Mdef

I need some assistance in fully understanding this tablet.. I was doing a Google search of an explanation of this tablet.. and luckily this post came up.. Tablet of Ahmad (thank you artha). I believe and love Baha'ullah for life.. I'm just confused on a couple of things in this tablet.. If maybe some of you can guide me to a better understanding of a couple of these verses...

Say: O people be obedient to the ordinances of God, which have been enjoined in the Bayan by the Glorious, the Wise One. Verily He is the King of the Messengers and His book is the Mother Book did ye but know.
-(I believe this with out a doubt.. but didn't Baha'ullah state that All messengers and prophets are equal?)

Be thou assured in thyself that verily, he who turns away from this Beauty hath also turned away from the Messengers of the past and showeth pride towards God from all eternity to all eternity.
(I really don't understand this.. Hasn't it been stated in the scriptures that "Each manifestation is as perfect as the sun".. and that weather it be Jewish, Christianity, or Islam, or Baha'i.. we can enter the kingdom of the one true god..?? I personally believe that one religion is not better than the other..or one prophet is better than the other or one holy book is better than other.... I believe that each of these religions are direct manifestation's from the one true God.

cire perdue

Unfortunately I cannot find my copy of that book as is packed, but I never took the title the King to mean the Bab was more than the Others, but that He was currently THE King of them. In LWTT he says that Moslems believe that the true Qu'ran is still in heaven and it is the Mother Book, and expalins however that Baha'u'llah has said that the Bab's book, THE BAYAN, is the Mother Book. This is a definite potential issue for Moslems. Also in the book GATE OF THE HEART by Nader Saiedi, he reports that all of the Writings of the Bab are His Bayan, and if things are taken out of context they may not make sense and that many scholars had already done that. Saiedi did a great job of addressing those points and refuting criticism of some recent and as far back as E G Browne.

Baha'u'llah is saying that without accepting the Messenger for this day, you have failed the Messengers of the past by no recognizing Their return. No religion is better than the other, however to be true to that religion one must accept the current Manifestation or one has failed the Messenger of the religion the person was probably born into. The world religions are not current and fail to hold the relevent teachings and even the Spirit that is necessary to change the hearts of men. All of the world religions were true in their day, they continue to be true, but it is like a computer without an upgrade,those faiths can no longer function as they did when they new in the milieu of the world today.

cire perdue

Learn Well This Tablet

This is a precious book. It is the only book by the author. He died unexpectedly in his 50's. His wife undertook to see that his work was published and it is one of my favorite books. Stephen Lambden wrote an introduction or such, but nothing at GR is badly done at all.

It's $26 plus postage, and at current book prices that is NOT bad.

Mdef

I agree with what you have said. But I also believe that the teachings from any religion listed above are indeed from the one true God, and I believe the teachings/philosophies from those religions are indeed perfect in their own way. I love being a Bahai. But I do not think the Bahai Faith is better than any others..

Mdef

I agree with adapting with time, and following the current manifestation in this day is necessary.. But I also believe, that any of these faiths hold steadiness for the cause of God and guide us to a better holy life. I think just because they were older manifestations, they do hold the perfections of god.. Even in today times..Without religion and God, I believe we are lost. Do I hold other people from diff faiths at fault because of not believing in Baha'ullah? No. I do not. I believe each of these faiths holds great tradition/morals/laws even in today's society.

"You too, be a good Christian"
-Abdul Baha

cire perdue

I think you have a very Baha'i attitude. We have to respect others' faiths, and we really do not have a choice since those Faiths are from the same God as ours!

Pollwr

Bahá'u'lláh said that all Manifestations of God were equal but their messages were not - they were taylored to their audience.

"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.

These Manifestations of God have each a twofold station. 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. Thus hath Muhammad, the Point of the Qur'án, revealed: "I am all the Prophets." Likewise, He saith: "I am the first Adam, Noah, Moses, and Jesus." Similar statements have been made by Imam Ali. Sayings such as these, which indicate the essential unity of those Exponents of Oneness, have also emanated from the Channels of God's immortal utterance, and the Treasuries of the gems of Divine knowledge, and have been recorded in the Scriptures. These Countenances are the recipients of the Divine Command, and the Day Springs of His Revelation. This Revelation is exalted above the veils of plurality and the exigencies of number. Thus He saith: "Our Cause is but One." Inasmuch as the Cause is one and the same, the Exponents thereof also must needs be one and the same. Likewise, the Imams of the Muhammadan Faith, those lamps of certitude, have said: "Muhammad is our first, Muhammad is our last, Muhammad our all."

It is clear and evident to thee that all the Prophets are the Temples of the Cause of God, Who have appeared clothed in divers attire. If thou wilt observe with discriminating eyes, thou wilt behold Them all abiding in the same tabernacle, soaring in the same heaven, seated upon the same throne, uttering the same speech, and proclaiming the same Faith. Such is the unity of those Essences of Being, those Luminaries of infinite and immeasurable splendor! Wherefore, should one of these Manifestations of Holiness proclaim saying: "I am the return of all the Prophets," He, verily, speaketh the truth. In like manner, in every subsequent Revelation, the return of the former Revelation is a fact, the truth of which is firmly established....

The other station is the station of distinction, and pertaineth to the world of creation, and to the limitations thereof. 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, fulfils a definite mission, and is entrusted with a particular Revelation. Even as He saith: "Some of the Apostles We have caused to excel the others. To some God hath spoken, some He hath raised and exalted. And to Jesus, Son of Mary, We gave manifest signs, and We strengthened Him with the Holy Spirit."

It is because of this difference in their station and mission that the words and utterances flowing from these Well Springs of Divine knowledge appear to diverge and differ. Otherwise, in the eyes of them that are initiated into the mysteries of Divine wisdom, all their utterances are, in reality, but the expressions of one Truth. As most of the people have failed to appreciate those stations to which We have referred, they, therefore, feel perplexed and dismayed at the varying utterances pronounced by Manifestations that are essentially one and the same."

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 50)

Mdef

Wow!!! You made my night. Oh WOW... Thank you. You have no idea. Blessings and peace be upon you guys

Allah-u-abah!