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Upamtite da su stanja postojanja ograničena na stanja služenja, proroštva i Božanstva, ali da su božanske i nestalne savršenosti neograničene. Kad duboko promislite, otkrit ćete da su također i izvana savršenosti postojanja neograničene, jer ne možete naći biće toliko savršeno da ne biste mogli zamisliti neko više od njega. Na primjer, ne možete vidjeti rubin u kraljevstvu minerala, ružu u biljnom kraljevstvu, a da ne zamislite da ne postoje bolji primjerci. Jednako kao što su božanske milosti beskrajne, isto su tako beskrajne ljudske savršenosti. Kad bi bilo moguće dosegnuti granicu savršenosti, tada bi neka od stvarnosti bića mogla dosegnuti stanje neovisnosti o Bogu i prolazno bi moglo dosegnuti stanje apsolutnoga. No za svako biće postoji točka koju ono ne može prijeći – tj. onaj koji ima položaj služenja, ma koliko daleko napredovao u stjecanju bezgraničnih savršenosti, nikada neće dostići položaj Božanstva. Isto je tako i s drugim bićima. Mineral, ma koliko daleko napredovao u kraljevstvu minerala, ne može steći moć biljke. Isto se tako u cvijetu, ma koliko on napredovao u biljnom kraljevstvu, neće pojaviti osjetilna moć. Tako ovaj srebrni mineral ne može dobiti moć sluha ili vida; on samo može usavršiti svoj vlastiti položaj i postati savršeni mineral, ali ne može dobiti moć rasta ili osjeta ili zadobiti život; on može napredovati samo unutar svoga vlastitoga stanja. |
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. For example, you cannot see a ruby in the mineral kingdom, a rose in the vegetable kingdom, or a nightingale in the animal kingdom, without imagining that there might be better specimens. As the divine bounties are endless, so human perfections are endless. If it were possible to reach a limit of perfection, then one of the realities of the beings might reach the condition of being independent of God, and the contingent might attain to the condition of the absolute. But for every being there is a point which it cannot overpass—that is to say, he who is in the condition of servitude, however far he may progress in gaining limitless perfections, will never reach the condition of Deity. It is the same with the other beings. A mineral, however far it may progress in the mineral kingdom, cannot gain the vegetable power. Also in a flower, however far it may progress in the vegetable kingdom, no power of the senses will appear. So this silver mineral cannot gain hearing or sight; it can only improve in its own condition and become a perfect mineral, but it cannot acquire the power of growth, or the power of sensation, or attain to life; it can only progress in its own condition. |
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Na primjer, Petar ne može postati Krist. Sve što on može učiniti jest u položaju služenja postići beskrajne savršenosti; jer svaka je postojeća stvarnost sposobna napredovati. Kao što duh čovjeka nakon odlaganja svog zemnog obličja ima vječni život, sigurno je i da je svako postojeće biće sposobno napredovati; stoga je dopušteno zatražiti unapređenje, oproštaj, milost, dobročinstvo i blagoslove za čovjeka nakon njegove smrti jer postojanje može napredovati. Zato se u molitvama Bahá’u’lláha moli oprost grijeha za one koji su umrli. Štoviše, kao što ljudi u ovome svijetu trebaju Boga, isto će Ga tako trebati i na drugom svijetu. Stvorenja su uvijek potrebita, Bog je apsolutno neovisan, bilo u ovome svijetu, bilo u onome koji će doći. |
For example, Peter cannot become Christ. All that he can do is, in the condition of servitude, to attain endless perfections; for every existing reality is capable of making progress. As the spirit of man after putting off this material form has an everlasting life, certainly any existing being is capable of making progress; therefore, it is permitted to ask for advancement, forgiveness, mercy, beneficence and blessings for a man after his death because existence is capable of progression. That is why in the prayers of Bahá’u’lláh forgiveness and remission of sins are asked for those who have died. Moreover, as people in this world are in need of God, they will also need Him in the other world. The creatures are always in need, and God is absolutely independent, whether in this world or in the world to come. |
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Bogatstvo drugoga svijeta je Božja blizina. Prema tome, jasno je da je onima koji su bliže Božanskom Dvoru dopušteno zagovarati i taj zagovor Bog odobrava. No, zagovor na drugome svijetu nije kao zagovor u ovome. To je nešto drugo, druga stvarnost, koja se ne može izraziti riječima. |
The wealth of the other world is nearness to God. Consequently, it is certain that those who are near the Divine Court are allowed to intercede, and this intercession is approved by God. But intercession in the other world is not like intercession in this world. It is another thing, another reality, which cannot be expressed in words. |
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Ako bogat čovjek prije smrti oporučno ostavi dar siromašnima i bijednima i dio svoga bogatstva dade na njih potrošiti, možda će to djelo biti uzrokom njegova oprosta i njegova napretka u Božanskom Kraljevstvu. |
If a wealthy man at the time of his death bequeaths a gift to the poor and miserable, and gives a part of his wealth to be spent for them, perhaps this action may be the cause of his pardon and forgiveness, and of his progress in the Divine Kingdom. |
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Otac i majka također trpe beskrajne nevolje i nedaće zbog svoje djece, i često kad djeca dosegnu dob zrelosti, roditelji umiru i prelaze na drugi svijet. Rijetko se događa da majka i otac u ovome svijetu vide nagradu za brigu i nevolje koje su podnijeli zbog svoje djece. Stoga, djeca zauzvrat za ovu skrb i nevolje moraju pokazati milosrdnost i dobročinstvo i moraju moliti oprost i oproštaj za svoje roditelje. Stoga vi morate za ljubav i blagost koju vam je iskazao vaš otac dati siromašnima za njegovo dobro, s najvećom poniznošću i skromnošću zaiskati oprost grijeha i zamoliti za najvišu milost. |
Also a father and mother endure the greatest troubles and hardships for their children; and often when the children have reached the age of maturity, the parents pass on to the other world. Rarely does it happen that a father and mother in this world see the reward of the care and trouble they have undergone for their children. Therefore, children, in return for this care and trouble, must show forth charity and beneficence, and must implore pardon and forgiveness for their parents. So you ought, in return for the love and kindness shown you by your father, to give to the poor for his sake, with greatest submission and humility implore pardon and remission of sins, and ask for the supreme mercy. |
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Moguće je čak da se i stanje onih koji su umrli u grijehu i nevjeri promijeni – to znači, oni mogu postati predmetom oproštaja dobrostivošću Božjom, a ne Njegovom pravdom – jer dobrostivost je davanje bez zasluge, a pravda je davanje prema zasluzi. Jednako kao što mi imamo moć moliti se za te duše ovdje, isto tako ćemo imati istu moć u drugom svijetu, koji je Kraljevstvo Božje. Nisu li svi ljudi na tom svijetu Božja stvorenja? Zato i u tom svijetu oni mogu napredovati. Kao što ovdje primaju svjetlo svojim smjernim molitvama, i tamo također oni mogu preklinjati za oprost i primiti svjetlo zaklinjanjem i usrdnim molitvama. Tako kao što se duše u ovom svijetu – uz pomoć zaklinjanja, smjernih molitava i molitava svetih – mogu razvijati, isto je tako i nakon smrti. Njihovim vlastitim molitvama i zaklinjanjima i one također mogu napredovati, posebno kad su objekt zagovora Svetih Objava. |
It is even possible that the condition of those who have died in sin and unbelief may become changed—that is to say, they may become the object of pardon through the bounty of God, not through His justice—for bounty is giving without desert, and justice is giving what is deserved. As we have power to pray for these souls here, so likewise we shall possess the same power in the other world, which is the Kingdom of God. Are not all the people in that world the creatures of God? Therefore, in that world also they can make progress. As here they can receive light by their supplications, there also they can plead for forgiveness and receive light through entreaties and supplications. Thus as souls in this world, through the help of the supplications, the entreaties and the prayers of the holy ones, can acquire development, so is it the same after death. Through their own prayers and supplications they can also progress, more especially when they are the object of the intercession of the Holy Manifestations. |
