Thank you so much for your kind words and thanks to Matt Menge and Brent
Poirier for their priority in introducing this subject.
In terms of the sacred text of Baha'u'llah, He says spiritual disease is
that which veils the human being from progressing along God's Progressive
Revelation
**Therefore, understand from this verse and know of a certainty that the
people in every age, clinging to a verse of the Book, have uttered such vain
and absurd sayings, contending that no Prophet should again be made manifest
to the world. Even as the Christian divines who, holding fast to the verse
of the Gospel to which We have already referred, have sought to explain that
the law of the Gospel shall at no time be annulled, and that no independent
Prophet shall again be made manifest, unless He confirmeth the law of the
Gospel. Most of the people have become afflicted with the same spiritual
disease.
Even as thou dost witness how the people of the Qur'an, like unto the
people of old, have allowed the words "Seal of the Prophets" to veil their
eyes. And yet, they themselves testify to this verse: "None knoweth the
interpretation thereof but God and they that are well-grounded in
knowledge." And when He Who is well-grounded in all knowledge, He Who is the
Mother, the Soul, the Secret, and the Essence thereof, revealeth that which
is the least contrary to their desire, they bitterly oppose Him and
shamelessly deny Him.
(Baha'u'llah: The Kitab-i-Iqan, Page: 213)
***
The text of the Qur'an says *none knoweth the interpretation but...they that
are well grounded in knowledge*
The Holy Imams explained **We [ie the Imams of Shi'ism are the well
grounded in divine knowledge**
and in this Sacred Dispensation **He Who is the Mother, the Soul, the
Secret, and the Essence thereof** ie the Bab and Baha'u'llah are the ones
who reveal that which is the least contrary to their desire...***
Specifically though *spiritual disease* refers to opposing the Covenant
498. He feels that in your contact with the believers and in teaching new
souls, you should help them to obtain a full knowledge and understanding of
the Covenant and the Will and Testament. This will strengthen them to meet
every test, and to understand the nature of the spiritual disease which
afflicts those who turn against the Institutions of the Faith. These are,
indeed, times of testing and of trial, for the whole world and for the
believers too.
(15 August 1945)
499. He quite agrees with you that the Baha'is need deepening in the
teachings - a course of adult education would be excellent if it could be
carried out and the friends would participate. The principles,
administration and fundamentals of the Faith are well known, but the friends
need greatly to study the more profound works, which would give them
spiritual maturity to a greater degree, unify their Community life, and
enable them to better exemplify the Baha'i way of living; in other words to
"lead the life".
(24 February 1946)
(Shoghi Effendi: The Importance of Deepening, Page: 227)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Vaughn Sheline" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Baha'i Studies" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: 06 August 2003 08:54
Subject: RE: Spiritual disease
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Khazeh Fananapazir
> ...
> But of course when I study even more the text of the Holy Qur'an,
> Baha'u'llah's Supreme utterance in the Summons Book and the Tablets
> of the Master I see there is a certain inevitability to this malady
> that can afflict any human heart ie denial after knowledge and God
> forbid it should afflict us my poor lowly ignorant self included...
>
>
> Dearest Khazeh,
>
> Your discussion of "denial after knowledge" reminds me of the sobering
> prophecy of Daniel regarding the time of Baha'u'llah, that some who awake
to
> knowledge of the new Day will reach a shameful end. The prophecy warns
yet
> also encourages.
>
> --- Vaughn
>
>
> 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which
> standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of
> trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same
time:
> and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be
> found written in the book.
>
> 12:2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake,
some
> to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
>
> 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament;
> and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
>
> (King James Bible, Daniel)
>
>
>
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