- Increasing Inner Vision
[Note: Ronnie has referenced excellent quotes from the writings and I have added links to them throughout the text instead of footnotes as they were originally presented. So PLEASE click on all underlined hyperlinks to get the full text of this article. Thanks, Laurie]
A Daily Exercise Designed to Increase the Efficiency of the Faculty of Inner Vision
by Ronald Tomanio
Imagine going through life with one arm tied behind your back. Every once in a while you untie the unused arm and use it for a minute, then quickly tie it back up again. As you can image, this is not very efficient.
Just as we have two arms to work with, we have two ways of comprehending, but we have been trained in the use of only one.
Western society has concentrated on the development of our logical reasoning power but has virtually ignored the development of our knowing power. This exercise is an attempt to bring balance back into our lives by showing us how to use our knowing power.
Step One:
- Temporarily stop the use of the analytical reasoning process and quiet the mind.
Quieting the mind simply means letting go of thoughts; i.e., let them pass without your attention attaching to them or them impacting on you.
Visualize sitting on the banks of a stream after a storm. Various objects float by: a branch, some leaves, an old board. Let them float by and make no attempt to pick them up. I have enclosed a separate sheet with additional information if you need further help in quieting your mind. If not, march onward.
- Step Two:
- When you know your mind is quiet, you are ready to "ask your spirit a question."
"It is an axiomatic fact that while you meditate you are speaking with your own spirit and the spirit answers: The light breaks forth and the reality is revealed."
--'Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p.174
- Notice the word "if" does not appear in the above quote. You ask the question and you get an answer.
- By asking your questions, you are using the faculty of meditation. The purpose of this faculty is to put forth the questions and facilitate the inner consultation between the faculty of your mind and the faculty of your inner vision.
- Step Three:
- Listen for the answer. The source of this inspiration and the intuitive wisdom that flows through our faculty of inner vision to our immediate consciousness is God through the Manifestation. This quote ['Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 253] is so startling that, even though it is long, I must include in its entirety.
- By studying the [following] quote you will discover where your reasoning powers of comprehension come from and where your knowing powers of comprehension come from:
"If the wayfarer's goal be the dwelling of the Praiseworthy One (Mahmud), this is the station of primal reason which is known as the Prophet and the Most Great Pillar. Here reason signifieth the divine, universal mind, whose sovereignty enlighteneth all created things..."--Bahá'u'lláh, Seven Valleys & Four Valleys, p.52
- In the classroom, I built this exercise day by day, remember this is at its roots, a spiritual exercise that flowers in the outer material world. Do not be concerned about time.
- Step Four:
- Make sure the answer you have received is in harmony with the Sacred Writings.
- Remember you are not infallible. If you receive inspiration that you are the next Manifestation of God, you know, as a Bahá'&iacte that this is idle fancies and vain imaginings.
- There is such a feeling of safety living within the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh. You don't need to waste ten years of your life following an "inspiration" down a dark dead-end alley. Simply take one second and toss it into the garbage can marked "ego."
- I don't think it is a coincidence that at the same time we have all of this incredible knowledge about the soul, we have been given an unbreakable covenant in which we can experiment safely with this knowledge.
- Step Five:
- After the mind is convinced that the inspiration received from the faculty of inner vision is in accord with the Sacred Writings, it is important that some act of service to humanity must be performed. You are also a card carrying member of humanity. Therefore the act of service may be purely personal. A true act of service in the outer world fits like a glove on inspiration from the inner world. This becomes another safety check to make sure you are going in the right direction.
- A painter creates a vision of staggering beauty. A poet assembles words as grand as the pyramids. A musician creates a song that will be sung all over the world and beyond his lifetime. What must they all do next?
- Step Six:
- Say prayers of praise and gratitude to God for this divine gift, and also pray for your own humility with the knowledge you now know where these wonders come from. This also contributes to a sincere listening attitude which is needed to receive more inspiration. After all, an ego maniac has no need to listen to anyone else.
- I want to try and sum up. If we learn to use both our reasoning power and knowing power in a harmonious fashion, we will solve our problems quicker and more easily. We will have fewer times in our lives when we seem to exist in a world of negative emotions. The quality of our lives will improve dramatically and we will perform great acts of service to humanity.
- Not everyone can be a great musician, poet or artist but we can all infuse our lives with creativity derived from our faculty of inner vision. There are as many avenues of creativity as there are human beings.
- I have one word of warning. Start using these wondrous powers of the soul and you better be prepared for a truly exciting life.
- My thanks to Henry Weil for his books: Closer than your Life's Vein and Drops from the Ocean. Also, thanks to Sissy Weil for sending me additional materials.
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