah's writings that explain what he means by the concept of detachment. In essence, it refers to a spiritual process in which a person's soul detaches from things in the physical world that occupy its attention and transfers its attention to God. It then soars up into God's eternal realm and takes up its eternal home there.

Detachment does not mean selling all one's wealth or becoming an ascetic; it is more a process of personal spiritual development, which results in our gaining control over our selves - our desires, character and behaviour. It allows us to act in the world without falling prey to unethical and immoderate behaviour. It is the ultimate in spiritual freedom.

To listen to the audio, click the play button or listen to "Detachment" as a downloaded MP3.

Here is the passage from Words of Wisdom:

"The essence of detachment is for man to turn his face towards the courts of the Lord, to enter His Presence, behold His Countenance, and stand as witness before Him."
Baha'u'llah: Words of Wisdom

Here is the passage from Commentary on 'He who knows his self knows his Lord':

"Thou hast inquired about detachment. It is well known to thee that by detachment is intended the detachment of the soul from all else but God. That is, it consisteth in soaring up to an eternal station, wherein nothing that can be seen between heaven and earth deterreth the seeker from the Absolute Truth. In other words, he is not veiled from divine love or from busying himself with the mention of God by the love of any other thing or by his immersion therein... By detachment is not meant giving away and depleting all one's wealth. Rather, it denotes turning unto God and supplicating Him."
Baha'u'llah: Commentary on 'He who knows his self knows his Lord' paragraphs 7 and 8

I also refer, in the audio, to two hadith. A hadith is a saying attributed to the Prophet Muhammad:
1. "Worship God as though you see Him."
2. "He who knows his self knows his Lord."

I end by quoting the following from Qur'an 18:37 "There is no power or might save in God, the Protector, the Self-Subsistent."

Oneness of humanity

In this audio, I discuss some passages from Baha'u'llah's writings that form the basis of the principle of the oneness of humanity. In the first passage, a hidden word, Baha'u'llah explains that no one has the right to exalt themselves over anyone else, because all people have been created from the same substance - dust. Further on in the hidden word, Baha'u'llah says that if we treat others as ourselves, we exhibit "the signs of oneness" and of "detachment". I understand Baha'u'llah to be saying that, through detachment from all save God, we see with fairness and equality and therefore treat everyone with the spirit of oneness.

In the second passage, very different from the first, Baha'u'llah talks about the part religion should play in promoting the unity of humanity and love and fellowship among people.

In the third passage, Baha'u'llah invites everyone to take up his path to freedom and his waters of wisdom. He says he has put up the "tabernacle of unity" and we are not to regard others as strangers. I understand Baha'u'llah to be saying that his tabernacle encompasses everyone; therefore, we have no basis for treating others differently to ourselves. He uses the image of us all being fruits of one tree and leaves of one branch; in other words, we all originate from the same source of life.

To listen to the audio, click the play button or listen to "Oneness of humanity" as a downloaded MP3.

Here is the hidden word that I read:

"O children of men! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory."
Baha'u'llah: Arabic Hidden Word no 68


Here are the quotes from Tabernacle of Unity that I read:

"O ye children of men! 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. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity".
Baha'u'llah: Tabernacle of Unity, p38

"The incomparable Friend saith: The path to freedom hath been outstretched; hasten ye thereunto. The wellspring of wisdom is overflowing; quaff ye therefrom. Say: O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch."
Baha'u'llah: Tabernacle of Unity, p40

Three central messages

Here is my next podcast on Baha'u'llah's central message. This one is about what I've identified as three central mesages of Baha'u'llah:

1. The topic I discussed in my first audio about journeying to our eternal homeland - can also be thought of as the path to salvation.
2. The oneness of humanity and its eventual perpetual peace - a message emphasised by the Baha'i International Community.
3.  The fact that Baha'u'llah is the latest in a line of Messengers, or Manifestations, of God, stretching back into antiquity.

I discuss how these central messages fit together.

To listen to the audio, click the play button or listen to "Three central messages" as a downloaded MP3.

Here are the two quotes from the Introduction section to "An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith" by the Baha'i International Community.

"The central theme of Baha'u'llah's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society." (Introduction, second paragraph) "The Baha'i Faith is the youngest of the world's independent world religions. Its founder, Baha'u'llah (1817-1892), is regarded by Baha'is as the most recent in the line of Messengers of God that stretches back beyond recorded time..."
(Introduction, first paragraph)

I have quoted these from the Kindle edition. The title page says that the text is taken from http://info.bahai.org/. The Kindle edition can be downloaded from www.bahaiebooks.net - as well as the Baha'i writings.

Here is the paragraph from Gleanings that I quote from:

"Release yourselves, O nightingales of God, from the thorns and brambles of wretchedness and misery, and wing your flight to the rose-garden of unfading splendor. O My friends that dwell upon the dust! Haste forth unto your celestial habitation. Announce unto yourselves the joyful tidings: “He Who is the Best-Beloved is come! He hath crowned Himself with the glory of God’s Revelation, and hath unlocked to the face of men the doors of His ancient Paradise.” Let all eyes rejoice, and let every ear be gladdened, for now is the time to gaze on His beauty, 320 now is the fit time to hearken to His voice. Proclaim unto every longing lover: “Behold, your Well-Beloved hath come among men!” and to the messengers of the Monarch of love impart the tidings: “Lo, the Adored One hath appeared arrayed in the fullness of His glory!” O lovers of His beauty! Turn the anguish of your separation from Him into the joy of an everlasting reunion, and let the sweetness of His presence dissolve the bitterness of your remoteness from His court."
Gleanings, section CLI