By : Ahenleima Koijam
Throughout history, God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers, each of whom has founded a great religion. A succession of divine teachers were sent for the purpose of educating humanity about the Creator and for cultivating the spiritual, intellectual and moral capacities of the human race.
The relationship between God and man is fostered through prayer, knowledge of the scriptures revealed by these teachers, love of God, moral self-discipline, and service to humanity. One benefit of cultivating a spiritual life is that the individual increasingly develops those innate qualities that lie at the foundation of human happiness and social progress.
The coming of each new Prophet makes a pivotal point in time. Each releases a fresh spiritual impulse, stimulating personal renewal and social advancement. To understand why these divine teachers have been sent to us one has to understand the nature of God. The nature of God is limitless, infinite and all–powerful. It is impossible for us mortals with limited intellects and finite capacities, to directly comprehend the reality of God. It is through Messengers that God has chosen to make Himself known to humanity. The Prophets mirror God’s attributes and perfection, providing a pure channel for the communication of God’s will to humanity.
God’s messengers have a twofold station. On the one hand, they are divine beings, reflecting perfectly God’s will. On the other hand, they are humans, subject to birth, disease, suffering and death. They have distinct physical identities and they address humanity at particular stages. These differences give rise to cultural distinctions between religions that sometimes conceal their inherent unity.
Fundamentally, however, the message has been the same. Each has stressed the importance of love for God, obedience to His will and love for humanity. Although the words have varied, each has taught that individuals should treat others as they would like to be treated themselves.
Today, humanity as a whole has entered a new stage in its collective existence; like an adolescent entering adulthood. And it is at this stage that a new Messenger carried the latest word of God amidst a period of messianic expectations in many. A young merchant- the Bab, meaning the Gate – announced that He was the bearer of long promised Divine Revelation destined to transform the spiritual life of human race. “ O peoples of the earth”, the Bab declared, “ Give ear unto God’s holy Voice…… Verily the resplendent Light of God hath appeared in your midst, invested with this unerring Book, that ye may be guided aright to the ways of peace…..”
This declaration that spiritual renewal and social advancement rested on “ love and compassion” rather than “ force and coercion”, aroused hope and excitement among many people.
His coming, the Bab explained, represented the portal through which the universally anticipated Revelation of God to all humanity would soon appear, and Whose mission would be to usher in the age of peace and justice promised in all world religions.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
Throughout history, God has revealed Himself to humanity through a series of divine Messengers, each of whom has founded a great religion. A succession of divine teachers were sent for the purpose of educating humanity about the Creator and for cultivating the spiritual, intellectual and moral capacities of the human race.
The relationship between God and man is fostered through prayer, knowledge of the scriptures revealed by these teachers, love of God, moral self-discipline, and service to humanity. One benefit of cultivating a spiritual life is that the individual increasingly develops those innate qualities that lie at the foundation of human happiness and social progress.
The coming of each new Prophet makes a pivotal point in time. Each releases a fresh spiritual impulse, stimulating personal renewal and social advancement. To understand why these divine teachers have been sent to us one has to understand the nature of God. The nature of God is limitless, infinite and all–powerful. It is impossible for us mortals with limited intellects and finite capacities, to directly comprehend the reality of God. It is through Messengers that God has chosen to make Himself known to humanity. The Prophets mirror God’s attributes and perfection, providing a pure channel for the communication of God’s will to humanity.
God’s messengers have a twofold station. On the one hand, they are divine beings, reflecting perfectly God’s will. On the other hand, they are humans, subject to birth, disease, suffering and death. They have distinct physical identities and they address humanity at particular stages. These differences give rise to cultural distinctions between religions that sometimes conceal their inherent unity.
Fundamentally, however, the message has been the same. Each has stressed the importance of love for God, obedience to His will and love for humanity. Although the words have varied, each has taught that individuals should treat others as they would like to be treated themselves.
Today, humanity as a whole has entered a new stage in its collective existence; like an adolescent entering adulthood. And it is at this stage that a new Messenger carried the latest word of God amidst a period of messianic expectations in many. A young merchant- the Bab, meaning the Gate – announced that He was the bearer of long promised Divine Revelation destined to transform the spiritual life of human race. “ O peoples of the earth”, the Bab declared, “ Give ear unto God’s holy Voice…… Verily the resplendent Light of God hath appeared in your midst, invested with this unerring Book, that ye may be guided aright to the ways of peace…..”
This declaration that spiritual renewal and social advancement rested on “ love and compassion” rather than “ force and coercion”, aroused hope and excitement among many people.
His coming, the Bab explained, represented the portal through which the universally anticipated Revelation of God to all humanity would soon appear, and Whose mission would be to usher in the age of peace and justice promised in all world religions.
Source: The Imphal Free Press
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