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STAR OF THE WEST
"We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations; that all nations shall become one in faith and all men as brothers; that the bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men shall be strengthened; that diversity of religion shall cease and differences of race be annulled. So it shall be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away, and the ‘Most Great Peace’ shall come."—BAHA'O'LLAH.
Vol. VI Asma 1, 71 (August 1, 1915) No. 8
"We are in the most radiant century, wherein human perceptions have developed and investigation of reality is conducted"
Address by Abdul-Baha at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Moxey, New York City, November 18, 1912.
Stenographic notes taken by Miss Esther Foster.
I OFFER thanks to God for this meeting with you here. From the external standpoint such meetings are inconceivable, for we are orientals, whereas you are occidentals, and between us there is no patriotic relation, no racial relation, no linguistic relation, no commercial relation, no political relation. There is no connection or any bond requiring such a gathering between us. However, the love of God has gathered us here, and this is the best of means. Every other means of fellowship is limited in efficiency, but fellowship based on the love of God is unlimited, is everlasting, is divine, is radiant. Therefore we must be thankful to God for uniting us in fellowship and creating such amity between us that persons from the east may meet revered persons of the west in the utmost love. Surely, for everything there is wisdom, especially for great things, and most especially for the most particular affairs of life, and this concerns the manifestation of God and the descent of the law of God, for, verily, this is the greatest affair, and for the greatest affair, surely, there is all comprehensive wisdom.
The divine, holy Manifestations of God did not reveal themselves for the purpose of founding a nation or a denomination. They did not appear in order that some one, or ones, might acknowledge their prophethood. They did not appear in order to lay the foundation for a religious belief. Even Christ, his holiness Christ, did not become manifest that we should believe in him as the Christ; he did not appear in order that we might follow him; he did not appear in order that we might adore him; all these are limited in scope, whereas the reality of Christ was an unlimited essence. The unlimited reality cannot become bounded by any limitation. Nay, rather, his holiness Christ appeared in order to illumine the world of humanity in order to render the earthly world celestial in nature; to make all the human world a realm of angels; to unite the hearts; to enkindle the light of love in all the hearts; that souls might thus become independent, attaining the utmost love and fellowship, turning to God, being ushered into the kingdom, apportioned in the bestowals and bounty of God, and partaking of the manna from heaven. Thus they might become baptized through the holy
spirit, attaining a new spirit and realizing the life everlasting. All these beliefs and all prophetic laws were for these various purposes. Consequently, we offer thanks to God that no mundane relation obtains among us, but—Praise to God!—ideal and divine bonds connect us. We have gathered at this meeting eagerly anticipating the showing forth of the divine bestowals.
In bygone centuries, all the nations of the world imagined that the law of God was synonymous with blind imitation. For example, the Jews were captives of domestic, blind imitations. The Musselmen, or Mohammedans were also captives. The Christians were followers of old and ancient tradition and teachings. The basic foundation of the religions of God, which are ever conducive to good fellowship, amity and love of humanity, that foundation was forsaken and cast aside, each religion held tenaciously to certain imitations, and by dint of these blind imitations, one was inimicable to the other. On this account it was impossible for the religionists to gather in a meeting, nor was it possible for them to exercise fellowship, even ordinary conversation was considered contaminating, and every nation because of the heritage of blind imitations from ancestors and forefathers and their tenacious hold thereto was alienated from all the other religions. There was no investigation of reality at all. Every soul whose father chanced to be a Jew, turned out to be a Jew, and every soul whose father had been a Mohammedan turned out to be a Mohammedan, and every soul whose forebear was a Buddhist was likewise a Buddhist. In brief, religion was a heritage which was bequeathed from ancestor to progeny, therefore there was no investigation; consequently all were at variance.
Praise be to God, we are in this most radiant century, wherein human perceptions have developed and examination or investigation of reality is conducted. Each indiividual of the human race is bent on the revelation of reality. Therefore it is behooving of this century that we set aside all that savors of blind imitation and impartially and independently investigate reality. Let us find out what constitutes the reality of the divine religions. For example, if a Christian sets aside all blind imitations handed down by his forebears and investigates the reality of the teachings of the Gospel, he will observe that the foundation of the teachings of his holiness Christ constituted mercy, love, good fellowship, humanitarianism, altruism, and the resplendence or radiance of the bestowals of God, the acquisition of the breaths of the holy spirit united to oneness, even as he declared: Verily, the sun of God shineth upon all humanity without exception, for it shineth upon the just and the unjust. What is the meaning of this declaration? we may ask. The meaning is this, that the mercy of God encircles all, not a single individual is deprived of the mercy of God; no soul is deprived of the resplendency of the bestowals of God. The whole human race is submerged in the sea of the mercy of the Lord and we are all the sheep of God. If there is any shortcoming, it must be eradicated; for example, the man who is ignorant must be educated in order that he may become wise; the man who is sick must be treated in order that he recover; the man who is immature must be trained in order that he may reach maturity; the man who is asleep must be awakened. All this must be accomplished in the utmost love and not through hatred or rancor. For instance, his holiness Christ has declared: Those having eyes yet they see not; having ears yet they hear not; having hearts, yet they understand not. Just as the prophet Isaiah foretold: But I shall heal them. Hence, it becomes evident that the bounties of Christ transformed the eye which was blind into a seeing one; the ear which was formerly deaf, he rendered attentive; the heart which was hard, he made tender; in
other words, the text means that although the people possessed external eyes, yet the insight, or the sight of the soul was blind although the corporeal ear heard, yet the hearing of the spirit was deaf; though they possessed hearts, they were without illumination; and the bounties of his holiness Christ saved those souls from these conditions. Thus it is evident that the manifestation of the Messiah was synonomous with universal mercy. His providence was universal and his teachings were for all. His lights were for everybody. Every "Christ" came for the earth of mankind. Therefore we must investigate the foundation of the divine religion and find it and reinstate it and spread it broadcast in the world, so that it may become the cause of illumination of the world; that the dead may become alive, and the blind seeing, and the inattentive attentive.
Each one of the divine religions is divisible into two departments. One department is spiritual in nature, such as faith in God, faith in Christ, faith in Moses, faith in Abraham, faith in Mohammed, the love of God, the oneness of the world of humanity. These shall be spread throughout the world. This strife and sedition shall disappear. This ignorance and inadvertence and these quarrels shall cease, and all the human race shall be bound together. The second department or division, which is non-essential, concerns the world of bodies, concerns transactions. It is non-essential or accidental. Seen in affairs it is subject to changes and transformations according to the exigency of the time and place. For example, the question of divorce, at the time of Moses it was permitted, but during the time of Christ it was not permitted, therefore Christ made it unlawful. For example, there are in the Torah ten commandments concerning retribution for murder. . . . And now the religions have forsaken the department which is essential, which has to do with the life of the human world, the life which is lasting—and that is the love of God, faith in God, philanthropy, knowledge, perception, guidance-all these are held to be accidental and they squabble over the question as to whether divorce is lawful or unlawful. The Jews consider it lawful and the Catholic religion says it is unlawful, therefore, they quarrel. Now what is the basic foundation?
His holiness Christ said in the Gospel: Whosoever smites thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Consider what is going on now in the Balkans. What relation is there between the teachings of Christ and what is happening there? What relation is that which man has absolutely forgotten? For the mooted question as regards their quarreling and disputing belongs to the department which is accidental and of no importance. We therefore must set aside all these blind imitations and investigate reality, and reality is one, it does not accept of multiplicity at all, and there is no doubt through that conception we shall be unified.
In the orient, darkness was brewing and all the religions were submerged in the ocean of blind imitation. There was no trace of the foundation of the divine religion. Therefore, because the blind imitations were various, the people were hostile and inimical; rancor and sedition were rampant, and battling and quarreling were continuous; blood overspread the eastern horizon. In place of religion being the cause of fellowship, it was the cause of hatred; in lieu of religion being the cause of unity, it proved to be the cause of discord, reaching that degree wherein there was warfare and strife, even as in the Balkans at the present time. The present existing religion in the Balkans imagines that the basis of divine religion means warfare. If the adherents of one religion endeavor to eradicate and erase the other religion, the adherents of both religions try to
(Continued on page sixty-four)
STAR OF THE WEST
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Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the post office at Chicago, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
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TABLET FROM ABDUL-BAHA.
HE IS GOD!
O thou Star of the West!
Be thou happy! Be thou happy! Shouldst thou continue to remain firm and eternal, ere long, thou shalt become the Star of the East and shalt spread in every country and clime. Thou art the first paper of the Bahais which is organized in the country of America. Although for the present thy subscribers are limited, thy form is small and thy voice weak, yet shouldst thou stand unshakable, become the object of the attention of the friends and the center of the generosity of the leaders of the faith who are firm in the Covenant, in the future thy subscribers will become hosts after hosts like unto the waves of the sea; thy volume will increase, thy arena will become vast and spacious and thy voice and fame will be raised and become world-wide—and at last thou shalt become the first paper of the world of humanity. Yet all these depend upon firmness, firmness, firmness!
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
Vol. VI
No. 8
"The Will of the Creator is effected through the process of (voluntary) composition"
SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
Address by Abdul-Baha delivered Sunday, February 9, 1913, at 30 rue St. Didier, Paris.
Translated from notes in Persian by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab.
TODAY some one asked a question regarding the existence of God. What are the proofs through which one can establish the existence of God?
People are divided into two sections, one which is satisfied with the knowledge of the attributes of divinity, and the other which strives to establish the existence of divinity, and be informed of the fundamental principles of divine philosophy.
Therefore today I will speak to you of the proofs which establish scientifically the existence of God.
I will not quote to you the scriptural proofs from the Old and the New Testament or the Koran, for you are more or less familiar with those ideas. Consequently I will deal with this subject from an intellectual standpoint. As it is an abtruse subject I request you to give your utmost attention.
When we look upon all forms of phenomena. we observe that they are the results of composition. For example, certain single atoms are brought together through the inherent law of elective affinity existing between these various particles, the result of which is the human being. A number of primordial atoms have gone into the make up of a plant, the result of which is the flower.
Again looking into the mineral kingdom we observe that this law of cohesion is working in the same manner in that kingdom, for We see that many atoms go into the composition of a piece of stone which through purification may reach to the state of a mirror.
In short, the existence of life depends upon the composition and decomposition of phenomena. When the particles of a given composition are disintegrated this may be called non-existence, but the original simple atoms will go back to their primary elements and are ever existent.
For instance, the body of man being the resultant factor of the composition of these atoms, when this body becomes the subject of decomposition we call that death, but those atoms of which the body of man was composed, being simple and primordial, are indestructible. Consequently it is proved that the existence of phenomena depends upon composition and their mortality upon decomposition.
This is a scientific principle; science approves of it, because it is not a matter of belief. There is a great difference between theories upheld by belief, and facts which are substantiated by science.
Beliefs are the susceptibilities of conscience, but scientific facts are the deductions of reason and inexorable logic.
Therefore it is logically proven that the existence of phenomena depends upon composition, and their destruction upon disintegration.
Now going back to our subject and the facts upheld by materialists. They state that inasmuch as it is proven and upheld by science that the life of phenomena depends upon composition and their destruction upon disintegration, then where comes in the need or necessity of a Creator—the self-subsistent Lord?
For we see with our own eyes that these infinite beings go through myriads of compositions and in every composition appearing under a certain form showing certain characteristic virtues, then we are independent of any divine maker.
This is the argument of the materialists. On the other hand those who are informed of divine philosophy answer in the following terms:
Composition is of three kinds.
1. Accidental composition.
2. Involuntary composition.
3. Voluntary composition.
There is no fourth kind of composition. Composition is restricted to these three categories.
If we say that composition is accidental, this is philosophically a false theory, because then we have to believe in an effect without a cause, and philosophically no effect is conceivable without a cause. We cannot think of an effect without some primal cause, and composition being an effect, there must naturally be a cause behind it.
As to the second composition, i. e., the involuntary composition. Involuntary composition means that each element has within it as an inherent function this power of composition. For example, certain elements have towards each other, and as an inherent necessity of their being they are composed. That is, it is the imminent need of these elements to enter into composition.
For example, the inherent quality of fire is burning or heat. Heat is an original property of fire.
Humidity is the inherent nature of water. You cannot conceive of H2O, which is the chemical form of water, without having humidity connected, for that is its inherent quality, inseparable and indivisible.
Now as long as it is the inherent necessity of these elements to be composed, there should not be any decomposition. While we observe that after each composite organism, there is a process of decomposition we learn that the composition of the organisms of life is neither accidental nor involuntary. Then what have we as a form of composition? It is the third, that is the voluntary composition. And that means that the infinite forms of organisms are composed through a superior will, the eternal will, the will of the living and self-subsistent Lord.
This is a rational proof, that the Will of the Creator is effected through the process of composition.
Ponder over this carefully. When you comprehend the significances of this subject you will then be able to convey it to others. The more you think over this the greater will be your comprehension.
Thank God that He has given you such a power through which you can comprehend these divine mysteries. Reflect deeply, ponder carefully, think minutely, and then the doors of knowledge shall be opened unto you.
"We are in the most radiant century"
(Continued from page sixty-one)
suppress the other. They think the more a religionist kills, the nearer he draws to God, the more blood he sheds, the more does he gain the good pleasure of the Lord. That is why you see them fiercely attacking each other and taking the women captives. Think of the property they plunder and the innocent children they destroy. Observe the results of blind imitation. How gloomy imitations are! How destructive to humanity! If this be the foundation of divine religion, undoubtedly irreligion is better, because the infidels do not shed blood; they are inimical to each other. It is the religions of the present day that are inimical. Thus religion, which should have contributed to the illumination of the world has become productive of gross darkness.
Consider how blind imitations in the orient made darkness all-encircling. At such a time, his holiness Baha'o'llah dawned from the eastern horizon like unto the sun. He reformed the basis of the religions of God. He took away from their midst blind imitations and placed in their stead amity and good fellowship. There remained no strife, no sedition, no quarrels. The amity of the seats can be seen. Nay, rather all live together in the utmost of love and good fellowship. Were you to enter one of their meetings, you would observe that they have become as one race, as one nativity, as one religion; that they associate one with the other in the utmost of love and good fellowship. Praise be to God, these blind imitations, this darkness, have ceased to exist and the reality of the oneness of humanity has been proven!
Now, I have come to America, and I consider the American people to be a civilized people, an intelligent nation, a nation investigating reality, hence, I hope through the efforts of this noble nation the solidarity of humanity will be advanced daily; the illumination of the human world will be widespread; the banner of universal peace be held aloft; the lamp of the oneness of the human world be ignited; and the hearts of the east and west become united. Then the reality of the divine religions shall become resplendent and refulgent, indicating the fact that all the divine religions were meant to be the cause of unity and love and all heavenly bestowals have ever been conferring light upon humanity.
