If the soul comes from its Creator, as the world’s religions agree, is it possible that it comes here with some kind of memory of its remarkable origin? If it did, this precious memory would surely be the most rewarding of all memories to recover.
That’s why there is such a great power in remembrance. A story shared by many sacred traditions (including the Jewish legend, “The Angel and the Unborn Soul”) tells us, metaphorically, that we learn in the womb what our nature and destiny are. However, the needs and wants of our physical nature take over at birth, and we forget where we came from and why we are here. We then spend our lives trying to remember what we have forgotten.
But could it be that we are also hardwired for transcendence, for going beyond what is seen, venturing into the unknown, and making it the known, even remembering what is buried within us? Transcendence is necessary to our existence. One cell transcends into many; cells transcend into one body; individuals transcend into societies; and societies transcend into world civilizations. Part of this transcendence is innate and part of it is learned.
This is why all the prophets of the world’s religions speak of remembrance, to keep our focus on the sacred, which is where we will find our greatest comfort. Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith, and the last in a long line of prophets of God, asks us to remember him because this is what will truly be “the healer of (our) ills.”
Baha’u’llah also wants us to remember him for a better understanding of the universal, archetypal experiences that we will share with him: “Lament not in your hours of trial, neither rejoice therein; seek ye the Middle Way which is the remembrance of Me in your afflictions and reflection over that which may befall you in the future… If tribulation touch thee for My sake, call thou to mind My ills and troubles, and remember My banishment and imprisonment.”
By remembering his days, and the similar archetypal experiences of all the prophets, especially all the trials and hardships they endured, during our times of difficulties, we bring greater meaning to our own lives, and recognize more clearly the purpose in everything that befalls us.
But remembrance is not an easy process. Abdu’l-Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah, says living in the material world is like having dust gather upon the soul. Attachment to the world, envy, love of luxury, and self-desire are some of the things that cover the light within us. What will wipe the dust away, and get us in touch with our soul again, he says, are developing spiritual qualities like sincerity, justice, humility, severance, and unconditional love.
At the heart of most spiritual practice, what is left when we move beyond form, language, and prescriptions, is simply remembering. Remember who you are. Remember what you love. Remember what is sacred. Remember that this day is a gift.
Remembrance may be the most powerful tool we have for accessing the divine within us. Perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves is finding a practice that will help us remember what we do not yet know. This could be meditation, prayer, writing, singing, walking, or even going deep into the mundane routines of life.
All of the world’s spiritual and religious traditions seek to better understand our origin as well as our destiny. At the heart of the Baha’i writings is the idea that the soul “is the repository of the ancient, Divine mysteries of God.”
A big step toward accessing the divine mysteries within us is knowing that, beyond all the usual identities we carry with us all the time, our one identity that is timeless is our soul. This is who we are eternally. Discovering and getting to know well this one eternal component that makes us truly unique could even be seen as our ultimate goal of life.
Remembrance takes us further toward understanding and nurturing the divine qualities or virtues that have been deposited in our soul, and what will most help us gain access to what we once knew before our descent to this world. This is what will most help us in our return journey, as well.
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