The Baha'i Studies Listserv
In stating that "the center does indeed hold," I am simply affirming the
centripetal force of the sacred that binds all of creation within the
larger story of creation. Planet earth comes together within the pull
of earth's gravitation. Our solar system is held together through the
centripetal pull of the sun. We walk upon the ground. As Wittgenstein
reminds us, when we walk out of our homes each day, we do not question
whether the back stoop is still there or not; we trust that it is there.
There is essential certainty upon which all other certainty, knowledge
and life are based. There are roots upon which the tree of knowledge
comes forth.
As to the words -- "Immediately after the oppression of those days" --
they refer to the time when men shall become oppressed and afflicted,
the time when the lingering traces of the Sun of Truth and the fruit of
the Tree of knowledge and wisdom will have vanished from the midst of
men, when the reins of mankind will have fallen into the grasp of the
foolish and ignorant, when the portals of divine unity and understanding
-- the essential and highest purpose in creation -- will have been
closed, when certain knowledge will have given way to idle fancy, and
corruption will have usurped the station of righteousness. Such a
condition as this is witnessed in this day when the reins of every
community have fallen into the grasp of foolish leaders, who lead after
their own whims and desire. On their tongue the mention of God hath
become an empty name; in their midst His holy Word a dead letter. Such
is the sway of their desires, that the lamp of conscience and reason
hath been quenched in their hearts, and this although the fingers of
divine power have unlocked the portals of the knowledge of God, and the
light of divine knowledge and heavenly grace hath illumined and inspired
the essence of all created things, in such wise that in each and every
thing a door of knowledge 30 hath been opened, and within every atom
traces of the sun hath been made manifest. And yet, in spite of all
these manifold revelations of divine knowledge, which have encompassed
the world, they still vainly imagine the door of knowledge to be closed,
and the showers of mercy to be stilled. Clinging unto idle fancy, they
have strayed far from the Urvatu'l-Vuthqa of divine knowledge. Their
hearts seem not to be inclined to knowledge and the door thereof,
neither think they of its manifestations, inasmuch as in idle fancy they
have found the door that leadeth unto earthly riches, whereas in the
manifestation of the Revealer of knowledge they find naught but the call
to self-sacrifice. They therefore naturally hold fast unto the former,
and flee from the latter. Though they recognize in their hearts the Law
of God to be one and the same, yet from every direction they issue a new
command, and in every season proclaim a fresh decree. No two are found
to agree on one and the same law, for they seek no God but their own
desire, and tread no path but the path of error. In leadership they have
recognized the ultimate object of their endeavour, and account pride and
haughtiness as the highest attainments of their heart's desire. They
have placed their sordid machinations 31 above the divine decree, have
renounced resignation unto the will of God, busied themselves with
selfish calculation, and walked in the way of the hypocrite. With all
their power and strength they strive to secure themselves in their petty
pursuits, fearful lest the least discredit undermine their authority or
blemish the display of their magnificence. Were the eye to be anointed
and illumined with the collyrium of the knowledge of God, it would
surely discover that a number of voracious beasts have gathered and
preyed upon the carrion of the souls of men.
What "oppression" is greater than that which hath been recounted? What
"oppression" is more grievous than that a soul seeking the truth, and
wishing to attain unto the knowledge of God, should know not where to go
for it and from whom to seek it? For opinions have sorely differed, and
the ways unto the attainment of God have multiplied. This "oppression"
is the essential feature of every Revelation. Unless it cometh to pass,
the Sun of Truth will not be made manifest. For the break of the morn of
divine guidance must needs follow the darkness of the night of error.
For this reason, in all chronicles and traditions reference hath been
32 made unto these things, namely that iniquity shall cover the surface
of the earth and darkness shall envelop mankind.
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 28-32)
For a challenging depiction of such a skewed and out of touch reality as
played out hemispherically, Leslie Marmon Silko's novel _Almanac of the
Dead_ is stark and comprehensive, showing the underbelly of our world.
Thank God for the knowledge that the sacred is and that there is a
center that holds regardless of our doings or our (mis)perceptions.
All the best,
Susan
_______________________________________
Susan Berry Brill de Ramirez, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.A., B.A.
Caterpillar Inc. Professor of English
Department of English
Bradley University
1501 W. Bradley Avenue
Peoria, IL 61625 U.S.A.
(309) 677-3888
(309) 677-4560 (fax)
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tim Nolan
Sent: Monday, March 30, 2009 8:18 PM
To: Baha'i Studies
Subject: RE: Who is writing the future?
The Baha'i Studies Listserv
Hello Susan,
>1) the affirmation that, regardless of cultural shifts and temporal
>exigencies and notwithstanding critiques of essentialism,
>the center does indeed hold;
Could you explain this more? I'd like to understand this better.
I understand the allusion to the Yeats poem, but I'm not
sure what you mean.
Thanks,
Tim
All good art is about something deeper than it admits.
--Roger Ebert
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