God's Manifestations Regarded As One Soul

Buildings on The Arc on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel.

by Glenn Franco Simmons

Rather than the major world’s religions being separate, what if they were a part of a single, progressively revealed religion, akin to chapters in a book?

“The Bearers of the Trust of God are made manifest unto the peoples of the earth as the Exponents of a new Cause and the Revealers of a new Message. Inasmuch as these Birds of the celestial Throne are all sent down from the heaven of the Will of God, and as they all arise to proclaim His irresistible Faith, they, therefore, are regarded as one soul and the same person. For they all drink from the one Cup of the love of God, and all partake of the fruit of the same Tree of Oneness,” wrote Bahá’u’lláh  in “Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh.”

“These Manifestations of God have each a twofold station,” He explained. “One is the station of pure abstraction and essential unity. In this respect, if thou callest them all by one name, and dost ascribe to them the same attributes, thou hast not erred from the truth. Even as He hath revealed: ‘No distinction do We make between any of His Messengers.’ For they, one and all, summon the people of the earth to acknowledge the unity of God, and herald unto them the Kawthar of an infinite grace and bounty. They are all invested with the robe of prophethood, and are honored with the mantle of glory. 

“The other station is the station of distinction, and pertaineth to the world of creation, and to the limitations thereof,” Bahá’u’lláh continued. “In this respect, each Manifestation of God hath a distinct individuality, a definitely prescribed mission, a predestined revelation, and specially designated limitations. Each one of them is known by a different name, is characterized by a special attribute, fulfills a definite mission, and is entrusted with a particular Revelation. …”

In “Epistle to the Son of the Wolf,” Bahá’u’lláh further elaborated on the Messengers’ unity.

“That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion,” He wrote. “These principles and laws, these firmly established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.”

He also had a message specifically for Bahá’ís.

“Gird up the loins of your endeavor, O people of Bahá, that haply the tumult of religious dissension and strife that agitateth the peoples of the earth may be stilled, that every trace of it may be completely obliterated. For the love of God, and them that serve Him, arise to aid this sublime and momentous Revelation. Religious fanaticism and hatred are a world-devouring fire, whose violence none can quench. The Hand of Divine power can, alone, deliver mankind from this desolating affliction. …”

(Editor’s note: This essay is not an official Bahá’í publication. Please visit the Bahá’í International Community’s main website or more information about the Bahá’í  Faith and its authoritative online library. This article was assisted by Grok, xAI's AI model. Such use does not imply Grok, xAI’s or AI’s endorsement of such use.)

Biking To Church & Seeking Faith

Photo via Flickr, by Dennis Jarvis (CC BY-SA 2.0). Photo use does not
imply Dennis' endorsement of such use.

by Glenn Franco Simmons

Bahá’ís believe in Progressive Revelation, which is an unfolding of God's Word through Divine Messengers sent at key intervals in human history to renew and advance religious truth on earth. The concept is akin to a physician prescribing medicine tailored to a patient’s changing condition, Grok noted.

Progressive Revelation is one of the key concepts that attracted me to this wonderful Faith, at the age of 17, and it was an answer to my youthful, prayerful questioning of God about why there were so many religions.

Those questions started before the age of 6 or 7, when I started bicycling to church alone. I had friends who were Jewish, Christian and Buddhist and two were from other nations! We were like brothers, yet we all worshipped differently. Even at such a young age, I was intrigued.

Why?

However, thanks to Grandma Hill being a Baptist, my focus was on finding out more about God and His Holiness Jesus Christ.

My “why” questions kept bubbling to the surface to the more-than-obvious irritation of my otherwise nice Sunday School teacher. Finally, she burst the bubbles and asked my parents to take me out of summer school because I asked too many questions.

They did.

From The KJV.

My late brother Mario (Martin Franco III) started calling me “Why,” because I then started asking my parents, Lee and Helen Simmons, so many questions, especially on long drives in a beat-up, barely running station wagon to Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego and other places in search for a new job for Dad. Grandma Helen Mae Hill and my newborn baby sister Nancy Caroline Simmons (Nancy Vizenor) also came along for some of those trips.

That is one reason I became a journalist. I enjoy asking questions and learning. My curiosity fueled my journalism career in radio, print and digital. It helps keep me active in retirement.

I soon found a Lutheran Church just down the street on the opposite side. Its Sunday School teachers did not seem bothered by all my questions. I wanted to join it, but I could not because my parents would not become Lutheran, which obviously is understandable because that was not their belief.

Because Dad had earlier lost his personnel job in an aerospace recession, we moved to Freshwater, near Eureka, Calif., in one of the most picturesque parts of this beautiful world, where he eventually became the county’s personnel director and had a scintillating reputation. Nancy, the youngest of his four daughters, has followed in his tradition at Cal-Poly Humboldt in Arcata, Calif., where my father finished his career as personnel director and where Nancy now works as a professor.

Alone most of the time, I roamed countless miles of forests that featured old- and second-growth redwoods in my youth with my Registered Irish Setter, Shannon of The Redwoods.

On many of those occasions, because I was now all alone, I often asked God to reveal Himself because I could no longer bicycle to the closest church, which I estimate was nine miles away. I could have done it physically and I can still feel the excitement of my anticipation of being able to return to church, but the busy two-lane road to get there was extraordinarily dangerous ~ especially with trucks, so my parents kiboshed that idea.

So, the answer to the prayerful questioning came a few years later when Clayton Taylor, a teacher at Eureka Senior High School, taught me about Progressive Revelation.

My heart and soul were stirred. I felt an energy in me I had only experienced once before (explained below). I would call it an exhilaration. There was also a deep desire to learn more about this new religion but also other religions, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

Many more answers followed that were queried at various times of my life: from those Sunday School experiences; grade-school years of roaming the redwoods and asking questions; getting and reading “The Book of Mormon” from my Grandma and Grandpa Simmons and asking them questions via USPS mail; Catholic Christian youth groups that friends wrangled my reluctant parents into bringing me to; my thousands of talks with Grandma Hill who instilled in me my deep, abiding belief in God and Jesus Christ, took me to church, answered my questions, and encouraged my belief, and loved me and nurtured me; my teen years when I would use the shower and as water poured over my head, I would plead with Jesus to baptize me; the utterly thrilling Christian Revival at Eureka Senior High School Auditorium.

From The KJV.

It was at that Revival I felt the love, comfort and healing of Jesus Christ temporarily ease the horrific pain of my early years when my brother and I lost our birth father. 

The Holy Spirit’s power electrified my entire body, turning it into a galaxy of goose bumps that I still get to this day. Was it a peek of what is to come in the next life? Ah, another question.

When I learned of the Faith’s peaceful, unifying vision of the future (which other religions and/or denominations also have; I do not want to discredit them) and other aspects personal to me, I knew in my heart I was going to become a Bahá’í. And I did. I was known as the Baby Bahá’í for a long time, even though at 6’4”, I towered over most of the other Bahá’ís.

From “The Advent of Divine Justice.” (P. 32). Excerpt: © BIC. AI Art by Glenn (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.)

And I still love Jesus. Becoming a Bahá’í only deepened my love for Him and expanded it to other Manifestations.

When my wife Kathleen had physical difficulty, I found a church for her that I attended with her and loved it. There is another church I have visited in Carson City that is equally loving and welcoming to all who come. The fellowship and unity are certainly to be celebrated.

There will be more. I would like to visit all denominations and pray with them and share in the fellowship of loving God and Jesus. It fills my heart with joy.

We have been to a synagogue and had a wonderful time, thanks to an invitation from a past doctor. We were invited to one of the synagogues in San Francisco but never got to make that trip. 

Walk by a church and listen to whatever type of singing and music they feature, because it is diverse, and you may also be blessed to hear a robust congregation participate. 

If you are fortunate, you may hear absolute joy, as voices in unison reach for the Heavens and celebrate the one God Whom we love.  

Tell me your heart is not moved. Mine is. Every time. 

 Amen.

'O Son of the Wondrous Vision!'

From The Hidden Wards, Arabic, no. 19. © Bahá’í International Community. Used in accordance with BIC terms.
AI Art © Glenn Franco Simmons. CC BY-NC-ND. Please feel free to download and/or share. Thank you, kindly.

O SON OF THE WONDROUS VISION!

I have breathed within thee a breath of My own Spirit, that thou mayest be

My lover. Why hast thou forsaken Me and sought a beloved other than Me?

~ Bahá’u’lláh

Each Human Being Is A Noble Creation Of God

Photo taken at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. This picturesque scene no longer looks like this
after a lightning-caused fire in 2020. © Glenn Franco Simmons. Please share, if so inclined.

The Bahá’í Faith’s concepts of “social justice” and “equality” are a bit different than the way the terms are so casually recited and written about but rarely explained in Western media.

Fundamental to the Faith’s concepts of justice and equality is the belief that all humans are noble creations of God.

Bahá’u’lláh speaks to humanity in The Hidden Words, from The Arabic: “O Son of Spirit! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.”

Why is recognizing each person’s nobility important? William E. Davis explains why in his recently published book, titled In Service to Justice: Striving to Bring Forth Our Nobility, which is the inspiration for this brief post.

“Only if you perceive honor and nobility in every human being … will you be able to champion the cause of justice,” stated The Universal House of Justice as cited by Davis in his book.

The importance of justice in the Bahá’í Faith is explained by Bahá’u’lláh in The Hidden Words, from The Arabic: “O Son of Spirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.”

AI art: CC BY-NC-SA/© Bahá’í Writings As Art. Excerpt © Bahá’í International
Community. Used with permission and in accordance with BIC terms.

Justice involves fairness and anything that separates people into “inferior” and “superior” classes, for example, are alien concepts to the Bahá’í Faith; on the other hand, perfect equality in terms of the capacity of individuals is neither obtainable nor desirable as explained by `Abdu’l-Bahá, son of Bahá’u’lláh, in Paris Talks:

“Equality is a chimera!” He said. “It is entirely impracticable! Even if equality could be achieved it could not continue — and if its existence were possible, the whole order of the world would be destroyed. The law of order must always obtain in the world of humanity. Heaven has so decreed in the creation of man.”

`Abdu’l-Bahá explains further.

“Some are full of intelligence, others have an ordinary amount of it, and others again are devoid of intellect,” He said in Paris Talks. “In these three classes of men there is order but not equality. How could it be possible that wisdom and stupidity should be equal? Humanity, like a great army, requires a general, captains, under-officers in their degree, and soldiers, each with their own appointed duties. Degrees are absolutely necessary to ensure an orderly organization. An army could not be composed of generals alone, or of captains only, or of nothing but soldiers without one in authority. The certain result of such a plan would be that disorder and demoralization would overtake the whole army.”

In terms of the equality opportunity of men and women,  `Abdu’l-Bahá in Selections from the Writings of `Abdu’l-Bahá, states, “Yet another of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is the equality of men and women and their equal sharing in all rights. … Ye who are servants of the human race, strive ye with all your heart to deliver mankind out of this darkness and these prejudices that belong to the human condition and the world of nature, so that humanity may find its way into the light of the world of God.” 

The Faith is clear with regard to equality before the law.

“The seventh principle of Bahá’u’lláh is: The Equality of Men — equality before the Law,” states `Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris Talks. “The Law must reign, and not the individual; thus, will the world become a place of beauty and true brotherhood will be realized. Having attained solidarity, men will have found truth.”

In Paris Talks, `Abdu’l-Bahá addresses the Bahá’í social-justice concept  of eliminating poverty:  “The sixth principle of Bahá’u’lláh is: Equal opportunity of the means of Existence. Every human being has the right to live; they have a right to rest, and to a certain amount of well-being. As a rich man is able to live in his palace surrounded by luxury and the greatest comfort, so should a poor man be able to have the necessaries of life. Nobody should die of hunger; everybody should have sufficient clothing; one man should not live in excess while another has no possible means of existence.

“Let us try with all the strength we have to bring about happier conditions, so that no single soul may be destitute.”

Become As Trees Of One Forest

As difference in degree of capacity exists among human souls, as difference in capability is found, therefore, individualities will differ one from another. But in reality this is a reason for unity and not for discord and enmity. If the flowers of a garden were all of one color, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colors are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of color and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony. Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and color, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord. Become as waves of one sea, trees of one forest, growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity.

~ `Abdu’l-Bahá

Image is released in accordance with CC BY-NC-SA. AI art created by Bahá’í Writings As Art. Excerpt © Bahá’í International Community. Used with permission and in accordance with BIC terms.

What `Abdu’l-Bahá Says About Pain, Sorrow

In a talk titled Pain and Sorrow in the book titled Paris Talks, `Abdu’l-Bahá said this world is influenced by the two sentiments of joy and pain.

“Joy gives us wings!” He said. “In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness. But when sadness visits us we become weak, our strength leaves us, our comprehension is dim and our intelligence veiled. The actualities of life seem to elude our grasp, the eyes of our spirits fail to discover the sacred mysteries, and we become even as dead beings.”

Does that sound familiar? It should, because `Abdu’l-Bahá said, “There is no human being untouched by these two influences; but all the sorrow and the grief that exist come from the world of matter—the spiritual world bestows only the joy!”

Where does suffering come from and is it something that will be a reality on the next realm of existence?

“If we suffer it is the outcome of material things, and all the trials and troubles come from this world of illusion,” `Abdu’l-Bahá said. “For instance, a merchant may lose his trade and depression ensues. A workman is dismissed and starvation stares him in the face. A farmer has a bad harvest, anxiety fills his mind. A man builds a house which is burnt to the ground and he is straightway homeless, ruined, and in despair.

“All these examples are to show you that the trials which beset our every step, all our sorrow, pain, shame and grief, are born in the world of matter; whereas the spiritual Kingdom never causes sadness. A man living with his thoughts in this Kingdom knows perpetual joy. The ills all flesh is heir to do not pass him by, but they only touch the surface of his life; the depths are calm and serene.”

Today, as when `Abdu’l-Bahá gave this talk, “… {H}umanity is bowed down with trouble, sorrow and grief, no one escapes; the world is wet with tears; but, thank God, the remedy is at our doors,”

There is immediate Divine assistance, but one’s heart has to be open, akin to a fertile field is to sown seeds.

“Let us turn our hearts away from the world of matter and live in the spiritual world! It alone can give us freedom!” He said. “If we are hemmed in by difficulties, we have only to call upon God, and by His great Mercy we shall be helped. If sorrow and adversity visit us, let us turn our faces to the Kingdom and heavenly consolation will be outpoured. If we are sick and in distress, let us implore God’s healing, and He will answer our prayer.”

Impediments to prayer may come from within.

“When our thoughts are filled with the bitterness of this world, let us turn our eyes to the sweetness of God’s compassion and He will send us heavenly calm!” He said. “If we are imprisoned in the material world, our spirit can soar into the Heavens and we shall be free indeed!

“When our days are drawing to a close, let us think of the eternal worlds, and we shall be full of joy!”

Have you ever bought something or gone shopping and expected the experience and/or purchase to elevate your mood? Perhaps it did help your mood, but then there is an emptiness that follows.

“You see all round you proofs of the inadequacy of material things — how joy, comfort, peace and consolation are not to be found in the transitory things of the world,” `Abdu’l-Bahá said. “Is it not then foolishness to refuse to seek these treasures where they may be found? The doors of the spiritual Kingdom are open to all, and without is absolute darkness.

“Thank God that you in this assembly have this knowledge, for in all the sorrows of life you can obtain supreme consolation. If your days on earth are numbered, you know that everlasting life awaits you. If material anxiety envelops you in a dark cloud, spiritual radiance lightens your path. Verily, those whose minds are illumined by the Spirit of the Most High have supreme consolation.”

`Abdu’l-Bahá, Who suffered greatly, is the Exemplar of the Bahá’í Faith, putting into practice the guidance in the Writings.

“I myself was in prison forty years — one year alone would have been impossible to bear — nobody survived that imprisonment more than a year!” He said. “But thank God, during all those forty years I was supremely happy! Every day, on waking, it was like hearing good tidings, and every night infinite joy was mine. Spirituality was my comfort, and turning to God was my greatest joy. If this had not been so, do you think it possible that I could have lived through those forty years in prison?

“Thus, spirituality is the greatest of God’s gifts, and ‘Life Everlasting’ means ‘Turning to God.’ May you, one and all, increase daily in spirituality, may you be strengthened in all goodness, may you be helped more and more by the Divine consolation, be made free by the Holy Spirit of God, and may the power of the Heavenly Kingdom live and work among you. This is my earnest desire, and I pray to God to grant you this favor.”

Become Trees Of One Forest

As difference in degree of capacity exists among human souls, as difference in capability is found, therefore, individualities will differ one from another. But in reality this is a reason for unity and not for discord and enmity. If the flowers of a garden were all of one color, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colors are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of color and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony. Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and color, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord. Become as waves of one sea, trees of one forest, growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity.
~ `Abdu’l-Bahá

Image is released in accordance with CC BY-NC-SA. AI art created by Bahá’í Writings As Art. Excerpt © Bahá’í International Community. Used with permission and in accordance with BIC terms.

'Fire of the love of God'

 Please share, if so inclined.

Should the fire of the love of God be kindled in Greenland, all the ice of that country will be melted, and its cold weather become temperate ~ that is, if the hearts be touched with the heat of the love of God, that territory will become a divine rose garden and a heavenly paradise, and the souls, even as fruitful trees, will acquire the utmost freshness and beauty​. ... ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Source: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Divine Plan #5: To the Bahá’ís of Canada and Greenland. (Ocean)

'Star of happiness is in every heart'

The star of happiness is in every heart. We must remove the veils so that it may shine forth radiantly. ~ ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

"The Life of Thomas Breakwell" by Rajwantee Lakshman-Lepain, © 1998 The Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 27 Rutland Gate, London. Artwork © Bahá’í Writings As Art. Please share, if so inclined.