tag name: Arc of ascent and descent type: Miscellaneous; Philosophy; Religions, Middle Eastern web link: bahai-library.com/tags/Arc_of_ascent_and_descent related tags: – Concepts, Philosophical; – Concepts, Religious; Cosmology, cosmos; Human nature; Spiritual reality; Spirituality referring tags: Journey (spiritual); Seven stages of creation; Tafsir Ghulibatu'r-Rum (Commentary on the Hadith 'Rome was Overthrown') Inventory subject: Arcs of ascent and descent notes: Man is in the ultimate degree of materiality and the beginning of spirituality; that is, he is at the end of imperfection and the beginning of perfection. He is at the furthermost degree of darkness and the beginning of the light. That is why the station of man is said to be the end of night and the beginning of day, meaning that he encompasses all the degrees of imperfection and that he potentially possesses all the degrees of perfection. He has both an animal side and an angelic side, and the role of the educator is to so train human souls that the angelic side may overcome the animal..." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, chapter 64 "Man ... hath a twofold station: one luminous, the other dark; one pertaining to the realm of the Divine, the other to the world of nature; one inclined towards heavenly virtues, the other towards satanic qualities. For man standeth on the demarcation line between light and darkness. In the circle of existence, he is situated at the lowest point, which marketh at once the end of the arc of descent and the beginning of the arc of ascent. For this reason, he is free to move in either direction: towards light or darkness, towards ignorance or guidance—depending on the one that prevaileth. Should the rational faculty prevail, man would shine radiantly and occupy a lofty station in the realms on high. And should the self and the lower nature prevail, the result would be darkness..." – 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Light of the World
"... For the inner reality of man is a demarcation line between the shadow and the light, a place where the two seas meet; it is the lowest point on the arc of descent, and therefore is it capable of gaining all the grades above. With education it can achieve all excellence; devoid of education it will stay on, at the lowest point of imperfection..." – Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Bahá, #103
references: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcs_of_Descent_and_Ascent; www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/search#q=Arc of ascent
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