exists, but it is only the Divine Light that can give us sight for the
invisible things, and which enables us to see truths that will only be
visible to the world thousands of years hence.
It was the Divine Light which enabled the prophets to see two thousand
years in advance what was going to take place and today we see the
realization of their vision. Thus it is this Light which we must strive to
seek, for it is greater than any other.
It was by this Light that Moses was enabled to see and comprehend the
Divine Appearance, and to hear the Heavenly Voice which spoke to him from
the Burning Bush.(6)
It is of this Light Muhammad is speaking when he says, 'Allah is the light
of the Heavens, and of the Earth'.
Seek with all your hearts this Heavenly Light, so that you may be enabled
to understand the realities, that you may know the secret things of God,
that the hidden ways may be made plain before your eyes.
This light may be likened unto a mirror, and as a mirror reflects all that
is before it, so this Light shows to the eyes of our spirits all that
exists in God's Kingdom and causes the realities of things to be made
visible. By the help of this effulgent Light all the spiritual
interpretation of the Holy Writings has been made plain, the hidden things
of God's Universe have become manifest, and we have been enabled to
comprehend the Divine purposes for man.
I pray that God in His mercy may illumine your hearts and souls with His
glorious Light, then shall each one of you shine as a radiant star in the
dark places of the world.
SPIRITUAL ASPIRATION IN THE WEST
'Abdu'l-Baha said:
You are very welcome! From Eastern lands I have come to the West to
sojourn awhile among you. In the East it is often said that the people of
the West are without spirituality, but I have not found it thus. Thank
God, I see and feel that there is much spiritual aspiration among the
Western peoples, and that in some cases their spiritual perception is even
keener than among their Eastern brothers. If the teaching given in the
East had been conscientiously spread in the West the world today would be
a more enlightened place.
Although in the past all the great Spiritual Teachers have arisen in the
East, there are still many men there who are quite devoid of spirituality.
With regard to the things of the spirit they are as lifeless as a stone;
nor do they wish to be otherwise, for they consider that man is only a
higher form of animal and that the things of God concern him not.
But man's ambition should soar above this--he should ever look higher than
himself, ever upward and onward, until through the Mercy of God he may
come to the Kingdom of Heaven. Again, there are men whose eyes are only
open to physical progress and to the evolution in the world of matter.
These men prefer to study the resemblance between their own physical body
and that of the ape, rather than to contemplate the glorious affiliation
between their spirit and that of God. This is indeed strange, for it is
only physically that man resembles the lower creation, with regard to his
intellect he is totally unlike it.
Man is always progressing. His circle of knowledge is ever widening, and
his mental activity flows through many and varied channels. Look what man
has accomplished in the field of science, consider his many discoveries
and countless inventions and his profound understanding of natural law.
In the world of art it is just the same, and this wonderful development of
man's faculties becomes more and more rapid as time goes on. If the
discoveries, inventions and material accomplishments of the last fifteen
hundred years could be put together, you would see that there has been
greater advancement during the last hundred years than in the previous
fourteen centuries. For the rapidity with which man is progressing
increases century by century.
The power of the intellect is one of God's greatest gifts to men, it is
the power that makes him a higher creature than the animal. For whereas,
century by century and age by age man's intelligence grows and becomes
keener, that of the animal remains the same. They are no more intelligent
today then they were a thousand years ago! Is there a greater proof than
this needed to show man's dissimilarity to the animal creation? It is
surely as clear as day.
As for the spiritual perfections they are man's birthright and belong to
him alone of all creation. Man is, in reality, a spiritual being, and only
when he lives in the spirit is he truly happy. This spiritual longing and
perception belongs to all men alike, and it is my firm conviction that the
Western people possess great spiritual aspiration.
It is my fervent prayer that the star of the East will shed its brilliant
rays on the Western world, and that the people of the West may arise in
strength, earnestness, and courage, to help their brethren in the East.
LECTURE GIVEN AT A STUDIO IN PARIS
November 6th
This is in truth a Baha'i house. Every time such a house or meeting place
is founded it becomes one of the greatest aids to the general development
of the town and country to which it belongs. It encourages the growth of
learning and science and is known for its intense spirituality and for the
love it spreads among the peoples.
The foundation of such a meeting-place is always followed by the greatest
prosperity. The first Baha'i Assembly that existed in Tihran was
singularly blessed! In one year it had grown so rapidly that its members
had increased to nine times their original number. Today, in far-away
Persia, there are many such assemblies where the friends of God meet
together in the fulness of joy, love and unity. They teach the Cause of
God, educate the ignorant, and draw heart to heart in brotherly kindness.
It is they who help the poor and needy and give to them their daily bread.
They love and care for the sick and are messengers of hope and consolation
to the desolate and oppressed.
Oh, ye in Paris, strive that your assemblies may be like unto this, and
may bear even greater fruits!
Oh, friends of God! If ye will trust in the Word of God and be strong; if
ye will follow the precepts of Baha'u'llah to tend the sick, raise the
fallen, care for the poor and needy, give shelter to the destitute,
protect the oppressed, comfort the sorrowful and love the world of
humanity with all your hearts, then I say unto you that ere long this
meeting-place will see a wonderful harvest. Day by day each member will
advance and become more and more spiritual. But ye must have a firm
foundation and your aims and ambitions must be clearly understood by each
member. They shall be as follows:
1. To show compassion and goodwill to all mankind.
2. To render service to humanity.
3. To endeavour to guide and enlighten those in darkness.
4. To be kind to everyone, and show forth affection to every living soul.
5. To be humble in your attitude towards God, to be constant in prayer to
Him, so as to grow daily nearer to God.
6. To be so faithful and sincere in all your actions that every member may
be known as embodying the qualities of honesty, love, faith, kindness,
generosity, and courage. To be detached from all that is not God,
attracted by the Heavenly Breath--a divine soul; so that the world may know
that a Baha'i is a perfect being.
Strive to attain this at these meetings. Then, indeed and in truth will
ye, the friends of God, come together with great joy! Render help one to
the other, become as one man, having reached perfect unity.
I pray to God that daily ye may advance in spirituality, that God's love
may be more and more manifested in you, that the thoughts of your hearts
may be purified, and that your faces may be ever turned towards Him. May
you one and all approach to the threshold of unity, and enter into the
Kingdom. May each of you be like unto a flaming torch, lighted and burning
bright with the fire of the Love of God.
BAHA'U'LLAH
November 7th
'Abdu'l-Baha said:
I will speak to you today of Baha'u'llah. In the third year after the Bab
had declared his Mission, Baha'u'llah, being accused by fanatical Mullas
of believing in the new doctrine, was arrested and thrown into prison. The
next day, however, several ministers of the Government and other
influential men caused him to be set free. Later on he was again arrested,
and the priests condemned him to death! The Governor hesitated to have
this sentence carried out for fear of a revolution. The priests met
together in the Mosque, before which was the place of execution. All the
people of the town gathered in crowds outside the Mosque. The carpenters
brought their saws and hammers, the butchers came with their knives, the
bricklayers and builders shouldered their spades, all these men, incited
by the frenzied Mullas, were eager to share in the honour of killing Him.
Inside the Mosque were assembled the doctors of religion. Baha'u'llah
stood before them, and answered all their questions with great wisdom. The
chief sage in particular, was completely silenced by Baha'u'llah, who
refuted all his arguments.
A discussion arose between two of these priests as to the meaning of some
words in the writings of the Bab; accusing Him of inaccuracy, they
challenged Baha'u'llah to defend Him if He were able. These priests were
entirely humiliated, for Baha'u'llah proved before the whole assembly that
the Bab was absolutely right, and that the accusation was made in
ignorance.
The defeated ones now put Him to the torture of the bastinado, and more
infuriated than before brought Him out before the walls of the Mosque unto
the place of execution, where the misguided people were awaiting His
coming.
Still the Governor feared to comply with the demand of the priests for His
execution. Realizing the danger in which the dignified prisoner was
placed, some men were sent to rescue Him. In this they succeeded by
breaking through the wall of the Mosque and leading Baha'u'llah through
the opening into a place of safety, but not of freedom; for the Governor
shifted the responsibility from off his own shoulders by sending him to
Tihran. Here He was imprisoned in an underground dungeon, where the light
of day was never seen. A heavy chain was placed about his neck by which He
was chained to five other Babis; these fetters were locked together by
strong, very heavy bolts, and screws. His clothes were torn to pieces,
also His fez. In this terrible condition He was kept for four months.
During this time none of His friends were able to get access to Him.
A prison official made an attempt to poison Him but, beyond causing Him
great suffering, this poison had no effect.
After a time the Government liberated Him and exiled Him and His family to
Ba_gh_dad, where He remained for eleven years. During this time He
underwent severe persecutions, being surrounded by the watchful hatred of
His enemies.
He bore all evils and torments with the greatest courage and fortitude.
Often when He arose in the morning, He knew not whether He would live
until the sun should set. Meanwhile, each day, the priests came and
questioned Him on religion and metaphysics.
At length the Turkish Governor exiled Him to Constantinople, whence He was
sent to Adrianople; here He stayed for five years. Eventually, He was sent
to the far off prison fortress of St. Jean d'Acre. Here He was imprisoned
in the military portion of the fortress and kept under the strictest
surveillance. Words would fail me to tell you of the many trials He had to
suffer, and all the misery He endured in that prison. Notwithstanding, it
was from this prison that Baha'u'llah wrote to all the Monarchs of Europe,
and these letters with one exception were sent through the post.
The Epistle of Nasiri'd-Din _Sh_ah was confided to a Persian Baha'i, Mirza
Badi _Kh_urasani, who undertook to deliver it into the _Sh_ah's own hands.
This brave man waited in the neighbourhood of Tihran for the passing of
the _Sh_ah, who had the intention to journey by that way to his Summer
Palace. The courageous messenger followed the _Sh_ah to his Palace, and
waited on the road near the entrance for several days. Always in the same
place was he seen waiting on the road, until the people began to wonder
why he should be there. At last the _Sh_ah heard of him, and commanded his
servants that the man should be brought before him.
'Oh! servants of the _Sh_ah, I bring a letter, which I must deliver into
his own hands', Badi said, and then Badi said to the _Sh_ah, 'I bring you
a letter from Baha'u'llah!'
He was immediately seized and questioned by those who wished to elicit
information which would help them in the further persecutions of
Baha'u'llah. Badi would not answer a word; then they tortured him, still
he held his peace! After three days they killed him, having failed to
force him to speak! These cruel men photographed him whilst he was under
torture.(7)
The _Sh_ah gave the letter from Baha'u'llah to the priests that they might
explain it to him. After some days these priests told the _Sh_ah that the
letter was from a political enemy. The _Sh_ah grew angry and said, 'This
is no explanation. I pay you to read and answer my letters, therefore
obey!'
The spirit and meaning of the Tablet to Nasiri'd-Din _Sh_ah was, in short,
this: 'Now that the time has come, when the Cause of the Glory of God has
appeared, I ask that I may be allowed to come to Tihran and answer any
questions the priests may put to Me.
'I exhort you to detach yourself from the worldly magnificence of your
Empire. Remember all those great kings who have lived before you--their
glories have passed away!'
The letter was written in a most beautiful manner, and continued warning
the King and telling him of the future triumph of the Kingdom of
Baha'u'llah, both in the Eastern and in the Western World.
The _Sh_ah paid no attention to the warning of this letter and continued
to live in the same fashion until the end.
Although Baha'u'llah was in prison the great Power of the Holy Spirit was
with Him!
None other in prison could have been like unto Him. In spite of all the
hardships He suffered, He never complained.
In the dignity of His Majesty, He always refused to see the Governor, or
the influential people of the town.
Although the surveillance was unremittingly strict He came and went as He
wished! He died in a house situated about three kilometers from St. Jean
d'Acre.
GOOD IDEAS MUST BE CARRIED INTO ACTION
November 8th
All over the world one hears beautiful sayings extolled and noble precepts
admired. All men say they love what is good, and hate everything that is
evil! Sincerity is to be admired, whilst lying is despicable. Faith is a
virtue, and treachery is a disgrace to humanity. It is a blessed thing to
gladden the hearts of men, and wrong to be the cause of pain. To be kind
and merciful is right, while to hate is sinful. Justice is a noble quality
and injustice an iniquity. That it is one's duty to be pitiful and harm no
one, and to avoid jealousy and malice at all costs. Wisdom is the glory of
man, not ignorance; light, not darkness! It is a good thing to turn one's
face toward God, and foolishness to ignore Him. That it is our duty to
guide man upward, and not to mislead him and be the cause of his downfall.
There are many more examples like unto these.
But all these sayings are but words and we see very few of them carried
into the world of action. On the contrary, we perceive that men are
carried away by passion and selfishness, each man thinking only of what
will benefit himself even if it means the ruin of his brother. They are
all anxious to make their fortune and care little or nothing for the
welfare of others. They are concerned about their own peace and comfort,
while the condition of their fellows troubles them not at all.
Unhappily this is the road most men tread.
But Baha'is must not be thus; they must rise above this condition. Actions
must be more to them than words. By their actions they must be merciful
and not merely by their words. They must on all occasions confirm by their
actions what they proclaim in words. Their deeds must prove their
fidelity, and their actions must show forth Divine light.
Let your actions cry aloud to the world that you are indeed Baha'is, for
it is actions that speak to the world and are the cause of the progress of
humanity.
If we are true Baha'is speech is not needed. Our actions will help on the
world, will spread civilization, will help the progress of science, and
cause the arts to develop. Without action nothing in the material world
can be accomplished, neither can words unaided advance a man in the
spiritual Kingdom. It is not through lip-service only that the elect of
God have attained to holiness, but by patient lives of active service they
have brought light into the world.
Therefore strive that your actions day by day may be beautiful prayers.
Turn towards God, and seek always to do that which is right and noble.
Enrich the poor, raise the fallen, comfort the sorrowful, bring healing to
the sick, reassure the fearful, rescue the oppressed, bring hope to the
hopeless, shelter the destitute!
This is the work of a true Baha'i, and this is what is expected of him. If
we strive to do all this, then are we true Baha'is, but if we neglect it,
we are not followers of the Light, and we have no right to the name.
God, who sees all hearts, knows how far our lives are the fulfilment of
our words.
THE TRUE MEANING OF BAPTISM BY WATER AND FIRE
November 9th
In the Gospel according to St John, Christ has said: 'Except a man be born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.'(8)
The priests have interpreted this into meaning that baptism is necessary
for salvation. In another Gospel it is said: 'He shall baptize you with
the Holy Ghost and with fire'.(9)
Thus the water of baptism and the fire are one! It cannot mean that the
'water' spoken of is physical water, for it is the direct opposite of
'fire', and one destroys the other. When in the Gospels, Christ speaks of
'water', He means that which causes life, for without water no worldly
creature can live--mineral, vegetable, animal and man, one and all, depend
upon water for their very being. Yes, the latest scientific discoveries
prove to us that even mineral has some form of life, and that it also
needs water for its existence.
Water is the cause of life, and when Christ speaks of water, He is
symbolizing that which is the cause of Everlasting Life.
This life-giving water of which He speaks is like unto fire, for it is
none other than the Love of God, and this love means life to our souls.
By the fire of the Love of God the veil is burnt which separates us from
the Heavenly Realities, and with clear vision we are enabled to struggle
onward and upward, ever progressing in the paths of virtue and holiness,
and becoming the means of light to the world.
There is nothing greater or more blessed than the Love of God! It gives
healing to the sick, balm to the wounded, joy and consolation to the whole
world, and through it alone can man attain Life Everlasting. The essence
of all religions is the Love of God, and it is the foundation of all the
sacred teachings.
It was the Love of God that led Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that
strengthened Joseph in Egypt and gave to Moses courage and patience.
Through the Love of God, Christ was sent into the world with His inspiring
example of a perfect life of self-sacrifice and devotion, bringing to men
the message of Eternal Life. It was the Love of God that gave Muhammad
power to bring the Arabs from a state of animal degradation to a loftier
state of existence.
God's Love it was that sustained the Bab and brought him to his supreme
sacrifice, and made his bosom the willing target for a thousand bullets.
Finally, it was the Love of God that gave to the East Baha'u'llah, and is
now sending the light of His teaching far into the West, and from Pole to
Pole.
Thus I exhort each of you, realizing its power and beauty, to sacrifice
all your thoughts, words and actions to bring the knowledge of the Love of
God into every heart.
DISCOURSE AT 'L'ALLIANCE SPIRITUALISTE'
Salle de l'Athenee,
St Germain, Paris,
November 9th
I wish to express my gratitude for your hospitality, and my joy that you
are spiritually minded. I am happy to be present at a gathering such as
this, assembled together to listen to a Divine Message. If you could see
with the eye of truth, great waves of spirituality would be visible to you
in this place. The power of the Holy Spirit is here for all. Praise be to
God that your hearts are inspired with Divine fervour! Your souls are as
waves on the sea of the spirit; although each individual is a distinct
wave, the ocean is one, all are united in God.
Every heart should radiate unity, so that the Light of the one Divine
Source of all may shine forth bright and luminous. We must not consider
the separate waves alone, but the entire sea. We should rise from the
individual to the whole. The spirit is as one great ocean and the waves
thereof are the souls of men.
We are told in the Holy Scripture that the New Jerusalem shall appear on
earth. Now it is evident that this celestial city is not built of material
stones and mortar, but that it is a city not made with hands, eternal in
the Heavens.
This is a prophetic symbol, meaning the coming again of the Divine
Teaching to enlighten the hearts of men. It is long since this Holy
Guidance has governed the lives of humanity. But now, at last, the Holy
City of the New Jerusalem has come again to the world, it has appeared
anew under an Eastern sky; from the horizon of Persia has its effulgence
arisen to be a light to lighten the whole world. We see in these days the
fulfilment of the Divine Prophecy. Jerusalem had disappeared. The heavenly
city was destroyed, now it is rebuilt; it was razed to the ground, but now
its walls and pinnacles have been restored, and are towering aloft in
their renewed and glorious beauty.
In the Western world material prosperity has triumphed, whilst in the East
the spiritual sun has shone forth.
I am very glad to see such an assembly as this in Paris, where spiritual
and material progress are met together in unity.
Man--the true man--is soul, not body; though physically man belongs to the
animal kingdom, yet his soul lifts him above the rest of creation. Behold
how the light of the sun illuminates the world of matter: even so doth the
Divine Light shed its rays in the kingdom of the soul. The soul it is
which makes the human creature a celestial entity!
By the power of the Holy Spirit, working through his soul, man is able to
perceive the Divine reality of things. All great works of art and science
are witnesses to this power of the Spirit.
The same Spirit gives Eternal Life.
Those alone who are baptized by the Divine Spirit will be enabled to bring
all peoples into the bond of unity. It is by the power of the Spirit that
the Eastern World of spiritual thought can intermingle with the Western
realm of action, so that the world of matter may become Divine.
It follows that all who work for the Supreme Design are soldiers in the
army of the Spirit.
The light of the celestial world makes war against the world of shadow and
illusion. The rays of the Sun of Truth dispel the darkness of superstition
and misunderstanding.
You are of the Spirit! To you who seek the truth, the Revelation of
Baha'u'llah will come as a great joy! This teaching is of the Spirit, in
it is no precept which is not of the Divine Spirit.
Spirit cannot be perceived by the material senses of the physical body,
excepting as it is expressed in outward signs and works. The human body is
visible, the soul is invisible. It is the soul nevertheless that directs a
man's faculties, that governs his humanity.
The soul has two main faculties. (a) As outer circumstances are
communicated to the soul by the eyes, ears, and brain of a man, so does
the soul communicate its desires and purposes through the brain to the
hands and tongue of the physical body, thereby expressing itself. The
spirit in the soul is the very essence of life. (b) The second faculty of
the soul expresses itself in the world of vision, where the soul inhabited
by the spirit has its being, and functions without the help of the
material bodily senses. There, in the realm of vision, the soul sees
without the help of the physical eye, hears without the aid of the
physical ear, and travels without dependence upon physical motion. It is,
therefore, clear that the spirit in the soul of man can function through
the physical body by using the organs of the ordinary senses, and that it
is able also to live and act without their aid in the world of vision.
This proves without a doubt the superiority of the soul of man over his
body, the superiority of spirit over matter.
For example, look at this lamp: is not the light within it superior to the
lamp which holds it? However beautiful the form of the lamp may be, if the
light is not there its purpose is unfulfilled, it is without life--a dead
thing. The lamp needs the light, but the light does not need the lamp.
The spirit does not need a body, but the body needs spirit, or it cannot
live. The soul can live without a body, but the body without a soul dies.
If a man lose his sight, his hearing, his hand or his foot, should his
soul still inhabit the body he lives, and is able to manifest divine
virtues. On the other hand, without the spirit it would be impossible for
a perfect body to exist.
The greatest power of the Holy Spirit exists in the Divine Manifestations
of the Truth. Through the power of the Spirit the Heavenly Teaching has
been brought into the World of Humanity. Through the power of the Spirit
life everlasting has come to the children of men. Through the power of the
Spirit the Divine Glory has shone from East to West, and through the power
of the same Spirit will the divine virtues of humanity become manifest.
Our greatest efforts must be directed towards detachment from the things
of the world; we must strive to become more spiritual, more luminous, to
follow the counsel of the Divine Teaching, to serve the cause of unity and
true equality, to be merciful, to reflect the love of the Highest on all
men, so that the light of the Spirit shall be apparent in all our deeds,
to the end that all humanity shall be united, the stormy sea thereof
calmed, and all rough waves disappear from off the surface of life's ocean
henceforth unruffled and peaceful. Then will the New Jerusalem be seen by
mankind, who will enter through its gates and receive the Divine Bounty.
I thank God that I have been present amongst you this afternoon, and I
thank you for your spiritual feeling.
I pray that you may grow in Divine fervour, and that the power of unity in
the Spirit will augment, so that the prophecies may be fulfilled, and that
in this great century of the Light of God all the glad tidings written in
the Sacred Books may come to pass. This is the glorious time of which the
Lord Jesus Christ spoke when He told us to pray 'Thy Kingdom come, Thy
Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven'. I hope that this is also your
expectation and great desire.
We are united in the one aim and hope that all shall be as one and every
heart illumined by the Love of our Divine Father, God!
May all our actions be spiritual, and all our interests and affections be
centred in the Kingdom of Glory!
THE EVOLUTION OF THE SPIRIT
15 Rue Greuze, Paris,
November 10th
'Abdu'l-Baha said:
Tonight I will speak of the evolution or progress of the spirit.
Absolute repose does not exist in nature. All things either make progress
or lose ground. Everything moves forward or backward, nothing is without
motion. From his birth, a man progresses physically until he reaches
maturity, then, having arrived at the prime of his life, he begins to
decline, the strength and powers of his body decrease, and he gradually
arrives at the hour of death. Likewise a plant progresses from the seed to
maturity, then its life begins to lessen until it fades and dies. A bird
soars to a certain height and having reached the highest possible point in
its flight, begins its descent to earth.
Thus it is evident that movement is essential to all existence. All
material things progress to a certain point, then begin to decline. This
is the law which governs the whole physical creation.
Now let us consider the soul. We have seen that movement is essential to
existence; nothing that has life is without motion. All creation, whether
of the mineral, vegetable or animal kingdom, is compelled to obey the law
of motion; it must either ascend or descend. But with the human soul,
there is no decline. Its only movement is towards perfection; growth and
progress alone constitute the motion of the soul.
Divine perfection is infinite, therefore the progress of the soul is also
infinite. From the very birth of a human being the soul progresses, the
intellect grows and knowledge increases. When the body dies the soul lives
on. All the differing degrees of created physical beings are limited, but
the soul is limitless!
In all religions the belief exists that the soul survives the death of the
body. Intercessions are sent up for the beloved dead, prayers are said for
their progress and for the forgiveness of their sins. If the soul perished
with the body all this would have no meaning. Further, if it were not
possible for the soul to advance towards perfection after it had been
released from the body, of what avail are all these loving prayers, of
devotion?
We read in the sacred writings that 'all good works are found again'.(10)
Now, if the soul did not survive, this also would mean nothing!
The very fact that our spiritual instinct, surely never given in vain,
prompts us to pray for the welfare of those, our loved ones, who have
passed out of the material world: does it not bear witness to the
continuance of their existence?
In the world of spirit there is no retrogression. The world of mortality
is a world of contradictions, of opposites; motion being compulsory
everything must either go forward or retreat. In the realm of spirit there
is no retreat possible, all movement is bound to be towards a perfect
state. 'Progress' is the expression of spirit in the world of matter. The
intelligence of man, his reasoning powers, his knowledge, his scientific
achievements, all these being manifestations of the spirit, partake of the
inevitable law of spiritual progress and are, therefore, of necessity,
immortal.
My hope for you is that you will progress in the world of spirit, as well
as in the world of matter; that your intelligence will develop, your
knowledge will augment, and your understanding be widened.
You must ever press forward, never standing still; avoid stagnation, the
first step to a backward movement, to decay.
The whole physical creation is perishable. These material bodies are
composed of atoms; when these atoms begin to separate decomposition sets
in, then comes what we call death. This composition of atoms, which
constitutes the body or mortal element of any created being, is temporary.
When the power of attraction, which holds these atoms together, is
withdrawn, the body, as such, ceases to exist.
With the soul it is different. The soul is not a combination of elements,
it is not composed of many atoms, it is of one indivisible substance and
therefore eternal. It is entirely out of the order of the physical
creation; it is immortal!
Scientific philosophy has demonstrated that a simple element ('simple'
meaning 'not composed') is indestructible, eternal. The soul, not being a
composition of elements, is, in character, as a simple element, and
therefore cannot cease to exist.
The soul, being of that one indivisible substance, can suffer neither
disintegration nor destruction, therefore there is no reason for its
coming to an end. All things living show signs of their existence, and it
follows that these signs could not of themselves exist if that which they
express or to which they testify had no being. A thing which does not
exist, can, of course, give no sign of its existence. The manifold signs
of the existence of the spirit are for ever before us.
The traces of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the influence of His Divine
Teaching, is present with us today, and is everlasting.
A non-existent thing, it is agreed, cannot be seen by signs. In order to
write a man must exist--one who does not exist cannot write. Writing is, in
itself, a sign of the writer's soul and intelligence. The Sacred Writings
(with ever the same Teaching) prove the continuity of the spirit.
Consider the aim of creation: is it possible that all is created to evolve
and develop through countless ages with this small goal in view--a few
years of a man's life on earth? Is it not unthinkable that this should be
the final aim of existence?
The mineral evolves till it is absorbed in the life of the plant, the
plant progresses till finally it loses its life in that of the animal; the
animal, in its turn, forming part of the food of man, is absorbed into
human life.
Thus, man is shown to be the sum of all creation, the superior of all
created beings, the goal to which countless ages of existence have
progressed.
At the best, man spends four-score years and ten in this world--a short
time indeed!
Does a man cease to exist when he leaves the body? If his life comes to an
end, then all the previous evolution is useless, all has been for nothing!
Can one imagine that Creation has no greater aim than this?
The soul is eternal, immortal.
Materialists say, 'Where is the soul? What is it? We cannot see it,
neither can we touch it'.
This is how we must answer them: However much the mineral may progress, it
cannot comprehend the vegetable world. Now, that lack of comprehension
does not prove the non-existence of the plant!
To however great a degree the plant may have evolved, it is unable to
understand the animal world; this ignorance is no proof that the animal
does not exist!
The animal, be he never so highly developed, cannot imagine the
intelligence of man, neither can he realize the nature of his soul. But,
again, this does not prove that man is without intellect, or without soul.
It only demonstrates this, that one form of existence is incapable of
comprehending a form superior to itself.
This flower may be unconscious of such a being as man, but the fact of its
ignorance does not prevent the existence of humanity.
In the same way, if materialists do not believe in the existence of the
soul, their unbelief does not prove that there is no such realm as the
world of spirit. The very existence of man's intelligence proves his
immortality; moreover, darkness proves the presence of light, for without
light there would be no shadow. Poverty proves the existence of riches,
for, without riches, how could we measure poverty? Ignorance proves that
knowledge exists, for without knowledge how could there be ignorance?
Therefore the idea of mortality presupposes the existence of
immortality--for if there were no Life Eternal, there would be no way of
measuring the life of this world!
If the spirit were not immortal, how could the Manifestations of God
endure such terrible trials?
Why did Christ Jesus suffer the fearful death on the cross?
Why did Muhammad bear persecutions?
Why did the Bab make the supreme sacrifice and why did Baha'u'llah pass
the years of his life in prison?
Why should all this suffering have been, if not to prove the everlasting
life of the spirit?
Christ suffered, He accepted all His trials because of the immortality of
His spirit. If a man reflects he will understand the spiritual
significance of the law of progress; how all moves from the inferior to
the superior degree.
It is only a man without intelligence who, after considering these things,
can imagine that the great scheme of creation should suddenly cease to
progress, that evolution should come to such an inadequate end!
Materialists who reason in this way, and contend that we are unable to see
the world of spirit, or to perceive the blessings of God, are surely like
the animals who have no understanding; having eyes they see not, ears they
have, but do not hear. And this lack of sight and hearing is a proof of
nothing but their own inferiority; of whom we read in the Qur'an, 'They
are men who are blind and deaf to the Spirit.' They do not use that great
gift of God, the power of the understanding, by which they might see with
the eyes of the spirit, hear with spiritual ears and also comprehend with
a Divinely enlightened heart.
The inability of the materialistic mind to grasp the idea of the Life
Eternal is no proof of the non-existence of that life.
The comprehension of that other life depends on our spiritual birth!
My prayer for you is that your spiritual faculties and aspirations may
daily increase, and that you will never allow the material senses to veil
from your eyes the glories of the Heavenly Illumination.
THE DESIRES AND PRAYERS OF 'ABDU'L-BAHA
November 15th
'Abdu'l-Baha said:
You are all very welcome, and I love you all most dearly.
Day and night I pray to Heaven for you that strength may be yours, and
that, one and all, you may participate in the blessings of Baha'u'llah,
and enter into the Kingdom.
I supplicate that you may become as new beings, illumined with the Divine
Light, like unto shining lamps, and that from one end of Europe to the
other the knowledge of the Love of God may spread.
May this boundless love so fill your hearts and minds that sadness may
find no room to enter and may you with joyful hearts soar like birds into
the Divine Radiance.
May your hearts become clear and pure like unto polished mirrors in which
may be reflected the full glory of the Sun of Truth.
May your eyes be opened to see the signs of the Kingdom of God, and may
your ears be unstopped so that you may hear with a perfect understanding
the Heavenly Proclamation sounding in your midst.
May your souls receive help and comfort, and, being so strengthened, may
they be enabled to live in accordance with the teachings of Baha'u'llah.
I pray for each and all that you may be as flames of love in the world,
and that the brightness of your light and the warmth of your affection may
reach the heart of every sad and sorrowing child of God.
May you be as shining stars, bright and luminous for ever in the Kingdom.
I counsel you that you study earnestly the teachings of Baha'u'llah, so
that, God helping you, you may in deed and truth become Baha'is.
CONCERNING BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT
4 Avenue de Camoeens, Paris,
Friday morning, November 17th
There are in the world of humanity three degrees; those of the body, the
soul, and spirit.
The body is the physical or animal degree of man. From the bodily point of
view man is a sharer of the animal kingdom. The bodies alike of men and
animals are composed of elements held together by the law of attraction.
Like the animal, man possesses the faculties of the senses, is subject to
heat, cold, hunger, thirst, etc.; unlike the animal, man has a rational
soul, the human intelligence.
This intelligence of man is the intermediary between his body and his
spirit.
When man allows the spirit, through his soul, to enlighten his
understanding, then does he contain all Creation; because man, being the
culmination of all that went before and thus superior to all previous
evolutions, contains all the lower world within himself. Illumined by the
spirit through the instrumentality of the soul, man's radiant intelligence
makes him the crowning-point of Creation.
But on the other hand, when man does not open his mind and heart to the
blessing of the spirit, but turns his soul towards the material side,
towards the bodily part of his nature, then is he fallen from his high
place and he becomes inferior to the inhabitants of the lower animal
kingdom. In this case the man is in a sorry plight! For if the spiritual
qualities of the soul, open to the breath of the Divine Spirit, are never
used, they become atrophied, enfeebled, and at last incapable; whilst the
soul's material qualities alone being exercised, they become terribly
powerful--and the unhappy, misguided man, becomes more savage, more unjust,
more vile, more cruel, more malevolent than the lower animals themselves.
All his aspirations and desires being strengthened by the lower side of
the soul's nature, he becomes more and more brutal, until his whole being
is in no way superior to that of the beasts that perish. Men such as this,
plan to work evil, to hurt and to destroy; they are entirely without the
spirit of Divine compassion, for the celestial quality of the soul has
been dominated by that of the material. If, on the contrary, the spiritual
nature of the soul has been so strengthened that it holds the material
side in subjection, then does the man approach the Divine; his humanity
becomes so glorified that the virtues of the Celestial Assembly are
manifested in him; he radiates the Mercy of God, he stimulates the
spiritual progress of mankind, for he becomes a lamp to show light on
their path.
You perceive how the soul is the intermediary between the body and the
spirit. In like manner is this tree(11) the intermediary between the seed
and the fruit. When the fruit of the tree appears and becomes ripe, then
we know that the tree is perfect; if the tree bore no fruit it would be
merely a useless growth, serving no purpose!
When a soul has in it the life of the spirit, then does it bring forth
good fruit and become a Divine tree. I wish you to try to understand this
example. I hope that the unspeakable goodness of God will so strengthen
you that the celestial quality of your soul, which relates it to the
spirit, will for ever dominate the material side, so entirely ruling the
senses that your soul will approach the perfections of the Heavenly
Kingdom. May your faces, being steadfastly set towards the Divine Light,
become so luminous that all your thoughts, words and actions will shine
with the Spiritual Radiance dominating your souls, so that in the
gatherings of the world you will show perfection in your life.
Some men's lives are solely occupied with the things of this world; their
minds are so circumscribed by exterior manners and traditional interests
that they are blind to any other realm of existence, to the spiritual
significance of all things! They think and dream of earthly fame, of
material progress. Sensuous delights and comfortable surroundings bound
their horizon, their highest ambitions centre in successes of worldly
conditions and circumstances! They curb not their lower propensities; they
eat, drink, and sleep! Like the animal, they have no thought beyond their
own physical well-being. It is true that these necessities must be
despatched. Life is a load which must be carried on while we are on earth,
but the cares of the lower things of life should not be allowed to
monopolize all the thoughts and aspirations of a human being. The heart's
ambitions should ascend to a more glorious goal, mental activity should
rise to higher levels! Men should hold in their souls the vision of
celestial perfection, and there prepare a dwelling-place for the
inexhaustible bounty of the Divine Spirit.
Let your ambition be the achievement on earth of a Heavenly civilization!
I ask for you the supreme blessing, that you may be so filled with the
vitality of the Heavenly Spirit that you may be the cause of life to the
world.
THE BAHA'IS MUST WORK WITH HEART AND SOUL TO BRING ABOUT A BETTER
CONDITION IN THE WORLD
November 19th
How joyful it is to see such a meeting as this, for it is in truth a
gathering together of 'heavenly men'.
We are all united in one Divine purpose, no material motive is ours, and
our dearest wish is to spread the Love of God throughout the world!
We work and pray for the unity of mankind, that all the races of the earth
may become one race, all the countries one country, and that all hearts
may beat as one heart, working together for perfect unity and brotherhood.
Praise be to God that our efforts are sincere and that our hearts are
turned to the Kingdom. Our greatest longing is that truth may be
established in the world, and in this hope we draw near to one another in
love and affection. Each and all are whole-hearted and selfless, willing
to sacrifice all personal ambition to the grand ideal towards which they
strive: Brotherly love and peace and union among men!
Doubt not that God is with us, on our right hand and on our left, that day
by day He will cause our numbers to increase, and that our meetings will
grow in strength and usefulness.
It is my dearest hope that you may all become a blessing to others, that
you may give sight to the spiritually blind, hearing to the spiritually
deaf and life to those who are dead in sin.
May you help those sunk in materiality to realize their Divine son-ship,
and encourage them to arise and be worthy of their birthright; so that by
your endeavour the world of humanity may become the Kingdom of God and of
His elect.
I thank God that we are at one in this grand ideal, that my longings are
also yours and that we work together in perfect unity.
Today, upon the earth, one sees the sad spectacle of cruel war! Man slays
his brother man for selfish gain, and to enlarge his territories! For this
ignoble ambition hate has taken possession of his heart, and more and more
blood is shed!
Fresh battles are fought, the armies are increased, more cannon, more
guns, more explosives of all kinds are sent out--so does bitterness and
hate augment from day to day!
But this assembly, thank God, longs only for peace and unity, and must
work with heart and soul to bring about a better condition in the world.
You who are the servants of God fight against oppression, hate and
discord, so that wars may cease and God's laws of peace and love may be
established among men.
Work! Work with all your strength, spread the Cause of the Kingdom among
men; teach the self-sufficient to turn humbly towards God, the sinful to
sin no more, and await with glad expectation the coming of the Kingdom.
Love and obey your Heavenly Father, and rest assured that Divine help is
yours. Verily I say unto you that you shall indeed conquer the world!
Only have faith, patience and courage--this is but the beginning, but
surely you will succeed, for God is with you!
ON CALUMNY
Monday, November 20th
From the beginning of the world until the present time each
'Manifestation'(12) sent from God has been opposed by an embodiment of the
'Powers of Darkness'.
This dark power has always endeavoured to extinguish the light. Tyranny
has ever sought to overcome justice. Ignorance has persistently tried to
trample knowledge underfoot. This has, from the earliest ages, been the
method of the material world.
In the time of Moses, Pharaoh set himself to prevent the Mosaic Light
being spread abroad.
In the day of Christ, Annas and Caiaphas inflamed the Jewish people
against Him and the learned doctors of Israel joined together to resist
His Power. All sorts of calumnies were circulated against Him. The Scribes
and Pharisees conspired to make the people believe Him to be a liar, an
apostate, and a blasphemer. They spread these slanders throughout the
whole Eastern world against Christ, and caused Him to be condemned to a
shameful death!
In the case of Muhammad also, the learned doctors of His day determined to
extinguish the light of His influence. They tried by the power of the
sword to prevent the spread of His teaching.
In spite of all their efforts the Sun of Truth shone forth from the
horizon. In every case the army of light vanquished the powers of darkness
on the battlefield of the world, and the radiance of the Divine Teaching
illumined the earth. Those who accepted the Teaching and worked for the
Cause of God became luminous stars in the sky of humanity.
Now, in our own day, history repeats itself.
Those who would have men believe that religion is their own private
property once more bring their efforts to bear against the Sun of Truth:
they resist the Command of God; they invent calumnies, not having
arguments against it, neither proofs. They attack with masked faces, not
daring to come forth into the light of day.
Our methods are different, we do not attack, neither calumniate; we do not
wish to dispute with them; we bring forth proofs and arguments; we invite
them to confute our statements. They cannot answer us, but instead, they
write all they can think of against the Divine Messenger, Baha'u'llah.
Do not let your hearts be troubled by these defamatory writings! Obey the
words of Baha'u'llah and answer them not. Rejoice, rather, that even these
falsehoods will result in the spread of the truth. When these slanders
appear inquiries are made, and those who inquire are led into a knowledge
of the Faith.
If a man were to declare, 'There is a lamp in the next room which gives no
light', one hearer might be satisfied with his report, but a wiser man
goes into the room to judge for himself, and behold, when he finds the
light shining brilliantly in the lamp, he knows the truth!
Again, a man proclaims: 'There lies a garden in which there are trees with
broken branches bearing no fruit, and the leaves thereof are faded and
yellow! In that garden, also, there are flowering plants with no blooms,
and rose bushes withered and dying--go not into that garden!' A just man,
hearing this account of the garden, would not be content without seeing
for himself whether it be true or not. He, therefore, enters the garden,
and behold, he finds it well tilled; the branches of the trees are sturdy
and strong, being also loaded with the sweetest of ripe fruits amongst the
luxuriance of beautiful green leaves. The flowering plants are bright with
many-hued blossoms; the rose bushes are covered with fragrant and lovely
roses and all is verdant and well tended. When the glory of the garden is
spread out before the eyes of the just man, he praises God that, through
unworthy calumny, he has been led into a place of such wondrous beauty!
This is the result of the slanderer's work: to be the cause of guiding men
to a discovery of the truth.
We know that all the falsehoods spread about Christ and His apostles and
all the books written against Him, only led the people to inquire into His
doctrine; then, having seen the beauty and inhaled the fragrance, they
walked evermore amidst the roses and the fruits of that celestial garden.
Therefore, I say unto you, spread the Divine Truth with all your might
that men's intelligence may become enlightened; this is the best answer to
those who slander. I do not wish to speak of those people nor to say
anything ill of them--only to tell you that slander is of no importance!
Clouds may veil the sun, but, be they never so dense, his rays will
penetrate! Nothing can prevent the radiance of the sun descending to warm
and vivify the Divine Garden.
Nothing can prevent the fall of the rain from Heaven.
Nothing can prevent the fulfilment of the Word of God!
Therefore when you see books and papers written against the Revelation, be
not distressed, but take comfort in the assurance that the cause will
thereby gain strength.
No one casts stones at a tree without fruit. No one tries to extinguish a
lamp without light!
Regard the former times. Had the calumnies of Pharaoh any effect? He
affirmed that Moses was a murderer, that he had slain a man and deserved
to be executed! He also declared that Moses and Aaron were fomenters of
discord, that they tried to destroy the religion of Egypt and therefore
must be put to death. These words of Pharaoh were vainly spoken. The light
of Moses shone. The radiance of the Law of God has encircled the world!
When the Pharisees said of Christ that He had broken the Sabbath Day, that
He had defied the Law of Moses, that He had threatened to destroy the
Temple and the Holy City of Jerusalem, and that He deserved to be
crucified--We know that all these slanderous attacks had no result in
hindering the spread of the Gospel!
The Sun of Christ shone brilliantly in the sky, and the breath of the Holy
Spirit wafted over the whole earth!
And I say unto you that no calumny is able to prevail against the Light of
God; it can only result in causing it to be more universally recognized.
If a cause were of no significance, who would take the trouble to work
against it!
But always the greater the cause the more do enemies arise in larger and
larger numbers to attempt its overthrow! The brighter the light the darker
the shadow! Our part it is to act in accordance with the teaching of
Baha'u'llah in humility and firm steadfastness.
THERE CAN BE NO TRUE HAPPINESS AND PROGRESS WITHOUT SPIRITUALITY
November 21st
Ferocity and savagery are natural to animals, but men should show forth
the qualities of love and affection. God sent all His Prophets into the
world with one aim, to sow in the hearts of men love and goodwill, and for
this great purpose they were willing to suffer and to die. All the sacred
Books were written to lead and direct man into the ways of love and unity;
and yet, in spite of all this, we have the sad spectacle of war and
bloodshed in our midst.
When we look into the pages of history, past and present, we see the black
earth reddened by human blood. Men kill each other like the savage wolves,
and forget the laws of love and tolerance.
Now this luminous age has come, bringing with it wonderful civilization
and material progress. Men's intellects have widened, their perceptions
grown, but alas, in spite of all this, fresh blood is being spilt day by
day. Look at the present Turco-Italian war; consider for a moment the fate
of these unhappy people! How many have been killed during this sad time?
How many homes are ruined, wives desolate, and children orphans! And what
is to be gained in exchange for all this anguish and heartache? Only a
corner of the earth!
This all shows that material progress alone does not tend to uplift man.
On the contrary, the more he becomes immersed in material progress, the
more does his spirituality become obscured.
In times gone by progress on the material plane was not so rapid, neither
was there bloodshed in such profusion. In ancient warfare there were no
cannons, no guns, no dynamite, no shells, no torpedo boats, no
battleships, no submarines. Now, owing to material civilization, we have
all these inventions, and war goes from bad to worse! Europe itself has
become like one immense arsenal, full of explosives, and may God prevent
its ignition--for, should this happen, the whole world would be involved.
I want to make you understand that material progress and spiritual
progress are two very different things, and that only if material progress
goes hand in hand with spirituality can any real progress come about, and
the Most Great Peace reign in the world. If men followed the Holy Counsels
and the Teachings of the Prophets, if Divine Light shone in all hearts and
men were really religious, we should soon see peace on earth and the
Kingdom of God among men. The laws of God may be likened unto the soul and
material progress unto the body. If the body was not animated by the soul,
it would cease to exist. It is my earnest prayer that spirituality may
ever grow and increase in the world, so that customs may become
enlightened and peace and concord may be established.
War and rapine with their attendant cruelties are an abomination to God,
and bring their own punishment, for the God of love is also a God of
justice and each man must inevitably reap what he sows. Let us try to
understand the commands of the Most High and to order our lives as He
directs. True happiness depends on spiritual good and having the heart
ever open to receive the Divine Bounty.
If the heart turns away from the blessings God offers how can it hope for
happiness? If it does not put its hope and trust in God's Mercy, where can
it find rest? Oh, trust in God! for His Bounty is everlasting, and in His
Blessings, for they are superb. Oh! put your faith in the Almighty, for He
faileth not and His goodness endureth for ever! His Sun giveth Light
continually, and the Clouds of His Mercy are full of the Waters of
Compassion with which He waters the hearts of all who trust in Him. His
refreshing Breeze ever carries healing in its wings to the parched souls
of men! Is it wise to turn away from such a loving Father, Who showers His
blessings upon us, and to choose rather to be slaves of matter?
God in His infinite goodness has exalted us to so much honour, and has
made us masters over the material world. Shall we then become her slaves?
Nay, rather let us claim our birthright, and strive to live the life of
the spiritual sons of God. The glorious Sun of Truth has once again risen
in the East. From the far horizon of Persia its radiance is spreading far
and wide, dispersing the dense clouds of superstition. The light of the
unity of mankind is beginning to illumine the world, and soon the banner
of Divine harmony and the solidarity of nations will be flying high in the
Heavens. Yea, the breezes of the Holy Spirit will inspire the whole world!
Oh, peoples and nations! Arise and work and be happy! Gather together
under the tent of the unity of mankind!
PAIN AND SORROW
November 22nd
In this world we are influenced by two sentiments, Joy and Pain.
Joy gives us wings! In times of joy our strength is more vital, our
intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. We seem better able
to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness. But when
sadness visits us we become weak, our strength leaves us, our
comprehension is dim and our intelligence veiled. The actualities of life
seem to elude our grasp, the eyes of our spirits fail to discover the
sacred mysteries, and we become even as dead beings.
There is no human being untouched by these two influences; but all the
sorrow and the grief that exist come from the world of matter--the
spiritual world bestows only the joy!
If we suffer it is the outcome of material things, and all the trials and
troubles come from this world of illusion.
For instance, a merchant may lose his trade and depression ensues. A
workman is dismissed and starvation stares him in the face. A farmer has a
bad harvest, anxiety fills his mind. A man builds a house which is burnt
to the ground and he is straightway homeless, ruined, and in despair.
All these examples are to show you that the trials which beset our every
step, all our sorrow, pain, shame and grief, are born in the world of
matter; whereas the spiritual Kingdom never causes sadness. A man living
with his thoughts in this Kingdom knows perpetual joy. The ills all flesh
is heir to do not pass him by, but they only touch the surface of his
life, the depths are calm and serene.
Today, humanity is bowed down with trouble, sorrow and grief, no one
escapes; the world is wet with tears; but, thank God, the remedy is at our
doors. Let us turn our hearts away from the world of matter and live in
the spiritual world! It alone can give us freedom! If we are hemmed in by
difficulties we have only to call upon God, and by His great Mercy we
shall be helped.
If sorrow and adversity visit us, let us turn our faces to the Kingdom and
heavenly consolation will be outpoured.
If we are sick and in distress let us implore God's healing, and He will
answer our prayer.
When our thoughts are filled with the bitterness of this world, let us
turn our eyes to the sweetness of God's compassion and He will send us
heavenly calm! If we are imprisoned in the material world, our spirit can
soar into the Heavens and we shall be free indeed!
When our days are drawing to a close let us think of the eternal worlds,
and we shall be full of joy!
You see all round you proofs of the inadequacy of material things--how joy,
comfort, peace and consolation are not to be found in the transitory
things of the world. Is it not then foolishness to refuse to seek these
treasures where they may be found? The doors of the spiritual Kingdom are
open to all, and without is absolute darkness.
Thank God that you in this assembly have this knowledge, for in all the
sorrows of life you can obtain supreme consolation. If your days on earth
are numbered, you know that everlasting life awaits you. If material
anxiety envelops you in a dark cloud, spiritual radiance lightens your
path. Verily, those whose minds are illumined by the Spirit of the Most
High have supreme consolation.
I myself was in prison forty years--one year alone would have been
impossible to bear--nobody survived that imprisonment more than a year!
But, thank God, during all those forty years I was supremely happy! Every
day, on waking, it was like hearing good tidings, and every night infinite
joy was mine. Spirituality was my comfort, and turning to God was my
greatest joy. If this had not been so, do you think it possible that I
could have lived through those forty years in prison?
Thus, spirituality is the greatest of God's gifts, and 'Life Everlasting'
means 'Turning to God'. May you, one and all, increase daily in
spirituality, may you be strengthened in all goodness, may you be helped
more and more by the Divine consolation, be made free by the Holy Spirit
of God, and may the power of the Heavenly Kingdom live and work among you.
This is my earnest desire, and I pray to God to grant you this favour.
THE PERFECT HUMAN SENTIMENTS AND VIRTUES
November 23rd
'Abdu'l-Baha said:
You should all be very happy and thankful to God for the great privilege
that is yours.
This is purely a spiritual meeting! Praise be to God, your hearts are
turned to Him, your souls are attracted to the Kingdom, you have spiritual
aspirations, and your thoughts soar above the world of dust.
You belong to the world of purity, and are not content to live the life of
the animal, spending your days in eating, drinking, and sleeping. You are
indeed men! Your thoughts and ambitions are set to acquire human
perfection. You live to do good and to bring happiness to others. Your
greatest longing is to comfort those who mourn, to strengthen the weak,
and to be the cause of hope to the despairing soul. Day and night your
thoughts are turned to the Kingdom, and your hearts are full of the Love
of God.
Thus you know neither opposition, dislike, nor hatred, for every living
creature is dear to you and the good of each is sought.
These are perfect human sentiments and virtues. If a man has none of
these, he had better cease to exist. If a lamp has ceased to give light,
it had better be destroyed. If a tree bear no fruit, it had better be cut
down, for it only cumbereth the ground.
Verily, it is better a thousand times for a man to die than to continue
living without virtue.
We have eyes wherewith to see, but if we do not use them how do they
profit us? We have ears wherewith to hear, but if we are deaf of what use
are they?
We have a tongue wherewith to praise God and proclaim the good tidings,
but if we are dumb how useless it is!
The All-loving God created man to radiate the Divine light and to illumine
the world by his words, action and life. If he is without virtue he
becomes no better than a mere animal, and an animal devoid of intelligence
is a vile thing.
The Heavenly Father gave the priceless gift of intelligence to man so that
he might become a spiritual light, piercing the darkness of materiality,
and bringing goodness and truth into the world. If ye will follow
earnestly the teachings of Baha'u'llah, ye shall indeed become the light
of the world, the soul for the body of the world, the comfort and help for
humanity, and the source of salvation for the whole universe. Strive
therefore, with heart and soul, to follow the precepts of the Blessed
Perfection, and rest assured that if ye succeed in living the life he
marks out for you, Eternal Life and everlasting joy in the Heavenly
Kingdom will be yours, and celestial sustenance will be sent to strengthen
you all your days.
It is my heartfelt prayer that each one of you may attain to this perfect
joy!
THE CRUEL INDIFFERENCE OF PEOPLE TOWARDS THE SUFFERING OF FOREIGN RACES
November 24th
'Abdu'l-Baha said:
I have just been told that there has been a terrible accident in this
country. A train has fallen into the river and at least twenty people have
been killed. This is going to be a matter for discussion in the French
Parliament today, and the Director of the State Railway will be called
upon to speak. He will be cross-examined as to the condition of the
railroad and as to what caused the accident, and there will be a heated
argument. I am filled with wonder and surprise to notice what interest and
excitement has been aroused throughout the whole country on account of the
death of twenty people, while they remain cold and indifferent to the fact
that thousands of Italians, Turks, and Arabs are killed in Tripoli! The
horror of this wholesale slaughter has not disturbed the Government at
all! Yet these unfortunate people are human beings too.
Why is there so much interest and eager sympathy shown towards these
twenty individuals, while for five thousand persons there is none? They
are all men, they all belong to the family of mankind, but they are of
other lands and races. It is no concern of the disinterested countries if
these men are cut to pieces, this wholesale slaughter does not affect
them! How unjust, how cruel is this, how utterly devoid of any good and
true feeling! The people of these other lands have children and wives,
mothers, daughters, and little sons! In these countries today there is
hardly a house free from the sound of bitter weeping, scarcely can one
find a home untouched by the cruel hand of war.
Alas! we see on all sides how cruel, prejudiced and unjust is man, and how
slow he is to believe in God and follow His commandments.
If these people would love and help one another instead of being so eager
to destroy with sword and cannon, how much nobler would it be! How much
better if they would live like a flock of doves in peace and harmony,
instead of being like wolves and tearing each other to pieces.
Why is man so hard of heart? It is because he does not yet know God. If he
had knowledge of God he could not act in direct opposition to His laws; if
he were spiritually minded such a line of conduct would be impossible to
him. If only the laws and precepts of the prophets of God had been
believed, understood and followed, wars would no longer darken the face of
the earth.
If man had even the rudiments of justice, such a state of things would be
impossible.
Therefore, I say unto you pray--pray and turn your faces to God, that He,
in His infinite compassion and mercy, may help and succour these misguided
ones. Pray that He will grant them spiritual understanding and teach them
tolerance and mercy, that the eyes of their minds may be opened and that
they may be endued with the gift of the spirit. Then would peace and love
walk hand in hand through the lands, and these poor unhappy people might
have rest.
Let us all strive night and day to help in the bringing about of better
conditions. My heart is broken by these terrible things and cries
aloud--may this cry reach other hearts!
Then will the blind see, the dead will be raised, and Justice will come
and reign upon the earth.
I beseech you all to pray with heart and soul that this may be
accomplished.
WE MUST NOT BE DISCOURAGED BY THE SMALLNESS OF OUR NUMBERS
November 25th
When Christ appeared He manifested Himself at Jerusalem. He called men to
the Kingdom of God, He invited them to Eternal Life and He told them to
acquire human perfections. The Light of Guidance was shed forth by that
radiant Star, and He at length gave His life in sacrifice for humanity.
All through His blessed life He suffered oppression and hardship, and in
spite of all this humanity was His enemy!
They denied Him, scorned Him, ill-treated Him and cursed Him. He was not
treated like a man--and yet in spite of all this He was the embodiment of
pity and of supreme goodness and love.
He loved all humanity, but they treated Him as an enemy and were incapable
of appreciating Him. They set no value on His words and were not illumined
by the flame of His love.
Later they realized who He was; that He was the Sacred and Divine Light,
and that His words held Eternal Life.
His heart was full of love for all the world, His goodness was destined to
reach each one--and as they began to realize these things, they
repented--but He had been crucified!
It was not until many years after His ascension that they knew who He was,
and at the time of His ascension He had only a very few disciples; only a
comparatively small following believed His precepts and followed His laws.
The ignorant said, 'Who is this individual; He has only a few disciples!'
But those who knew said: 'He is the Sun who will shine in the East and in
the West, He is the Manifestation who shall give life to the world'.
What the first disciples had seen the world realized later.
Therefore, you who are in Europe, do not be discouraged because you are
few or because people think that your Cause is of no importance. If few
people come to your gatherings do not lose heart, and if you are ridiculed
and contradicted be not distressed, for the apostles of Christ had the
same to bear. They were reviled and persecuted, cursed and ill-treated,
but in the end they were victorious and their enemies were found to be
wrong.
If history should repeat itself and all these same things should happen to
you, do not be saddened but be full of joy, and thank God that you are
called upon to suffer as holy men of old suffered. If they oppose you be
gentle with them, if they contradict be firm in your faith, if they desert
you and flee from before you, seek them out and treat them kindly. Do harm
to nobody; pray for all; try to make your light shine in the world and let
your banner fly high in the Heavens. The beautiful perfume of your noble
lives will permeate everywhere. The light of truth kindled in your hearts
will shine out to the distant horizon!
The indifference and scorn of the world matters not at all, whereas your
lives will be of the greatest importance.
All those who seek truth in the Heavenly Kingdom shine like the stars;
they are like fruit trees laden with choice fruit, like seas full of
precious pearls.
Only have faith in the Mercy of God, and spread the Divine Truth.
WORDS SPOKEN BY 'ABDU'L-BAHA IN PASTOR WAGNER'S CHURCH (FOYER DE L'AME) IN
PARIS
November 26th
I am deeply touched by the sympathetic words which have been addressed to
me, and I hope that day by day true love and affection may grow among us.
God has willed that love should be a vital force in the world, and you all
know how I rejoice to speak of love.
All down the ages the prophets of God have been sent into the world to
serve the cause of truth--Moses brought the law of truth, and all the
prophets of Israel after him sought to spread it.
When Jesus came He lighted the flaming torch of truth, and carried it
aloft so that the whole world might be illumined thereby. After Him came
His chosen apostles, and they went far and wide, carrying the light of
their Master's teaching into a dark world--and, in their turn, passed on.
Then came Muhammad, who in His time and way spread the knowledge of truth
among a savage people; for this has always been the mission of God's
elect.
So, at last, when Baha'u'llah arose in Persia, this was His most ardent
desire, to rekindle the waning light of truth in all lands. All the holy
ones of God have tried with heart and soul to spread the light of love and
unity throughout the world, so that the darkness of materiality might
disappear and the light of spirituality might shine forth among the
children of men. Then would hate, slander and murder disappear, and in
their stead love, unity and peace would reign.
All the Manifestations of God came with the same purpose, and they have
all sought to lead men into the paths of virtue. Yet we, their servants,
still dispute among ourselves! Why is it thus? Why do we not love one
another and live in unity?
It is because we have shut our eyes to the underlying principle of all
religions, that God is one, that He is the Father of us all, that we are
all immersed in the ocean of His mercy and sheltered and protected by His
loving care.
The glorious Sun of Truth shines for all alike, the waters of Divine Mercy
immerse each one, and His Divine favour is bestowed on all His children.
This loving God desires peace for all His creatures--why, then, do they
spend their time in war?
He loves and protects all His children--why do they forget Him?
He bestows His Fatherly care on us all--why do we neglect our brothers?
Surely, when we realize how God loves and cares for us, we should so order
our lives that we may become more like Him.
God has created us, one and all--why do we act in opposition to His wishes,
when we are all His children, and love the same Father? All these
divisions we see on all sides, all these disputes and opposition, are
caused because men cling to ritual and outward observances, and forget the
simple, underlying truth. It is the outward practices of religion that are
so different, and it is they that cause disputes and enmity--while the
reality is always the same, and one. The Reality is the Truth, and truth
has no division. Truth is God's guidance, it is the light of the world, it
is love, it is mercy. These attributes of truth are also human virtues
inspired by the Holy Spirit.
So let us one and all hold fast to truth, and we shall be free indeed!
The day is coming when all the religions of the world will unite, for in
principle they are one already. There is no need for division, seeing that
it is only the outward forms that separate them. Among the sons of men
some souls are suffering through ignorance, let us hasten to teach them;
others are like children needing care and education until they are grown,
and some are sick--to these we must carry Divine healing.
Whether ignorant, childish or sick, they must be loved and helped, and not
disliked because of their imperfection.
Doctors of religion were instituted to bring spiritual healing to the
peoples and to be the cause of unity among the nations. If they become the
cause of division they had better not exist! A remedy is given to cure a
disease, but if it only succeeds in aggravating the complaint, it is
better to leave it alone. If religion is only to be a cause of disunion it
had better not exist.
All the Divine Manifestations sent by God into the world would have gone
through their terrible hardships and sufferings for the single hope of
spreading Truth, unity and concord among men. Christ endured a life of
sorrow, pain and grief, to bring a perfect example of love into the
world--and in spite of this we continue to act in a contrary spirit one
towards the other!
Love is the fundamental principle of God's purpose for man, and He has
commanded us to love each other even as He loves us. All these discords
and disputes which we hear on all sides only tend to increase materiality.
The world for the most part is sunk in materialism, and the blessings of
the Holy Spirit are ignored. There is so little real spiritual feeling,
and the progress of the world is for the most part merely material. Men
are becoming like unto beasts that perish, for we know that they have no
spiritual feeling--they do not turn to God, they have no religion! These
things belong to man alone, and if he is without them he is a prisoner of
nature, and no whit better than an animal.
How can man be content to lead only an animal existence when God has made
him so high a creature? All creation is made subject to the laws of
nature, but man has been able to conquer these laws. The sun, in spite of
its power and glory, is bound by the laws of nature, and cannot change its
course by so much as a hair's breadth. The great and mighty ocean is
powerless to change the ebb and flow of its tides--nothing can stand
against nature's laws but man!
But to man God has given such wonderful power that he can guide, control
and overcome nature.
The natural law for man is to walk on the earth, but he makes ships and
flies in the air! He is created to live on dry land, but he rides on the
sea and even travels under it!
He has learnt to control the power of electricity, and he takes it at his
will and imprisons it in a lamp! The human voice is made to speak across
short distances, but man's power is such that he has made instruments and
can speak from East to West! All these examples show you how man can
govern nature, and how, as it were, he wrests a sword from the hand of
nature and uses it against herself. Seeing that man has been created
master of nature, how foolish it is of him to become her slave! What
ignorance and stupidity it is to worship and adore nature, when God in His
goodness has made us masters thereof. God's power is visible to all, yet
men shut their eyes and see it not. The Sun of Truth is shining in all His
splendour, but man with fast shut eyes cannot behold His glory! It is my
earnest prayer to God that by His Mercy and Loving Kindness you may all be
united, and filled with the utmost joy.
I beseech you, one and all, to add your prayers to mine to the end that
war and bloodshed may cease, and that love, friendship, peace and unity
may reign in the world.
All down the ages we see how blood has stained the surface of the earth;
but now a ray of greater light has come, man's intelligence is greater,
spirituality is beginning to grow, and a time is surely coming when the
religions of the world will be at peace. Let us leave the discordant
arguments concerning outward forms, and let us join together to hasten
forward the Divine Cause of unity, until all humanity knows itself to be
one family, joined together in love.