A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
|
17 August 1912 |
|
In cities like New York the people are submerged in the sea of
materialism. Their sensibilities are attuned to material forces, their
perceptions purely physical. The animal energies predominate in
their activities; all their thoughts are directed to material things;
day and night they are devoted to the attractions of this world,
without aspiration beyond the life that is vanishing and mortal. In
schools and temples of learning knowledge of the sciences acquired
is based upon material observations only; there is no
262
realization of Divinity in their methods and conclusions—all have
reference to the world of matter. They are not interested in attaining
knowledge of the mysteries of God or understanding the secrets
of the heavenly Kingdom; what they acquire is based altogether
upon visible and tangible evidences. Beyond these evidences they
are without susceptibilities; they have no idea of the world of inner
significances and are utterly out of touch with God, considering
this an indication of reasonable attitude and philosophical judgement
whereof they are self-sufficient and proud.
|
|
As a matter of fact, this supposed excellence is possessed in its
superlative degree by the animals. The animals are without knowledge
of God; so to speak, they are deniers of Divinity and understand
nothing of the Kingdom and its heavenly mysteries. As deniers
of the Kingdom, they are utterly ignorant of spiritual things
and uninformed of the supernatural world. Therefore, if it be a
perfection and virtue to be without knowledge of God and His
Kingdom, the animals have attained the highest degree of excellence
and proficiency. Then the donkey is the greatest scientist and
the cow an accomplished naturalist, for they have obtained what
they know without schooling and years of laborious study in colleges,
trusting implicitly to the evidence of the senses and relying
solely upon intuitive virtues. The cow, for instance, is a lover of
the visible and a believer in the tangible, contented and happy
when pasture is plenty, perfectly serene, a blissful exponent of the
transcendental school of philosophy. Such is the status of the
material philosophers, who glory in sharing the condition of the
cow, imagining themselves in a lofty station. Reflect upon their
ignorance and blindness.
|
|
Nay, rather, the virtue of man is this: that he can investigate the
ideals of the Kingdom and attain knowledge which is denied the
animal in its limitation. The station of man is this: that he has the
power to attain those ideals and thereby differentiate and consciously
distinguish himself an infinite degree above the kingdoms
of existence below him.
|
|
The station of man is great, very great. God has created man
after His own image and likeness. He has endowed him with a
mighty power which is capable of discovering the mysteries of
phenomena. Through its use man is able to arrive at ideal conclusions
instead of being restricted to the mere plane of sense impressions.
As he possesses sense endowment in common with the
animals, it is evident that he is distinguished above them by his
conscious power of penetrating abstract realities. He acquires divine
wisdom; he searches out the mysteries of creation; he witnesses
263
the radiance of omnipotence; he attains the second birth—that is to say, he is born out of the material world just as he is born
of the mother; he attains to everlasting life; he draws nearer to
God; his heart is replete with the love of God. This is the foundation
of the world of humanity; this is the image and likeness of
God; this is the reality of man; otherwise, he is an animal. Verily,
God has created the animal in the image and likeness of man, for
though man outwardly is human, yet in nature he possesses animal
tendencies.
|
Print Selection