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Thanks every one [Mark, John, and Scott] I continue with your indulgence and my lowly attempt Consider the past. How many, both high and low, have, at all times,
yearningly awaited the advent of the Manifestations of God in the sanctified persons
of His chosen Ones. (Baha'u'llah: The
Kitab-i-Iqan, Page: 4) Consider the past is the English translation by the Guardian of Baha’u’llah’s
[naaz.er be Ayyaam e qabl sheveed] literally observe the days of the past. The past [the Days] of the past are absolutely essential in realizing the
cause and effect of opposition to the New Manifestation the New Theophany. Later on Baha’u’llah adds ***Should you acquaint yourself with the indignities heaped upon the
Prophets of God, and apprehend the true causes of the objections voiced by
their oppressors, you will surely appreciate the significance of their
position. MOREOVER, THE MORE CLOSELY YOU OBSERVE THE DENIALS OF THOSE WHO
HAVE OPPOSED THE MANIFESTATIONS OF THE DIVINE ATTRIBUTES, THE FIRMER WILL BE
YOUR FAITH IN THE CAUSE OF GOD. (Baha'u'llah: The
Kitab-i-Iqan, Page: 6)** [emphasis added] Joh 5:38 And ye
have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Joh 5:39 Search the
scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which
testify of me. Joh 5:40 And ye
will not come to me, that ye might have life. Joh 5:41 I
receive not honour from men. Joh 5:42 But I
know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. Joh 5:43 I am
come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his
own name, him ye will receive. Joh 5:44 How can
ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh
from God only? Joh 5:45 Do not
think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even
Moses, in whom ye trust. Joh 5:46 For had
ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. Joh 5:47 But if
ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? More
will follow by the grace of God, the Revealer of the Torah, the Injeel, the Qur’an,
Bayan, and the Iqan khazeh I think that point is that when one accepts the Light, the Will of God,
one accepts it in whatever Lamp it chooses to manifest itself. If, on the other
hand, one is attached to the Lamp, then one may reject its Light, the Will of
God, when it shines through a different Lamp. With regards, Mark A. Foster Here
is my personal breakdown of the first paragraph of the Kitab-i-Iqan in a way
that helps me understand it, with emphasis added. (1) IN
THE NAME OF OUR LORD, THE EXALTED, THE MOST HIGH. (2) No
man (3) shall
attain the shores of the ocean of true understanding (4)
except he be detached from all that is in heaven and on earth. (5)
Sanctify your souls, O ye peoples of the world, (6) that
haply ye may attain that station which God hath destined for you (7) and
enter thus the tabernacle which, according to the dispensations of (8) hath
been raised in the firmament of the Bayan. (9) The
ESSENCE of these words is this: (10) they
that tread the path of faith, they that thirst for the wine of certitude, (11)
must CLEANSE themselves of all that is EARTHLY - (12)
their EARS from idle talk, their MINDS from vain imaginings,
their HEARTS from worldly affections, their EYES from that which
perisheth. (13) They
should put their TRUST in God, and, holding fast unto Him, FOLLOW in
His way. (14) Then
will they be made WORTHY of the effulgent glories of the sun of divine
knowledge and understanding, (15) and
become the RECIPIENTS of a grace that is infinite and unseen, (16)
inasmuch as man CAN NEVER hope to attain unto the knowledge of the
All-Glorious, CAN NEVER quaff from the stream of divine knowledge and
wisdom, CAN NEVER enter the abode of immortality, NOR partake of the cup
of divine nearness and favour, (17) UNLESS
AND UNTIL he ceases to regard the words and deeds of mortal men as a
standard for the true understanding and recognition of God and His
Prophets. (Baha'u'llah:
The Kitab-i-Iqan, Pages: 3-4)** You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[email protected] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[email protected] Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] |
- Kitab-i-Iqan page 4 [letter 8] Khazeh Fananapazir
