World of the spiritual womb.
269. World of the spiritual womb. When we were in the womb of our mothers we received the gifts from God needed for our existence in this earthly life. Well this physical existence is like a spiritual womb in which we must develop the traits and spiritual qualities needed for the next world here in this worldly existence before we pass on into the next life. This is a teaching that is explained clearly in the Bahá’í writings, but this is a teaching that is also indicated, or hinted at, in the other religions of God:
Bahá’í Faith:
“In the beginning of his human life man was embryonic in the world of the matrix. There he received capacity and endowment for the reality of human existence.”
“In the matrix of the mother the unborn child was deprived and unconscious of the world of material existence, but after its birth it beheld the wonders and beauties of a new realm of life and being. In the world of the matrix it was utterly ignorant and unable to conceive of these new conditions, but after its transformation it discovers the radiant sun, trees, flowers and an infinite range of blessings and bounties awaiting it. In the human plane and kingdom man is a captive of nature and ignorant of the divine world until born of the breaths of the Holy Spirit out of physical conditions of limitation and deprivation. Then he beholds the reality of the spiritual realm and Kingdom, realizes the narrow restrictions of the mere human world of existence and becomes conscious of the unlimited and infinite glories of the world of God. Therefore, no matter how man may advance upon the physical and intellectual plane, he is ever in need of the boundless virtues of Divinity, the protection of the Holy Spirit and the face of God.”
“The powers requisite in this world were conferred upon him in the world of the matrix so that when he entered this realm of real existence he not only possessed all necessary functions and powers but found provision for his material sustenance awaiting him.”
“Therefore, in this world he must prepare himself for the life beyond. That which he needs in the world of the Kingdom must be obtained here. Just as he prepared himself in the world of the matrix by acquiring forces necessary in this sphere of existence, so, likewise, the indispensable forces of the divine existence must be potentially attained in this world.”
“What is he in need of in the Kingdom which transcends the life and limitation of this mortal sphere? That world beyond is a world of sanctity and radiance; therefore, it is necessary that in this world he should acquire these divine attributes. In that world there is need of spirituality, faith, assurance, the knowledge and love of God. These he must attain in this world so that after his ascension from the earthly to the heavenly Kingdom he shall find all that is needful in that eternal life ready for him.”
“That divine world is manifestly a world of lights; therefore, man has need of illumination here. That is a world of love; the love of God is essential. It is a world of perfections; virtues, so perfections, must be acquired. That world is vivified by the breaths of the Holy Spirit; in this world we must seek them. That is the Kingdom of everlasting life; it must be attained during this vanishing existence.”
“By what means can man acquire these things? How shall he obtain these merciful gifts and powers? First, through the knowledge of God. Second, through the love of God. Third, through faith. Fourth, through philanthropic deeds. Fifth, through self-sacrifice. Sixth, through severance from this world. Seventh, through sanctity and holiness. Unless he acquires these forces and attains to these requirements, he will surely be deprived of the life that is eternal. But if he possesses the knowledge of God, becomes ignited through the fire of the love of God, witnesses the great and mighty signs of the Kingdom, becomes the cause of love among mankind and lives in the utmost state of sanctity and holiness, he shall surely attain to second birth, be baptized by the Holy Spirit and enjoy everlasting existence.”
(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 225, 226 and 288)
Babism: (Through) “God‘s all-encompassing love and protection.” The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 197) “Thou didst create Me, O Lord, through Thy gracious favour and didst protect Me through Thy bounty in the darkness of the womb and didst nourish Me, through Thy loving-kindness.” which caused me to grow and develop into man. “The soul of man is immortal; it survives physical death. The goal, (the purpose) of the individual during his life should be to develop those spiritual qualities and attributes which will enhance the soul in its eternal journey. Heaven is thus interpreted as the state of possessing those qualities and Hell as being bereft of them.” (The Babi and Baha’i Religions, p. xxiv) (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 173) “Your faith must be immovable as the rock, must weather every storm and survive every calamity. Suffer not the denunciations of the foolish and the calumnies of the clergy to afflict you, or to turn you from your purpose. For you are called to partake of the celestial banquet prepared for you in the immortal Realm. Great will be your reward, and goodly the gift which will be bestowed upon you.” “The devotee prepared to enter ‘undreamt of worlds’ and ‘a new, a boundless, and eternal life.” (The Bab – The Herald of the Days, p. 28 and The Babi & Baha’i Religions, p. 110) “Announce unto them the joyful tidings that following this mighty Covenant there shall be everlasting reunion with God in the Paradise of His good-pleasure, nigh unto the Seat of Holiness. Verily God, the Lord of creation, is potent over all things.” (The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 50)
Judaism and Christianity:
Well after extensive research I find that the other religions of God also tell us that the spiritual traits and qualities we need for our life in the next world must be obtained here in this world as well.
Wisdom “I myself also am a mortal man, like to all, and the off-spring of him that was first made of the earth,” “And in my mother’s womb was fashioned to be flesh in the time of ten months, being compacted in blood, of the seed of man, and the pleasure that came with sleep.” “And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature, and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.”
“I was nursed in swaddling clothes, and that with cares. For there is no king that had any other beginning of birth. For all men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.” Ecclesiastes 11:5 “As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.” Psalms 16:10 “(But) Thou wilt not leave my soul.” 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life.” Thou will teach me the things I need to know in this world and the next, or Thou will truly “shew me the path of life.” Psalms 17:3 “(For), Thou hast proved mine heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” 17:4 “Concerning the works of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” 17:5 “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, (guiding me) that my footsteps slip not.” 119:34“Give me understanding.” 119:35 “Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.” 1 John 2:24 “Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” 2:25 “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” John 6:27 “Labour not for the (earthly) meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” 1 Timothy 6:6 “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 6:7 “Lay hold on eternal life, where-unto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” Jude 1:21 “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Luke 10:25 “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 10:27 “Thou shalt love The Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” 2:10 “God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” 2:11 “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” 2:12 “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” 2:13 “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” 2:16 “For who hath known the mind of The Lord, that he may instruct him?” 15:34 “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; For there are…celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.” 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” 15:47 “The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.” 15:49 “And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” We received the things we needed, after our birth into this world, for our entrance into the next world through the teachings of God in this plane of existence; so, we would become spiritual, enlightened, heavenly, loving God, celestial as opposed to terrestrial and all the other things we might need in the next world from the teachings found throughout the bible as a whole, which only stands to reason because the bible was created to call man to the belief in God and help man prepare for his next life in the next world; or in this case, He shew us “the path of life.” so we shall “bear the image of the heavenly,” kingdom.
Islam:
5. “O mankind! if ye have a doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that We created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed,” “then We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then We developed out of it another creature: so blessed be Allah (God), the Best to create!” “In order that We may manifest (Our Power) to you; and We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term, then do We bring you out as babes, then (foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die, and some are sent back to the feeblest old age, so that they know nothing after having known (much). And (further), thou seest the earth barren and lifeless, but when We pour down rain on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells, and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs).” “Allah created you with His Own Hand, and breathed into you of His Spirit meaning the spirit which he created for you.” 60. “We have decreed Death to be your common lot, and We are not to be frustrated.” 61. “From changing your Forms and creating you (again) in Forms that ye know not.” Our new spiritual body in the next world. 62. “And ye certainly know already the first form of creation: (Our physical body here on earth) why then do ye not celebrate His praises?” 63. “See ye the seed that ye sow in the ground?” (Our efforts in this life) 64. “Is it ye that cause it to grow, or are We the Cause?” 65. “Were it Our Will, we could crumble it to dry powder, and ye would be left in wonderment,” 66. “(Saying), ‘We are indeed left with debts (for nothing):” 67. “Indeed are we shut out (of the fruits of our labor).”
(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 22, 23, 56 and Hadith, Bukhari Vol 6, Book 60, # 236)
5. “For those whose hopes are in the meeting with Allah (in the Hereafter, let them strive); for the Term (appointed) by Allah is surely coming: and He hears and knows (all things).” 6. “And if any strive (with might and main), they do so for their own souls: for Allah is free of all needs from all creation.”
(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 29)
11. “That ye believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the Cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: that will be best for you if ye but knew!” 3. “But what could tell thee but that perchance he might Grow (in spiritual understanding)?” So that “The pure spirit escapes from the bonds of the body.” “Distance and nearness are attributes of bodies, The journeys of spirits are after another sort. You journeyed from the embryo state to rationality Without footsteps or stages or change of place, The journey of the soul involves not time and place.” “Then shall every soul be paid what it earned, and none shall be dealt with unjustly.” Muhammad tells us that after our birth into this world we must strive with might and main in observing the teachings of The Qur’an for the good of our own souls, so “the pure spirit escapes from the bonds of the body” and the soul journeys on with its progress, depending on its actions and preparedness that the soul preformed while it existed in this worldly existence. So, the soul got, through the teachings of The Qur’an and observing those teachings, what it needed for the next life here in this life.
(Mathnavi of Rumi (E.H. Whinfield tr), The Masnavi Vol 3, 6 and The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surahs 2, 61 and 80)
Zoroastrianism:
11. “Thou, O Mazda (God), in the beginning didst create the Individual and the Individuality, through Thy Spirit, and powers of understanding – when Thou didst make life clothed with the body, when (Thou madest) actions and teachings, whereby one may exercise one’s convictions at one’s free-will;” 1. “And now in these Thy dispensations, O Ahura Mazda! do Thou wisely act for us, and with abundance with Thy bounty and Thy tenderness as touching us; and grant that reward which Thou hast appointed to our souls, O Ahura Mazda!” 2. “Of this do Thou Thyself bestow upon us for this world and the spiritual; and now as part thereof (do Thou grant) that we may attain to fellowship with Thee, and Thy Righteousness for all duration.” 3. “And do Thou grant us, O Ahura! men who are righteous, and both lovers and producers of the Right as well.” 4. “So may we be to You, O Mazda Ahura! holy and true, and with free giving of our gifts.” 32. “Hear me! Forgive me!’ ‘We…., will come and show thee, O Zarathushtra! the way to that world to long glory in the spiritual world, to long happiness of the soul in Paradise;’ ‘To bliss and Paradise, to the Garonmana of Ahura Mazda, beautifully made and fully adorned, when his soul goes out of his body through the will of fate, when I, Ahura Mazda, gently show him his way as he asks for it,’ “The good, the precious Dominion, as a most surpassing portion, shall Right achieve for him that with zeal accomplishes what is best through his actions, O Mazda.” “Yea, we worship the Glory, and the Benefit which are Mazda made.” “Thus therefore do we worship Ahura Mazda.” “Holiness is the best of all good ….”
(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 6, 31, 37, 40, 51, 53, 55 and Avesta Fragments)
“Now, when a man sets out on a journey, he takes provisions with him. If it be for one day’s march, he takes provisions for two days. If it be for two days’ march, he takes provisions for three. If it be for ten days’ march, he takes provisions for fifteen; And he thinks that he will come back in health to his well-beloved friends, parents, and brethren. How then is it that men take no provisions for that unavoidable journey, On which one must go once for all, for all eternity?” Zoroaster tells us “Thou (Ahura Mazda) madest actions and teachings, whereby one may exercise one’s convictions at one’s free-will.” And if we follow these actions and teachings: “than O Ahura Mazda! Of this do Thou Thyself bestow upon us for this world and the spiritual.” In other words following these teachings and doing these actions this will lead us, “to long happiness of the soul in Paradise.” But to do this we must prepare, in this life for that long journey into the next life, “How then is it that men take no provisions for that unavoidable journey, On which one must go once for all, for all eternity?” We must prepare in this life and we get the things we need for bliss in the next life, right here in this world.
(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta Fragments)
Hinduism:
“By Me the whole vast Universe of things Is spread abroad; by Me, the Unmanifest! In Me are all existences contained; Not I in them! Yet they are not contained, Those visible things! Receive and strive to embrace The mystery majestical! My Being-Creating all, sustaining all- still dwells Outside of all!” “Tread the path celestial, worship Me With hearts unwandering, knowing Me the Source, The Eternal Source, of Life. Unendingly They glorify Me; seek Me; keep their vows Of reverence and love, with changeless faith Adoring Me.”
(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 9)
“Thou Valiant One! this Universe Is, by its principle of life, produced; Whereby the worlds of visible things are born As from a Yoni. Know! I am that womb: I make and I unmake this Universe: Than me there is no other Master, Prince! No other Maker!” “This Universe the womb is where I plant Seed of all lives!” “This earth, indeed, is called the primeval womb of created beings; but the seed develops not in its development any properties of the womb.” “In this world seeds of different kinds, sown at the proper time in the land, even in one field, come forth (each) according to its kind.” “This germ (man), covered in the womb, having dwelt there ten months, or more or less, is born.” “When born, he lives whatever the length of his life may be. When he has departed, his friends carry him, as appointed, to the fire of the funeral pile.” “In man…. 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. He who knows the gradual development of the self in him, obtains himself more development.” Which is from the womb of this earthly life. “Holy souls see Which strive thereto. Enlightened, they perceive That Spirit in themselves.” “Yea! in its bodily prison! Spirit pure, Spirit supreme; surveying, governing, Guarding, possessing; Lord and Master.” For I am That whereof Brahma (God) is the likeness!”
“Krishna speaketh in this wise! Yea, and whoso, full of faith, Heareth wisely what it saith, Heareth meekly, when he dies, surely shall his spirit rise to those regions where the Blest, Free of flesh, in joyance rest.”
“Whoso worship me, Them I exalt; but all men everywhere Shall fall into my path;” “Those of noble soul Who tread the path celestial, worship Me With hearts unwandering, knowing Me the Source, The Eternal Source, of Life. Unendingly”
“When the righteous strive and struggle, Gods assist the true and brave!” “Have Me, then, in thy heart always! and fight! Thou too, when heart and mind are fixed on Me, Shalt surely come to Me!” Krishna states it pretty clearly, worship Brahma “Tread the path celestial, worship Me With hearts unwandering, knowing Me the Source, The Eternal Source, of Life. Unendingly They glorify Me; seek Me; keep their vows Of reverence and love, with changeless faith Adoring Me.”
“In man…. the self develops gradually, for he is most endowed with knowledge of the mortal he desires the immortal thus is he endowed. He who knows the gradual development of the self in him, obtains himself more development.” So, “Holy souls see Which strive thereto. Enlightened, they perceive That Spirit in themselves.” “Yea! in its bodily prison! Spirit pure, Spirit supreme; surveying, governing, Guarding, possessing; Lord and Master.” “For I am That whereof Brahma is the likeness!” “Whoso worship me, Them I exalt; but all men everywhere Shall fall into my path;” “Those of noble soul Who tread the path celestial, worship Me With hearts unwandering,- knowing Me the Source, The Eternal Source, of Life (Unending)” “When the righteous strive and struggle, Have Me, then, in thy heart always! and fight! Thou too, when heart and mind are fixed on Me, Shalt surely come to Me!” In other words, if we live in this spiritual womb Brahma has created for us, if we follow these teachings Krishna has laid out for us in this life and strive to do the things He asks of us we shall come to Brahma in glory, spiritually prepared for our new life.
(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapters 4, 7-9, 13-15, 18 and Upanishads vol. 1, Aitareya-Aranyaka Part 2 and Khandogya-Upanishad Part 3, Ramayana)
Buddhism:
“He enters upon the higher paths that lead to Tathagatahood. He passes through the bliss of the Samadhis to assume the transformation body of a Tathagata that through him all beings may be emancipated. Mahamati, If there had been no Tathagata-womb and no Divine Mind then there would have been no rising and disappearance of the aggregates that make up personality and its external world, no rising and disappearance of ignorant people nor holy people, and no task for Bodhisattvas; therefore, while walking in the path of self-realization and entering into the enjoyments of the Samadhis, you must never abandon working hard for the emancipation of all beings and your self-yielding love will never be in vain. To philosophers the conception of Tathagata-womb seems devoid of purity and soiled by these external manifestations, but it is not so understood by the Tathagatas,–to them it is not a proposition of philosophy but is an intuitive experience as real as though it was an amalaka fruit held in the palm of the hand.” (Buddha, Lankavatara Sutra) Your perceptions of sight, hearing, understanding etc…have their unlimited nature and perfection of the Tathagatas womb. Within the womb of the Tathagata is the essential nature of perception of sight, intuitiveness, enlightenment, and intuition is the one and all embracing essence which manifests its faculty of seeing, hearing, understanding and feeling permeating everywhere throughout the universes and being manifested freely and perfectly in correspondence with the amount of Karma accumulated by the conscious activity of the sentient beings.
This womb of the Tathagatas (the world) prepares us in this life, by following the teachings of the Buddha for our life in the next world, just as the other religions do. “Your life is coming to an end; you are in the presence of death. There is no rest stop on the way, and you have made no provision for your journey.” “Your body as no better than an earthen pot.” “Before long this body will be lying on the ground, discarded and unconscious, like a useless bit of wood.” “Just as one can make a lot of garlands from a heap of flowers, so man, subject to birth and death as he is, should make himself a lot of good karma.” “Make yourself an island work hard, be wise; when your impurities are purged and you are free from guilt, you will not again enter into birth and old age.” “As a smith removes the impurities from silver, so let the wise remove the impurities from oneself one by one, little by little, again and again.” “When one understands that corporeality, feeling, perception, mental formation, and consciousness, are transient.” “Suffering does nor befall him who is without attachment to names and forms, and possesses nothing of his own.” “Look upon the world as a bubble; look on it as a mirage. Whoever looks thus upon the world is not seen by the sovereign of death.” ‘All forms are unreal.’ whoever realizes this transcends pain; this is the clear path.” “The purpose of the Holy Life does not consist in acquiring alms, honor, or fame. That unshakable deliverance of the heart: that, verily, is the object of the Holy Life, that is its essence, that is its goal. Though one were to live a hundred years immoral and with a mind unstilled by meditation, the life of a single day is better if one is moral and practices meditation. He who drinks in the Truth will live happily with a peaceful mind.” 18. “You stand at the threshold of your departure. Have you made provision for your journey?” “There is fruit and result, both of good and bad actions; that there are such things as this life, and the next life;” “In the same way, when a man who has done good goes from this world to the next, his good deeds receive him like relations welcoming a loved one back again.” “Not in the air, nor ocean-midst, Nor hidden in the mountain clefts, Nowhere is found a place on earth, Where man is freed from evil deeds. INHERITANCE OF DEEDS (KARMA) For, owners of their deeds (karma) are the beings, heirs of their deeds; their deeds are the womb from which they sprang; with their deeds they are bound up; their deeds are their refuge. Whatever deeds they do-good or evil-of such they will be the heirs.” The womb of their deeds is the spiritual womb of this world, in which we live and breathe and acquire the spiritual virtues needed for the life of the soul of man in the next world, or in the case of the evil doer the lack of spiritual development in consequence of their lack of good karma.
(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1, 2 and The Eightfold Path)
Sabeanism:
“We…. believe in the great celestial Womb, in that which is endless and countless…. the mighty Will of Life. In Piriawis, fount of living waters; ‘He-provided-a-Dwelling’ giving His Likeness its dwelling in the House of Life; in the Life Whose Eyes were fixed upon the waters. He arose, gazed and beheld the Nest from which He derived His being, (the womb). We believe in the first Upsurge and outflow of Life at its inception, (and) in its second (outflow),” (entrance into the next life). “In the name of the Life (God)! Go in peace, chosen, pure and guiltless one; Thou art without spot. Thou hast proven thyself by thy sojourn on earth And thy destiny leapt upward from its struggles, From its struggles thy destiny leapt upward.” From the hardship one endures in this great celestial womb, (spiritual life on this planet) we are proven and upon over coming these difficult struggles of this life we are prepared for our new life in the next world. (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapters and 92)