In the teaching of Bahá’u’lláh, it is written: ‘By the Power of the Holy
Spirit alone is man able to progress, for the power of man is limited and
the Divine Power is boundless.’ The reading of history brings us to the
conclusion that all truly great men, the benefactors of the human race,
those who have moved men to love the right and hate the wrong and who have
caused real progress, all these have been inspired by the force of the
Holy Spirit.
The Prophets of God have not all graduated in the schools of learned
philosophy; indeed they were often men of humble birth, to all appearance
ignorant, unknown men of no importance in the eyes of the world; sometimes
even lacking the knowledge of reading and writing.
That which raised these great ones above men, and by which they were able
to become Teachers of the truth, was the power of the Holy Spirit. Their
influence on humanity, by virtue of this mighty inspiration, was great and
penetrating.
The influence of the wisest philosophers, without this Spirit Divine, has
been comparatively unimportant, however extensive their learning and deep
their scholarship.
The unusual intellects, for instance, of Plato, Aristotle, Pliny and
Socrates, have not influenced men so greatly that they have been anxious
to sacrifice their lives for their teachings; whilst some of those simple
men so moved humanity that thousands of men have become willing martyrs to
uphold their words; for these words were inspired by the Divine Spirit of
God! The prophets of Judah and Israel, Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah and
Ezekiel, were humble men, as were also the apostles of Jesus Christ.
Peter, the chief of the apostles, used to divide the proceeds of his
fishing into seven parts, and when, having taken one part for each day’s
use, he arrived at the seventh portion, he knew it was the Sabbath day.
Consider this! and then think of his future position; to what glory he
attained because the Holy Spirit wrought great works through him.
We understand that the Holy Spirit is the energizing factor in the life of
man. Whosoever receives this power is able to influence all with whom he
comes into contact.
The greatest philosophers without this Spirit are powerless, their souls
lifeless, their hearts dead! Unless the Holy Spirit breathes into their
souls, they can do no good work. No system of philosophy has ever been
able to change the manners and customs of a people for the better. Learned
philosophers, unenlightened by the Divine Spirit, have often been men of
inferior morality; they have not proclaimed in their actions the reality
of their beautiful phrases.
The difference between spiritual philosophers and others is shown by their
lives. The Spiritual Teacher shows His belief in His own teaching, by
Himself being what He recommends to others.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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