Non-psychic "powers"
mike3
I saw this post from one of my (few months old) threads:
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.religion.bahai/msg/825423399240b120?hl=en
"Hi Mike-
I have been away for a spell and just now getting around to
responding
to emails.
Possibly there is some misunderstanding about all this.
My understanding is that talents, virtues, extra powers, etc. are
innate within each soul. Some souls might have a propensity for
music, some for art, some for math, etc. but we all can develop
these
by being obedient to God's Will. When we are obedient and acquire
virtues and use these powers for the proper purpose they become more
fully able to be expressed. But we are not to purposely seek after
and try to develop them. And if we already have a high degree of
extra powers then we are not to use them for the wrong purposes.
I believe the subject line of these emails is wrong for these powers
are not prohibited, what is prohibited is for us to purposely try to
develop them or misuse them if we do have such things.
regards,
doug "
But you seem to be suggesting that it is a serious wrong to
deliberately
seek after various other "powers" that have nothing to do with psychic
at all. You list "talents, *virtues*, extra powers, etc." But isn't it
such that
one must not only purposely seek after virtues, but that such a thing
is
_required_ by the law of God?
Furthermore, is not one of the things that education does, is to
develop
certain "powers", such as some of those for math, for example, and
that
when one chooses a certain profession, one must also develop such
"powers" in order to practice it? Therefore one must "purposely seek
them
out" as part of the process.
What is the wrong in purposely seeking out these *non*-psychic
"powers",
for the good of man? And just how grave is it?
Douglas McAdam
You misunderstand me.
Our Writings are clear in that our purpose is to acquire virtues.
They also are clear that each soul has innate powers, virtues, etc.
but they must be brought forth and developed. The idea I get from the
Writings is that when we acquire virtues our other psychic powers will
develop but we are not to seek these psychic powers but rather allow
them to develop naturally or spiritually as a result of the
acquisition of virtues.
In other words we should purposely seek to bring out, develop and
apply virtues that are latent but we do not purposely seek after the
psychic powers.
I'm sure you can find the relevant Writings for these concepts as I did.
regards,
doug
Sen
I think you are right: the powers and virtues and talents you refer to
are the "names of God" or "divine attributes" which we all have in
potential. Our purpose in life is to seek to expand and express them:
not for our own achievement but because the lover of God seeks to
express the attributes of the beloved expressed in himself and in the
world.
Sen
mike3
wrote:
> Dear Mike3-
> You misunderstand me.
> Our Writings are clear in that our purpose is to acquire virtues.
> They also are clear that each soul has innate powers, virtues, etc.
> but they must be brought forth and developed. The idea I get from the
> Writings is that when we acquire virtues our other psychic powers will
> develop but we are not to seek these psychic powers but rather allow
> them to develop naturally or spiritually as a result of the
> acquisition of virtues.
> In other words we should purposely seek to bring out, develop and
> apply virtues that are latent but we do not purposely seek after the
> psychic powers.
> I'm sure you can find the relevant Writings for these concepts as I did.
>
The "misunderstanding" is because the way you wrote it, it seemed like
you were lumping all that other stuff together along with "psychic"
powers:
"My understanding is that *talents, virtues*, extra powers, etc. are
innate within each soul. Some souls might have a *propensity for
music, some for art, some for math, etc.* but we all can develop
these
by being obedient to God's Will. When we are obedient and acquire
virtues and use these powers for the proper purpose they become more
fully able to be expressed. ***But we are not to purposely seek after
and try to develop them.***"
See, it seems you lump in "talents", "_virtues_", propensities for
"music,
art, math", etc. together with psychic powers as things that should
not
be "purposely sought after", and therefore that doing such a thing may
have horrible consequences! But as I mentioned, that doesn't make
sense.
Douglas McAdam
Sorry for the confusion but if you will look at my last statement, as
follows, you will see that I made a separation between psychic and
other powers.
> In other words we should purposely seek to bring out, develop and
> apply virtues that are latent but we do not purposely seek after the
> psychic powers.
> I'm sure you can find the relevant Writings for these concepts as I
> did.
In any case a brief search of the Writings regarding "psychic powers"
will show you that we are not to pursue cultivating these and if you
look up "virtues" you will find that we are to bring out, develop and
apply virtues.
I was not sure why you brought up this subject since the Writings
appear to be so clear about both psychic powers and virtues.
regards,
doug
mike3
wrote:
> Hi Mike-
> Sorry for the confusion but if you will look at my last statement, as
> follows, you will see that I made a separation between psychic and
> other powers.
>
I notice, however it seemed to be contrary to the rest of the post.
> > In other words we should purposely seek to bring out, develop and
> > apply virtues that are latent but we do not purposely seek after the
> > psychic powers.
> > I'm sure you can find the relevant Writings for these concepts as I
> > did.
>
> In any case a brief search of the Writings regarding "psychic powers"
> will show you that we are not to pursue cultivating these and if you
> look up "virtues" you will find that we are to bring out, develop and
> apply virtues.
>
Of course, which is why I was dumbfounded when it seemed you were
lumping
all that in with "prohibited" stuff like "psychic powers".
> I was not sure why you brought up this subject since the Writings
> appear to be so clear about both psychic powers and virtues.
>
See above.