Re: A Dream
David Bough (bough@bwc.org)
Sun, Jan 8 1995 03:40:44 GMT
>> I am a non-Baha'i. I had the following dream the night of the 30th of
>> December.
...
>> Comments? What is the Baha'i position on dreams and personal
>> revelations? I have definite Baha'i sympathies - i.e., The world which
>> Baha'is want to build is the world I want my children to inherit.
>>
>> Another question - how does a person come to have faith that Baha'u'llah
>> is who he claimed to be?
Dear Friend,
The following quote from a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual relates to your first question concerning dreams:
That truth is often imported through dreams no one who is familiar with
history, especially religious history, can doubt. At the same time dreams
and visions are always coloured and influenced more or less by the mind of
the dreamer and we must beware of attaching too much importance to them.
The purer and more free from prejudice and desire our hearts and minds
become, the more likely is it that our dreams will convey reliable truth,
but if we have strong prejudices, personal likings and aversions, bad
feelings or evil motives, these will warp and distort any inspirational
impression that comes to us.... In many cases dreams have been the means
of bringing people to the truth or of confirming them in the Faith. We
must strive to become pure in heart and `free from all save God'. Then
our dreams as well as our waking thoughts will become pure and true. We
should test impressions we get through dreams, visions or inspirations,
by comparing them with the revealed Word and seeing whether they are in
full harmony therewith.
("Lights of Guidance" by Helen Hornby, second edition, 1988, pp. 513-514)
Regarding your second question, it is my opinion that faith in Baha'u'llah can
be acquired if you open your heart to Him, read His Sacred Writings, pray to
Him, follow His Teachings and obey His Laws. When you read His Writings He is
communicating with you, when you pray you are communicating with Him, and when
you follow His Teachings and obey His Laws then you are travelling on the
straight path to Him, to Baha'u'llah.
May God bless you on your spiritual journey.
David