Tonight I wish to tell you something of the history of the Baha'i
Revelation.
The Blessed Perfection, Baha'u'llah, belonged to the nobility of Persia.
From earliest childhood He was distinguished among His relatives and
friends. They said, "This child has extraordinary power." In wisdom,
intelligence and as a source of new knowledge, He was advanced beyond His
age and superior to His surroundings. All who knew Him were astonished at
His precocity. It was usual for them to say, "Such a child will not live,"
for it is commonly believed that precocious children do not reach
maturity. During the period of youth the Blessed Perfection did not enter
school. He was not willing to be taught. This fact is well established
among the Persians of Tihran. Nevertheless, He was capable of solving the
difficult problems of all who came to Him. In whatever meeting, scientific
assembly or theological discussion He was found, He became the authority
of explanation upon intricate and abstruse questions presented.
Until His father passed away, Baha'u'llah did not seek position or
political station notwithstanding His connection with the government. This
occasioned surprise and comment. It was frequently said, "How is it that a
young man of such keen intelligence and subtle perception does not seek
lucrative appointments? As a matter of fact, every position is open to
him." This is an historical statement fully attested by the people of
Persia.
He was most generous, giving abundantly to the poor. None who came to Him
were turned away. The doors of His house were open to all. He always had
many guests. This unbounded generosity was conducive to greater
astonishment from the fact that He sought neither position nor prominence.
In commenting upon this His friends said He would become impoverished, for
His expenses were many and His wealth becoming more and more limited. "Why
is he not thinking of his own affairs?" they inquired of each other; but
some who were wise declared, "This personage is connected with another
world; he has something sublime within him that is not evident now; the
day is coming when it will be manifested." In truth, the Blessed
Perfection was a refuge for every weak one, a shelter for every fearing
one, kind to every indigent one, lenient and loving to all creatures.
He became well-known in regard to these qualities before the Bab appeared.
Then Baha'u'llah declared the Bab's mission to be true and promulgated His
teachings. The Bab announced that the greater Manifestation would take
place after Him and called the Promised One "Him Whom God shall make
manifest," saying that nine years later the reality of His own mission
would become apparent. In His writings He stated that in the ninth year
this expected One would be known; in the ninth year they would attain to
all glory and felicity; in the ninth year they would advance rapidly.
Between Baha'u'llah and the Bab there was communication privately. The Bab
wrote a letter containing three hundred and sixty derivatives of the root
Baha. The Bab was martyred in Tabriz; and Baha'u'llah, exiled into 'Iraq
in 1852, announced Himself in Ba_gh_dad. For the Persian government had
decided that as long as He remained in Persia the peace of the country
would be disturbed; therefore, He was exiled in the expectation that
Persia would become quiet. His banishment, however, produced the opposite
effect. New tumult arose, and the mention of His greatness and influence
spread everywhere throughout the country. The proclamation of His
manifestation and mission was made in Ba_gh_dad. He called His friends
together there and spoke to them of God.
At one point He left the city and went alone into the mountains of
Kurdistan, where He made His abode in caves and grottoes. A part of this
time He lived in the city of Sulaymaniyyih. Two years passed during which
neither His friends nor family knew just where He was.
Although Baha'u'llah was solitary, secluded and unknown in His retirement,
the report spread throughout Kurdistan that this was a most remarkable and
learned Personage, gifted with a wonderful power of attraction. In a short
time Kurdistan was magnetized with His love. During this period
Baha'u'llah lived in poverty. His garments were those of the poor and
needy. His food was that of the indigent and lowly. An atmosphere of
majesty haloed Him as the sun at midday. Everywhere He was greatly revered
and beloved.
After two years He returned to Ba_gh_dad. Friends He had known in
Sulaymaniyyih came to visit Him. They found Him in His accustomed
environment of ease and affluence and were astonished at the appointments
of One Who had lived in seclusion under such frugal conditions in
Kurdistan.
The Persian government believed the banishment of the Blessed Perfection
from Persia would be the extermination of His Cause in that country. These
rulers now realized that it spread more rapidly. His prestige increased;
His teachings became more widely circulated. The chiefs of Persia then
used their influence to have Baha'u'llah exiled from Ba_gh_dad. He was
summoned to Constantinople by the Turkish authorities. While in
Constantinople He ignored every restriction, especially the hostility of
ministers of state and clergy. The official representatives of Persia
again brought their influence to bear upon the Turkish authorities and
succeeded in having Baha'u'llah banished from Constantinople to
Adrianople, the object being to keep Him as far away as possible from
Persia and render His communication with that country more difficult.
Nevertheless, the Cause still spread and strengthened.
Finally, they consulted together and said, "We have banished Baha'u'llah
from place to place, but each time he is exiled his cause is more widely
extended, his proclamation increases in power, and day by day his lamp is
becoming brighter. This is due to the fact that we have exiled him to
large cities and populous centers. Therefore, we will send him to a penal
colony as a prisoner so that all may know he is the associate of
murderers, robbers and criminals; in a short time he and his followers
will perish." The Sultan of Turkey then banished Him to the prison of Akka
in Syria.
When Baha'u'llah arrived at Akka, through the power of God He was able to
hoist His banner. His light at first had been a star; now it became a
mighty sun, and the illumination of His Cause expanded from the East to
the West. Inside prison walls He wrote Epistles to all the kings and
rulers of nations, summoning them to arbitration and universal peace. Some
of the kings received His words with disdain and contempt. One of these
was the Sultan of the Ottoman kingdom. Napoleon III of France did not
reply. A second Epistle was addressed to him. It stated, "I have written
you an Epistle before this, summoning you to the Cause of God, but you are
of the heedless. You have proclaimed that you were the defender of the
oppressed; now it hath become evident that you are not. Nor are you kind
to your own suffering and oppressed people. Your actions are contrary to
your own interests, and your kingly pride must fall. Because of your
arrogance God shortly will destroy your sovereignty. France will flee away
from you, and you will be overwhelmed by a great conquest. There will be
lamentation and mourning, women bemoaning the loss of their sons." This
arraignment of Napoleon III was published and spread.
Read it and consider: one prisoner, single and solitary, without assistant
or defender, a foreigner and stranger imprisoned in the fortress of Akka,
writing such letters to the Emperor of France and Sultan of Turkey.
Reflect upon this: how Baha'u'llah upraised the standard of His Cause in
prison. Refer to history. It is without parallel. No such thing has
happened before that time nor since--a prisoner and an exile advancing His
Cause and spreading His teachings broadcast so that eventually He became
powerful enough to conquer the very king who banished Him.
His Cause spread more and more. The Blessed Perfection was a prisoner
twenty-five years. During all this time He was subjected to the
indignities and revilement of the people. He was persecuted, mocked and
put in chains. In Persia His properties were pillaged and His possessions
confiscated. First, there was banishment from Persia to Ba_gh_dad, then to
Constantinople, then to Adrianople, finally from Rumelia to the prison
fortress of Akka.
During His lifetime He was intensely active. His energy was unlimited.
Scarcely one night was passed in restful sleep. He bore these ordeals,
suffered these calamities and difficulties in order that a manifestation
of selflessness and service might become apparent in the world of
humanity; that the Most Great Peace should become a reality; that human
souls might appear as the angels of heaven; that heavenly miracles would
be wrought among men; that human faith should be strengthened and
perfected; that the precious, priceless bestowal of God--the human
mind--might be developed to its fullest capacity in the temple of the body;
and that man might become the reflection and likeness of God, even as it
hath been revealed in the Bible, "Let us make man in our image."
Briefly, the Blessed Perfection bore all these ordeals and calamities in
order that our hearts might become enkindled and radiant, our spirits be
glorified, our faults become virtues, our ignorance be transformed into
knowledge; in order that we might attain the real fruits of humanity and
acquire heavenly graces; in order that, although pilgrims upon earth, we
should travel the road of the heavenly Kingdom, and, although needy and
poor, we might receive the treasures of eternal life. For this has He
borne these difficulties and sorrows.
Trust all to God. The lights of God are resplendent. The blessed Epistles
are spreading. The blessed teachings are promulgated throughout the East
and West. Soon you will see that the heavenly Words have established the
oneness of the world of humanity. The banner of the Most Great Peace has
been unfurled, and the great community is appearing.
19 April 1912
Talk at Earl Hall
Columbia University, New York