Twinkle, little soul — claim your sky
He who is a true believer liveth both in this world
and in the world to come.
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. We also saw in PART II of this series, that the soul is not bound by place, its freedom already whispering to us in the world of dreams through our ethereal form that corresponds to our material body. 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 or the angelic realm, also named 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 what lies 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 its purity and awareness.
Some souls, purified by the fire of the love of God and detachment from all save Him, appear already to move with greater freedom in these subtler realms. Their inner fire — clear, luminous, and without the smoke of earthly attachment — enables the spirit to soar more readily beyond the dense world of matter, even while still clothed in this earthly form, THOMAS BREAKWELL, for one, being a prototype.
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…
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.
Why was this intermediate realm conceived by God? As a necessary bridge, so that our existence may unfold gradually from the densest matter to the most subtle spirit without any abrupt gap or sudden leap.
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 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 while flying in these realms. It is their response to that appeal that shapes the ultimate condition of their soul and its place within the 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 is the soul already carrying within it a form suited to the heavens, its true abode not being that far away. Isn't Baha'u'llah describing this state with luminous words in the Valley of Wonderment? 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.
At every moment, he beholdeth a wondrous world and a new creation, and goeth from astonishment to astonishment, and is lost in awe before the new handiwork of Him Who is the sovereign Lord of all.
It is in this state of continual wonder that the soul may begin to grasp the full depth of these words:
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, purity of heart, and steadfastness in the Covenant.
If I may offer a suggestion, it would be to take some time to explore the profound spiritual significance of the Names of the Badi calendar before you depart, for this could be an invaluable way to integrate its wisdom into one's daily life, fostering exponential growth and development, the Guardian of the Baha'i faith affirming that:
Dost thou reckon thyself only a puny form when within thee the universe is folded?This “universe” folded within is none other than the subtle world of many strata — the intermediate realm (Malakut) — which the wondering soul already visits in this life through dreams, contemplation, and the soaring of the spirit.
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, purity of heart, and steadfastness in the Covenant.
If I may offer a suggestion, it would be to take some time to explore the profound spiritual significance of the Names of the Badi calendar before you depart, for this could be an invaluable way to integrate its wisdom into one's daily life, fostering exponential growth and development, the Guardian of the Baha'i faith affirming that:
The Báb, the Primal Point of a new creation, brought humanity into a new division of time in a calendar of nineteen months. All through our past heritage the months of the years and the days of the week have borne the names of pagan feasts and Roman holidays. The Báb swept these ancient landmarks away, and replaced them by the Qualities of: Splendour, Glory, Beauty, Grandeur, Light, Mercy, Words, Perfection, Names, Might, Will, Knowledge, Power, Speech, Questions, Honour, Sovereignty, Dominion, and Loftiness. Meditating upon these sublime attributes, man is enabled to gaze beyond the curve of time, wherein the swing and change of planetary movements exists, to the eternal qualities that stabilize the soul.Therefore, it is essential for every dedicated spirit to recognize that through a profound contemplation of the Names of the Badi calendar, our placeless and timeless entity can access the pinnacle of the five divine realms, gaining such holy attributes in the process. Here is a full PRESENTATION of this prodigious opportunity.- Shoghi Effendi
Having contemplated this bridging realm, we now invite you to explore 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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