The word comes to man as God wants it and not as man would like it to suit him.

 

260. The word comes to man as God wants it and not as man would like it to suit him: Man is a creature of habit, he likes to hold onto things that are familiar to him, thus when a new manifestation of God comes to him with a new message from God, most men are content to hold onto the writings they were familiar with, which has been taught to them from birth. The problem is these teachings have been passed down from father to son for generations and have become little more than mere traditions and sayings that little resemble the teachings of the religion at its conception. So, men are holding onto an old archaic message, with the light of God almost completely gone out of it, while God’s new messenger comes with a new message just glowing with the light of God in it. So, most men fail to see that the light of both religions comes from the same source and they fail to see the new religion for what it is; the same recurring message from God. In fact some of the people hold onto their old religious beliefs, so strongly, that they become hostile and filled with hatred for the new religion and rise up and try to stamp out the light of the new faith.  Christianity: Mark 4:17 “affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake,”  Judaism: Jeremiah 50:6 “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray.” Jeremiah 6:19 “Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto My words, nor to My law, but rejected it.” 1 Kings 15:23 “Because thou hast rejected the word of The LORD, He hath also rejected thee.” Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”  Christianity: John 12:48 “He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 5:43 “I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:44 “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 5:45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.” John 5:46 “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.” John 5:47 “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” 1 Thessalonians 1:5 “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:5 “For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness.” 1 Thessalonians 2:6 “Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others.” 1 Thessalonians 2:7 “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:” 1 Thessalonians 2:8 “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13 “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”

 BABI RELIGION: “These utterances are revealed according to your measure, not to God‘s, and unto this beareth witness that which is enshrined in the knowledge of God, did ye but know. Unto this testifieth He Who is the Mouthpiece of God, could ye but understand. By the righteousness of God! Were We to lift the veil ye would swoon away.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 6)

 ISLAM: 155. “(They have incurred divine displeasure): in that they broke their Covenant: that they rejected the Signs of Allah (God); that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said, ‘Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah’s Word; we need no more);’ nay Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe.” 11. “(Their plight will be) no better than that of the people of Pharaoh, and their predecessors: they denied Our Signs, and Allah called them to account for their sins. For Allah is strict in punishment.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 3 and 4)

Islam: “Let every nation follow what they used to worship, and now we are waiting for our Lord.’ Then the Almighty will come to them in a shape other than the one which they saw the first time, and He will say, ‘I am your Lord,’ and they will say, ‘You are not our Lord.”’ They will be blind to the new manifestation of God, Allah will send them. They have eyes to see, but don’t see the true light of Allah when it dawns, and fail to hear the truth of His words, but, instead, hold onto the literal words of their holy books, failing to see the new light of the spirit of God in the words of the new manifestation, and the new book.

(Hadith, Bukhari Vol 9, Book 93, # 532)

Islam: “Allah said, ‘The Word that comes from Me does not change, so it will be as I enjoined on you in the Mother of the Book.” 34. “Rejected were the Messengers before thee: with patience and constancy they bore their rejection and their wrongs, until Our aid did reach them: there is none that can alter the Words (and Decrees) of Allah.”

Islam: “We know indeed the grief which their words do cause thee: it is not thee they reject: it is the Signs of Allah, which the wicked condemn.” 35. “If their spurning is hard on thy mind, yet if thou wert able to seek a tunnel in the ground or a ladder to the skies and bring them a Sign, (what good?). If it were Allah’s will, He could gather them together unto true guidance: so be not thou amongst those who are swayed by ignorance (and impatience)!” “Those who reject Our Signs are deaf and dumb, in the midst of darkness profound: whom Allah willeth, He leaveth to wander, whom He willeth, He placeth on the way that is straight.” 36. “Those who listen (in truth), be sure, will accept: as to the dead, Allah will raise them up: then will they be turned unto Him.” 68. “Thy Lord does create and choose as He pleases: no choice have they (in the matter): Glory to Allah! and far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)!”

(Hadith, Bukhari Vol 9 and The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 6 and 28)

  ZOROASTRIANISM: 4. “Yea, we send it forth (the word) for the encounter with, and for the over-throw of the murderers of the saints, and of those who hate and torment us for our Faith, and of those who persecute.” 1. “Mindful of your commands, we proclaim words unpleasant for them to hear that after the commands of the Lie destroy the creatures of Right, but most welcome to those that give their heart to Mazda (God).”

     So than, “Do not hear the advice of those who deprecate religion. They do more harm to you than anybody else by their misleading doctrines.” 12. “Since they by their lore would pervert men from the best doing.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 31 and 61 and Hymns of Atharvan p. 748)

 Zoroastrianism: Denkard. Zoroaster, “In this world, among men and the brute creation there are beings which live and move about in (spiritual) blindness,” with “priests who disseminate vice among men (and) are morally blind.”

 HINDUISM: “Give Me thy heart! adore Me! serve Me! Cling In faith and love and reverence to Me! So shalt thou come to Me! I promise true, For thou art sweet to Me! And let go those- Rites and writ duties!” “Hide, the holy Krishna saith, This from him that hath no faith, Him that worships not, nor seeks Wisdom’s teaching when she speaks: Hide it from all men who mock; But, wherever, ‘mid the flock Of My lovers, one shall teach This divinest, wisest, speech- Teaching in the faith to bring Truth to them, and offering Of all honour unto Me- Unto Brahma (Vishnu, God) cometh he!” “Thus hath been opened thee This Truth of Truths, the Mystery more hid Than any secret mystery. Meditate! And- as thou wilt- then act! Nay! but once more Take My last word, My utmost meaning have! (study and meditate on God’s teachings)” “I am the Spirit seated deep in every creature’s heart; From Me they come; by Me they live; at My word they depart!” “He only knoweth- only he is free of sin, and wise, Who seeth Me, Lord of the Worlds with faith-enlightened eyes, Unborn, undying, unbegun.” 17 “He loves no more the men He loved aforetime: He turns and moves away allied with others. Rejecting those who disregard His worship.” 3 “The foolish, faithless, rudely-speaking niggards, without belief or sacrifice or worship.” “But to those blessed ones who worship Me, Turning not other where, with minds set fast, I bring assurance of full bliss beyond.” “Thou art our keeper, wise, preparer of our paths: we, for thy service, sing to thee with hymns of praise. Brhaspati, whoever lays a snare for us, him may his evil fate, precipitate, destroy.” “Him, too, who threatens us without offence of ours, the evil minded, arrogant, rapacious man, He turn thou from our path away.”

   “Nor must we forget that though oral tradition, when once brought under proper discipline, is a most faithful guardian, it is not without its dangers in its incipient stages. Many a word may have been misunderstood, many a sentence confused, as it was told by father to son,”

    “There is false Knowledge: that which blindly clings To one as if ’twere all, seeking no Cause, Deprived of light, narrow, and dull, and ‘dark.’ ‘So they speak Darkened by ignorance;” “In blindness cleaving to their errors, caught Into the sinful course, they trust this lie As it were true- this lie which leads to death- Finding in Pleasure all the good which is, And crying ‘Here it finisheth!”’

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapters 9, 10, 16, 18 and Vedas, Rig Veda – Books 2, 6 and 7 and Upanishads vol. 1, Introduction to the Upanishads, vol. 1)

 BUDDHISM: “The Law and the Discipline, which I have taught you, Will, after my death, be your master. The Law be your light, The Law be your refuge! Do not look for any other refuge!” 6. “He who drinks in the Truth will live happily with a peaceful mind. A wise man always delights in the Truth taught by the saints.” “Those who follow the principles of the well-taught Truth will cross over to the other shore, out of the dominion of Death, hard though it is to escape.” 20. “This indeed is the Way – there is no other – for the purification of one’s vision. Following this Path you will put an end to suffering. I have taught you the Way.” 14. “Abstention from all evil, Cultivation of the wholesome, Purification of the heart; This is the Message of the Buddhas. Forbearance is the highest ascetic practice, (but to the disbeliever) He finds no satisfaction. In the destruction of all desires that The fully-Awakened One’s disciple delights.” (So) “Patiently one (the true believer) endures wicked and malicious speech, as well as bodily pains, that befall one, (through the actions of the heedless ones) though they be piercing, sharp, bitter, unpleasant, disagreeable and dangerous to life.” 23. “I shall endure painful words as the elephant in battle endures arrows shot from the bow; for most people are ill-natured.” 26. “He who endures undisturbed criticism, ill-treatment and bonds, strong in patience, and that strength his power – that is what I call a brahmin.” 15. “Let us live in joy, not hating those who hate us. Among those who hate us, we live free of hate.”

   But, “The memory-habit of erroneous intellection will ever cling to them (the false understandings of past beliefs). To make the matter worse, the simple-minded ones, poisoned by this erroneous view, will declare this incorrect way of thinking taught by the ignorant, to be the same as that presented by the All-knowing One.” 13. “Blinded indeed is this world. Few are those who see the truth.” 

     “Blinded indeed is this world. Few are those who see the truth.” “Who-so on account of false (superstitious) views Scorns the teaching of the Noble Ones, The Worthy and Righteous Ones, He, the foolish man, destroys himself.” “Blinded indeed is this world. Few are those who see the truth.” “Who-so on account of false (superstitious) views Scorns the teaching of the Noble Ones, The Worthy and Righteous Ones, He, the foolish man, destroys himself.” “Do not follow mean thing, Do not live in heedlessness, Do not embrace false views, Do not be a world-upholder.”

((The Eightfold Path), Buddha and Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1, 2 and 3 (tr. J. Richards) and Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra)

 Buddhism: “Clinging to the memory of erroneous speculations and doctrines accumulated since beginningless time, they hold fast to such ideas In the same way, the ignorant and simple-minded who are favorably influenced by the erroneous views of the philosophers do not recognize that the views that are influencing them are only dream-like ideas originating in the mind itself, and consequently they are held fast by their notions. In the same way there are people today being brought up under the influence of similar erroneous views whose mentality is being conditioned by the habit-energy of these false-imaginings and who later on will declare those who hold the true doctrine (as iniquitous) and by so doing will bring themselves and others to ruin. By the natural law of cause and effect these followers of pernicious views uproot meritorious causes that otherwise would lead to unstained purity. They are to be shunned by those whose desires are for more excellent things. (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra)

 SABEANISM: “The name of the great Mystery, the mystic Word, is pronounced upon thee.” “Live a holy life not just in words, but in actions,” and “any man who is not steadfast (in thought) Whose mind is turned against me, Whose mind is turned from me, Great and not small will be his hurt.” But “enlargement of life there shall be for the believing.” 

    “In the name of The Great Life (God) The great Light be magnified! To you do I call and (you) do I teach, Men who have received the Sign. Hearken not to the talk of all peoples and generations; Let not their stumblings cause you to stumble, Stumble not because of their stumblings!”

(Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters 71, 89, 173 and 410)

  Sabeanism: “There were those who bought my wares (God’s Holy Words). The eyes (of such a one) were filled with light, Filled with light were his eyes On beholding the Great (One) in the House of Perfection. There were those who did not buy my wares. (Chose not to investigate into the Holy word) They went on, reached their end and lay down. they were blind and saw not, Their ears were stopped and they heard not And their hearts were not awakened To behold the Great One in the House of Perfection. As They called them and they answered not, When they call, who will answer them? Because it was given to them but they took not, Who will give to them when they ask? They hated the Way of Life and its Abode But loved the abode of the wicked. And lo! in the abode of the wicked Will they be held captive.”

(Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 90)

 BABI RELIGION: “Concerning the sufficiency of the Book as a proof, God hath revealed: ‘Is it not enough for them that We have sent down unto Thee the Book to be recited to them? In this verily is a mercy and a warning to those who believe. When God hath testified that the Book is a sufficient testimony, as is affirmed in the text, how can one dispute this truth by saying that the Book in itself is not a conclusive proof?…”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 81)

 Babi Religion: “They were immersed in superstitions,” “they could only be the superstitions of diseased brains. She expounded the new doctrine, bringing out its truth, but always encountered the same argument of Jabulqa. Exasperated, she finally told them: ‘Your reasoning is that of an ignorant and stupid child; how long will you cling to these follies and lies? When will you lift your eyes towards the Sun of Truth?”

 The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, pp. 593 and 624)

BAHA’I FAITH: “Now that the discourse hath reached this exalted and intractable theme and touched upon this sublime and impenetrable mystery, know that the Christian and Jewish peoples have not grasped the intent of the words of God and the promises He hath made to them in His Book, and have therefore denied His Cause, turned aside from His Prophets, and rejected His proofs. Had they but fixed their gaze upon the testimony of God itself, had they refused to follow in the footsteps of the abject and foolish among their leaders and divines, they would doubtless have attained to the repository of guidance and the treasury of virtue, and quaffed from the crystal waters of life eternal in the city of the All-Merciful, in the garden of the All-Glorious, and within the inner reality of His paradise. But as they have refused to see with the eyes wherewith God hath endowed them, and desired things other than that which He in His mercy had desired for them, they have strayed far from the retreats of nearness, have been deprived of the living waters of reunion and the wellspring of His grace, and have lain as dead within the shrouds of their own selves.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, pp. 6 and 7)

Baha’i Faith: “The generality of the people, owing to their failure to grasp the meaning of these words, rejected and despised the person of the Manifestation, deprived themselves of the light of His divine guidance, and refused to follow the example of that immortal Beauty.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 113)

Baha’i Faith: “Many religious leaders have grown to think that the importance of religion lies mainly in the adherence to a collection of certain dogmas and the practice of rites and ceremonies! Those whose souls they profess to cure are taught to believe likewise, and these cling tenaciously to the outward forms, confusing them with the inward truth.”

 (Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 143)