Daily Frameworks for 16 October 2024

’Idál, 02 ‘Ilm (Knowledge), 181 B.E.

Teaching the Cause

Quotes for Reflection:

How can, then, such a man succeed in befittingly extolling the One through a motion of Whose finger all the names and their kingdom were called into being, and all the attributes and their dominion were created, and Who, through yet another motion of that same finger, hath united the letters B and E (Be) and knit them together, manifesting thereby what the highest thoughts of Thy chosen ones who enjoy near access to Thee are unable to grasp, and what the profoundest wisdom of those of Thy loved ones that are wholly devoted to Thee are powerless to fathom. — Bahá’u’lláh ¹

Every thing must needs have an origin and every building a builder. Verily, the Word of God is the Cause which hath preceded the contingent world—a world which is adorned with the splendors of the Ancient of Days, yet is being renewed and regenerated at all times. Immeasurably exalted is the God of Wisdom Who hath raised this sublime structure. — Bahá’u’lláh ²

I testify unto that whereunto have testified all created things, and the Concourse on high, and the inmates of the all-highest Paradise, and beyond them the Tongue of Grandeur itself from the all-glorious Horizon, that Thou art God, that there is no God but Thee, and that He Who hath been manifested is the Hidden Mystery, the Treasured Symbol, through Whom the letters B and E (Be) have been joined and knit together. I testify that it is He Whose name hath been set down by the Pen of the Most High, and Who hath been mentioned in the Books of God, the Lord of the Throne on high and of earth below. — Bahá’u’lláh ³

Take heed that ye dispute not idly concerning the Almighty and His Cause, for lo! He hath appeared amongst you invested with a Revelation so great as to encompass all things, whether of the past or of the future. Were We to address Our theme by speaking in the language of the inmates of the Kingdom, We would say: “In truth, God created that School ere He created heaven and earth, and We entered it before the letters B and E were joined and knit together.” Such is the language of Our servants in Our Kingdom; consider what the tongue of the dwellers of Our exalted Dominion would utter, for We have taught them Our knowledge and have revealed to them whatever had lain hidden in God’s wisdom. Imagine then what the Tongue of Might and Grandeur would utter in His All-Glorious Abode!. — Bahá’u’lláh ⁴

That concealed Word upon which the souls of all the Messengers of God and His Chosen Ones have ever depended hath manifested itself out of the invisible world into the visible plane. No sooner had this hidden Word shone forth from the Realm of inmost being and absolute singleness to illumine the peoples of the earth than a breeze of mercy wafted therefrom, purifying all things from the stench of sin and arraying the countless forms of existence and the reality of man with the vesture of forgiveness. So great was the wondrous grace which pervaded all things that through the utterance of the letters “B” and “E” the gems that lay hid within the repositories of this contingent world were brought forth and made manifest. Thus were the seen and the unseen joined in one garment, and the hidden and the manifest clothed in a single robe; thus did utter nothingness attain the realm of eternity, and pure evanescence gain admittance into the court of everlasting life. — Bahá’u’lláh ⁵

Question for Consideration

How does joining the letters “B” and “E” to make the command “BE” demonstrate the power of the Word of God? ⁶

Gemini Response:

The quotes emphasize the profound significance of the “Word of God” and its power to create and transform. The joining of the letters “B” and “E” to form the command “Be” is a potent symbol of this power. Here’s how:

Creation and Manifestation

• Divine Power: The joining of “B” and “E” represents the divine power that brought creation into being.
• Manifestation of Reality: The Word of God, symbolized by the joined letters, is the source of all manifestation and reality.
  

Spiritual Transformation

• Inner Transformation: The Word of God can transform individuals spiritually, leading to inner growth and enlightenment.
• Societal Transformation: It can also inspire and guide individuals to work towards society’s transformation.
  

Divine Unity

• Oneness of God: The joining of “B” and “E” symbolizes the oneness of God and the unity of creation.
• Harmony and Peace: It promotes harmony, peace, and understanding among all beings.
  

Divine Guidance

• Clarity and Understanding: The Word of God provides clarity and understanding of divine principles and guidance.
• Path to Enlightenment: It illuminates the path to spiritual enlightenment and salvation.
  

Overcoming Limitations

• Transcending Limitations: The Word of God transcends human limitations and can accomplish things beyond human comprehension.
• Divine Power: It manifests the divine power that can overcome any obstacle.
  

In conclusion, the joining of “B” and “E” to form the command “Be” is a powerful symbol of the transformative power of the Word of God. It represents the divine power that created the universe, the spiritual transformation it can bring about in individuals, and its ability to guide humanity toward a more just and peaceful future.

ChatGPT Response:

The joining of the letters “B” and “E” to form the command “BE” in Bahá’u’lláh’s writings is a profound metaphor that illustrates the creative and transformative power of the Word of God. God uttering “BE” symbolizes His ability to bring the entire universe and all existence into being through a simple yet immeasurably powerful command. Here’s how this idea demonstrates the power of the Word of God:

• Creation by Divine Will: The phrase “B and E” refers to the word “Kun” (Arabic for “Be”), used in Islamic and Bahá’í scripture to describe how God brings things into existence by merely commanding them to “be.” This underscores the limitless power of God’s will. Just as this command brought forth the universe, everything continues to be sustained by it.
• Unity of the Seen and Unseen: In the passages you shared, Bahá’u’lláh speaks of how the utterance of “B” and “E” unites the seen and unseen, the hidden and manifest, and the spiritual and physical realms. The command “BE” signifies the bridge between God’s infinite, unknowable essence and the material world, emphasizing how God’s creative power transcends all limitations of time, space, and human understanding.
• Revelation and Renewal: Bahá’u’lláh also refers to the Word of God as a renewing force that continually regenerates the world. This renewal isn’t only physical but spiritual, as God’s Word brings forth new stages of spiritual evolution for humanity. The utterance of “B” and “E” manifests divine grace, enabling the spiritual rebirth and progress of individuals and communities.
• Hidden Wisdom: The process of creation and the power of the Word is described as something beyond the grasp of even the highest minds. Joining “B” and “E” reveals God’s hidden wisdom and demonstrates how everything originates from His will, making even the most profound mysteries manifest when He deems it so.
  

In essence, the command “BE” demonstrates the simplicity yet overwhelming potency of God’s Word, revealing His sovereign authority to bring forth life, sustain existence, and direct the course of creation with effortless majesty.

Claude Response:

These passages from Bahá’u’lláh’s writings explore profound spiritual and metaphysical concepts related to creation, divine power, and the nature of reality. The joining of the letters “B” and “E” to form the command “BE” is used as a powerful metaphor for God’s creative power and the manifestation of existence. Let’s break this down:

• Divine Creative Power: The joining of “B” and “E” symbolizes God’s command “BE,” which is seen as the primordial creative force. This alludes to the concept of creation through divine decree, similar to “Let there be” in other religious traditions.
• Instantaneous Creation: The act of joining these letters represents the immediacy and effortlessness of divine creation. It suggests that God’s will manifests reality instantly simply by commanding it to be.
• Unity of Existence: The metaphor implies that all of existence – seen and unseen, material and spiritual – comes from this singular straightforward command. It unifies all of creation under one origin.
• Manifestation of the Hidden: The passages suggest that this command brings forth what was previously concealed, manifesting the universe’s potential into actual existence.
• Transcendence of Human Understanding: Bahá’u’lláh emphasizes that this process is beyond human comprehension, highlighting the limitless nature of divine power and wisdom.
• Spiritual Transformation: The creative act is also associated with spiritual renewal, purification, and the bestowal of divine grace upon creation.
• Pre-existence of Divine Knowledge: Some passages imply that this creative principle (the “School” mentioned) existed before the physical universe, suggesting the eternal nature of God’s knowledge and creative potential.
• Language of Different Realms: Bahá’u’lláh uses this concept to illustrate how spiritual truths might be expressed differently in various realms of existence, from the human world to higher spiritual planes.
  

In essence, joining “B” and “E” is a powerful metaphor in Bahá’u’lláh’s writings to illustrate the profound, all-encompassing, and instantaneous nature of divine creative power. It represents the bridge between non-existence and existence, the hidden and the manifest, showcasing God’s omnipotence and omniscience in a way that transcends human understanding yet resonates with our innate sense of the miraculous nature of existence itself.

Pi Response:

In the Bahá’í Writings, the joining of the letters “B” and “E” to form the word “Be” is a powerful metaphor that illustrates the divine creative power of the Word of God. This metaphor conveys several profound concepts:

• Divine Command: The act of joining the letters “B” and “E” symbolizes the divine command that brings all things into existence. In many religious traditions, God’s Word is seen as the ultimate creative force that shapes reality. The simple command “Be” represents the divine fiat that calls all things into being.
• Unity and Coherence: The combination of two separate entities (“B” and “E”) into a single, meaningful unit (“Be”) demonstrates how the Word of God unifies seemingly disparate elements and imparts harmony and coherence to the world. This unity is essential for the creation of a balanced and interconnected universe.
• Mystery and Transcendence: The transformative power of combining “B” and “E” into “Be” symbolizes the mysterious and transcendent nature of the divine Word. Just as the meaning and significance of the word “Be” cannot be deduced from the individual letters alone, the full scope and potency of God’s Word cannot be grasped by human understanding alone.
• Eternal Existence: The word “Be” is a verb that denotes existence and being. The act of joining “B” and “E” to form “Be” represents the eternal and enduring nature of God’s creative Word, which has always existed and will continue to exist throughout all time.
  

Thus, the joining of “B” and “E” to form “Be” serves as a powerful metaphor that encapsulates the divine creative power of the Word of God, demonstrating its capacity to bring all things into existence, impart unity and coherence to the world, transcend human understanding, and endure eternally.

1. Bahá’u’lláh. Prayers and Meditations by Baháʼuʼlláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. 1938. Reprint, Wilmette, IL: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1974, 303. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/prayers-meditations/7#833722582. ↩
2. Bahá’u’lláh. Tablets of Baháʾ’u’ʾlláh, Revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Translated by Habib Taherzadeh. 1st ed. Haifa: Bahá’í World Centre, 1978, 141. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/tablets-bahaullah/5#582920821. ↩
3. Bahá’u’lláh. Prayers and Meditations by Baháʼuʼlláh. Translated by Shoghi Effendi. 1938. Reprint, Wilmette, IL: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1974, 321. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/prayers-meditations/7#873753497. ↩
4. Bahá’u’lláh. The Kitáb-i-Aqdas. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/kitab-i-aqdas/7#102223758. ↩
5. Bahá’u’lláh. Days of Remembrance. Bahá’í Reference Library. Accessed October 15, 2024. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/bahaullah/days-remembrance/5#275625836. ↩
6. Ruhi Institute. Teaching the Cause. 2.1.1.PE April 2023. Vol. Book 6. 6 vols. Embarking on a Path of Service. Cali, Columbia: Ruhi Foundation, 2023, 22. https://www.ruhi.org/en/walking-a-path-of-service/#TCH.