The Worlds of God - U.S.Baha'i National Ref Library Committee
 <<   <-   >   >>
Page 36 of  105

"Some things are subject to the free will of man... (and) there are certain things to which man is forced and compelled; such as sleep, death, sickness, decline of power, injuries and misfortunes... But in the choice of good and bad actions he is free, and he commits them according to his own will... Also the inaction, or the movement of man, depends upon the assistance of God... but the choice of good or evil belongs to man himself." (Saq 287- 9) (36:2)

"Can ye imagine that... the potency of My will and purpose hath been deterred from directing the destinies of mankind?" (Bwf 65) (36:3)

"The essence of love is for man to turn his heart to the Beloved One, and sever himself from all else but God, and desire naught save that which is the desire of his Lord... The essence of understanding is to testify to one's poverty, and submit to the will of the Lord, the Sovereign... The source of all learning is the knowledge of God." (Bwf 140- 1) (36:4)

"All created things except man are captives of nature and the sense world, but in man there has been created an ideal power by which he may perceive intellectual or spiritual realities." (Pup 296) (36:5)

"The animal creation is captive to matter: God has given freedom to man. The animal cannot escape the law of nature, whereas man may control it, for he, containing nature, can rise above it. The power of the Holy Spirit, enlightening man's intelligence, has enabled him to discover means of bending many natural laws to his will. He flies through the air, floats on the sea, and even moves under the waters. All this proves how man's intelligence has been enabled to free him from the limitations of nature, and... to a certain extent, (he) has broken the chains of matter." (Pt 37- 8) "Man alone, by this spiritual power, has been able to free himself, to soar above the world of matter and to make it his servant." (Pt 20) (36:6)

"While possessing physical life, he should lay hold of the life spiritual, and together with bodily comforts and happiness, he should enjoy divine pleasures and content. Then is man worthy of the title man; then will he be 'after the image and likeness of God,' for the image of the Merciful consists of the attributes of the heavenly kingdom." (Pup 329) (36:7)

"O Son of Spirit! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created... Thou art even as a finely tempered sword concealed in the darkness of its sheath and its value hidden... Wherefore come forth from the sheath of self." (Hwa 9; Hwp 47) (36:8)

Get Next Page

  The Worlds of God
  Citation Source List
: see