Dancing Souls

!.!.!.*.*.*.!.!.!

Brilliant and Joyous

For every day that there is sunshine, there will be days of rain; it's how we dance within them both, that shows our love and pain.  (Joey Tolbert, Poet; http://www.values.com)

“In this world we are influenced by two sentiments, Joy and Pain.   Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded.  We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness.  But when sadness visits us, we become weak, our strength leaves us, our comprehension is dim and our intelligence veiled.  The actualities of life seem to elude our grasp, the eyes of our spirits fail to discover the sacred mysteries, and we become even as dead beings.  There is no human being untouched by these two influences.”  When we think about it, fairly and freely, it would be evident and easy to understand and relate to our lives, agreeing that in its truest sense “all the sorrow and the grief that exist come from the world of matter; the spiritual world bestows only the joy.  If we suffer, it is the outcome of material things, and all the trials and troubles come from this world of illusion. For instance, a merchant may lose his trade and depression ensues.  A workman is dismissed and starvation stares him in the face.  A farmer has a bad harvest, anxiety fills his mind.  A man builds a house which is burnt to the ground and he is straightway homeless, ruined, and in despair.  All these examples are to show you that the trials which beset our every step, all our sorrow, pain, shame and grief, are born in the world of matter; whereas the spiritual Kingdom never causes sadness.  A man living with his thoughts in this Kingdom knows perpetual joy.”

Now, does this mean that such a person does not receive difficulties or meet illness, is not inflicted by calamities or distressfully limited by means? Everyone, as long as is in this world of matter and surrounded by physical law which binds every existent being to relevant limitations, restrictions and imperfections, receives a share of crisis, set-backs and disappointments.  This is part of the nature and of inseparable characteristics of the world made of matter and physical substances. Not only individually, but collectively too and only in more dramatic fashion and severe magnitude, we humans are influenced and become afflicted by hardships.  Today the whole humanity is bowed down with trouble, sorrow and grief, often wondering and sadly lost without seemingly any hopes and inspiration--“the world is wet with tears”, surrounded and immersed in trials and fears.  Being joyous and positive of course in no ways mean denials and ignorance of what is happening to oneself or to the humanity as a whole; it means not dwelling our attention and energies on them, but rather focusing our minds and thoughts on nobler and higher horizons, holding on to a lofty handle which stands above and beyond the bumps and twists of the troubling limitations, pulling the realities of our being up and high by its aid and force. Doing this, the troubles and afflictions shall yet touch us, as is their nature, but they will visit and affect us on the surface of life; while the depths keep calm and ever develop to be more serene and peaceful. With such spirit and adapting such attitude and discipline, intelligently aware and observant of the challenges and unfavorable upsets though we are, the inner heart and essence of mind and soul shall remain unmoved, unaffected, nay ever-increasingly brimming with assurance, radiance and joy.

Radiant acquiescence, happiness and true joy, conscious existence and understanding, confidence and trust, positive fairness and willing respect, optimism however stilled in dark and cheerfulness though crushing be everything that surrounds, signify power and unflinching will, the inner purity and spiritual radiance.  All are signs of a resplendent character and each a shining reflection of an understanding brilliant mind.  To develop these sterling traits and possess such growing spiritual capacity and wealth in one’s being is the highest perfection and ultimate fruit and meaning of the human existence.  As the truth is that, “The troubles of this world pass, and what we have left is what we have made of our souls.”

“O God! …whenever I ponder my grievous shortcomings and my great trespasses, despair assaileth me from every direction, and whenever I pause to meditate upon the ocean of Thy bounteousness and the heaven of Thy grace and the day-star of Thy tender compassion, I inhale the fragrance of hope diffused from right and left, from north and south, as if every created thing imparteth unto me the joyous tidings that the clouds of the heaven of Thy mercy will pour down their rain upon me.”  (Revealed by Baha'u'llah, “Tablets of Baha'u'llah”, p. 112)

You are welcome to visit my three other blogs—English, Chinese bilingual, and Persian—below:

Learning Felicityhttp://learningfelicity.blogspot.ca/

Timeless Treasures: Words with Meanings

http://timelesstreasureswordswithmeanings.blogspot.ca/

The Day Star "آفتاب جهانتاب" Aftab i Jahantab

http://thedaystaraftabijahantab.blogspot.com/

 The apex of  nobility

“It behoveth man to adhere tenaciously unto that which will promote fellowship, kindliness and unity.” (Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 90)

What would otherwise be there any meaning and truth in professing to believe in God? And how could an understanding and perceptive mind find a merit, yet where would a fair conscience and far-seeing vision view a benefit in adhering to any practices and deeds upheld in the name of Faith?

“The purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, in revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves. That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion. These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are the rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.”  (Gleanings from the Writings Baha’u’llah, p. 287)

 

The revealed Words and the holy Text is the “Divine Elixir” which alone can transmute the crude metal of human nature into pure gold, and will with its nurturing power transform and unfold the potential latent in his and her being to manifest a capacity and perfection worthy of human nobility and of the brilliant heights destined for its advancement.

"When divers shades of thought, temperament and character, are brought together under the power and influence of one central agency, the beauty and glory of human perfection will be revealed and made manifest. Naught but the celestial potency of the Word of God, which ruleth and transcendeth the realities of all things, is capable of harmonizing the divergent thoughts, sentiments, ideas and convictions of the children of men."  (Shoghi Effendi, “The World Order of Baha’u’llah”, p. 42)

“O Son of Spirit! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.”

(Revealed by Baha’u’llah, “Hidden Words”

You are welcome to visit my three other blogs—English, Chinese bilingual, and Persian—below:

Learning Felicityhttp://learningfelicity.blogspot.ca/

Timeless Treasures: Words with Meanings

http://timelesstreasureswordswithmeanings.blogspot.ca/

The Day Star "آفتاب جهانتاب" Aftab i Jahantabhttp://thedaystaraftabijahantab.blogspot.com/

 

“Lift the hem of your garment to receive” God’s abounding gifts and favors

To count our blessings is to understand the true meaning of wealth, infinity and life!

Gratitude and conscious appreciation begins when we empower our attitudes and visions with positive energies, sunny thoughts and enjoyment of however little joys which come our way.  When we pause and care to recognize and count our blessings—which naturally calls for a degree of active vigilance and personal discipline combined with an eager sense of fairness and humility—not taking for granted anyone, or anything, not a bit, not a moment of our lives, we surprisingly realize how much happier we become and how truly lucky each one of us are!

“God’s care and loving-kindness surge even as the eternal billows of the sea and His blessings are continually showered from His eternal Kingdom.  Ours should be the prayer that His blessings may be vouchsafed in still greater abundance and ours to hold fast to such means as shall ensure a fuller outpouring of His grace and a greater measure of His divine assistance.  One of the greatest of these means is the spirit of true fellowship and loving communion amongst the friends.”  (Selections From The Writings Of `Abdu’l-Baha”, p. 92)

However blissfully and happily it may be invested with myriad of long years, compared to the spiritual realms of God and eternally infinite worlds following this limited mortal one,  “The life of man in this world is short… one must appreciate every breath of his life and endeavor in that which is conducive to eternal glory.”  (“Tablets of `Abdu’l-Baha”, v.1, p. 206)

“Associate with all in perfect love and kindness; hold all dear and count all friends and familiar ones; know no enemies; imagine no strangers.  Thus mayest thou be a mercy to the people of the world and a source of bounty to the world of humanity.”  (“Tablets of `Abdu’l-Baha”, v.1, p. 667)

With such a noble spirit and willingly drawing a conscious outlook, gazing on such a worthy horizon and celebrating life so nobly at its every beat, is the secret and the reward of happiness, successful longevity and real youth.  After all everything that relates to the time and the place, the matters and balancing figures, deductions and sums, are all only relative, passing conditions and mortal.  The age units, for example, and the counts of birth years and adding months and days are merely physical contracts—which are there for certain purposes and needed order in life of course, but are not more really, are less.  Stepping up a pace or two above the worldly grounds and its bumps and pompous rocks, we can and we should change how they operate and influence us and our attitudes and moods.  Doing thus, we sit in command and take charge of our lives at every turn and twist, altering the rules of upsets and obstacles by raising the horizon of our thoughts and actions.  High in spirit and broadened in visions, we then with dilated hearts spread our wings, soar and seek to consort with stars—and living in the joy of becoming a shining one, we haste in chasing and faithfully following “The Moon”!

“The earth is in the motion and growth; the mountains, hills and prairies are green and pleasant; the bounty is overflowing; the mercy universal; the rain is descending from the cloud of mercy; the brilliant Sun is shining; the full moon is ornamenting the horizon of ether; the great ocean-tide is flooding every little stream; the gifts are successive; the favors consecutive; and the refreshing breeze is blowing, wafting the fragrant perfume of the blossoms. Boundless treasure is in the hand of the King of Kings! Lift the hem of thy garment in order to receive it.” (`Abdu’l-Baha; “Baha’i World Faith”, p. 351)

You are welcome to visit my three other blogs—English, Chinese bilingual, and Persian—below:

Learning Felicityhttp://learningfelicity.blogspot.ca/

Timeless Treasures: Words with Meanings

http://timelesstreasureswordswithmeanings.blogspot.ca/

The Day Star "آفتاب جهانتاب" Aftab i Jahantabhttp://thedaystaraftabijahantab.blogspot.com/

 

The Beloved’s pleasure in my honoring your home; and His blessing mine when it is the home of peace and joyous fellowship

And it is not merely your material home that I am to honor and respect, nor is it just your worldly treasures and wealth; it is your rights, your human nobility and value, your every deserving and legitimate possession, privacy and comfort, your dignity and well-being that are mine to regard and respect, in words and through sentimental gestures, and in practice honoring and protecting—trustfully keeping my hands off them,  vigilantly aloof and freely upright keeping my eyes and thoughts away and above coveting desires and what is not mine, cherishing sincere joy in wishing well and the best for you! In the haven of ‘oneness’ that is established under the pavilion of the Truth, you are ‘the trust’ in the hand of mankind, and so is each and every member of the human family, wherever they may be residing and whichever side of the world they be coming from, and me too—each are ‘the one’, ‘the trust’, born with innate nobility, each potentially being commissioned and blessed to grow and shine as an ‘image of God’.

“O My friends! Walk ye in the ways of the good pleasure of the Friend, and know that His pleasure is in the pleasure of His creatures. That is:  no man should enter the house of his friend save at his friend's pleasure, nor lay hands upon his treasures nor prefer his own will to his friend's, and in no wise seek an advantage over him.  Ponder this, ye that have insight!” (Revealed by Baha’u’llah, “The Hidden Words”)

"My home is the home of peace. My home is the home of joy and delight. My home is the home of laughter and exultation. Whosoever enters through the portals of this home, must go out with gladsome heart.  This is the home of light; whosoever enters here must become illumined..." 

(`Abdu’l-Baha, “Compilation of Compilations”, V.1, p. 397)

You are welcome to visit my three other blogs—English, Chinese bilingual, and Persian—below:

Learning Felicityhttp://learningfelicity.blogspot.ca/

Timeless Treasures: Words with Meanings

http://timelesstreasureswordswithmeanings.blogspot.ca/

The Day Star "آفتاب جهانتاب" Aftab i Jahantabhttp://thedaystaraftabijahantab.blogspot.com/

Perfection & Paradise

“The fruit, ere it is formed, lieth potentially within the tree.  Were the tree to be cut into pieces, no sign nor any part of the fruit, however small, could be detected. When it appeareth, however, it manifesteth itself, as thou hast observed, in its wondrous beauty and glorious perfection.”  (Revealed by Baha’u’llah, “Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah”, p. 155)

As humanly it is, we often may say or hear different words and opinions, not all always and fully being in one supportive direction and harmony—because we change, and so our opinions change; at times independently, at times influenced by results and experiences, or by others, rightfully or unfairly—some of us change in positive ways, a few always positively, but many of us also in other diverse directions.  And the fear is that when the clock of life stops, where does one stand at that very moment? 

It is overwhelming actually, when we think about it, perhaps even scary; not just the thought of being extinguished and being no more, but for those who believe that this contingent world—that is the world of matter, the physical one alive to the five bodily senses—is just a stage in the unfolding and developing process of a human being’s reality and existence, the true and responsibly positive concern is that how and at what level of progress and advancement the clock in this mortal world will stop for them.  Will it end at a high note with flying colors, at a state where one will be in a tranquil peace of having at least tried his and her best with whatever circumstances and conditions which one had been gifted with and endowed? Or, would it be a case in which one sees and realizes the lost opportunities, negligent denials, missing the points and a withered life-time? While these conditions and circumstances shall of course remain mysteriously unknown until the unheralded destined time in each of our cases, there are two facts and real points in relation which to minds that ponder fairly and perceive could not seem otherwise—one, is that regardless of anyone’s endeavors and highest possible exertions and trying, no human being is or can ever be perfect, as it is not possible to be a perfect human being as mortal and finite, dependant and limited that we all are in relation to the Creator of the universe and its dominating powers beyond the human realm’s control; other one, is that no matter at which point the clock in this world may stop for us and in whatever degree of progress and development our beings and souls might be at that time, we can always and shall ever continue to advance and keep on our journey in the limitless realms beyond by the mercy and favors of the Fashioner of all.  It is just that the more we advance here during our life-time on this earthly planet, the continuing point from this world onwards shall be higher up and forward.  To advance and upgrade, to reach to its best degree and obtain relevant perfection, is in fact the purpose of each and every existent being below the human realm too—whether from the mineral and vegetable world, or the animal kingdom alike.  It is the truth and philosophy, the innate nature and the law of the creation, and there is an objective and purpose for each and every creature which constitute the whole.  The objective is to yield the desired outcome and ultimate possible perfection.  Of these processes in existent world, there are those which have a definite start and a defined end.  As for the ones which relate to human beings’ development and the progress of our realities, however, each process has a definite beginning, blessed with a noble purpose and a potentially unique position in the case of each one, supported and guided by defining principles, values and means, of both the earth and the heaven; but, its end is infinite and eternal.  Therefore, the unfolding growth and advancement of the reality of each human being, and the humanity as a whole, constitute perfection in its every level and aspect, as is itself a process which is progressive and ever-advancing forward and towards the ultimate Perfection.

Human perfection is relative, not absolute. The absolute perfection belongs to the Creator. That relative perfection is the “paradise” of man—the embodiment and abode, the token and reflection of the merging of our free wills with the Will of the All-Mighty—His is the invitation and unerring command, the favoring mercy and limitless bounty, the admittance, the justice and the loving acceptance; and ours, is the yearning welcome and joyous thanksgiving in words and actions, is in attitudes and choices, intelligent discoveries and vigilant submissions, nay is in radiant acquiescence, with "Combination of courage and restraint, magnanimity and power, broad-mindedness and loyalty", and “with a heart even as the day-star, a shining brow, a musk-scented breath, an exposition crystal-clear, a high resolve, a spiritual character”, to the Will from which all were born and the One that empowered all of ours.  As humans’ perfection is relative—so is their abiding place in “paradise”.  We can have a say—we do, and we should—trying more and exerting better and higher in all that fall on our parts, for our own good and the good of the whole, lovingly, knowingly, freely!

"No created thing shall ever attain its paradise unless it appeareth in its highest prescribed degree of perfection. For instance, this crystal representeth the paradise of the stone whereof its substance is composed.  Likewise there are various stages in the paradise for the crystal itself... So long as it was stone it was worthless, but if it attaineth the excellence of ruby—a potentiality which is latent in it—how much a carat will it be worth?  Consider likewise every created thing."   

("Selections from the Writings of the Bab", p.p. 88-89)

You are welcome to visit the recent posts on my two other blogs—English and bilingual—below:

Learning Felicityhttp://learningfelicity.blogspot.ca/

Timeless Treasures: Words with Meanings

http://timelesstreasureswordswithmeanings.blogspot.ca/

 

Bringers of Joy!

“Never is it the wish of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to see any being hurt, nor will He make anyone to grieve; for man can receive no greater gift than this, that he rejoice another's heart. I beg of God that ye will be bringers of joy, even as are the angels in Heaven.”  (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, pp.203-204)

The image of God, the essence of His light, placed in the inner reality of each of our beings and gifted by the hands of  His power, mercifully, bountifully, is a Truth which while emphatically testifies to the nobility of the human beings and its preciousness and distinction—so highly and uniquely standing and dazzling in reality above all the other existent beings in the universe by God Himself—it in no ways implies or should ever be misunderstood as such that the Creator’s peerless Essence and absolutely exalted station beyond the understanding and knowledge of every human being, however keen and brilliant in mind and abilities, could even remotely be co-possessed and shared by mortally finite and feebly imperfect humans.  God’s could be likened to the existence and station of the shining sun in the firmament of the physical world, gracefully rising from the horizon and enlightening this world of dust, the planet earth, and sustaining with its life-giving and generous light and warmth every existent.  Ours, the humans’, could in its best possibility be as the rays of that sun—which while emanated only from the sun, each potentially bearing a relative capacity to carry and transfer its light and its empowering heat and glowing brightness.  The existence and power of the ray depends upon the sun and however bright the sparking light emanated from the sun, its status in comparison is like that of a drifting shadow.  And to the extent the ray is faithfully conscious of its inner potential gifts and its relation to the source of its light, free from the veils and clouds, and above blinding arrogance and pride, it not only shines radiantly and high, its light brightens many lives and fills their days with happiness and delight, with goodness flowing freely and natural, transforming lightly and wafting like a breeze, it gives and only gives—and flying in haste without any expectations and waiting, waves of joy and smiles is all that it aspires for and reaps. 

“My fatigue does not matter –as long as I find loving souls like yourselves, my heart is happy… The sea of materialism is at flood tide and all the nations of the world are immersed in it.  It is my hope that the fish will rise to the surface, so that they may behold other wondrous aspects of creation; for the people are like unto the fish swimming in the deep – ignorant of the rest of the universe. May they be transformed into birds of the air and soar in the nether atmosphere! May they break all bonds of limitation, so that they can observe from the height the lordly processions of infinite creatures; they will see the blue heavens studded with luminous stars, rivers flowing with salubrious water, gardens bedecked with fragrant flowers, trees adorned with blossoms and fruits, birds singing songs of light, humanity ever striving forward, every atom of existence breathing life and force—the universe of God a wonderful theatre upon the stage of which every created thing plays its part.”  (By ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, “Divine Philosophy”, p.138)

“O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration, Whose beauty is my sanctuary, Whose habitation is my goal, Whose praise is my hope, Whose providence is my companion, Whose love is the cause of my being, Whose mention is my solace, Whose nearness is my desire, Whose presence is my dearest wish and highest aspiration, I entreat Thee not to withhold from me the things Thou didst ordain for the chosen ones among Thy servants.  Supply me, then, with the good of this world and of the next.   Thou, truly, art the King of all men.  There is no God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous.”  (Revealed by Baha’u’llah, “Prayers And Meditations”, p. 259)

I just wrote another post on the related theme in my other blog below.  You are welcome to visit at:

Learning Felicity

http://learningfelicity.blogspot.ca/