Bahai Faith; Peace -- Religious aspects -- Bahai Faith
Furthermore, that which man can grasp is finite to man, and man to it is
as infinite. Is it possible then for the reality of Divinity to be finite
and the human creature infinite? On the contrary, the reverse is true; the
human is finite while the essence of Divinity is infinite. Whatever comes
within the sphere of human comprehension must be limited and finite. As
the essence of Divinity transcends the comprehension of man, therefore God
brings forth certain Manifestations of the divine Reality upon Whom He
bestows heavenly effulgences in order that They may be intermediaries
between humanity and Himself. These holy Manifestations or Prophets of God
are as mirrors which have acquired illumination from the Sun of Truth, but
the Sun does not descend from its high zenith and does not effect entrance
within the mirror. In truth, this mirror has attained complete polish and
purity until the utmost capacity of reflection has been developed in it;
therefore, the Sun of Reality with its fullest effulgence and splendor is
revealed therein. These mirrors are earthly, whereas the reality of
Divinity is in its highest apogee. Although its lights are shining and its
heat is manifest in them, although these mirrors are telling their story
of its effulgence, the Sun, nevertheless, remains in its own lofty
station; it does not descend; it does not effect entrance, because it is
holy and sanctified.
The Sun of Divinity and of Reality has revealed itself in various mirrors.
Though these mirrors are many, yet the Sun is one. The bestowals of God
are one; the reality of the divine religion is one. Consider how one and
the same light has reflected itself in the different mirrors or
manifestations of it. There are certain souls who are lovers of the Sun;
they perceive the effulgence of the Sun from every mirror. They are not
fettered or attached to the mirrors; they are attached to the Sun itself
and adore it, no matter from what point it may shine. But those who adore
the mirror and are attached to it become deprived of witnessing the light
of the Sun when it shines forth from another mirror. For instance, the Sun
of Reality revealed itself from the Mosaic mirror. The people who were
sincere accepted and believed in it. When the same Sun shone from the
Messianic mirror, the Jews who were not lovers of the Sun and who were
fettered by their adoration of the mirror of Moses did not perceive the
lights and effulgences of the Sun of Reality resplendent in Jesus;
therefore, they were deprived of its bestowals. Yet the Sun of Reality,
the Word of God, shone from the Messianic mirror through the wonderful
channel of Jesus Christ more fully and more wonderfully. Its effulgences
were manifestly radiant, but even to this day the Jews are holding to the
Mosaic mirror. Therefore, they are bereft of witnessing the lights of
eternity in Jesus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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