The soul as a mirror: inner treasure and reflected light

Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get thou from it thy radiance and seek none other than Me. For I have created thee rich and have bountifully shed My favor upon thee.

… Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.

God grant that all men may turn unto the treasuries latent within their own beings.

Those souls who follow this mighty Cause must manifest these rays in their speech and behavior and deeds, for the friends of God are like mirrors - the rays of the Sun of Reality must appear manifest, evident and brilliant in them.

This spiritual nature, which has come to exist through the grace of the divine Reality, is the sum of all perfections and proceeds from the breath of the Holy Spirit. It is the divine perfections; it is light, spirituality, guidance, exaltation, high-mindedness, justice, love, generosity, kindness to all, and charitable deeds: it is life upon life. This spiritual nature is an effulgence of the splendours of the Sun of Truth.

Upon the reality of man, however, He hath focused the radiance of all of His names and attributes, and made it a mirror of His own Self.

… These energies with which the Daystar of Divine bounty and Source of heavenly guidance hath endowed the reality of man lie, however, latent within him, even as the flame is hidden within the candle and the rays of light are potentially present in the lamp. The radiance of these energies may be obscured by worldly desires even as the light of the sun can be concealed beneath the dust and dross which cover the mirror. Neither the candle nor the lamp can be lighted through their own unaided efforts, nor can it ever be possible for the mirror to free itself from its dross. It is clear and evident that until a fire is kindled the lamp will never be ignited, and unless the dross is blotted out from the face of the mirror it can never represent the image of the sun nor reflect its light and glory.

And thou shalt find My meaning within thyself: When the mirror is polished and is turned towards the sun, it can see the sun, that is, the effulgence of its rays, within itself. This doth not mean that the sun hath entered the mirror, for the sun remaineth at the zenith of its sanctity; it neither descendeth nor ascendeth.

Then aid them, O my God, unto the unity which Thou hast desired, which is that none should behold another save that he beholdeth in him the revelation wherewith Thou didst reveal Thyself unto him in this Manifestation, whose covenant Thou didst take in the atoms of the Bayan from all who dwell in the realms of being.

The rays of love having shone from the True One unto the creation, the great signs thereof are imprinted upon clear and luminous hearts, and as these mirror-hearts meet, reflecting this sublime light, love, it becomes manifest from creature to creature.

Wert thou to cleanse the mirror of thy heart from the dust of malice, thou wouldst apprehend the meaning of the symbolic terms revealed by the all-embracing Word of God made manifest in every Dispensation, and wouldst discover the mysteries of divine knowledge.

… Even as He hath revealed: "We will surely show them Our signs in the world and within themselves." Again He saith: "And also in your own selves: will ye not then behold the signs of God?" And yet again He revealeth: "And be ye not like those who forget God, and whom He hath therefore caused to forget their own selves." In this connection, He Who is the eternal King -- may the souls of all that dwell within the mystic Tabernacle be a sacrifice unto Him -- hath spoken: "He hath known God who hath known himself."

How utterly independent hath His sacred Essence been from the comprehension of all created things, and how immeasurably exalted shall it remain above the praise of all dwellers of earth and heaven! Through the pure bounty of His grace and the sublime excellence of His mercy, He hath deposited within all things that are seen and known the sign of His knowledge, that no thing might be deprived of recognizing His presence according to its capacity and station.

A pure heart is as a mirror; cleanse it with the burnish of love and severance from all save God, that the true sun may shine therein and the eternal morning dawn.

… 73 O friend, the heart is the dwelling-place of eternal mysteries: Make it not the home of fleeting fancies. Waste not the treasure of thy precious life occupied with this swiftly passing world. Thou comest from the world of holiness: Bind not thine heart to the earth. Thou art a dweller in the court of reunion: Choose not the homeland of the dust.

A praise which is exalted above every mention or description beseemeth the Adored One, the Possessor of all things visible and invisible, Who hath enabled the Primal Point to reveal countless Books and Epistles and Who, through the potency of His sublime Word, hath called into being the entire creation, whether of the former or more recent generations. Moreover He hath in every age and cycle, in conformity with His transcendent wisdom, sent forth a divine Messenger to revive the dispirited and despondent souls with the living waters of His utterance, One Who is indeed the Expounder, the true Interpreter, inasmuch as man is unable to comprehend that which hath streamed forth from the Pen of Glory and is recorded in His heavenly Books. Men at all times and under all conditions stand in need of one to exhort them, guide them and to instruct and teach them. Therefore He hath sent forth His Messengers, His Prophets and chosen ones that they might acquaint the people with the divine purpose underlying the revelation of Books and the raising up of Messengers, and that every- one may become aware of the trust of God which is latent in the reality of every soul.

Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. Through a word proceeding out of the mouth of God he was called into being; by one word more he was guided to recognize the Source of his education; by yet another word his station and destiny were safeguarded. The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom. If any man were to meditate on that which the Scriptures, sent down from the heaven of God's holy Will, have revealed, he would readily recognize that their purpose is that all men shall be regarded as one soul, so that the seal bearing the words 'The Kingdom shall be God's' may be stamped on every heart, and the light of Divine bounty, of grace, and mercy may envelop all mankind. The One true God, exalted be His glory, hath wished nothing for Himself. The allegiance of mankind profiteth Him not, neither doth its perversity harm Him. The Bird of the Realm of Utterance voiceth continually this call: 'All things have I willed for thee, and thee, too, for thine own sake'. If the learned and worldly-wise men of this age were to allow mankind to inhale the fragrance of fellowship and love, every understanding heart would apprehend the meaning of true liberty, and discover the secret of undisturbed peace and absolute composure. Were the earth to attain this station and be illumined with its light it could then be truly said of it: 'Thou shall see in it no hollows or rising hills.'

… Please God, the peoples of the world may be led, as the result of the high endeavours exerted by their rulers and the wise and learned amongst men, to recognize their best interests. How long will humanity persist in its waywardness? How long will injustice continue? How long is chaos and confusion to reign amongst men? How long will discord agitate the face of society?

This humble servant is filled with wonder, inasmuch as all men are endowed with the capacity to see and hear, yet we find them deprived of the privilege of using these faculties. This servant hath been prompted to pen these lines by virtue of the tender love he cherisheth for thee. The winds of despair are, alas, blowing from every direction, and strife that divideth and afflicteth the human race is daily increasing. The signs of impending convulsions and chaos can now be discerned, inasmuch as the prevailing order appeareth to be lamentably defective. I beseech God, exalted be His glory, that He may graciously awaken the peoples of the earth, may grant that the end of their conduct may be profitable unto them, and aid them to accomplish that which beseemeth their station.

Were man to appreciate the greatness of his station and the loftiness of his destiny he would manifest naught save goodly character, pure deeds, and a seemly and praiseworthy conduct. If the learned and wise men of goodwill were to impart guidance unto the people, the whole earth would be regarded as one country. Verily this is the undoubted truth. This servant appealeth to every diligent and enterprising soul to exert his utmost endeavour and arise to rehabilitate the conditions in all regions and to quicken the dead with the living waters of wisdom and utterance, by virtue of the love he cherisheth for God, the One, the Peerless, the Almighty, the Beneficent.

No man of wisdom can demonstrate his knowledge save by means of words. This showeth the significance of the Word as is affirmed in all the Scriptures, whether of former times or more recently. For it is through its potency and animating spirit that the people of the world have attained so eminent a position. Moreover words and utterances should be both impressive and penetrating. However, no word will be infused with these two qualities unless it be uttered wholly for the sake of God and with due regard unto the exigencies of the occasion and the people.

The Great Being saith: Human utterance is an essence which aspireth to exert its influence and needeth moderation. As to its influence, this is conditional upon refinement which in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure. As to its moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets.

Every word is endowed with a spirit, therefore the speaker or expounder should carefully deliver his words at the appropriate time and place, for the impression which each word maketh is clearly evident and perceptible. The Great Being saith: One word may be likened unto fire, another unto light, and the influence which both exert is manifest in the world. Therefore an enlightened man of wisdom should primarily speak with words as mild as milk, that the children of men may be nurtured and edified thereby and may attain the ultimate goal of human existence which is the station of true understanding and nobility. And likewise He saith: One word is like unto springtime causing the tender saplings of the rose-garden of knowledge to become verdant and flourishing, while another word is even as a deadly poison. It behoveth a prudent man of wisdom to speak with utmost leniency and forbearance so the the sweetness of his words may induce everyone to attain that which befitteth man's station.

O friend of mine! The Word of God is the king of words and its pervasive influence is incalculable. It hath ever dominated and will continue to dominate the realm of being. The Great Being saith: The Word is the master key for the whole world, inasmuch as through its potency the doors of the hearts of men, which in reality are the doors of heaven, are unlocked. No sooner had but a glimmer of its effulgent splendour shone forth upon the mirror of love than the blessed word 'I am the Best-Beloved' was reflected therein. It is an ocean inexhaustible in riches, comprehending all things. Every thing which can be perceived is but an emanation therefrom. High, immeasurably high is this sublime station, in whose shadow moveth the essence of loftiness and splendour, wrapt in praise and adoration.

Methinks people's sense of taste hath, alas, been sorely affected by the fever of negligence and folly, for they are found to be wholly unconscious and deprived of the sweetness of His utterance. How regrettable indeed that man should debar himself from the fruits of the tree of wisdom while his days and hours pass swiftly away. Please God, the hand of divine power may safeguard all mankind and direct their steps towards the horizon of true understanding.

Verily our Lord of Mercy is the Helper, the Knowing, the Wise.

From among all created things He hath singled out for His special favor the pure, the gem-like reality of man, and invested it with a unique capacity of knowing Him and of reflecting the greatness of His glory. This twofold distinction conferred upon him hath cleansed away from his heart the rust of every vain desire, and made him worthy of the vesture with which his Creator hath deigned to clothe him.

Now, the world of existence, indeed every created thing, proclaims but one of the names of God, but the reality of man is an all-encompassing and universal reality which is the seat of the revelation of all the divine perfections. That is, a sign of each one of the names, attributes and perfections that we ascribe to God exists in man.

… Thus man is a perfect mirror facing the Sun of Truth and is the seat of its reflection. The splendour of all the divine perfections is manifest in the reality of man, and it is for this reason that he is the vicegerent and apostle of God.

It is the mirror with the disposition to reflect all of the conflicting and opposing Names and is the source of the revelation of all of the Attributes of Divinity and Lordship. … However although he is the dawning-place of the manifestation of all the Names and Attributes, one of the Divine Names is manifested most strongly and appears most intensely [in each person].

… For however much detached minds and pure souls seek to penetrate the worlds of Inner Knowledge, their understanding will never penetrate more than that station which is a sign pointing towards the Monarch of Primal Oneness which He has placed as a trust within the reality of man. And however much they may fly with triumphant wings in the limitless space of what is knowable and observable, they will read naught but the letters of the book of their own selves.

And the Messenger of God said: "He among you who best knows himself best knows his Lord."

… All souls are as mirrors, and He is manifest to the mirrors through the mirrors. He is the One, the sign of God and His description. And for all things this soul exists - whoso knoweth it hath known his Lord.

The meaning is that there is no way unto God except through recognition of this soul, which is the same as the recognition of the Lord, for a thing cannot be comprehended beyond its source. Whoso knoweth his own self through the attributes of his Creator knoweth Him, and that description is the description of the Lord - there is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Most Exalted, the Most Great.

He is the Point of nearness and remoteness -- His remoteness is His nearness and His nearness His remoteness, for the Essence of Eternity is sanctified above this, and the Manifestation of Ancient Days is holy beyond such mention. He hath placed the sign of His truth in every form, bringing forth within it infinite effulgences, and through that effulgence He hath manifested Himself to all creation. Whoever hath adopted the character of the spiritual ones and the exalted ones, that sign of effulgence hath appeared in them, and they have witnessed in their hearts the mystery that "He is closer to you than your life-vein."

It is established that the heart is the throne for the revelation of the All-Merciful, even as We have explained this station in previous holy traditions: "Neither My earth nor My heaven can contain Me, but the heart of My faithful servant containeth Me."

Furthermore, consider how man is oftentimes unaware of himself, yet God's all-encompassing knowledge eternally surrounds him and the radiance of the Sun of Revelation remains manifest and evident. Therefore, He is and will ever be nearest, for He is the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing, the All-Encompassing, while man remains heedless and veiled from the mysteries of his own creation.

The world was created through love, and all are commanded to live in fellowship and unity. Fix your gaze upon and make mention of this blessed word which hath shone forth from the horizon of the mouth of the King of Oneness: "I was in My Ancient Being and My Eternal Essence; I knew My love in thee, therefore I created thee, cast upon thee My image and revealed to thee My beauty."

To sum it up, the Ancient Beauty was ever, during His sojourn in this transitory world, either a captive bound with chains, or living under a sword, or subjected to extreme suffering and torment, or held in the Most Great Prison. Because of His physical weakness, brought on by His afflictions, His blessed body was worn away to a breath; it was light as a cobweb from long grieving. And His reason for shouldering this heavy load and enduring all this anguish, which was even as an ocean that hurleth its waves to high heaven -- His reason for putting on the heavy iron chains and for becoming the very embodiment of utter resignation and meekness, was to lead every soul on earth to concord, to fellow-feeling, to oneness; to make known amongst all peoples the sign of the singleness of God, so that at last the primal oneness deposited at the heart of all created things would bear its destined fruit, and the splendour of 'No difference canst thou see in the creation of the God of Mercy,' would cast abroad its rays.

Now is the time, O ye beloved of the Lord, for ardent endeavour. Struggle ye, and strive. And since the Ancient Beauty was exposed by day and night on the field of martyrdom, let us in our turn labour hard, and hear and ponder the counsels of God; let us fling away our lives, and renounce our brief and numbered days. Let us turn our eyes away from empty fantasies of this world's divergent forms, and serve instead this pre-eminent purpose, this grand design. Let us not, because of our own imaginings, cut down this tree that the hand of heavenly grace hath planted; let us not, with the dark clouds of our illusions, our selfish interests, blot out the glory that streameth from the Abha Realm. Let us not be as barriers that wall out the rolling ocean of Almighty God. Let us not prevent the pure, sweet scents from the garden of the All-Glorious Beauty from blowing far and wide. Let us not, on this day of reunion, shut out the vernal downpour of blessings from on high. Let us not consent that the splendours of the Sun of Truth should ever fade and disappear. These are the admonitions of God, as set forth in His Holy Books, His Scriptures, His Tablets that tell out His counsellings to the sincere.

The glory rest upon you, and God's mercy, and God's blessings.

For example, one of God's names is the All-Bountiful - it is a sun in its station, shining upon the mirrors of all created things, and the lights of this radiance appear upon all things according to their capacity, as ye observe. And the effect of this sun is first witnessed in man, such that thou findest in every human being the effect of the manifestation of this name.

Its appearance in every mirror is conditioned by the colour of that mirror. For instance, when its light is cast upon the mirrors of the hearts of the wise, it bringeth forth wisdom. In like manner, when it manifesteth itself in the mirrors of the hearts of craftsmen, it unfoldeth new and unique arts, and when reflected in the hearts of those that apprehend the truth, it revealeth wondrous tokens of true knowledge and discloseth the verities of God’s utterance.

For example one of the virtues of God is Knowledge. He deposited a sign of this knowledge in the temple of man. Another virtue of God is life. He has conferred upon man a trace of this virtue. One of his virtues is power; he has made man powerful. He is the all-seeing, he has granted man the power of sight. Another virtue of Divinity is will-power, he has created within man a symbol of this all-comprehending power.

All these attributes are the characteristics of the unchangeable individuality and are divine in origin. These qualifications are loved by all, for they are emanations of the father. They are the significance of his name and attributes, the direct ray of which illuminate the very essence of these qualifications.

He must also impart spiritual education, so that minds may apprehend the metaphysical world, breathe the sanctified breaths of the Holy Spirit, and enter into relationship with the Concourse on high, and that human realities may become the manifestations of divine blessings, that perchance all the names and attributes of God may be reflected in the mirror of the human reality, and the meaning of the blessed verse, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" may be realized.

The more the world of humanity develops, the more the effulgences or emanations of Divinity will become revealed, just as the stone, when it becomes polished and pure as a mirror, will reflect in fuller degree the glory and splendor of the sun.

The mission of the Prophets, the revelation of the Holy Books, the manifestation of the heavenly Teachers and the purpose of divine philosophy all center in the training of the human realities so that they may become clear and pure as mirrors and reflect the light and love of the Sun of Reality.

God sent His Prophets into the world to teach and enlighten 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.

The Apostles were even as Letters, and Christ was the essence of the Word Itself; and the meaning of the Word, which is grace everlasting, cast a splendor on those Letters.

Know thou for a certainty that thou wilt succeed in this, for the confirmations of the Holy Spirit are continually descending, and the power of the Word will exert such an influence that the Letter shall become the mirror in which the splendid Sun--the Word Itself--will be reflected, and the grace and glory of the Word will illumine the whole earth.

Every one of them is a mirror of God, reflecting naught else but His Self, His Beauty, His Might and Glory, if ye will understand. All else besides them are to be regarded as mirrors capable of reflecting the glory of these Manifestations Who are themselves the Primary Mirrors of the Divine Being, if ye be not devoid of understanding.

Today all pure realities and abstract essences are like moons that must derive their light from the Sun of God's Cause and the gleaming Star of God's Law.

In another connection He saith: "O Sun-like Mirrors! Look ye upon the Sun of Truth. Ye, verily, depend upon it, were ye to perceive it. Ye are all as fishes, moving in the waters of the sea, veiling yourselves therefrom, and yet asking what it is on which ye depend." And likewise, He saith: "I complain unto thee, O Mirror of My generosity, against all the other Mirrors. All look upon Me through their own colors."

Souls are like unto mirrors, and the bounty of God is like unto the sun. When the mirrors pass beyond all coloring and attain purity and polish, and are confronted with the sun, they will reflect in full perfection its light and glory. In this condition one should not consider the mirror, but the power of the light of the sun, which hath penetrated the mirror, making it a reflector of the heavenly glory.

We may look at a mirror and praise it, and say how wonderfully bright it is, and what a beautiful light is in it, but the mirror of itself is dark. It is only bright because it reflects the light; if it is dusty or not clear, it will not reflect much light.

The light of God is also reflected from a stone, and from the whole face of nature.

The rays of the sun shine forth from the mirror when it is exposed to the sun, although the mirror of itself is dark. The light which we see in the mirror is but the effect of the power and grace of the sun. In the same way, the visible world is altogether imperfect; all the virtues and all the perfections which appear in this world are the reflections of the perfections of God.

And We have made all things mirrors of My Self that they might face this Sun, the Dawning, the Holy, the Manifest, the Wondrous.

Yea, the sun beam falls alike upon the dust and the mirror, yet differ they in reflection even as doth the star from the earth: nay, immeasurable is the difference!

… All that is in heaven and earth I have ordained for thee, except the human heart, which I have made the habitation of My beauty and glory; yet thou didst give My home and dwelling to another than Me; and whenever the manifestation of My holiness sought His own abode, a stranger found He there, and, homeless, hastened unto the sanctuary of the Beloved.

He hath chosen out of the whole world the hearts of His servants, and made them each a seat for the revelation of His glory. Wherefore, sanctify them from every defilement, that the things for which they were created may be engraven upon them.

By the righteousness of God! It is not Our wish to lay hands on your kingdoms. Our mission is to seize and possess the hearts of men. Upon them the eyes of Baha are fastened.

The things He hath reserved for Himself are the cities of men's hearts, that He may cleanse them from all earthly defilements, and enable them to draw nigh unto the hallowed Spot which the hands of the infidel can never profane. Open, O people, the city of the human heart with the key of your utterance.

"By the earth and its expanse" - The meaning of "earth" is the earth of hearts, which is vaster than earth and heaven, for the heart is the Most Great Throne for the establishment of thy Lord's revelation, Creator of nations and Fashioner of bones. Verily it is the earth wherein God hath deposited the seeds of His knowledge and love, that from it may spring forth the ears of knowledge and certitude.

O Gawhar! The Ancient Beauty gazeth upon thee from the Most Great Scene and saith: The heart hath been the dawning-place of the lights of My countenance and the treasury of the pearls of My love.

The Book of God hath been manifest in the temple of man.

The soul is the Sanctuary of God; Reason is His Throne.

The lights of spiritual realities lie hidden and concealed within human reality just as a ray lies within the essence of a candle.

O thou who hast obtained guidance from the light of the truth! The human temple is like unto a niche, and the heart is like unto a glass globe, and the love of God is like unto the light within that glass. When that lamp is ignited, the globe becometh illumined and the physical niche also becomes full of light and brilliance.

But the human spirit, unless it be assisted by the spirit of faith, cannot become acquainted with the divine mysteries and the heavenly realities. It is like a mirror which, although clear, bright, and polished, is still in need of light. Not until a sunbeam falls upon it can it discover the divine mysteries.

Question: "If the spirit is free from place, then what is in us which receives the Light?"

Answer: "The Bounty of God is within the heart; it receives the Light."

Question: What is meant by the Mirror for Divine Reflection?

Abdu'l Baha: "Mirror" is the whole body, the brain in particular.

Thou hast asked about the statement in the Hidden Words, which reads: "O Son of Spirit! Turn thy face so that thou mayest find Me within thee, Powerful, Mighty and Supreme." … This is evident that, when the hearts are purified and through divine education and heavenly teachings become the manifestors of infinite perfections, they are like clear mirrors, and the Sun of Truth will reflect with might, power and omnipotence in such a mirror, and to such an extent that whatever is brought before it is illumined and ignited.

But there is a second theory which is correct and this is, the appearance - "standing within" - of the Sun in a clear mirror. Therefore from this standpoint the meaning of this verse is as follows: Purify your heart that it may become like unto a transparent mirror. Then thou shalt find Me "standing within thee, Powerful, Mighty and Supreme."

Question: It is recorded in the Gospels that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles. What was the manner and meaning of this descent?

Answer: The descent of the Holy Spirit is not like the entrance of air into the human body. It is a metaphor and an analogy rather than a literal image or account. That which is intended is like the descent of the sun into a mirror, that is, when its splendour is reflected therein.

The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles means that that glorious and divine grace cast its light and splendour upon their realities.

… Thus, as it is evident and established that intelligible realities do not enter or inhere, it follows that it is in no wise possible for the Holy Spirit to ascend, descend, enter, exit, commingle or inhere. At most it appears as the sun appears in a mirror.

Yet, O my God, I was naught at that time save a mirror of Thy countenance and an expression of Thy Face, being certain and acknowledging that every object of worship besides Thee is false and evanescent.

How has a particle of clay attained to a station Thou hast made Thine own self, and Thou hast removed all distinction between it and Thyself, as though it were Thee?

In truth, the praise of these servants has not been and is not worthy of the Concealed Mystery, the Hidden Secret, and the Protected Symbol. The path to the impenetrable Mystery is blocked and the quest rejected. However, praise, gratitude, mention and glorification are befitting of Him Who stands in the place of Truth, glorified be His Glory. He is the Dawning-Place of supreme attributes and the Dayspring of the Most Beautiful Names. This most exalted station and loftiest summit and ultimate goal ended with the Seal of the Prophets, may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him.

The creation is an emanation of light of the eternal Light. The description of the Logos (Soul of the world) as effulgence of light also goes back to ar-Razi. From the throne of the Glory of the Creator His Light shines on the Soul emanated from Him (Soul of the world, Logos) and is then further reflected on the individual soul, so that it too would reflect it and look back in longing to its divine origin in Him!"

When in the course of evolution the stage of thought and reason has been reached, the human mind acts as a mirror reflecting the glory of God.

The face of nature is illumined, the grass, the stones, the hills, and valleys shine; but they shine not of themselves, but because they reflect the rays of the sun. It is the sun which shines. In the same way, our minds reflect God.

The universe, the macrocosm, is captured by our spirit, the microcosm, as in a mirror. We feel, we comprehend, we analyse and construct this mirror-image during a whole human life-time and neither the most prosaic person nor the one with most vision can imagine or conceive that space and time would somewhere or sometime come to an end. What can have an end must needs have had a beginning, but what has a beginning and an end must needs have been created by a Creator, a Power, for from nothing comes nothing.

Therefore, it is clear and evident that a holy power exists in man of which nature is deprived. Man possesses perfections and virtues which nature lacks. Man is progressing while nature remains in the same state. Man discovers secrets while nature is ignorant and unaware. Man is the founder of virtues while nature is the source of vices.

Yet he considers himself a noble philosopher. God forgive! Rather, he is a base philosopher. Man is of a station far more exalted, a sovereignty more firm, and a proof more glorious than nature, to which God has given no authority. O God! What is this great heedlessness and what is this profound stupidity that man should become oblivious of the Ever-Living, the Almighty, and be blind to the divine trust deposited within him through the holy outpouring of the Glorious Lord, allowing his mind to become captive and abject before nature!

All teaching and knowledge are enclosed in the soul of man, because his soul encompasses everything. To study means to try to bring them to light. For instance: The flowers, fruits, and leaves are contained in the seed; and with the heat, light, and soil, the fruits are manifested. The figure is contained in the mirror, but the mirror of itself has not the power to reflect it. Polishing is necessary in order to give out a perfect reflection.

We must endeavor to increase our capacity daily, to strengthen and enlarge our capabilities for receiving them, to become as perfect mirrors. The more polished and clean the mirror, the more effulgent is its reflection of the lights of the Sun of Truth.

The most important thing is to polish the mirrors of hearts in order that they may become illumined and receptive of the divine light. … Therefore, our duty lies in seeking to polish the mirrors of our hearts in order that we shall become reflectors of that light and recipients of the divine bounties which may be fully revealed through them.

The heart of man is like a mirror that is covered with dust, and to cleanse it one must continually pray to GOD that it may become clean, and the act of supplication is the polish which erases all worldly desires. The delight of supplicating and entreating before GOD cuts one's heart from the world. When the taste of man is nourished by honey, he never likes to taste any other sweetmeat.

The worshipper must pray with a detached spirit, unconditional surrender of the will, concentrated attention and a magnetic spiritual passion. His innermost being must be stirred with the ethereal breezes of sanctification. If the mirror of his soul is polished from the dross of all desires the heavenly pictures and sidereal images of the Kingdom of God will become fully reflected therein. Then he will be given the power, to translate these celestial forms into his own daily life and the lives of many thousands.

O people of Persia! The heart is a divine trust; cleanse it from the stain of self-love, adorn it with the coronal of pure intent, until the sacred honor, the abiding greatness of this illustrious nation may shine out like the true morning in an auspicious heaven.

Like unto a mirror, man's heart and mind must be purified, clarified and polished. Any dust or rust that may be on it such as attachment to this nether world, the turning of man's face away from God, sin or lust, animosity and rancor-all these must be removed that the rays of the Sun of Truth may shine upon it in full splendor and may be reflected there-from with full effulgence.

Ye are the mirrors of My attributes - polish your hearts from the rust of vain imaginings.

The hearts of the servants are mirrors of God - they must at all times be cleansed and sanctified with the burnishing of His knowledge.

O friends of God! The bounties of the Blessed Beauty are like unto the sun, and souls are like receptive surfaces and benefiting crystals. The more refined these mirrors become, and the more they are cleansed from the rust of heedlessness and human desires and satanic qualities, the more will they reflect.

Now, the more you polish the mirror, the more will the light of the Sun of Truth shine upon it and the greater will be its radiance.

The more a mirror is polished, the more will the rays of the sun be reflected therein.

First we must make ourselves receptive, then the bounties of God descend upon us. The mirror must become clear from rust first then the sun with all its glory will be reflected therein.

Similarly, among the surfaces of human hearts, each that is pure, subtle and transparent manifests within it the likeness of the Sun of Reality, and the effulgences of lights appear in its essence.

When mirrors become pure and the lights shine, the signs of the Sun of Truth shall reflect therein with most wonderful splendors.

This means that when the mirror is purified and is turned toward the sun, the Bestowals of the Sun will become reflected therein.

One should constantly turn the mirror of his heart squarely toward God so that the Light of the Sun of Truth may be reflected there.

Say: O ye who are as red ochre! Do ye not witness that when ye place a mirror before the sun, the form of the sun is reflected therein, and when ye place it before a dog, that too is reflected therein? Thus observe how the matter stands regarding all that faces it, that ye may be steadfast in the religion of God.

Even as a mirror, the reality of man should be attuned to, partake of and benefit from the Revelation of God.

Therefore, that kind friend must find pure hearts that, like mirrors, may capture the true image of man. O seeker of truth! Polish the mirror of your heart clean of the rust and dust of this mortal world and turn it toward the celestial realm on high, that through the attractive power of the love of God, the exalted images of the Abha Kingdom and the effulgent lights of the Supreme Being may become reflected therein.

But if you turn the mirror of your spirits heavenwards, the heavenly constellations and the rays of the Sun of Reality will be reflected in your hearts, and the virtues of the Kingdom will be obtained.

… May we indeed become mirrors reflecting the heavenly realities, and may we become so pure as to reflect the stars of heaven.

Your hearts must be like mirrors brightly polished, which reflect the light of the One sun.

Should a black stone be placed facing the light of the sun, the signs of brilliancy would not appear, but, in the pure mirror, the sun, with all of its attributes and perfections, becomes reflected instantly.

My point is this: the inner reality of man must! mirror the light that shines upon it from the rays of the Sun of Truth, otherwise it is no better than a black stone, darkness upon darkness.

The spirit of man must acquire its bounties from the Kingdom of God in order that it may become the mirror and manifestation of lights and the dawning point of divine traces, because the human reality is like the soil. … Similarly, the human spirit or reality of man, unless it becomes the recipient of the lights of the Kingdom, develops divine susceptibilities and consciously reflects the effulgence of God, will not be the manifestation of ideal bounties, for only the reality of man can become the mirror wherein the lights of God are revealed.

In Places near surrounding the Lamp, the light is more evident, but when a place is far away it must be a very clear mirror to reflect, it must have a clear surface to reveal the light of the sun, where it not for the polished surface of the mirror it could not reflect the sun. This is evidence of the purity of your hearts.

This transformation is made possible through the spiritual Power which is deposited in the heart [of] man by the hand of the Almighty. It is a Celestial Gift on the part of God to His own handiwork.

Through the bounty and generosity of the Lord, and through the bestowal and nurturing care of the Creator, souls have been made fresh and new, becoming mirrors reflecting the Sun of the divine world.

Through divine bounty, it is hoped that day by day you will make boundless progress in spiritual perfections, so that the page of the heart may, through the intensity of its purity, receive the reflections of the Concourse on High and shine forth with divine characteristics in the world of humanity.

O thou who art holding fast to the sure handle of God!

The essence of guidance is the fear of God and divine awe, and this is only truly realized in human reality when the temple of being becomes adorned in all things with the ornament of sanctification and detachment, such that the heart becomes the dawning-place of the signs of divine unity, the spirit becomes the dayspring of the lights of detachment, the face becomes the mirror reflecting the beauty of the All-Merciful, and all the members become the source of the manifestation and emergence of the attributes of the Lord.

He desireth for no one save that which will draw him nigh unto the sacred court, the station wherein whosoever entereth will behold himself as a mirror of His beauty, the Mighty, the Wondrous.

Make then your hearts as mirrors wherein may be reflected the mysteries of God, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Compelling, that ye may learn the ways of the Spirit and be guided by the guidance of God, and be of them that hasten unto the western horizon.

O servant! Remember thyself, then remind the people of what God hath taught thee of His grace, then make thy heart a mirror wherein this hidden and radiant Beauty may be reflected.

"My most earnest hope is that in the service of God I may attain such a station in order to put those in the Way of God that they may attain the grace of self-sacrifice and wholly forget their own personality and their age. So long as the surface of a mirror is not clean from rust and dust, the radiance and effulgence of the sun can never be printed upon it.

When man's soul is rarified and cleansed, spiritual links are established, and from these bonds sensations felt by the heart are produced. The human heart resembleth a mirror. When this is purified human hearts are attuned and reflect one another, and thus spiritual emotions are generated.

O thou who art uttering the mention of God! Know, that the pure hearts upon which the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are printed and pictured, are reflections one upon another and thus the one can discover the secrets of the other, because such hearts are only mirrors confronting each other on which the secrets of unity, affinity and concord are printed and reflected.

When the lights of love shone forth from the Truth unto creation, His greatest signs were imprinted upon pure and luminous hearts, and the mirrors of hearts faced one another and reflected that manifest light.

Our hearts like unto pure mirrors receive the impressions and these spiritual images are reflected from one mirror upon another without the medium of language.

O assured believer! Among the divine names in the Qur'an is "The Believer" (Al-Mu'min), as mentioned in the tradition "The believer is the mirror of the believer," meaning that the assured believer among the servants is the locus of manifestation of divine signs.

He maketh the heart to dance for joy and filleth up the soul with an ecstasy of love and rapture. So intensely hath the glory of Divine Unity penetrated souls and hearts that all are now bound one to another with heavenly ties, and all are even as a single heart, a single soul. Wherefore reflections of the spirit and impressions of the Divine are now mirrored clear and sharp in the deep heart's core.

O thou servant at the Threshold of the Best-Beloved!

When the Sun of Truth shone forth from the Most Holy horizon of grace and shed its rays upon all regions, each of the mirrors of created things, being pure, delicate and translucent, reflected those brilliant lights and radiant beams, and the light of beauty became manifest therein. Thus each of the holy souls is a mirror of reality that reflects the lights of the Beauty of the One.

The light of truth has heretofore been seen dimly through variegated glasses, but now the splendors of Divinity shall be visible through the translucent mirrors of pure hearts and spirits.

Truth is like the Light which is always the same. The souls of Believers are as mirrors which reflect the Light. Truth is like the light of a candle which does not vary, yet the candlestick which holds it may change. Each year the rose is the same beautiful flower although it appears in different gardens.

When the light of the love of God is burning in the mirror of the heart, that flame shows the way and guides to the Kingdom of the Word of God.

These things about here that you have pictured will all pass away, but the true picture is the one you take on the mirror of the heart.

Therefore turn thou unto thy heart, that is, when it is in the utmost freedom, and behold how the radiance of my love is manifest in that mirror, and thou art near unto me.

You do not become sorrowful, you do not become grief-stricken, dust surely does not settle upon your noble mind, and gloom finds no path to your tender heart, for that heart is the dawning-place of love for the Abha Beauty, and that flower is infused with pure honey. What power has dust to affect that clear mirror, and what strength has bitterness to impart its taste to such intense sweetness?

Therefore, when a person of pure heart and sanctified mind becomes, mirror-like, free from the rust of attachment to aught else but God, he derives light from the Sun of Reality, becomes a polished surface reflecting divine lights, becomes an unveiler of mysteries, becomes the joy of the righteous, attains to true existence, and is freed from all sorrow.

If he attains unto his heritage through divine wisdom, then he becomes a clear mirror in which the beauty of God is reflected; he has eternal life and becomes a participator of the sun of truth.

That life, however, which is mentioned in the Books of the Prophets and the Chosen Ones of God is the life of knowledge; that is to say, the servant's recognition of the sign of the splendours wherewith He Who is the Source of all splendour hath Himself invested him, and his certitude of attaining unto the presence of God through the Manifestations of His Cause. This is that blessed and everlasting life that perisheth not: whosoever is quickened thereby shall never die, but will endure as long as His Lord and Creator will endure.

Therefore it is of the utmost power, especially if it establisheth connection with God, receiveth illumination from the Eternal Light, becometh a reflection of the manifestations of the Sun of Reality, and attaineth unto the most exalted stations of the human world. In this station the human spirit is like unto a mirror wherein the Sun of Reality is reflected. Therefore such a spirit is assuredly eternal, everlasting and steadfast. It hath no extinction and possesseth all perfections.

Thus it becomes clear that the human reality's permanence and influence are not conditional on the physical frame. Rather, this physical frame is an instrument upon which the human spirit casts its rays, like the sun shining upon a mirror making it bright, and when the sun's connection to the mirror is cut off, the mirror becomes dark. Likewise, when the spirit's outpouring is cut off from the body, that instrument becomes idle.

In regard to the phenomenon of death, know that the soul of man is sanctified and independent from material existence. … Therefore, the soul of man does not enter into this corporeal frame, but rather it has a connection to it. Death consists of the severing of that connection. That connection resembles the relationship between a mirror and the sun. The sun does not enter into or depart from the mirror, and does not incarnate itself therein, but has a connection to the mirror and is reflected within it. When that connection becomes severed, the mirror is deprived of its brilliance, loveliness, and charm.

We have already explained that the spirit of man is not contained within the body, for it is freed and sanctified from ingress and egress, which are among the properties of material bodies. Rather, the connection of the spirit with the body is like that of the sun with the mirror.

For were you to search throughout the human body you would be unable to find a specific place or location for the spirit. The spirit is absolutely placeless and immaterial, but it has a connection with the body, even as the sun has a connection with this mirror: The sun occupies no place within the mirror but it has a connection with it.

Secondly, the rational soul, or the human spirit, does not subsist through this body by inherence---that is to say, it does not enter it, for inherence and entrance are characteristics of bodies, and the rational soul is sanctified above this. It never entered this body to begin with that it should require, upon leaving it, some other abode. No, the connection of the spirit with the body is even as the connection of this lamp with a mirror. If the mirror is polished and perfected the light of the lamp appears therein, and if the mirror is broken or covered with dust the light remains concealed.

As to the human spirit, its likeness is that of a glass and the bounty of the sun. That is, the body of man, which is composed of the elements, is the most perfect form of composition and combination, the soundest arrangement, the noblest composition, and the most perfect of all existing things. It grows and develops through the animal spirit. This perfect body can be compared to a mirror and the human spirit to the sun: If the glass is shattered or the mirror destroyed, no harm befalls the outpouring grace of the sun, which continues unabated.

Nevertheless, its connection to the body is apparent, and resembleth the connection of the sun to a mirror. Should the bond of association become severed, the body will become deprived and the mirror obscured.

Q. What is the connection of the spirit with the body?

A. It has the same connection as the sun has with the mirror. Death is the name for the dissolution of this connection.

When man dies, his relation with the body ceases. The sun is reflected in the mirror; the mirror reflects the light and brilliancy of the sun, but the sun does not reside in the mirror. It does not enter nor come out of the mirror, nevertheless one sees it in the mirror, so the soul reflects itself in the body. … The body is the temporary mirror; the spiritual soul suffers no change, no more than the sun does remaining eternally in its own station.

They conceive of the body as a vessel and the spirit as its contents, like water and cup, with the water being emptied from one cup and poured into another. This is indeed a childish notion: They do not reflect deeply enough to realize that the spirit is an entirely incorporeal thing, that it does not enter or exit, and that at most it is connected with the body as the sun is with the mirror.

O ye the sincere loved ones of God! The light of Divine Guidance hath shone forth from the dawning-place of Divine Unity and enlightened the whole earth with the radiance of its vernal glory. It hath made the earth to be the envy of Heaven and the world of being to be the desire of the realms of the Placeless.

Therefore, give thanks unto God that thy pure heart was a polished mirror that became illumined with the lights of guidance, and thy soul was good and fertile soil that, through the outpourings of the clouds of grace, brought forth the flowers and sweet herbs of guidance.

We pray that all of us may become recipients of its bestowals, that we may be illumined by the lights of heaven, edified through the teachings of God and imbued with the virtues of divine character, as mirrors reflecting the light of the sun.

May the mirrors of hearts be cleansed from dust in order that the Sun of Truth may be reflected therein.

It is my hope that each one of you may become a mirror of Baha'u'llah, and that the beauties of Baha'u'llah may become resplendent in your hearts.

At all times I implore the divine Kingdom to make your heart a pure, delicate, polished mirror facing the Abha Kingdom so that the images of the Supreme Concourse may be reflected in it.

And I beseech Him to make thy breast a clear mirror to reflect the light of the Spirit of God.

O thou maid-servant of God! I supplicate and implore my Lord to strengthen thee by the Spirit of Life, make thee enter the Ark of Safety, and show thee the evident signs; that the veils of the people of suspicion may be rent asunder and the brilliant proof of God become manifest to all regions, and thy heart be made a clear mirror wherein are printed the Lights of the Kingdom of the earth and heaven.

O Lord, make my spirit a cup overflowing with the wine of Thy love, and my heart a pure and shining mirror reflecting the sun of Thy Beauty, and my tongue speaking Thy remembrance, and my ear attentive to Thy call, and my eye perceiving Thy signs, and my nostrils perfumed by Thy fragrances, and my feet firm in Thy religion, and my heart steadfast in Thy Covenant, and my face illumined by the light of Thy knowledge.

O Merciful One! O Compassionate One! Bestow a heart like a pure and delicate mirror, that it may become illumined and radiant with the lights of Thy love, and inspire it with spiritual and divine intimations, that the world of existence may appear as the highest paradise.

All these terms are different ways of referring to the one great reality within man, that divine spark of Reality which is the secret of his superiority over the rest of creation. That Divine Spark of Reality is in the nature of a reflection of the Divine Attributes in man, just as the mirror reflects the light of the sun.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

...that which Baha'u'llah declares we can find abiding within us is the power of the Divine Spirit, the reflection of the light of His Revelation. This reflection of the Divine Spirit, however, can in no way be compared to the Revelation which God discloses to His Prophets and Messengers.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

...the rational faculty is a manifestation of the power of the soul. The soul is the mirror of reflection.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

Concerning the unity of soul (nafs) and spirit (ruh): when the soul is affected by the breath of the Holy Spirit, it will be united with the spirit, like the unity of the mirror and the sun. Its brilliant luminosity will reflect in this pure mirror.

Catalogue reference: AB00745 · passage alignment is approximate; supplied wording retained.

This station is the greatest of all stations, for this connection of the spirit of man with God is like unto a mirror and the sun of reality is reflected in it. … This station is the station of heavenly inspiration and is called the station of the divine grace. It signifies that the rays of the sun of reality are resplendent in the mirror and the attributes of the sun of reality are reflected therein.

Catalogue reference: ABU0085 · passage alignment is approximate; supplied wording retained.

Verily hath God created within thyself all that He hath fashioned in creation in His likeness, that thou mayest not be veiled from any effulgence. Verily God hath generated within thy being the entirety of His manifestations. He hath ordained that His home be the heart of His servant...

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

The soul of man should be likened unto this sun, and all things on earth should be regarded as his body.... The soul of man is the sun by which his body is illumined, and from which it draweth its sustenance, and should be so regarded.

Catalogue reference: BH00060 · passage alignment is approximate; supplied wording retained.

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

There is a connection between the spirit and man, like the connection which exists between man and his reflection in the mirror. You can see him in the mirror though he is not in it.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

...the ensouled body is illuminated by soul...

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

Man, on the contrary, not only synthesizes all the forms of the Divine self-manifestation which are scattered over the world of Being, but also is conscious of this whole. This is why a true comprehensive unity is established by Man, corresponding to the Unity of the Absolute. Man is in this sense the Imago Dei. And because of this peculiarity, Man can be ... the 'vicegerent' of God on the earth.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

How then can you see the sort of beauty a good soul has? Go back into yourself and look.... You must become first all godlike and all beautiful if you intend to see God and beauty.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

I plunged into the angelic sea (malakut) and the veils of divinity (lahut), until I reached the Throne, and lo, it was vacant. Therefore, I threw myself upon it and said: 'Lord, where will I find You?' and behold, I was I, yes I was I. Then I returned to what I was seeking, and it was no other than I.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

The Self, who can be realized by the pure in heart, who is life, light, truth, space, who gives rise to all works, all desires, all odours, all tastes, who is beyond words, who is joy abiding--this is the Self dwelling in my heart. (Chandogya Upanishad, ch. III, 14.2-3) "That infinite source of the whole universe, the self of all that is, the ocean of pure consciousness -- that is truth. That is the unbounded self -- that thou art." Chhandogya Upanishad

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

The Lord lives in the heart of every creature. He turns them round and round upon the wheel of His Maya. Take refuge utterly in Him. By His grace you will find supreme peace, and the state which is beyond all change. Bhagavad Gita 18:61-62 I am the nucleus of every creature, Arjuna; for without Me nothing can exist, neither animate nor inanimate.... Wherever you find strength, or beauty, or spiritual power, you may be sure that these have sprung from a spark of My essence. Bhagavad Gita 10:39-41

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

We created man: and we know what his soul whispereth to him, and we are closet to him than his neck-vein.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

O soul, most beautiful of creatures, who ardently longs to know the place where your Beloved is that you may seek him and be united to him. You yourself are the tabernacle where he dwells, the secret room where he is hidden. Rejoice and exult, then, because all your good and all your hope is so near as to be within you. To speak more accurately you cannot be without him for 'the Kingdom of God is within you'.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

"Earth and heaven cannot contain Me; what can alone contain Me is the heart of him that believeth in Me." [From a Hadith]

Catalogue reference: BH00047 · passage alignment is approximate; supplied wording retained.

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

This most great, this fathomless and surging Ocean is near, astonishingly near, unto you. Behold it is closer to you than your life-vein! [cf.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

Sentence boundary needs source review; the supplied wording is retained.

The one true God, exalted be His glory, hath ever regarded, and will continue to regard, the hearts of men as His own, His exclusive possession.

Catalogue reference: BH01333 · passage alignment is approximate; supplied wording retained.

Out of the whole world He hath chosen for Himself the hearts of men - hearts which the hosts of revelation and of utterance can subdue.

Supplied quotation · catalogue passage not verified

That which He hath reserved for Himself are the cities of men's hearts; and of these the loved ones of Him Who is the Sovereign Truth are, in this Day, as the keys. Please God they may, one and all, be enabled to unlock, through the power of the Most Great Name, the gates of these cities.

Catalogue reference: BH00513 · passage alignment is approximate; supplied wording retained.