Daily Frameworks for 19 November 2023

Jamál, 16 Qudrat (Power), 180 B.E.

Reflections on the Life of the Spirit

Quote for Reflection:

THOU hast asked Me concerning the nature of the soul. Know, verily, that the soul is a sign of God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath failed to grasp, and whose mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope to unravel. It is the first among all created things to declare the excellence of its Creator, the first to recognize His glory, to cleave to His truth, and to bow down in adoration before Him. If it be faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will, eventually, return unto Him. If it fail, however, in its allegiance to its Creator, it will become a victim to self and passion, and will, in the end, sink in their depths. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

Question for Consideration:

Which of the following are true?
“To unravel” means to figure out.
Among all created things, the first to recognize God is the human brain.
“Acute” means sharp.
A learned person understands the mystery of the soul.
Only great philosophers can declare the excellence of God.
It is not necessary to think about the soul because we will never be able to understand it. ²

Google Bard Response:

Based on the provided quote from Bahá’u’lláh, the following statements are true:

• ”To unravel” means to figure out.
  Bahá’u’lláh uses the phrase “to unravel the mystery of the soul” to convey that the true nature of the soul is beyond human comprehension.
• ”Acute” means sharp.
  Bahá’u’lláh uses the phrase “no mind, however acute” to emphasize the elusiveness of the soul’s nature.
  

The other statements are false:

• Among all created things, the first to recognize God is the human brain.
  Bahá’u’lláh does not specify which created thing is the first to recognize God. The quote simply states that the soul is the first to declare the excellence of its Creator.
• A learned person understands the mystery of the soul.
  Bahá’u’lláh states that even “the most learned of men hath failed to grasp” the soul’s reality. This suggests that even the most knowledgeable individuals cannot fully comprehend the soul’s nature.
• Only great philosophers can declare the excellence of God.
  Bahá’u’lláh does not limit the ability to declare God’s excellence to great philosophers. The quote implies that all souls have the potential to recognize God’s glory.
• It is not necessary to think about the soul because we will never be able to understand it.
  While Bahá’u’lláh acknowledges the mystery of the soul, he does not discourage contemplating its nature. In fact, the quote suggests that reflecting on the soul can lead to a deeper understanding of God.

1. Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/4#385974767. ↩
2. 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, 39-40. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩