Twinkle, little soul — claim your sky
God has created such a conscious spirit within him
that he is the most wonderful of all contingent beings.
that he is the most wonderful of all contingent beings.
~ Abdu'l-Baha ~
Dear Ones,
This series, Unfolding Our Wings, is a fundamental exploration of the soul. Gathering many carefully researched articles, it offers a rich mine of insight into what the Writings reveal about the soul, its hidden powers, its ethereal form, and its progressive journey through the worlds of God — ever closer to our celestial home. We thus begin with the most essential question: what is consciousness?
This interrogation has followed the human spirit since the first dawn of self-awareness. If scientists probe the brain and philosophers weigh endless theories, mystics fall silent before the mystery. Yet the Baha'i Writings offer a clear orientation. Abdu'l-Baha explains:A simple clarification:
When you become aware that you still poorly master a trait of your character, it is your rational soul that sees this weakness. The mind formulates it clearly. The fruit is the desire to change and the gradual transformation of your being.
The soul is like a mirror. When clouded by attachment and ego, it reflects only a distorted image. When cleansed, it reflects an ever greater portion of Reality.
Only the rational soul can discover Reality beyond the reach of the senses, the imagination, and ordinary intellect. When the soul is purified and assisted by divine grace, its consciousness expands and begins to reflect Reality itself, which "does not admit multiplicity or division." About this unique capacity of the human spirit (rational soul), the Writings say:Our human capacity, however, will ever remain limited in comparison with that of the Manifestations of God, and with the unique station of Abdu'l-Baha. Even a purified consciousness is never overwhelmed; it receives according to the direction of its attention, just as the Master described for himself that the answer appears the moment a question arises.
Our earthly life is the privileged time when free will has its greatest effect. Every choice, every act of love or detachment, either enlarges or restricts the opening of the soul. The purpose of life is therefore clear: to purify and expand the consciousness that flows from the rational soul, so that, little by little, a greater share of Reality may be perceived. The most powerful way to cleanse this mirror and expand consciousness is the attentive reading of the Writings of the Manifestation of God. These Writings open the soul directly to Reality. Other privileged ways are prayer and MEDITATION.
As Baha'u'llah writes of the faithful soul:May we, through the expansion of consciousness, draw ever nearer to that state of rapture and awe.
With this foundation, we warmly invite you to continue the journey through the following articles of the series Unfolding Our Wings.
...twinkling ever closer to our celestial home.
This interrogation has followed the human spirit since the first dawn of self-awareness. If scientists probe the brain and philosophers weigh endless theories, mystics fall silent before the mystery. Yet the Baha'i Writings offer a clear orientation. Abdu'l-Baha explains:
The mind is the power of the human spirit. Spirit is the lamp; mind is the light which shines from the lamp. Spirit is the tree, and the mind is the fruit.
- The rational soul (human spirit) is the one who becomes conscious.
- The mind is its instrument — the light that shines from the lamp of the soul.
- The fruit of this awareness is spiritual knowledge and inner transformation.
When you become aware that you still poorly master a trait of your character, it is your rational soul that sees this weakness. The mind formulates it clearly. The fruit is the desire to change and the gradual transformation of your being.
The soul is like a mirror. When clouded by attachment and ego, it reflects only a distorted image. When cleansed, it reflects an ever greater portion of Reality.
Only the rational soul can discover Reality beyond the reach of the senses, the imagination, and ordinary intellect. When the soul is purified and assisted by divine grace, its consciousness expands and begins to reflect Reality itself, which "does not admit multiplicity or division." About this unique capacity of the human spirit (rational soul), the Writings say:
This spirit […] encompasses all things and as far as human capacity permits, discovers their realities and becomes aware of the properties and effects, the characteristics and conditions of earthly things.
Our earthly life is the privileged time when free will has its greatest effect. Every choice, every act of love or detachment, either enlarges or restricts the opening of the soul. The purpose of life is therefore clear: to purify and expand the consciousness that flows from the rational soul, so that, little by little, a greater share of Reality may be perceived. The most powerful way to cleanse this mirror and expand consciousness is the attentive reading of the Writings of the Manifestation of God. These Writings open the soul directly to Reality. Other privileged ways are prayer and MEDITATION.
As Baha'u'llah writes of the faithful soul:
Blessed is the soul which, at the hour of its separation from the body, is sanctified from the vain imaginings of the peoples of the world…
With this foundation, we warmly invite you to continue the journey through the following articles of the series Unfolding Our Wings.
...twinkling ever closer to our celestial home.
Discovering consciousness as the distinctive manifestation of the soul — the light through which it is able to know and progress.
POWERS OF THE SOUL
Exploring the soul’s ethereal form and its hidden powers that unfold through spiritual effort and the love of God.
BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH
Exploring the realm between earth and heaven where the hidden powers of the soul naturally unfold.
THE ASCENDING SOUL
Discovering the seven essential conditions that prepare the soul for its ascent through the worlds of God.
FOUR VALLEYS OVERVIEW
Exploring the four advanced stages of the mystic journey that open after the Valley of True Poverty and Absolute Nothingness.
Exploring the successive stages through which the soul rises from abasement to the loftiest paradise it may attain.
GOD'S INFINITE WORLDS
Infinite divine worlds are attainable here by God's grace and love through the soul's purifying ascent.
GOD'S INFINITE WORLDS
Infinite divine worlds are attainable here by God's grace and love through the soul's purifying ascent.
A CLARION CALL
Rising from this world of dust to the loftiest stations accessible to the human soul.
Be
wonderfully blessed !
Loesha
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