Mysteries of Divine Utterance

----- Original Message -----

From: Farzin Aghdasi

Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 6:21 AM

Subject: Re: Paragraph 78

Dear all,

Nancy had asked:

Please could you help clarify the last part of paragraph 78, 'When will a faithful seeker be found who will don the garb of pilgrimage, attain the Ka'bih of the hearts desire, and, without ear or tongue, discover the mysteries of divine utterance.'

Answer:

The words of God have many different meanings. At one level their meanings are infinite and inexhaustible. Because of this it may be possible to write many volumes in explanation of a sentence or even a word. Of course not everyone has access to these meanings. In the Iqan page 82 para 89, three conditions are specified for reaching these meanings: a) favorite of heaven; b) inspired Prophet; or c) tested souls.  For us "puny mortals that we are" who are neither favorite of heaven nor an inspired prophet, the only alternative is to become tested souls. Here is the quote:

"... bear witness to this well-known tradition: "Verily Our Word is abstruse, bewilderingly abstruse." In another instance, it is said: "Our Cause is sorely trying, highly perplexing; none can bear it except a favorite of heaven, or an inspired Prophet, or he whose faith God hath tested." These leaders of religion admit that none of these three specified conditions is applicable to them. The first two conditions are manifestly beyond their reach; as to the third, it is evident that at no time have they been proof against those tests that have been sent by God, and that when the divine Touchstone appeared, they have shown themselves to be naught but dross."

In paragraph 78, in this passage Baha'u'llah speaks of His desire to be brief, explains how the revelation of God uncontrollably gushes forth from His pen, and yet many many meanings remain unexplained. He then says that it is possible for the true seeker to grasp these manifold meanings in another way. This other way is spiritual rather than intellectual. He is longing to have such a follower, so He says "when will a faithful seeker be found?" The goal of such a seeker is to "discover the mysteries of divine utterance". And he must do so "without ear or tongue" meaning without vocalizing, speaking or hearing the words themselves. Such a spiritual discovery of the meanings of divine utterances is done in the heart, in the world of spirit, without the need for speech, beyond "the murmur of syllables and sounds".

Occasionally, perhaps very rarely, we have a true dream in which we see or hear of things which later prove to be true. In this world of dream we discover things which are real, and we do it without the use of our ear or tongue. This is spiritual discovery.

But Baha'u'llah also tells us in this passage how to achieve this station of discovering the truth using spiritual means. He says that we should "don the garb of pilgrimage" and "attain the Ka'bih of hearts desire". Baha'u'llah has often described the process of transformation from a selfish and self-centered person to a selfless God-centered, and service-oriented person in the form of a journey. He describes this journey as having to pass several stages, cities or valleys. You recall that in the first two valleys (search and love) the traveler is far from the city of the beloved and that is why he has a steed, a horse. In later valleys he is closer and that is why he is on foot. He finally enters the ante-chamber in the abode of the beloved, etc. A pilgrim is detached from the concerns of ordinary life (did you ever listen to the news while in Haifa?) and is busy only with the preparations to become pure. In Islam during the rituals of annual pilgrimage to Mecca the pilgrim wears a two piece plain white and unsewn cloth symbolizing this act of purification. To be brief this "Ka'bih of hearts desire" is the true recognition of the person of the Manifestation. This is not just signing the declaration card, but showing proof in our actions and in our service that such a recognition is more than lip service. 

With much love

Farzin