Change and transformation: what passes, what grows, what endures

It has ultimate degrees and transformations. Even this flower is never completely annihilated. The ultimate is that this form breaks down, not that it becomes totally nonexistent.

The phenomenal beings, which are captives of limitations, are ever subject to transformation and change in condition.

… Transformation from condition to condition is the attribute of contingent realities.

"That which hath been in existence had existed before, but not in the form thou seest today." From this blessed verse it is clear and evident that the universe is evolving. In the opinion of the philosophers and the wise this fact of the growth and evolution of the world of existence is also established. That is to say, it is progressively transferred from one state to another.

For every part of the universe is connected with every other part by ties that are very powerful and admit of no imbalance, nor any slackening whatever. … Physical bodies are transferred past one barrier after another, from one life to another, and all things are subject to transformation and change, save only the essence of existence itself -- since it is constant and immutable, and upon it is founded the life of every species and kind, of every contingent reality throughout the whole of creation.

It is evident that each material organism is an aggregate expression of single and simple elements, and a given cellular element or atom has its coursings or journeyings through various and myriad stages of life. … They have been subject to transference from one condition of life to another, passing through various forms and phases, exercising in each existence special functions. Their journeyings through material phenomena are continuous.

It is evident, then, that each elemental atom of the universe is possessed of a capacity to express all the virtues of the universe. This is a subtle and abstract realization. Meditate upon it, for within it lies the true explanation of pantheism. From this point of view and perception pantheism is a truth, for every atom in the universe possesses or reflects all the virtues of life, the manifestation of which is effected through change and transformation.

The more microscopic animals exist in the soil, the better the plants will grow. And when the plant has grown, it is consumed by the animal, is incorporated in its body, and is endowed with a new existence. Thus it progresses further and assumes a higher reality than that which it initially possessed. This indeed is the means of progress and renewal from the mineral to the vegetable, from the vegetable to the animal, and from the animal to the human world.

This body has grown into its present form by the slow process of evolution and it must be disintegrated by the same process. This is the law of nature and it is the Universal law of God.

The law of change works mighty transformation in all the Kingdoms of life. When we were exiled to Acca I was at the prime of my life. I saw then many people who were in the height of youth, power and virility. Now all of them are stricken with old age, their forces are disintegrated, their backs are bent, their faces wrinkled and their strength gone. Many of those whom I have known are dead and their voices are heard no more. Their stars are set, their breezes hushed, and their flowers withered.

The other kind is the result of the exigencies of the contingent world, of consummate divine law, and of universal relationships, and is that which is bound to happen, as, for instance, changes, alterations, life and death. It is impossible that a tree should not wither or that life should not end in death.

The body is composed of so many elements and each element in its dissolution must return to its original constituent substance. Now cremation arrests too suddenly this process of the returning of each element to its original part. Someday this body will become flowers and adorn the field with loveliness and charm.

Although they squandered Iran's independence, Iran is progressing day by day. One must not lose hope, for everyone's turn lasts but five days. Nothing remains the same way forever. In any case, Iran's future is very bright.

Nothing remains stationary.

Motion and change are its two fixed rules. These two laws are inseparable from each other. All the contingent beings, from the amoeba to the elephants are the creatures of motion and change.

All things are subject to change and transformation, to ascent and decline, like the human body.

Ignorance and unawareness prevailed, for change and transformation are essential requirements of contingent existence. It is impossible for change not to occur. Inevitably after every prosperity comes ruin, and after every sun comes a longest night.

Praise be to God Who hath made this world a manifest book and a mighty volume, and hath inscribed therein that which ordaineth its change and passing away, its turmoil and transformation and extinction. Blessed are they whom its conditions and manifestations and colors and ornaments and bounties have not prevented.

Existence is of two kinds: One is the existence of the True One (God) which is sanctified above the comprehension of creation. … The second existence is that of creation. It is a general existence which is a mental concept that human reason can comprehend. This existence is originated, dependent, preceded by cause, and contingent. Therefore, the contingent cannot become ancient, and the ancient cannot become contingent. Creation cannot become Creator, and the Creator cannot become creation. The transformation of essence is impossible in the realm of existence.

The absence of upheaval and the absence of change and transformation are essential requirements of the Ancient, not of that which is originated.

All contingent—world beings have to undergo changes; the only thing which is unchangeable is the identity of God. The angel is one of the created beings of God and must undergo changes. Were these beings not to change, they would possess the unity or attributes of God.

The world and its objects are transitory. Phenomena undergo change and transformation but God and his servants remain unalterable and not subject to transmutation. We must attach our hearts to Him if we desire to be eternally happy.

Change and transformation are essential to it, for if there were no change and transformation, the composition and development of things would not occur. And since change, transformation, decomposition and composition are necessary, opposites appear, but in reality there is no opposition.

The specificity and essentiality of things are permanent and changeless; only within the limits of a particular species do progress and decline occur. For example, the human species and human nature have been and will forever remain preserved and protected.

But every created thing has been assigned a degree which it can in no wise overpass. So he who occupies the degree of servitude, no matter how far he may progress and acquire endless perfections, can never reach the degree of divine Lordship. The same holds true of all other created things. No matter how far a mineral may progress it can never acquire the power of growth in the mineral kingdom. No matter how far this flower may progress, it can never manifest the power of sensation while it is in the vegetable kingdom.

And after the noblest stations in the world of humanity have been attained, further progress can be made only in the degrees of perfection, not in station, for the degrees are finite but the divine perfections are infinite.

Now, as the human spirit continues after death, it must either advance or decline, and in the next world to cease to advance is the same as to decline. But the human spirit never transcends its own degree: it progresses only within that degree. For example, no matter how far the spirit and reality of Peter may progress, it will never reach the degree of the reality of Christ but will progress only within its own inherent limits.

Question: "Will animal and vegetable ever become the human?"

Answer: "The spirit will not become human spirit, nor will vegetable spirit become animal spirit. Existence is one, as it appears in every grade, according to the exigency of that grade.

As an example of matter we may take the metal, iron. Its nature is such that when heated it may become hot, red, and fluid. But though it continue a thousand years in the fire, its nature will not be changed into that of fire; its nature as iron will still remain.

… Thus it may be known that the nature of things remains always the same - that inherent qualities can never be lost.

That is to say, each created material being is possessed of a form; it cannot possess two forms at the same time. … In the spiritual reality of man, however, all geometrical figures can be simultaneously conceived, while in physical realities one image must be forsaken in order that another may be possible. This is the law of change and transformation, and change and transformation are precursors of mortality.

These defects have not come from the Source; rather, the essential properties of the world of matter which are change and transformation cause the training of all things and the manifestation of perfections of realities and spirits.

God has created all earthly things under a law of progression in material degrees, but He has created man and endowed him with powers of advancement toward spiritual and transcendental kingdoms.

He said: "There will always be some. Only a special number will have this attainment. As Christ said, 'Many are called, but few are chosen.' It will always be so. The transformation depends upon divine bounty. The mineral progresses in its own world. But from the mineral to the vegetable it progressed only by divine bounty. Also transformation from the vegetable to the animal is God's plan. Of itself the transformation cannot take place. In the realm of men transformation is possible only through another person."

All these things up to this point are a contingent reality, and are not a divine reality. But a contingent reality which is perpetuated by the fullness of existence, will then suffer no corruption, and will thus become a divine reality, for the accidental reality is only distinguished from the existent reality by its subjection to corruption. For transformation is an essential necessity to ever contingent reality, and this is what the mature wisdom has deemed advisable.

The soul does not evolve from degree to degree as a law -- it only evolves nearer to God, by the Mercy and Bounty of God.

He it is Who transmuteth hardship into ease, and poverty into wealth, and abasement into glory, and darkness into light.

Note thou carefully that in this world of being, all things must ever be made new. Look at the material world about thee, see how it hath now been renewed.

Nevertheless, through the rising of the Sun of Muhammad's Beauty from that region and Arabian clime, it became a brilliant dawning-place and manifest horizon. A piece of earth became supreme paradise, the pride of rose gardens and meadows, and the envy of tulip fields filled with cypress and jasmine. Its soil became fragrant and its thorns transformed into flowers and sweet basil of the Garden of Ridvan.

And since change and transformation are among the requirements of all contingent things, the commandments of God are also changed in accordance with the changing times. For example, in the days of Moses, that which was required by and consonant with the conditions prevailing at that time was the Mosaic Law. However, in the days of Christ, those conditions had so changed as to render the Mosaic Law unsuited and ill-adapted to the needs of mankind, and it was therefore abrogated.

… These changes are due to the transformation of thoughts, customs and conditions, and without them the well-being of the human world would be disrupted.

All the created phenomena are subject to the law of change and transmutation. Youth is followed by old age, a tender plant becomes an old, decrepit tree, dynasties are born, wax strong, reach to the zenith of glory and then totter to the ground.

Likewise every one of the world-religions has been the cause of progress and advancement in its own time, but now they have become like old, very old trees. They do not yield any more luscious fruits.

Some people persist in the unscientific belief that these very old trees will again become young, push forth leaves, blossoms and fruits. This is impossible.

Of course the progress of one fundamental law must not be lost sight of and that is this: the complete intellectual freedom and social and civic equality of women in Oriental countries must come about by intelligent, normal evolution and not haphazard, abnormal revolution.

...progress becomes possible only through grace, because the progress from one rank to another depends entirely upon divine generosity... For example, the progress of a mineral reality to the rank of a vegetable is to be obtained only through generosity...

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Progress is possible, but it depends upon the generosity of God, and not upon the efforts and struggles of man. In other words, progress becomes possible only through grace, because the progress from one rank to another depends entirely upon divine generosity, whereas on the contrary, progress toward perfection is obtainable through man's effort.

Catalogue reference: AB00430 · passage alignment is approximate; supplied wording retained.

No matter how far each of the different species may progress, it will never reach the rank above its own. … Similarly, every human being hath a spiritual station, and doth progress in its own station and rank. The one who is stunt of mind, no matter how intense a discipline he may endure, no matter how diligently he may strive, and how regenerated he may become, he will never attain to the station of the Daysprings of Revelation and the Dawning-Places of Inspiration. The bitter tree will never become a lofty palm tree, and the colocynth will never bear sweet fruit.

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Those matters of major importance which constitute the foundation of the Law of God are explicitly recorded in the Text, but subsidiary laws are left to the House of Justice. The wisdom of this is that the times never remain the same, for change is a necessary quality and an essential attribute of this world, and of time and place. Therefore the House of Justice will take action accordingly.

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