cire perdue

clarification added

One can agitate about things when it is uncomfortable to accept, but acceptance does not mean one has to like something. Acceptance can be the first step to developing faith and its partner obdience is special. I was middle aged before I appreciated or understood acceptance. I feel fortunate for instance that with the Guardian's death and formation of the Universal House of Justice that I BELIEVE it happened like it was supposed to. I am very small in the big picture of things. I just read the verses below in my p.m. "session" that I require of myself daily as well as a.m. So here is something that Americans and Christians do not really experience.

XXXVII. Blessed is the man that hath acknowledged his belief in God and in His signs, and recognized that "He shall not be asked of His doings." Such a recognition hath been made by God the ornament of every belief, and its very foundation. Upon it must depend the acceptance of every goodly deed. 87 Fasten your eyes upon it, that haply the whisperings of the rebellious may not cause you to slip.

Were He to decree as lawful the thing which from time immemorial had been forbidden, and forbid that which had, at all times, been regarded as lawful, to none is given the right to question His authority. Whoso will hesitate, though it be for less than a moment, should be regarded as a transgressor.

Whoso hath not recognized this sublime and fundamental verity, and hath failed to attain this most exalted station, the winds of doubt will agitate him, and the sayings of the infidels will distract his soul. He that hath acknowledged this principle will be endowed with the most perfect constancy. All honor to this all-glorious station, the remembrance of which adorneth every exalted Tablet. Such is the teaching which God bestoweth on you, a teaching that will deliver you from all manner of doubt and perplexity, and enable you to attain unto salvation in both this world and in the next. He, verily, is the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Bountiful.

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 86)

armin

Beautiful CP! Just what I needed to read today. The Hidden Words is really what it says it is. Hidden! I think I just understood these quotes in a new way. So yeah truly believing is something special and unique!

tonyfish58

Not waffling

It is a great station to attain to, that's for sure

It is hard not to question "WHY"? We do it all the time. The trick may be that if a writing/law is not understandable then "Blessed is the man that hath acknowledged his belief in God and in His signs, and recognized that "He shall not be asked of His doings." Such a recognition hath been made by God the ornament of every belief, and its very foundation. Upon it must depend the acceptance of every goodly deed. 87 Fasten your eyes upon it, that haply the whisperings of the rebellious may not cause you to slip" is the key to true Faith.

I do not think this is blind Faith as you have excepted Baha'u'llah as the Manifestation for this day based upon a lot of things you can understand

Maybe I am Waffling now

Cheers Tony

Eric

The topic made me think about something 'Abdu'l-Bahá said:

Consider what it is that singles man out from among created beings, and makes of him a creature apart. Is it not his reasoning power, his intelligence? Shall he not make use of these in his study of religion? I say unto you: weigh carefully in the balance of reason and science everything that is presented to you as religion. If it passes this test, then accept it, for it is truth! If, however, it does not so conform, then reject it, for it is ignorance!

(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 144)

LordOfGoblins

You highlighted this sentance but it rather doesnt make sense.
You feel fortunate that you believe the guardians death and the house of Justice happened as it was supposed to?
In other words you feel lucky to believe that it was guided by gods hand???

Luck shouldnt have anything to do with it for starters. Belief should be based in firm grounding of understanding if anything...
just saying..

tonyfish58

I suppose it is the way you read it.

To me cire perdue is stating that he feels fortunate that it did not test or kill his Faith as it did to others.

Also that, as there was no will leaving a link to another Guardian, the way the Baha'is of the time handled the situation was in tune with the Writings of Baha'u'llah.

It was a test to a lot of people and I also feel that I am fortunate to be given the bounty of being firm in the covenant. It is something we should not take for granted. IMHO

Cheers & Regards Tony

cire perdue

I'm at a loss for words at times, but I did not mean it to be an issue of luck and didn't associate the world fortunate that way. I could say I am grateful that I do not have issues with that, NOW. I pondered it for a very, long time and one day realized that it happened as it was supposed to. It is not outlined in light or in the Writings, but then we are left to ourselves. I think it is not wrong to "ponder" things about the Faith, and not agitate, question, or complain about them. That is what I call suspending judgement. It is powerful to work through issues.

I agree with you however I don't like luck associated with such things. I tend not to use luck or lucky and just told someone that things just happen in life, one doesn't get the job, or something else falls through, one doesn't get to move, and she said that's bad luck, and I did not agree. Things just do and don't happen, luck is superstition.