Twinkle, little soul — claim your sky
He who is a true believer liveth both in this world
and in the world to come.
UNFOLDING OUR WINGS III: Between Heaven and Earth
A subtle world exists between the material and the spiritual, where our ethereal wings unfold.
Dear Ones,
In this third part of Unfolding Our Wings, we enter the intermediate realm — the soul’s true abode between earth and heaven — where its powers naturally unfold.
In PART I of this exploration about the soul, "What is Consciousness," we considered some of its inherent powers, as well as our ethereal form that corresponds to our material body. We also saw in PART II of this series, "Powers of the Soul", that the soul is not bound by place, its freedom already whispering to us in the world of dreams. We now turn our gaze toward the realm where such powers find their natural home.
As surprising as it may be, between this dense world of material bodies and the purely spiritual realms there exists an intermediate reality — a world finer than the physical, yet not wholly immaterial. It is not a mere vague “elsewhere”: it is an ontological level situated between the material world (Nasut), that of the clay where humans live, and the purely spiritual or angelic world (Malakut), that of light, therefore the title of this article: Between Heaven and Earth.
Earlier traditions that prepared the way for the Baha'i Revelation sometimes called this realm Hurqalya. In the Baha'i Writings it is closely associated with the Kingdom, the angelic realm, the world of the souls. The Qur’an itself alludes to such an intermediate reality when it speaks of a barzakh — a barrier or isthmus — lying between this world and the next (23:100), while the Bayan of the Bab repeatedly speaks of all that is « in the heavens and on the earth and in between them ».
As Baha'i scholar Jean-Marc Lepain has shown through his careful study of the Writings (particularly the Tablet to Varqá), Baha'u'llah presents the Malakut as the true destiny of the human soul — the spiritual world par excellence where, beyond the dissolution of the body, the soul continues its infinite journey toward God in a heavenly form composed of the elements of that realm. Yet this life of the soul can begin here and now in the barzakh through the subtle body, according to the measure of our purity and awareness.
Through exceptional purity or divine bestowal, some souls glimpse, or even enter more deeply into this realm while still associated with the physical body. For most of us, however, the approach is gradual and measured by the cleansing of the heart.
The world of dreams is the portal to that intermediate realm, our present world being but a metaphorical image of that higher realm, according to Abdu'l-Baha. Baha'u'llah Himself points to this mystery when He writes:
Consider thy state when asleep. … thy spirit, having transcended the limitations of sleep… hath… been made to traverse a realm which lieth hidden in the innermost reality of this world. Verily I say, the creation of God embraceth worlds besides this world…
It is also hierarchical, ordered according to the degree of spiritual development of the souls. Thus, this intermediate realm is not uniform. It contains multiple strata of varying density — some heavier and less luminous, others increasingly subtle and ethereal.
The differing quality of our dreams, some dense and confused, others light and radiant, already hints at these gradations. For even there, the soul may encounter resistances, some born of its own still unpurified nature, others arising from the denser strata of that realm. Yet the promise remains: the heart that is steadfast in the love of God shall not waver, even if all the heavens and the earth arise against it.
Moreover, in this age the Revelation of Baha'u'llah — the universal Promised One of all previous Revelations — reaches not only this world but the entire universe, including these intermediate realms where the majority of souls are gathered, including the jinn spoken of in the Qur’an as being made of smokeless fire who, like Iblis, the master of the demon tempters, possess free will and are called to respond to the new Revelation.
The light and grace of the Manifestation permeate these realms. Souls who did not know of Baha'u'llah during their lifetime may, through intercession, prayer, and divine influence, come to know Him and respond to Him. It is this response that shapes the ultimate condition of the soul and its place within the luminous strata of that realm, be it before death or thereafter. Recognition of God’s Manifestation for this age becomes the cornerstone of the soul’s evolution in all worlds.
Thus the soul is already carrying within it a form suited to the heavens, its true abode not being that far away. Every act of detachment, every sincere prayer, every turning of the heart toward the Beloved draws us a little closer to that homeland where the soul will one day soar without hindrance and rejoice with exceeding gladness. Per the Master: The light and grace of the Manifestation permeate these realms. Souls who did not know of Baha'u'llah during their lifetime may, through intercession, prayer, and divine influence, come to know Him and respond to Him. It is this response that shapes the ultimate condition of the soul and its place within the luminous strata of that realm, be it before death or thereafter. Recognition of God’s Manifestation for this age becomes the cornerstone of the soul’s evolution in all worlds.
In this wise hath the divine favour been fully vouchsafe unto you and onto them that are in heaven and on earth. All praise to God, the Lord of all Worlds.
In the time of sleep this body is as though dead… but the spirit lives and subsists. Nay, its penetration is increased, its flight is higher, and its intelligence is greater.These considerations, however, bring a necessary word of caution. The powers and perceptions associated with the spiritual realms must never be sought through esoteric techniques, psychic practices, or forced openings. The Guardian warned the friends with great seriousness against such paths which can injure the soul, both in this world and in the next. To this effect, please see BEWARE OF ESOTERICISM and NEW AGE PITFALLS. True progress comes only through the means revealed by God: prayer, MEDITATION upon the Divine Word and the Holy Names, purity of heart, and steadfastness in the Covenant.
Until that radiant day, may we walk gently upon the earth while our hearts learn the ways of the sky…
Having contemplated this bridging realm, we invite you to continue exploring the seven conditions that prepare the soul for its further ascent with THE ASCENDING SOUL.
…twinkling ever closer to our celestial home.
Be
wonderfully blessed !
Loesha
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