Humans have taken a bit of a beating these last few centuries.  Ever since Darwin presented his theory of evolution, humans have been scientifically defined as being the outcome of blind materialistic forces that resulted in what we now call homo sapiens.  While the theory of evolution has been scientifically illuminating as to how biological organisms like us have developed over time, it is by no means proven that the process is completely random or not intended in the divine purpose of creation.  The other point of view, highlighted by religion, points out that the evolution of matter to the point where it produces an organism- us- that can explain matter itself, to itself, is so astoundingly remarkable that it could not possibly have been unintended or some random outcome of mindless forces.  Indeed, human rationality is so remarkable that it is arguably the most powerful force in the universe, able to tame the forces of nature to its own advantage.  The recognition of the transcendence of rationality is the starting point to thinking about humans, not as simply biological machines, but the reflection within the material universe of the fundamentally transcendent and spiritual nature of the universe itself.  From this perspective, the fundamental basis of reality is not matter, but thought, and spirit.

The revelations of God have pounded on this theme.  So consistent has been the refrain within the revelations of God that humans are fundamentally transcendent that all the passages referring to it could fill up a hefty book.  Indeed, the revelations of God have been the counterpoint to our natural tendency to slide back into thinking of ourselves as material things only, with material advantage being the only product worth working towards. As much as our current materialistic philosophies about the nature of humans are the result of the explosion of scientific understanding, they are also the result of the decline in the coherence of religious thought, as traditional religions had tied themselves to world views that were surpassed by the modern scientific understanding of the world. 

The revelation of Baha’u’llah reinvigorates our spiritual understanding of the world. By explaining that all the revelations of God are essentially on the same side, and not inherently contradictory with themselves, despite how humans have interpreted them, we can now line up considerable intellectual weight on the side of a perspective that humanity is fundamentally transcendent. Indeed, we see, through the revelations of God, a continuous process of humanity being reminded of our transcendence just when we were set up to again forget it.  The fact that Baha’u’llah Himself appeared just as materialistic scientific ideas were beginning to exert their force is another confirmation that God doesn’t want us to forget who we truly are.  Just as it seemed like all hope for a transcendent view of humanity was lost, God has sent yet another revelation to remind us- one with more potency and explanatory power than any of the previous revelations. 

Anybody with kids has seen the movie “The Lion King”.  If you are having trouble figuring out who Baha’u’llah is, think of him as Mufasa.  Remember the scene where Simba is pondering his future on a dark starry night and his father, Mufasa, appears to him in the stars to remind him of who he is.  The scene ends with Mufasa saying “Remember who you are!”.  Baha’u’llah is Mufasa, the King sent to remind us who we truly are. The passages that reflect this theme are manifold, but here are a few selected ones. 

O Son of Spirit! I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.

O friends! Be not careless of the virtues with which ye have been endowed, neither be neglectful of your high destiny. Suffer not your labors to be wasted through the vain imaginations which certain hearts have devised. Ye are the stars of the heaven of understanding, the breeze that stirreth at the break of day, the soft-flowing waters upon which must depend the very life of all men, the letters inscribed upon His sacred scroll. With the utmost unity, and in a spirit of perfect fellowship, exert yourselves, that ye may be enabled to achieve that which beseemeth this Day of God. Verily I say, strife and dissension, and whatsoever the mind of man abhorreth are entirely unworthy of his station.

Were man to appreciate the greatness of his station and the loftiness of his destiny he would manifest naught save goodly character, pure deeds, and a seemly and praiseworthy conduct. If the learned and wise men of goodwill were to impart guidance unto the people, the whole earth would be regarded as one country….This servant appealeth to every diligent and enterprising soul to exert his utmost endeavour and arise to rehabilitate the conditions in all regions and to quicken the dead with the living waters of wisdom and utterance, by virtue of the love he cherisheth for God, the One, the Peerless, the Almighty, the Beneficent.