----- Original Message -----
From: "Gordon Dicks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Baha'i Studies" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2003 3:03
AM
Subject: explaining the three proofs
Gordon, you ask a question the answers to
which are both manifest and hidden. I offer a few
thoughts.
> "Say: The first and foremost
testimony establishing His truth is His own
> Self.
> Self.
"As a token of His mercy, however, and as a
proof of His loving-kindness, He hath manifested unto men the Day Stars of His
divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity, and hath ordained the
knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with the knowledge of His
own Self."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the
Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 49)
Next to this testimony is His
Revelation.
As near as I can determine "Revelation" has
several meanings depending upon the context. In one sense, it refers to
the creation of all existence through the manifestation of the
Manifestation.
"For at the very moment preceding His
Revelation, each and every created thing shall be made to yield up its soul to
God." (Baha'u'llah,
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 151)
Revelation can also refer to the Appearance
of the Person of the Manifestation as in:
"Invested though each day may be with its
pre-ordained share of God's wondrous grace, the Days immediately associated with
the Manifestation of God possess a unique distinction and occupy a station which
no mind can ever comprehend." Gleanings p. 262
There are many other meanings I am
certain.
For whoso faileth to
> recognize either the one or the other He hath established the words He hath
> revealed as proof of His reality and truth. This is, verily, an evidence of
> His tender mercy unto men."
> (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, LII, p. 105)
> recognize either the one or the other He hath established the words He hath
> revealed as proof of His reality and truth. This is, verily, an evidence of
> His tender mercy unto men."
> (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, LII, p. 105)
Regarding these last last verses: We
have His words written in His Books so that we who have not recognized His Self
(which could possibly be regarded as identical with His Person), may through His
words recognize both His Self and His Revelation.
"He it is Who hath enabled us to
acknowledge Him in the day of His presence, to testify unto Him Whom God shall
make manifest in the latter Resurrection, and to be among them that have
believed in Him ere His appearance, that 59 His favour may be made
complete unto us and unto all mankind."
(Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine
Mysteries, p. 59)
As well, for those of us who did not have
the privilege to view His Blessed Person, He, as one of His gracious favors, Has
given us this:
"O My servants! Could ye apprehend
with what wonders of My munificence and bounty I have willed to entrust your
souls, ye would, of a truth, rid yourselves of attachment to all created things,
and would gain a true knowledge of your own selves -- a knowledge which is
the same as the comprehension of Mine own Being."
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the
Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 326)
>
> Has the above passage been interpreted (or explained by a non-authoritative
> writer) anywhere in the literature? In particular, it is not clear to me
> what is meant by "His Revelation" as distinct from "His own Self" and "the
> words He hath revealed".
>
> With appreciation,
> Gordon
>
>
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