Istiqlál, 09 Qawl (Speech), 180 B.E.
Reflections on the Life of the Spirit
Quote for Reflection:
The door of the knowledge of the Ancient Being hath ever been, and will continue forever to be, closed in the face of men. No man’s understanding shall ever gain access unto His holy court. As a token of His mercy, however, and as a proof of His loving-kindness, He hath manifested unto men the Daystars of His divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity, and hath ordained the knowledge of these sanctified Beings to be identical with the knowledge of His own Self. Whoso recognizeth them hath recognized God. Whoso hearkeneth to their call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso testifieth to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the truth of God Himself. Whoso turneth away from them, hath turned away from God, and whoso disbelieveth in them, hath disbelieved in God. Every one of them is the Way of God that connecteth this world with the realms above, and the Standard of His Truth unto every one in the kingdoms of earth and heaven. They are the Manifestations of God amidst men, the evidences of His Truth, and the signs of His glory. — Bahá’u’lláh 1
Questions for Consideration:
With the above quotation in mind, answer the following questions:
Is it possible for us to know God directly?
How, then, can we know God? 2
Google Bard Response:
According to the provided quotation from Bahá’u’lláh, it is not possible for humans to directly know God’s essence. He states that “The door of the knowledge of the Ancient Being hath ever been, and will continue forever to be, closed in the face of men. No man’s understanding shall ever gain access unto His holy court.” This suggests that God’s nature is beyond human comprehension.
However, Bahá’u’lláh also emphasizes that God is not unknowable. He has manifested Himself to humanity through a series of divine messengers known as Manifestations of God. These Manifestations, such as Buddha, Krishna, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, and Bahá’u’lláh Himself, are the “Daystars of His divine guidance, the Symbols of His divine unity.”
By recognizing and following these Manifestations, we can come to know God indirectly. Bahá’u’lláh states that “Whoso recognizeth them hath recognized God. Whoso hearkeneth to their call, hath hearkened to the Voice of God, and whoso testifieth to the truth of their Revelation, hath testified to the truth of God Himself.”
In other words, the Manifestations of God are the mirrors that reflect the light of God’s essence. By studying their teachings and living according to their examples, we can gain a deeper understanding of God’s nature and attributes.
Therefore, while we cannot directly know God’s essence, we can come to know Him indirectly through His Manifestations. These Manifestations are the bridge between humanity and the divine, and they provide us with the knowledge and guidance we need to live a spiritual life.
- Bahá’u’lláh. Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed November 30, 2023. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/gleanings-writings-bahaullah/2#802723168. ↩
- 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, 44. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#RLS ↩
Frameworks for Understanding the World 