Very few people in the world today demonstrate an understanding of the Bahai Revelation, the body of teachings revealed by Baha'u'llah that are the divine remedy for the ills that plague mankind today. Orthodox Baha'is proclaim and teach their Faith, not because they seek to convert people to their religion, but for the higher goal of sharing the truth of the Message of Baha'u'llah for this Day. It is so unfortunate that even amongst most of the Bahais who have accepted Baha'u'llah, true and deep understanding of His teachings is a rare find.
How does one acquire knowledge and understanding of the Baha'i Revelation? I submit that intense prayer and meditation and devoted study of the Holy Writings is necessary. That is, prayer that goes beyond mere recitation of the Writings at the public meetings, and a study that goes beyond mere intellectual reflection. To absorb the truth of the Baha'i Revelation, one must undergo an intense search and devoted meditation until a spiritual understanding is achieved. This is a lifelong process.
Abdu'l-Baha: "How shall we attain the reality of knowledge? By the breaths and promptings of the Holy Spirit which is light and knowledge itself. Through it the human mind is quickened and fortified into true conclusions and perfect knowledge." Foundations of World Unity, p. 46. Abdu'l-Baha repeatedly speaks of the breaths and promptings of the Holy Spirit as the secret to obtaining eternal life and true knowledge, the means of true brotherhood, the solution to war and the source of real kindness.
One approach these breaths of the Holy Spirit by turning to the Manifestation of God in prayerful devotion and reflection:
"Likewise the Holy Spirit is the very cause of the life of man; without the Holy Spirit he would have no intellect, he would be unable to acquire his scientific knowledge by which his great influence over the rest of creation is gained. The illumination of the Holy Spirit gives to man the power of thought, and enables him to make discoveries by which he bends the laws of nature to his will. The Holy Spirit it is which, through the mediation of the Prophets of God, teaches spiritual virtues to man and enables him to attain Eternal Life." Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 58.
Unfortunately too many Baha'is are existing on the surface and have not delved deeply into the Ocean of Baha'u'llah's Revelation. Their devotions are limited to parrot-like recitations of the revealed prayers, delivered mechanically and only within the meetings of other Baha'is. However, for Baha'is devotion is supposed to be a personal matter directly between God and the individual, and not in the form of congregation. Prayer should be a constant activity from the moment one awakes in the morning until one retires at night. Prayer and devotion is not divorced from one's life activities and work, but every action should be done in devotion and praise of God. With this kind of devotion, the breaths of the Holy Spirit descend and one plunges deeply into the ocean of Truth.
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