pawnraider

What is a "manifestation"? Or define "manifestation".

arthra

Pawnraider thanks for your post!

GOD sends Prophets for the education of the people and the progress of mankind. Each such Manifestation of God has raised humanity. They serve the whole world by the bounty of God. The sure proof that they are the Manifestations of God is in the education and progress of the people.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 42

I would suggest we explore the Manifestations of God:

For me the essay by Julio Savi sums it up very well:

The Eternal Quest for God: Chapter 6

The Manifestations of God have a twofold purpose: to promote the spiritual growth of individuals and to further the progress of society.


Promoting the spiritual growth of individuals: `Abdu'l-Bahá says: `God hath sent forth the Prophets for the purpose of quickening the soul of man into higher and divine recognitions'; `to train the souls of humanity and free them from the thraldom of natural instincts and physical tendencies';[51] `to teach and en-lighten man, to explain to him the mystery of the Power of the Holy Spirit; to enable him to reflect the light, and so, in his turn, to be the source of guidance to others';[52] and, in the words of Bahá'u'lláh, `to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves'. In this sense, Bahá'u'lláh compares the revelation to the mythical elixir: the former changes copper into gold, the latter transforms the animal nature of man into a divine nature.[53]

Bahá'u'lláh writes concisely that the purpose of the Manifestations of God is `to endue all men with righteousness and understanding, so that peace and tranquillity may be firmly established amongst them'.[54]

And `Abdu'l-Bahá says: "... the wisdom of the Manifestation of God is directed toward the establishing of the bond of a love which is indissoluble.'[55]


The first purpose fulfils also the second: furthering the progress of society or, in the words of Bahá'u'lláh, `to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization',[56] or, in the words of `Abdu'l-Bahá, `... unifying humanity and establishing universal peace'. In this sense `Abdu'l-Bahá says also: `The Prophets have founded divine civilization.'[57]

For a compilation of the Writings see:

Purpose and Mission of the Manifestations of God

pawnraider

Doesn't answer my question. I just want to know what a "manifestation" is, not what is their purpose. Pleas keep is short and simple.

LordOfGoblins

Here are some examples of manifesting IMO.

Light onto an object manifests the object to your mind.

A woman as a baby looks just like a baby. When she reaches maturity (albeit gradually) her beauty becomes manifested and strikes the hearts of men (cos men are predisposed).

You and I were both not permanent residents in the world. We were manifested through Gods will to attain a physical existance into this world.

Hope those things helps.

Oh and the definition means to come forth...

pawnraider

Thanks, but I'm only more confused now. I thought a “Manifestation” was basically a major religious figure such as Buddha, Moses, Muhammad, Jesus and others and that the claim was that they have been sent by God to proclaim His message. The only difference between them is that they were sent at different times.

cire perdue

A Manifestation of God is the embodiment of Holy Spirit in the flesh. He is the Word of God for the day and age in which He appears. He will reveal the Word for that day. The revealed Word will have the power of the Holy Spirit and will be an instrument of change for mankind.

BruceDLimber

You're correct!

So what's the confusion?

Bruce

LordOfGoblins

Yes thats right. Those things I wrote was not answering your question properly. Sorry...

They (manifestations of God) reflect Gods light to man as I understand it and many other things.
They are embodiments of perfection.

pawnraider

It wasn't being put that way. Meaning, in a way I could understand.

pawnraider

In other words only "manifestations" can be infused with the Holy Spirit?

Sboyce

man·i·fes·ta·tion   [man-uh-fuh-stey-shuhn, -fe-] Show IPA
noun
1.
an act of manifesting.
2.
the state of being manifested.
3.
outward or perceptible indication; materialization: At first there was no manifestation of the disease.
4.
a public demonstration, as for political effect.
5.
Spiritualism . a materialization.








Obviously it is a materialization of the qualities of God.

InvestigateTruth

Firstly, it is not believed in the Baha'i Faith that the Holy Spirit is something that enters a body, but rather the outpouring grace of of God is Manifested:

"Therefore, as it is evident and clear that the intellectual realities do not enter and descend, and it is absolutely impossible that the Holy Spirit should ascend and descend, enter, come out or penetrate, it can only be that the Holy Spirit appears in splendor, as the sun appears in the mirror."


Then, the Manifestations of God, are the appearance of the Holy Spirit:


"This Holy Spirit is the mediator between God and His creatures. It is like a mirror facing the sun. As the pure mirror receives light from the sun and transmits this bounty to others, so the Holy Spirit is the mediator of the Holy Light from the Sun of Reality, which it gives to the sanctified realities. It is adorned with all the divine perfections. Every time it appears, the world is renewed, and a new cycle is founded. The body of the world of humanity puts on a new garment. It can be compared to the spring; whenever it comes, the world passes from one condition to another."


And finally, the reason of existance of every great man owes its being to the breath of the Holy Spirit:

"Observe that it is said that Adam came into existence from the Spirit of life. Moreover, the expression which John uses in regard to the disciples proves that they also are from the Heavenly Father. Hence it is evident that the holy reality, meaning the real existence of every great man, comes from God and owes its being to the breath of the Holy Spirit."

Lonemedic

Your understanding is actually quite correct. These religious Figures are the perfect reflection of all the attributes of God, and They are the closest that mankind can attain to the knowledge of God, as a result.

Baha'is believe that the purpose of our lives is to recognize Who the Manifestation of God is and to fully obey. This way, we are living in accord with the Will of God. Even if you are a great person in every other way, turning away from these Manifestations is the same as turning away from God Himself.

Hope this helps...