Re: The Worlds of God

Kent-

My wife is an English major and says there is no error in this quote.
If you think there is an error in the translation then you best write the House of Justice for correction not to me who is unworthy of such a task.

You also may wish to consider that these are three separate conditions of existence. And that the condition of existence has no limitations within its own worlds but is limited compared to the worlds of Manifestation and Deity. Also the world or condition of Manifestation is unlimited within its own condition but limited as compared to the condition of Deity.

So even if there was an error in translation to english there are many other quotes all stating the same concepts in different terms.

regards,
doug

On May 28, 2006, at 11:09 PM, Kent Johnson wrote:

Hi Doug,
I don't see any error here.

Here is the sentence that contains the error:

"Know that the conditions of existence are limited to the conditions of
servitude, of prophethood, and of Deity, but the divine and the contingent
perfections are unlimited. When you reflect deeply, you discover that also
outwardly the perfections of existence are also unlimited, for you cannot
find a being so perfect that you cannot imagine a superior one."

besides the obvious "...also outwardly the perfections of existence are
also..." There is the question of what is conjoined with the two "also"s?
Maybe you can restate the sentence to make it clearer in some respect, like
this:

The conditions of existence are limited to three (servitude, prophethood,
Deity) but the divine (Deity?) and prophethood (the last two on the list of
three) are unlimited. Also the "outward perfections of existence" are
unlimited.

Does the phrase "outward perfections of existence" refer to any or all of
the three conditions of existence? If so, why is that conjoined with
"also"? It should be included since it is one of the only three there are.
If "outward perfections of existence" refers to any or all of the three then
no "also" is needed, much less two "also"s. The sentence should read:

"When you reflect deeply, you discover that outwardly the perfections of
existence are unlimited, for you cannot find a being so perfect that you
cannot imagine a superior one."

That is the way I think it should be read. But, if not, if the sentence
might read:

"The conditions of existence are limited to three (servitude, prophethood,
Deity) but the divine (Deity?) and prophethood are unlimited. Also in
addition to the three conditions of existence, the outward perfections of
existence are unlimited.

In this case we have limited the conditions of existence to three, but the
outward perfections of existence are unlimited.

Which way do you think it should be, Doug?

--Kent


"Douglas McAdam" <douglasmcadam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:55749327c809abc6e6a7964fef430954@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

On May 26, 2006, at 10:27 AM, Kent Johnson wrote:

Abdu'l-Baha says conditions of existence are servitude, prophethood, and
Deity, and the perfections of existence are ALSO unlimited. The same
passage is in Some Answered Question, and it contains the same apparent
error:


I don't see any error here.

In other Writings these conditions are referred to as Worlds or Kingdoms,
such as Source, Manifestation and Creation, or God, Prophet and Creation
or Source World, Greater World and Lesser World.
My understanding is that we in the world of creation have unlimited
perfections within this world but we are limited to this world and cannot
reach the realm of the Manifestation. The same for the Manifestation who
cannot reach the realm of God or the Source World.

regards,
doug




.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: The Worlds of God
    ... He said there are ONLY three conditions of existence but the perfections within each are endless. ... Of course our understanding is always personal. ... servitude, however far he may progress in gaining limitless perfections, ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Re: The condition of servitude and contingent perfections
    ... Are there five or three conditions of existence? ... Is "servitude" really a condition of existence? ... but the only reason humankind knows about divine perfections ... at all is because they manifest in the contingent world of creation. ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Re: The Worlds of God
    ... talking about the difference between the conditions of existence and the ... perfections of existence apply to two of the three conditions of existence, ... its own condition but limited as compared to the condition of Deity. ... Also the "outward perfections of existence" are ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • Re: Truth, essence and potential.
    ... Hi Doug, You have given me this quote before, and we have talked about it ... the perfections of existence are also unlimited"). ... station of servitude, but you appear to be making that assertion this time. ... If all existence is limited to servitude, prophethood and Deity, doesn't ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
  • The condition of servitude and contingent perfections
    ... Abdu'l-Baha in the quote: "Know that the conditions of existence are limited ... to the conditions of servitude, of prophethood and of Deity, but the divine ... the condition of servitude is directly related to "contingent perfections" ...
    (soc.religion.bahai)
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