Reality, Soul and
the Worlds of God
IV. The Workshop of Interacting Souls
[Compiler: “The Workshop of Interacting Souls” is a continuation of the “
Life Path of the Soul” in Section III. E., but emphasizing the macrocosmic repercussions and macrocosmic environment of souls’ lives interacting with each other.]
B. “Worlds, Holy and Spiritually Glorious”, Traversed Progressively
2. Human Thought World: A Mental Picture of Reality that the Human Intellect Perceives
[from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh:]
1129.Thus it is that certain invalid souls have confined the lands of knowledge within the wall of self and passion, and clouded them with ignorance and blindness,….
(Bahá’u’lláh: The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys, “Valley of Unity”, p. 19)
1130.….it hath been made clear that these stages depend on the vision of the wayfarer. In every city he will behold a world, in every Valley reach a spring, in every meadow hear a song.
(Bahá’u’lláh: The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys, “Valley of Unity”, pp. 28-29)
1131.…as the wise Sana’i hath written:
Wouldst thou that the mind should not entrap thee?
Teach it the science of the love of God!
(Bahá’u’lláh: The Seven Valleys and The Four Valleys, Second Valley of Four, p. 52)
[from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:]
1132.Among those matters which require thorough revision and reform is the method of studying the various branches of knowledge and the organization of the academic curriculum. From lack of organization, education has become haphazard and confused. Trifling subjects which should not call for elaboration receive undue attention,….
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 105)
[from the talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:]
1133.The love of exaltation is one of the characteristics of man. I am astonished that certain philosophers of America and Europe are content to gradually approach the animal world and so to go backward; for the tendency of existence must be toward exaltation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, Chapter 48: “The Difference Existing between Man and Animal”, p. 188)
[from the talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (no authority):]
1134.All over the world one hears beautiful sayings extolled and noble precepts admired….
But all these sayings are but words and we see very few of them carried into the world of action. On the contrary, we perceive that men are carried away by passion and selfishness, each man thinking only of what will benefit himself even if it means the ruin of his brother.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, “Good Ideas must be Carried into Action, November 8th”, pp. 79, 80)
1135.My hope for you is that you will progress in the world of spirit, as well as in the world of matter; that your intelligence will develop, your knowledge will augment, and your understanding be widened.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, “The Evolution of the Spirit, 15 Rue Greuze, Paris, November 10th”, p. 90)
1136.All creation is made subject to the laws of nature, but man has been able to conquer these laws.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, “Words Spoken by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Pastor Wagner’s Church (Foyer de L’ame) in Paris, November 26th”, p. 122)
1137.No system of philosophy has ever been able to change the manners and customs of a people for the better.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, ”“The Eleventh Principle—The Power of the Holy Spirit, 4 Avenue de Camoens, Paris, November 18th”, p. 165)
1138.The conception of annihilation is a factor in human degradation, a cause of human debasement and lowliness, a source of human fear and abjection. It has been conducive to the dispersion and weakening of human thought, whereas the realization of existence and continuity has upraised man to sublimity of ideals, established the foundations of human progress and stimulated the development of heavenly virtues; therefore, it behooves man to abandon thoughts of nonexistence and death, which are absolutely imaginary, and see himself ever-living, everlasting in the divine purpose of his creation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Promulgation of Universal Peace, “4 May 1912, Talk to Theosophical Society, Northwestern University Hall, Evanston, Illinois, Notes by Marzieh Moss”, p. 89)
1139.When we are not captives of nature, when we possess the power to control ourselves, shall we become captives of nature and act according to its exigencies?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Promulgation of Universal Peace, “8 October 1912, Talk at Leland Stanford Junior University, Palo Alto, California, Notes by Bijou Straun”, pp. 352-353)