The soul of man develops in stages.

 

214. The soul of man develops in stages forever progressing towards its Creator: Some people are of the opinion that once a person is saved, that’s it, nothing else is needed; but we find, in the Bahá’í writings, that this belief may not necessarily be the case. The Bahá’í writings tell us that once we step unto this spiritual track we have only just begun. The writings tell us that we are on a path that goes on forever; and, on this path, mankind will be developing deeper spirituality and move closer to God and become more God like for the rest of eternity; and once we die this spiritual process will only intensify for us. Some people may think that this is wrong and once we die we are perfect, but the writings tell us there are infinite levels of perfection and we will go on becoming a better more spiritual being forever and forever unto eternity; which only makes sense, because throughout this life we have only continued to grow spiritually, and it only makes sense that after the death of this earthly body we will only continue to developing spiritually; and in this belief I have found that the other religions of God agree with the teachings of The Bahá’í Faith.  Christianity: Martin Luther “Therefore it is given for a daily pasture and sustenance, that faith may refresh and strengthen itself so as not to fall back in such a battle, but become ever stronger and stronger. For the new life must be so regulated that it continually increase and progress.”  Judaism: Proverbs 92:12 “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow (in spirit) like a cedar in Lebanon.”Proverbs 92:13 “Those that be planted in the house of The LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Isaiah 53:1 “To whom is the arm of The LORD revealed?” 53:2 “For he shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,” developing his soul in spiritual degrees.  Christianity: 1 Thessalonians “We beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more.” 2 Corinthians “Increase the fruits of your righteousness; Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness.” 1 Peter 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 2 Peter 3:18 “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge.” 2:3 “If so be, ye have tasted that The Lord is gracious.”

BAHA’I FAITH: “Humanity may be likened to a tree. This tree has branches, leaves, buds and fruit. Think of all men as being flowers, leaves or buds of this tree, and try to help each and all to realize and enjoy God‘s blessings. God neglects none: He loves all.” “The only real difference that exists between people is that they are at various stages of development. Some are imperfect — these must be brought to perfection. Some are asleep — they must be awakened; some are negligent — they must be roused; but one and all are the children of God.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 170)

 BABI RELIGION: “Progress in the Knowledge of God shall never come to an end.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 89)

 ISLAM: “The heart of man is like the root of a tree, Therefrom grow the leaves on firm branches. Corresponding to that root grow up branches As well on the tree as on souls and intellects.”

(Islam, Mathnavi of Rumi (E.H. Whinfield tr), The Masnavi Vol 3)

Islam: “You shall surely travel from stage to stage (in this life and in the Hereafter) (It means) from one state to another.”

(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 6, Book 60, # 464)

Islam: 23. “Allah (God) has revealed (from time to time) the most beautiful Message in the form of a Book, consistent with itself, (yet) repeating its teaching in various aspects” 106. “None of Our revelations do We abrogate or cause to be forgotten, but We substitute something better or similar; knowest thou not that Allah hath power over all things? Knowest thou not that to Allah belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth! And besides Him ye have neither patron nor helper.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs  2 and 39)

  ZOROASTRIANISM:Denkard. Zoroaster, “They considered this, too, thus namely, the soul of man never (permanently) remains in one single place; since, according to its principle; it is progressing or regressing.” “As to its progress and regress this is said thus: ‘As long as man follows spiritual desires (rûbân-kâmag), it is progressing; when he follows bodily desires, then the soul deteriorates.”’ “They considered this, too, thus: namely, there is no man whatever by whom (when) anything is done that thing is not done for his own sake, whether it be an honest or a dishonest (act); since whosoever does (anything) in (this world), increases or decreases (thereby, the merit of) his soul.” “All kinds of acts are performed by them (viz., men) for (their) own souls.” “And we men ought to be highly exerting thus: ‘We long for our own soul’s happiness, not misery.’”

 Zoroastrianism: “The Amesha spentas (sacred institutes) are the laws and the stages of spiritual life. Therefore indeed the creator has molded you Zarathushtra for this progress and protection.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan)

 HINDUISM: “The different stages of the human life.” “The self develops gradually, for in some sap (blood) is seen (as well as thought), but in others thought is not seen.” 4. “And in man again the self develops gradually, for he is most endowed with knowledge. He saying what he has known, he sees what he has known. He knows what is to happen tomorrow, he knows heaven and hell. By means of the mortal he desires the immortal, thus is he endowed.”

(Hindu, Mababharata and Upanishads vol. 1, Aitareya-Aranyaka Part 2)

 BUDDHISM: “From what state into what state did I change in the past? Shall I be in the future? Or, shall I not be in the future? What shall I be in the future? How shall I be in the future? From what state into what state shall I change in the future?” “The disciple incites his will to maintain the meritorious conditions that have already arisen, and not to let them disappear, but to bring them to growth, to maturity and to the full perfection of development; and he strives, puts forth his energy, strains his mind and struggles.” “And it is impossible that any one can explain the passing out of one existence, and the entering into a new existence, or the growth, increase, and development of consciousness, independent of corporeality, feeling, perception, and mental formations.”

((The Eightfold Path), Buddha, the Word (The Eightfold Path))

 Buddhism: “The truth of the highest reality goes up continuously by the stages of purification one enters.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra)

 Buddhism: “By gradually ascending the stages he will become established in the perfect Transcendental Intelligence of the Tathagatas.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sura)

 BABI RELIGION: “BETTER is it for a person to write down but one of His verses than to transcribe the whole of the Bayan and all the books which have been written in the Dispensation of the Bayan. For everything shall be set aside except His Writings, which will endure until the following Revelation. And should anyone inscribe with true faith but one letter of that Revelation, his recompense would be greater than for inscribing all the heavenly Writings of the past and all that has been written during previous Dispensations. Likewise continue thou to ascend through one Revelation after another, knowing that thy progress in the Knowledge of God shall never come to an end.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 91)

BAHA’I FAITH: “And now concerning thy question whether human souls continue to be conscious one of another after their separation from the body. Know thou that the souls of the people of Baha, who have entered and been established within the Crimson Ark, shall associate and commune intimately one with another, and shall be so closely associated in their lives, their aspirations, their aims and strivings as to be even as one soul. They are indeed the ones who are well-informed, who are keen-sighted, and who are endued with understanding. Thus hath it been decreed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.” “The people of Baha, who are the inmates of the Ark of God, are, one and all, well aware of one another’s state and condition, and are united in the bonds of intimacy and fellowship. Such a state, however, must depend upon their faith and their conduct. They that are of the same grade and station are fully aware of one another’s capacity, character, accomplishments and merits. They that are of a lower grade, however, are incapable of comprehending adequately the station, or of estimating the merits, of those that rank above them. Each shall receive his share from thy Lord. Blessed is the man that hath turned his face towards God, and walked steadfastly in His love, until his soul hath winged its flight unto God, the Sovereign Lord of all, the Most Powerful, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Merciful.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah, p. 169)