Istijlál, 16 Mas͟híyyat (Will), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quotes for Reflection:
O THOU Who art the Lord of all names and the Maker of the heavens! I beseech Thee by them Who are the Daysprings of Thine invisible Essence, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, to make of my prayer a fire that will burn away the veils which have shut me out from Thy beauty, and a light that will lead me unto the ocean of Thy Presence. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Make my prayer, O my Lord, a fountain of living waters whereby I may live as long as Thy sovereignty endureth, and may make mention of Thee in every world of Thy worlds. — Bahá’u’lláh 2
There is nothing sweeter in the world of existence than prayer. Man must live in a state of prayer. The most blessed condition is the condition of prayer and supplication. Prayers is conversation with God. The greatest attainment or the sweetest state is none other than conversation with God. It creates spirituality, creates mindfulness, and celestial feelings, begets new attractions of the Kingdom and engenders the susceptibilities of the higher intelligence. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 3
Question for Consideration:
With reference to the quotations above, write five phrases on the nature of prayer. 4
Google Bard Response:
Here are five phrases on the nature of prayer, based on the quotations from Bahá’u’lláh and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that you provided:
- Prayer is a fire that burns away the veils which have shut us out from God’s beauty.
- Prayer is a light that leads us to the ocean of God’s Presence.
- Prayer is a fountain of living waters that gives us life and helps us to remember God in all worlds.
- Prayer is conversation with God.
- Prayer is the sweetest state in the world of existence.
These phrases capture the essential nature of prayer as a powerful tool for spiritual growth and transformation. Prayer is not just a ritual or a set of words that we recite. It is a way of connecting with God on a deep and personal level. When we pray sincerely, we open ourselves up to God’s love and guidance. We also invite Him to help us to become better people and to live more meaningful and fulfilling lives.
- Bahá’u’lláh. Prayers and Meditations by Baháʼuʼlláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. 1938. Reprint, Wilmette, IL: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1974, 317. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/prayers-meditations/7#197000951
. ↩ - Bahá’u’lláh. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed October 8, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/kitab-i-aqdas/8#991781294. ↩
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. “Star of the West”, vol. 8, no. 4 (17 May 1917), p. 41. http://starofthewest.info. ↩
- Ruhi Institute. Reflections on the Life of the Spirit. 4.1.2.PE May 2020. Vol. Book 1. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Institute, 2020, 19. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 