Istijlál, 08 Qawl (Speech), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
These energies with which the Daystar of Divine bounty and Source of heavenly guidance hath endowed the reality of man lie, however, latent within him, even as the flame is hidden within the candle and the rays of light are potentially present in the lamp. The radiance of these energies may be obscured by worldly desires even as the light of the sun can be concealed beneath the dust and dross which cover the mirror. Neither the candle nor the lamp can be lighted through their own unaided efforts, nor can it ever be possible for the mirror to free itself from its dross. It is clear and evident that until a fire is kindled the lamp will never be ignited, and unless the dross is blotted out from the face of the mirror it can never represent the image of the sun nor reflect its light and glory. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Questions for Consideration:
Can the lamp and the mirror manifest their potential by themselves?
How can we relate these two examples to the condition of the human soul?
Who can make the human soul manifest its potential? 2
Google Bard Response:
No, the lamp and the mirror cannot manifest their potential by themselves. They need external help to do so.
The lamp needs fire to ignite it, and the mirror needs someone to polish it. In the same way, the human soul cannot manifest its potential by itself. It needs external help from God to do so.
God helps the human soul manifest its potential in two ways:
- By providing guidance and inspiration. God speaks to the human soul through its conscience and through the teachings of His Manifestations. This guidance and inspiration can help the human soul to overcome its selfish desires and to focus on spiritual things.
- By granting the human soul divine grace. Divine grace is a gift from God that helps the human soul to overcome its limitations and to achieve its full potential.
Without God’s help, the human soul would remain in a state of darkness and ignorance. It would be unable to see the light of God or to reflect God’s glory.
Therefore, we can say that the human soul is like a lamp that needs fire to ignite it, and like a mirror that needs to be polished. God is the fire that ignites the lamp and the polish that makes the mirror reflect His glory.
- Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed November 29, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/3#644909549. ↩
- 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, 43. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 