Jalál, 01 Qudrat (Power), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
Thou hast, moreover, asked Me concerning the state of the soul after its separation from the body. Know thou, of a truth, that if the soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly, return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved. By the righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue describe. The soul that hath remained faithful to the Cause of God, and stood unwaveringly firm in His Path shall, after his ascension, be possessed of such power that all the worlds which the Almighty hath created can benefit through him. Such a soul provideth, at the bidding of the Ideal King and Divine Educator, the pure leaven that leaveneth the world of being, and furnisheth the power through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest. Consider how meal needeth leaven to be leavened with. Those souls that are the symbols of detachment are the leaven of the world. Meditate on this, and be of the thankful. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Question for Consideration:
How long will the soul continue to progress after physical death? 2
Google Bard Response:
The soul will continue to progress after physical death until it reaches the state of perfection. There is no limit to the soul’s development.
Bahá’u’lláh says that the soul can “attain a station such as no pen can depict, or tongue describe.” He also says that the soul can become so powerful that it can benefit all the worlds which the Almighty hath created.
This suggests that the soul has the potential to achieve a level of perfection that is beyond our wildest imagination.
The Bahá’í teachings say that the soul’s progress is determined by its own efforts and by the grace of God. If we strive to live a life of love, compassion, and service, our souls will progress more quickly.
However, even if we make mistakes, we can always repent and return to the path of righteousness. God is always willing to forgive us and to help us on our spiritual journey.
The soul’s progress is not linear. It is a process of growth and development that unfolds over time. There may be times when we experience setbacks or challenges. But if we remain steadfast in our faith and commitment to God, our souls will continue to progress.
The Bahá’í teachings offer us a hopeful and inspiring vision of the afterlife. They teach us that our souls are immortal and that we have the potential to achieve great spiritual heights.
We can all look forward to the day when we will be reunited with our souls and be able to continue our spiritual journey in the world beyond.
- Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed November 3, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/4#562245346. ↩
- 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, 36. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 