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The meaning of the tree of life as a symbol of the Manifestation of God is explained in the following quotation by Abdu'l-Baha, the Son of Baha'u'llah. It is relatively short, but - like so many passages from scripture - certainly not immediately understandable. It is filled with such meaning that it will no doubt require innumerable volumes and all human learning to adequately explain and exhaust its import: (140:3) "The tree of life is the highest degree of the world of existence : the position of the Word of God, and the supreme Manifestation. Therefore, that position has been preserved: and, at the appearance of the most noble supreme Manifestation, it became apparent and clear. For the position of Adam, with regard to the appearance and manifestation of the divine perfections, was in the embryonic condition; the position of Christ was the condition of maturity and the age of reason; and the rising of the Greatest Luminary was the condition of the perfection of the essence and of the qualities. This is why in the supreme Paradise the tree of life is the expression for the center of absolutely pure sanctity-that is to say, of the divine supreme Manifestation. From the days of Adam until the days of Christ, they spoke little of eternal life and the heavenly universal perfections. This tree of life was the position of the Reality of Christ; through His manifestation it was planted and adorned with everlasting fruits." (140:4) How can we make an initial approach to the understanding of this profound passage? The following reflections about it may provide us at least a preliminary comprehension and grasp of its principal themes and ideas. Consider: the development of the human embryo is a necessary condition, an inseparable preliminary requirement, which must occur before the natural powers of the human being can appear and manifest themselves. The kingdom of nature must develop in a human being for many years - which is to say the physical, sensory, and material dimensions of human life must progress fully - before the dawn of the powers of thought and reason appear in a human being , and with it, the first signs of the budding maturity of the kingdom of humanity. This kingdom is that of reason, thought, art, science, law, government, and culture - the realm of civilization and its continuing progress and advancement; it is the Kingdom where humanity, by its characteristics and achievements, distinguishes itself from the animal Kingdom
(140:5)
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