Brian -
Susan said "The term translated as "Self" in this passage literally
means His "Own Being."."
One of the meanings of 'self' in English is "a being in relation to
its own identity"; that is, one's awareness of one's own existance in
totality.
Therefore, I think this sentence "Upon the reality of man, however, He
hath focused the radiance of all of His names and attributes, and made
it a mirror of His own Self." simply means that whatever attribute we
can conceive of as applying to God also applies to man, albeit to a
lesser extent.
If the paragraphs after the one you quote were not also read, perhaps
they should be. It says next -
"These energies with which the Day Star of Divine bounty and
Source of heavenly guidance hath endowed the reality of man lie,
however, latent within
him, even as the flame is hidden within the candle and the rays of
light are potentially present in the lamp. The radiance of these
energies may be obscured by worldly desires even as the light of the
sun can be concealed beneath the dust and dross which cover the
mirror. Neither the candle nor the lamp can be lighted through their
own unaided efforts, nor can it ever be possible for the mirror to
free itself from its dross. It is clear and evident that until a fire
is kindled the lamp will never be ignited, and unless the dross is
blotted out from the face of the mirror it can never represent the
image of the sun nor reflect its light and glory."
Basically, man is imperfect, and is not capable of attaining
perfections on his own ("nor can it ever be possible for the mirror to
free itself from its dross").
Then He says -
"And since there can be no tie of direct intercourse to bind the
one true God with His creation, and no resemblance whatever can exist
between the transient and the Eternal, the contingent and the
Absolute, He hath ordained that in every age and dispensation a pure
and stainless Soul be made manifest in the kingdoms of earth and
heaven. Unto this subtle, this mysterious and ethereal Being He hath
assigned a twofold nature; the physical, pertaining to the world of
matter, and the spiritual, which is born of the substance of God
Himself."
That is, we won't even know the mirror is dirty because we can not
'see' the original so as to compare the reflected image with it.
Therefore, we have been given the Manifestations of God Who not only
give us a clearer image of God, but the instructions for cleaning the
mirror.
Don C
- - - - -
He who believes himself spiritual proves he is not.
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