http://warble.com/blog/2007/11/27/memorial-for-dr-ali-muhammad-varqa/ A quavering modulation of the voice; a musical trill; a song. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:45:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://warble.com/blog/2007/11/27/memorial-for-dr-ali-muhammad-varqa/#comment-215 James Sat, 01 Dec 2007 11:13:31 +0000 http://warble.com/blog/2007/11/27/memorial-for-dr-ali-muhammad-varqa/#comment-215 I agree with you in essence, I don’t think the word institution is particularly appropriate here, though it was me who chose to use it, as the Hands of the Cause of God were individuals appointed to fulfil a certain role within the Baha’i community. During their life-time the Hands of the Cause fulfilled a role that could have only been carried out by living appointees of Baha’u'llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi. Certain elements of their role, however, will continue to be served by the Counsellors and the Auxiliary Board. Their memory, their spirit, and the example they set, will also stand as an example and inspiration for the Baha’i community. I think the Guardianship is slightly different in as much as it it is continued, not only in a spiritual and exemplary sense but, also, through the large body of visionary and explanatory texts that Shoghi Effendi provided, to the Baha’i community, as an official Guardian’s perspective to be consulted and relied upon far into the future. I agree with you in essence, I don’t think the word institution is particularly appropriate here, though it was me who chose to use it, as the Hands of the Cause of God were individuals appointed to fulfil a certain role within the Baha’i community. During their life-time the Hands of the Cause fulfilled a role that could have only been carried out by living appointees of Baha’u’llah, ‘Abdu’l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi. Certain elements of their role, however, will continue to be served by the Counsellors and the Auxiliary Board. Their memory, their spirit, and the example they set, will also stand as an example and inspiration for the Baha’i community.
I think the Guardianship is slightly different in as much as it it is continued, not only in a spiritual and exemplary sense but, also, through the large body of visionary and explanatory texts that Shoghi Effendi provided, to the Baha’i community, as an official Guardian’s perspective to be consulted and relied upon far into the future.

]]> http://warble.com/blog/2007/11/27/memorial-for-dr-ali-muhammad-varqa/#comment-212 soulfulady Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:33:15 +0000 http://warble.com/blog/2007/11/27/memorial-for-dr-ali-muhammad-varqa/#comment-212 Just a comment in response to your note that the Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God ended with the passing of Dr. Varqa. It is true that he was the last living member of this Institution and there will not be any more Hands appointed, but to my understanding the Institution itself continues, just as the Institution of the Guardian continues, although there is no longer a living Guardian. The fact is, their souls live throughout eternity and they serve through all the worlds of God even though not in physical form. As 'Abdu'l-Baha said, "That world is in this world," and "There is no separation." Just a comment in response to your note that the Institution of the Hands of the Cause of God ended with the passing of Dr. Varqa. It is true that he was the last living member of this Institution and there will not be any more Hands appointed, but to my understanding the Institution itself continues, just as the Institution of the Guardian continues, although there is no longer a living Guardian. The fact is, their souls live throughout eternity and they serve through all the worlds of God even though not in physical form. As ‘Abdu’l-Baha said, “That world is in this world,” and “There is no separation.”

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