GOD'S INFINITE WORLDS


...that every man may thereby win his way to the summit of realities, until none shall contemplate anything whatsoever
but that he shall see God therein.

- Baha'u'llah -


Dear Ones,


As we continue to explore the soul’s quest through God’s infinite worlds, those who have followed our earlier reflections on THE ASCENDING SOUL may naturally wonder: How many such divine worlds exist, and can they be reached while still in this physical realm, or only after we depart this life?

Baha'u'llah graciously answers the first part in His masterpiece, The Seven Valleys:
Although the divine worlds be never ending, yet some refer to them as four: the world of time (zaman)... the world of duration (dahr)... the world of perpetuity (sarmad), the world of eternity (azal)...

Others have called these the worlds of the Heavenly Court (Lahut), of the Empyrean Heaven (Jabarut), of the Kingdom of Angels (Malakut), and of the mortal world (Nasut).
Drawing also from Abdu'l-Baha’s insights on THE STAGES OF THE SOUL, we may summarize the principal degrees in this way (leaving aside the countless other endless worlds):

  • The negative world of Zaqqúm encompasses the Commanding Soul and the Blaming Soul.

  • The world of Násút (zamán) includes: the Earthly human soul, the Inspired soul (Valleys of Search and Knowledge), the Assured soul (Valleys of Love and Unity), the Accepting soul (Valley of Contentment), the Accepted soul (Valley of Wonderment), and the Perfect soul (Valley of True Poverty and Absolute Nothingness).

  • The world of Malakút (dahr) corresponds to the Angelic soul (first and second stages beyond Násút).

  • The world of Jabarút (sarmad) is the Soul of the Realm of Command (third and fourth stages).

  • The world of Lahút (azal) remains forever unattainable to the human soul.

    • As for the second question—whether these stations can be attained in this earthly life—the answer is twofold, and profoundly hopeful. Attainment depends entirely upon divine grace and assistance. As the proverb suggests, some fruits ripen only after being plucked from the tree; yet, by God’s will, certain blessed souls may reach their goal almost instantaneously.
    These journeys have no visible ending in the world of time, but the severed wayfarer - if invisible confirmation descend upon him and the Guardian of the Cause assist him - may cross these seven stages in seven steps, nay rather in seven breaths, nay rather in a single breath, if God will and desire it. And this is of "His grace on such of His servants as He pleaseth."
    Each valley is traversed at its own pace and along its own path, according to the hidden divine plan that God, in His infinite wisdom, has ordained for every soul.
    The tongue faileth in describing these three Valleys, and speech falleth short... but this mystery of inner meaning may be whispered only from heart to heart, confided only from breast to breast.
    Abdu’l-Baha offers comforting clarity:
    ...that the believers will go directly to God, but that all will not be in the same condition, each one will have his degree in accordance with his spiritual progress.
    Yet one truth remains essential: these realms, though accessible even here, open only to the “traveler who walks in the Straight Path.” Baha’u’llah declares:
    In all these journeys the traveller must stray not the breadth of a hair from the "Law," for this is indeed the secret of the "Path" and the fruit of the Tree of "Truth."
    Is this not a clear summons to deepen our understanding of the divine laws set forth in the Kitab-i-Aqdas, the Most Holy Book?

    Finally, Baha’u’llah unveils a sublime secret in THE FOUR VALLEYS concerning the soul’s ultimate ascent:
    ...this station is the first gate of the heart's citadel, that is, man's first entrance to the city of the heart; and the heart is endowed with four stages, which would be recounted should a kindred soul be found.
    And in the sanctified Fourth Valley—beyond the reach of explanation—He declares:
    O My Servant! Obey Me and I shall make thee like unto Myself. I Say 'Be' and it is, and thou shalt say 'Be,' and it shall be.
    These four stages of the heart, extending from the culmination of the Seventh Valley, opens deeper chambers of divine likeness and command for those who have attained absolute nothingness. 

    T    he soul that fully surrenders to the divine will, drawn by its boundless LOVE for God, is swiftly lifted to those exalted heights—even to the stations of JABARUT in this life, as exemplified by ardent souls.
    Blessed are they who, on the wings of certitude, have flown in the heavens which the Pen of thy Lord, the All-Merciful, hath spread.
    The path the Divine has traced for the ardent spirit is arduous yet glorious. Let us support one another with loving encouragement as we climb each summit in pursuit of our eternal longing.





    Be wonderfully blessed !

    Loesha

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