Posted by Stuart Gilman (67.68.70.88) on December 26, 2002 at 07:29:59:
In Reply to: The Initiating example: marriage & tranquillity posted by Stuart Gilman on December 26, 2002 at 07:01:37:
"Though Bahá'u'lláh interpreted a great deal of previous religious symbolism, he said that he was reluctant to expound upon mystical works of earlier dispensations because such a vast amount of new mystical knowledge has come with his revelation (Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, volume 2, 285). However, very little of Bahá'u'lláh's mystical writings has been translated thus far. This is partly because these writings are so uniquely difficult to render into another language, and perhaps also partly because some of the symbolism and themes in Bahá'u'lláh's mystical works would seem very foreign and easily misunderstood to anyone not from a Muslim background. Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, 3-29 (Seven Valleys and Four Valleys in toto); 501-05 (Gleanings, CXXIV-CXXV). The Hidden Words
(Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, 33-59), though often considered primarily an "ethical" work, also has many mystical themes.
Ferraby, 114, 129-141 Smith 1987, 35-8, 64, 111-2, 154-5
Momen, 105-7 Smith 1996, 156-7"
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This nonsense has been unchallenged. Why not provide us with the mystical writings in their original language? Are you not aware that thousands of mystical writings and prayers from ancient sources are recited as given without anyone claiming to understand? There is power and devotion in these non-understood mystical writings.
Whether Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Zoroastrian - not only are their specific mystical writings impenetrable AND useful, but one may consider the published, seemingly understandable writings as mystical since we do not and cannot ever know their hidden truths and deepest meanings.
It is a matter of "levels" of comprehension. But, to the writer, the Prophet and Our Manifestation, all Their Utterances are equal. It is we who divide them up into (somewhat) comprehensible and purely (incomprehensible) mysticism.
It is difficult, as I have said, to be a thinking Baha'i. We are told to think, to question, to investigate, to reason, and when we do, sincerely and respectfully, we are treated like children, or worse, as heretics.
seg
this topic is closed - post at bahai-library.com/forum