Divine perfection is infinite

I won't be posting for a couple of weeks as I'm going to be in Bloemfontein with a study circle. But I'll leave you with words from 'Abdu'l Bahá on divine perfection.

Divine perfection is infinite, therefore the progress of the soul is also infinite. From the very birth of a human being the soul progresses, the intellect grows and knowledge increases. when the body dies the soul lives on. All the differing degrees of creted physical beings are limited, but the soul is limitless!

'Abdu'l Bahá, Paris Talks

A trip to the Berg

A friend of mine who has been serving at the South African National Bahá'í Centre for the last year will soon be leaving South Africa to return to Canada so we decided to go on a short trip to the Drakensberg mountains in Natal.

The highlight of the trip was a tour up the Sani Pass which links South Africa to the mountain kingdom of Lesotho on it's eastern side. This pass is a very steep climb of over 2000 metres in just 8 km over a narrow and stoney road and is very spectacular.  

I've put up some photos of the pass which can be viewed from picasa.

While I was standing at the top of the pass, looking down at the magnificent view below and thinking how beautiful this world is, I remembered the following passage from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and how He calls this world a dust heap.  So if this world is a dust heap just think how unspeakably glorious must be the worlds to come.

O Brother! Not every sea hath pearls; not every branch will flower, nor will the nightingale sing thereon. Then, ere the nightingale of the mystic paradise repair to the garden of God, and the rays of the heavenly morning return to the Sun of Truth - make thou an effort, that haply in this dust heap of the mortal world thou mayest catch a fragrance from the everlasting garden, and live forever in the shadow of the peoples of this city. And when thou hast attained this highest station and come to this mightiest plane, then shalt thou gaze on the Beloved, and forget all else.

Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys, p. 38

Naw Rúz greetings from South Africa

Praised be Thou, O my God, that Thou hast ordained Naw-Ruz as a festival unto those who have observed the fast for love of Thee and abstained from all that is abhorrent unto Thee

Bahá'u'lláh, Prayers and Meditations by Bahá'u'lláh, p. 67

Naw-Ruz itself was originally a Zoroastrian religious festival, but gradually its Zoroastrian connotation has almost been forgotten. Iranians, even after their conversion to Islam, have been observing it as a national festival. Now Naw-Ruz has become a Bahá'í Holy Day and is being observed throughout the world....

Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 553

It is a lovely day, the sun shines brightly upon the earth, giving light and warmth to all creatures. The Sun of Truth is also shining, giving light and warmth to the souls of men. The sun is the life-giver to the physical bodies of all creatures upon earth; without its warmth their growth would be stunted, their development would be arrested, they would decay and die. Even so do the souls of men need the Sun of Truth to shed its rays upon their souls, to develop them, to educate and encourage them. As the sun is to the body of a man so is the Sun of Truth to his soul.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 30

... This sacred day, when the sun illumines equally, is called the equinox, and the equinox is the symbol of the Manifestation of God. The Sun of Truth rises on the horizon of Divine Mercy and sends forth its rays. This day is consecrated to commemorate it...

Talk by 'Abdu'l Bahá, March 21, 1913: Star of the West, Vol. 5, No. 1, p. 4
Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 301

Bahá'í pages of interest

1. Bahá'í Faith Index - over 3000 links to all things Bahá'í

2. Bahá'í Internet Services

3. The most comprehensive list of Academic Bahá'í Schools and Tertiary Institutions

Mankind's twin duties

The first duty prescribed by God for His servants is the recognition of Him Who is the Dayspring of His Revelation and the Fountain of His laws, Who representeth the Godhead in both the Kingdom of His Cause and the world of creation. Whoso achieveth this duty hath attained unto all good; and whoso is deprived thereof hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed. It behoveth every one who reacheth this most sublime station, this summit of transcendent glory, to observe every ordinance of Him Who is the Desire of the world. These twin duties are inseparable. Neither is acceptable without the other. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the Source of Divine inspiration.

They whom God hath endued with insight will readily recognize that the precepts laid down by God constitute the highest means for the maintenance of order in the world and the security of its peoples. He that turneth away from them is accounted among the abject and foolish. We, verily, have commanded you to refuse the dictates of your evil passions and corrupt desires, and not to transgress the bounds which the Pen of the Most High hath fixed, for these are the breath of life unto all created things. The seas of Divine wisdom and Divine utterance have risen under the breath of the breeze of the All-Merciful. Hasten to drink your fill, O men of understanding! They that have violated the Covenant of God by breaking His commandments, and have turned back on their heels, these have erred grievously in the sight of God, the All-Possessing, the Most High.

Baha'u'llah, The Kitáb-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), p. 19

Bahá'u'lláh - Bound with Chains

The Ancient Beauty hath consented to be bound with chains that mankind may be released from its bondage, and hath accepted to be made a prisoner within this most mighty Stronghold that the whole world may attain unto true liberty. He hath drained to its dregs the cup of sorrow, that all the peoples of the earth may attain unto abiding joy, and be filled with gladness. This is of the mercy of your Lord, the Compassionate, the Most Merciful. We have accepted to be abased, O believers in the Unity of God, that ye may be exalted, and have suffered manifold afflictions, that ye might prosper and flourish. He Who hath come to build anew the whole world, behold, how they that have joined partners with God have forced Him to dwell within the most desolate of cities!

Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 99

You can view or download a flash presentation of the quotation. Please note that this presentation could take 10-15 minutes to download on a 56.6 modem.

All are dependent upon the Divine Bounty

All creatures that exist are dependent upon the Divine Bounty. Divine Mercy gives life itself. As the light of the sun shines on the whole world, so the Mercy of the infinite God is shed on all creatures. As the sun ripens the fruits of the earth, and gives life and warmth to all living beings, so shines the Sun of Truth on all souls, filling them with the fire of Divine love and understanding.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 25

The Bahá'í Fast begins

One who performeth neither good deeds nor acts of worship is like unto a tree which beareth no fruit, and an action which leaveth no trace. Whosoever experienceth the holy ecstasy of worship will refuse to barter such an act or any praise of God for all that existeth in the world. Fasting and obligatory prayer are as two wings to man's life. Blessed be the one who soareth with their aid in the heaven of the love of God, the Lord of all worlds.

Bahá'u'lláh, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting, (compilation)

The Bahá'í Fast takes place from 2nd to 20th March and is a period of cleansing and renewal. During this time Bahá'ís do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. Turning away from food and drink reminds man that he is a spiritual as well as a physical being.

It is not enough to just abstain from food and drink though, it is the spirit in which one approaces the Fast that is important. One should spend time in prayer and meditation and consider how to improve our lives. This spiritual preparation helps us begin the new year, which starts immediately after the Fast, strengthened and invigorated.

Well is it with you, as you have followed the Law of God and arisen to observe the Fast during these blessed days, for this physical fast is a symbol of the spiritual fast. This Fast leadeth to the cleansing of the soul from all selfish desires, the acquisition of spiritual attributes, attraction to the breezes of the All-Merciful, and enkindlement with the fire of divine love.

'Abdu'l Bahá, The Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting (compilation)