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In this statement, Baha'u'llah considers two conditions essential for finding the truth: What is detachment? Life on earth can be compared to a plane ride, and God to the solid ground that supports and sustains our souls. Our goal is to jump out of the plane, which is our ego, and away from the clouds, which are the illusions that surround us. (1:17) Detachment means separating yourself temporarily from whatever you have learned. It means starting your spiritual journey with no preconceived notions. It means stepping out of your plane with no strings attached, simply for the sake of beholding wonders you have never seen before. Of course, when you jump, you carry a parachute, which at the right moment opens to protect you and to allow you to descend gracefully and confidently. The parachute is the potential-- the pure mind and the pure heart-- that God placed in your soul to protect you from self-destruction. If you trust Him and put everything in His hand, he will open your parachute at the right moment. He will help you open your mind and soul to the splendors of His light. What will happen if you jump with a cord attached to you and to the plane? You will dangle dangerously. (1:18) Thus, to find the truth, you must put everything aside-- everything you have learned from your parents, your pastor, your priest, or any other 'authority figure.' If you begin your journey with any strings attached, you will be dragged, dangling, behind the plane. (1:19) The second condition Baha'u'llah considers essential for finding the truth is sanctity. Attachment originates mostly in the emotions, especially the fear of losing something precious; sanctity pertains mostly to the purity of the soul. (1:20) Think of your soul as a sheet of paper. Can anyone write a clear message on a cluttered page? The more cluttered the page, the harder it is to write. God is always looking for a blank space on our soul to write special messages, such as hope and happiness. He constantly declares that He loves us. That is why He made us. He created the universe for our sake and provided for us every heavenly gift imaginable. He sent His most glorious creations, His Messengers of hope and peace, and allowed them to suffer for our sake. He gave us every potential, every celestial gift from His heavenly treasures. He did not withhold anything from us. We manifest His beauty and grandeur. What more can we expect? Our only duty in return for all these blessings is to leave a little blank space for Him, so that He can keep writing His special messages of love for us. (1:21) What will happen if our souls are cluttered with worldliness? How can God find space to write? What will happen if our souls are cluttered with self-satisfaction, greed, selfishness, pride, pretension, self-deception, prejudice, and plausible excuses? What will happen if a person writes messages like these: (1:22) O God, I love you, but I am really too busy! (A common and seemingly innocent excuse for putting one's immediate self-interest above one's duty to God.) (1:23) O God, I love you, but investigating the news of the Advent of the One you have promised is not my job. There are thousands of other people who know the Scripture better than I do. I depend on them. If there is any 'good news,' they will tell me. (Another unacceptable excuse.)
(1:24)
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