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THE SUN OF REALITY |
In our solar system, the center of illumination is the sun itself.
Through the will of God this central luminary is the one source
of the existence and development of all phenomenal things. When
we observe the organisms of the material kingdoms we find that
their growth and training are dependent upon the heat and light
of the sun. Without this quickening impulse there would be no
growth of tree or vegetation, neither would the existence of animal
or human being be possible; in fact no forms of created life would
be manifest upon the earth. But if we reflect deeply we will perceive
that the great bestower and giver of life is God; the sun is the intermediary
of His will and plan. Without the bounty of the sun
therefore the world would be in darkness. All illumination of our
planetary system proceeds or emanates from the solar center.
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Likewise in the spiritual realm of intelligence and idealism there
must be a center of illumination, and that center is the everlasting,
ever-shining Sun, the Word of God. Its lights are the lights of
reality which have shone upon humanity, illumining the realm of
thought and morals, conferring the bounties of the divine world
upon man. These lights are the cause of the education of souls and
the source of the enlightenment of hearts, sending forth in effulgent
radiance the message of the glad-tidings of the kingdom of God.
In brief, the moral and ethical world and the world of spiritual
regeneration are dependent for their progressive being upon that
heavenly center of illumination. It gives forth the light of religion
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and bestows the life of the spirit, imbues humanity with archetypal
virtues and confers eternal splendors. This Sun of Reality, this
center of effulgences is the prophet or Manifestation of God. Just as
the phenomenal sun shines upon the material world producing life
and growth, likewise the spiritual or prophetic Sun confers illumination
upon the human world of thought and intelligence, and
unless it rose upon the horizon of human existence the kingdom
of man would become dark and extinguished.
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The Sun of Reality is one Sun but it has different dawning-places,
just as the phenomenal sun is one although it appears at various
points of the horizon. During the time of spring the luminary of
the physical world rises far to the north of the equinoctial; in
summer it dawns midway and in winter it appears in the most
southerly point of its zodiacal journey. These day springs or
dawning-points differ widely but the sun is ever the same sun
whether it be the phenomenal or spiritual luminary. Souls who
focus their vision upon the Sun of Reality will be the recipients
of light no matter from what point it rises, but those who are fettered
by adoration of the dawning-point are deprived when it
appears in a different station upon the spiritual horizon.
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Furthermore, just as the solar cycle has its four seasons the cycle
of the Sun of Reality has its distinct and successive periods. Each
brings its vernal season or springtime. When the Sun of Reality
returns to quicken the world of mankind a divine bounty descends
from the heaven of generosity. The realm of thoughts and ideals
is set in motion and blessed with new life. Minds are developed,
hopes brighten, aspirations become spiritual, the virtues of the
human world appear with freshened power of growth and the
image and likeness of God become visible in man. It is the springtime
of the inner world. After the spring, summer comes with its
fullness and fruitage spiritual; autumn follows with its withering
winds which chill the soul; the Sun seems to be going away until
at last the mantle of winter overspreads and only faint traces of the
effulgence of that divine Sun remain. Just as the surface of the
material world becomes dark and dreary, the soil dormant, the
trees naked and bare and no beauty or freshness remain to cheer the
darkness and desolation, so the winter of the spiritual cycle witnesses
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the death and disappearance of divine growth and extinction of
the light and love of God. But again the cycle begins and a new
springtime appears. In it the former springtime has returned, the
world is resuscitated, illumined and attains spirituality; religion
is renewed and reorganized, hearts are turned to God, the summons
of God is heard and life is again bestowed upon man. For a long
time the religious world had been weakened and materialism had
advanced; the spiritual forces of life were waning, moralities were
becoming degraded, composure and peace had vanished from souls
and satanic qualities were dominating hearts; strife and hatred
overshadowed humanity, bloodshed and violence prevailed. God
was neglected; the Sun of Reality seemed to have gone completely;
deprivation of the bounties of heaven was a fact; and so the season
of winter fell upon mankind. But in the generosity of God a new
springtime dawned, the lights of God shone forth, the effulgent Sun
of Reality returned and became manifest, the realm of thoughts
and kingdom of hearts became exhilarated, a new spirit of life
breathed into the body of the world and continuous advancement
became apparent.
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I hope that the lights of the Sun of Reality will illumine the
whole world so that no strife and warfare, no battles and bloodshed
remain. May fanaticism and religious bigotry be unknown,
all humanity enter the bond of brotherhood, souls consort in perfect
agreement, the nations of earth at last hoist the banner of
truth and the religions of the world enter the divine temple of
oneness, for the foundations of the heavenly religions are one
reality. Reality is not divisible; it does not admit multiplicity. All
the holy Manifestations of God have proclaimed and promulgated
the same reality. They have summoned mankind to reality itself
and reality is one. The clouds and mists of imitations have
obscured the Sun of Truth. We must forsake these imitations, dispel
these clouds and mists and free the Sun from the darkness of
superstition. Then will the Sun of Truth shine most gloriously;
then all the inhabitants of the world will be united, the religions will
be one, sects and denominations will reconcile, all nationalities will
flow together in the recognition of one Fatherhood and all degrees
of humankind gather in the shelter of the same tabernacle, under
the same banner.
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Until the heavenly civilization is founded, no result will be forthcoming
from material civilization, even as you observe. See what
catastrophes overwhelm mankind. Consider the wars which disturb
the world. Consider the enmity and hatred. The existence of
these wars and conditions indicates and proves that the heavenly
civilization has not yet been established. If the civilization of the
Kingdom be spread to all the nations, this dust of disagreement
will be dispelled, these clouds will pass away and the Sun of Reality
in its greatest effulgence and glory will shine upon mankind.
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