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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. VII Kamal 1, 72 (August 20, 1916) No. 9
Abdul-Baha Speaks on Divine Politics and Other Topics
Some Questions Answered by Abdul-Baha at the Summer Home of a United States Government Official, June 4, 1912
(Translated by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, June 15, 1916)
WE hope that in this gathering we shall partake of the heavenly table. We are pleased with this assembly because it has been united through love. Undoubtedly, the heavenly table is present in every meeting that is gathered through love. In the Gospel it is mentioned that the heavenly table descended upon Peter. Among the people of the Orient it is known that it descended upon his holiness Christ. Also, it is mentioned that the divine table descended upon her holiness Mary. Unquestionably, the heavenly table descended upon both Christ and Mary. The heavenly table concerns heaven, the spiritual table concerns the spirit, and the table of mind concerns the mind. That table which descended upon his holiness Christ and upon Mary was the love of God. From it the human spirit is made alive. It is the sustenance of the hearts. The effects of the physical food are temporal, but the effects of the heavenly food are eternal. Physical food is the life of the body, but in spiritual food is the life of the spirit."
Someone asked: "What will become of the soul of man after death? Abdul-Baha answered: "The body goes under the earth. Thence it came and thither it goes. Everything that you see returns to its own place. As the human body comes from dust, to dust it returns. But the human spirit comes from God and to Him does it return. . . .
One of those who was present said that it was reported in the papers that Abdul-Baha had bought a house at Montclair (N. J.), and intended to live there. Abdul-Baha answered: "They are right in their report, but they did not understand what kind of a home it is. All the world is my country and I am living everywhere. Wherever such souls as you are found, there is my country. Hearts are the real country. Man must live in the hearts and not on the earth. This earth belongs to no one. It will pass away from the hands of all. It is an imagination. But the hearts are the real country."
Praise be to God, you are happy. Here is a paradise. The views are beautiful. It is a superb spot. It has great spirituality. In this place the human soul finds spiritual vibrations. Great happiness is manifest. You have chosen a delightful place."
A woman asked if such a solitary place was also good for children, or if it would be better for them to have company of their age. Abdul-Baha answered "It is very good for children. It is good for their eyes, thoughts, minds, etc. But sometimes it is necessary for them to be with other well brought up children. Consider—when a child becomes two years old, it likes to associate with other children. Consider
the birds how they gather and fly together. Do you remember when you were a child how pleased you were with the children who were of your age and how happy you were?" . . .
"His holiness BAHA'O'LLAH liked such natural scenery. He said: 'The city is the world of the bodies but the mountains and the country are the world of the souls.' Yet all of his life he was a prisoner and fell under great calamities. You must be very grateful to Columbus who discovered such a great country. It is exceedingly astonishing that though he was the discoverer, yet it became known by the name of America. Indeed this country should be called Columbia, which is true and just. Every existing being of the nether world, although it is useful, has still its harmful side. But the thing to be considered is, which is the greater, its usefulness or harmfulness? For example, although by the discovery of Columbus the world seemingly suffered weariness and hardships,—for instance, if Columbus did not discover America the Titanic would not have been built and so many souls drowned—yet these evils in comparison with the benefits are as nothing. Therefore, the usefulness of other things must be considered. In this day the things which are all good are those which pertain to the spirit. They are all good and for the good of all. From them no harm ever comes, for they are light and there is no harm in light."
Someone asked what Abdul-Baha thought of New York city. Abdul-Baha answered: "Its houses are somewhat close to each other. They are like cages. They are like bee-hives. But here all is good. When we rode in the carriage and came to this summer resort it was as though we came out of a hell into paradise.
"Today after our arrival we went to the waterfalls. On returning we were caught by rain and we got somewhat wet; we ran to a house nearby. In the tablets of his holiness BAHA'O'LLAH, it is written that once his holiness Christ was in the desert. It was a dark night and it began to rain in torrents. He went to a cave but he saw ferocious animals therein. He stopped outside and the rain poured upon his head fearfully. He said: 'O God, to the birds thou hast given a nest, to the wild animals a cave, and to the sheep a valley, but for the Son of Man thou hast not created a place wherein he can shelter himself from the rain. O Father, thou seest that the earth is my bed, grass is my food, and the stars are my lamps by night.' Then he said: 'Who is richer than I? Thou hast bestowed upon me a bounty which was not given to the kings, princes, philosophers, and the rich. Who is more wealthy than I?'"
"In the writings of BAHA'O'LLAH there are events which were not mentioned in the Gospels. These traditions are from the life of Christ. They show the genius and sublimity of Christ. I would like to tell you another story. It is said that one day Christ arrived in a village where the government made a law that the inhabitants must not allow strangers to enter their homes. This was because in those regions robbery was increasing. His Holiness went to the house of an old woman. When she saw his beauty and majesty she was ashamed to refuse to receive him, and did not want to reject him. So she admitted him with the utmost respect. Then when she looked at him and realized by his manners the greatness of his Holiness, she stepped forward and kissed his hand. And she said to him: 'I have only one son and nobody else. He was wise, perfect, and we were living very happily. Now, for some time he has been worried; he is mourning; he fills our home with sorrow and sadness; he is working daily, but at night he comes home worried; he does not sleep,
and whenever I ask him what the matter is, he does not answer.'
His Holiness said to her: 'Send him to me.'"
Her son came in the evening. The mother said: 'O my son, this is a great personage, and, if you have any trouble, tell him about it.' Then the son went and sat down in the holy presence.
Jesus said: "Tell me what art thou suffering from."
The son: "I am not suffering."
Jesus: "Do not speak a lie. Thou hast an incurable malady. Tell it to me. I am trustworthy. I do not tell the secrets of anyone. I keep them. Have confidence. Tell it to me. I will not reveal your secret."
The son: "My sickness has no remedy."
Jesus: "Tell me about it; I will remedy it."
The son: "Because it has no remedy it cannot be cured."
Jesus: "Tell it to me. I have the remedy."
The son: "For any kind of disease?"
Jesus: "Yes, for any kind of disease."
The son: "I am ashamed to tell you. I am mortified to tell you."
Jesus: "Thou art my son."
The son, thinking for a moment, said: "I cannot mention it with my tongue. It seems to me that I will be impolite if I do."
Jesus: "I will forgive thee."
The son: "I am in love with the daughter of the king who is in a city nearby. My work is the selling of thorns. What can I say more than this?"
Jesus: "Have confidence. God willing I shall send thee what thou wishest." Briefly, his Holiness arranged it for him so that he might marry the young woman. On the night of the wedding, just as he entered her room, which was full of ornaments and splendor, something came to his mind and he said to himself, this person (Jesus) has brought to consummation so great a matter for me. Why did he not do it for himself? Inasmuch as he performed such good fortune for me, he could have performed the same thing for himself. Yet with such ideal powers he wanders in the desert; he eats grass; he sleeps on the earth; he sits in the dark; lie is in the utmost poverty. When this thought came to him he said to the young woman: "Remain thou here. I have a little business to attend to; I go and will return." He went out into the night in pursuit of his Holiness. Finally he found him and said: "O, my Lord. Thou hast not treated me fairly."
Jesus: "Why?"
Son: "Thou hast obtained for me that which thou desired not for thyself. Undoubtedly thou hast something which is greater than this. And if this were the acceptable thing thou wouldst have chosen it for thyself. It is evident thou hast something which is greater than this. Therefore thou art not just. Thou hast given me that which thou desirest not for thyself."
Jesus: "Thou art right. Hast thou the capacity and the preparation for it?"
Son: "I hope so."
Jesus: "Canst thou leave everything?"
Son: "Yes."
Jesus: "It is the divine guidance which is greater than all things. If thou art able, come."
He followed him. Then his Holiness went to his disciples and said: "I have found, in this village, a hidden treasure. Now I have saved it. This is my treasure. I have taken him out of the earth and I give him to you."
One of those who were present said that he was sorry he could not speak the Persian language.
Abdul-Baha replied: "Praise be to
(Continued on page 81)
STAR OF THE WEST
PUBLISHED NINETEEN TIMES A YEAR
By the BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, 515 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1911, at the post office at Chicago, Illinois, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Terms: $1.50 per year; 10 cents per copy.
Make Money Orders payable to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U. S. A.
To personal checks please add sufficient to cover the bank exchange.
Address all communications to BAHAI NEWS SERVICE, P. O. Box 283, Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.
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. VII
No. 9
Abdul-Baha on Spiritual Happiness
IT is natural that a passenger on board the steamer and sailing the great ocean may now witness the tumultuous waves of a wild storm and in the freedom and joyousness of his heart ride on the white crest of the iridescent and pearly foam, watching a world of surging waves battling against the sky, and again behold the sea tranquil, its surface like a mirror, reflecting therein the blue dome of heaven. These experiences are the natural requirements of one's journey. They have always been conducive to the enrichment of human nature. But on the other hand, if the tranquillity become permanent and the traveler deprived of the wonderful sight of the waves, the sea not being stirred by the blowing of winds, this state is undesirable, for it is indicative of the fact that one's journey has come to an end. . . . Today my joy and happiness consists in the firmness and steadfastness of the believers of God, the attraction of the hearts with the fragrances of God, the detachment of the people from the inordinate desires of passion and self and their complete dependence on and communication with the kingdom of God. . . There is no doubt that we do not find real joy and happiness through the songs of the singers, the music of the musicians and the flowers of the rose garden, nay rather our delight and exhilaration consists in the anthems of unity and the chorus of harmony raised from the assemblages of the friends of God, singing in the heavenly rose garden, their voices reaching to the ears of the people of the world and creating a divine attitude of beatitude and ecstasy. . . . ."
(A portion of a tablet received from Abdul-Baha, through Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, dated March 20, 1916, by Mr. Horace Holley.)
"In the morning," writes Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, "I was busy reading an article in an American newspaper concerning the society organized in Cleveland to 'make happiness epidemic'. Abdul-Baha came out of his room and walked in the garden for a few minutes. I went out of the room
and joined him. When I told him of the organization of such a society in America he laughed heartily and said: 'It is very good—the world needs more happiness and illumination. The star of happiness is in every heart: we must remove the clouds so that it may twinkle radiantly. Happiness is an eternal condition. When it is once established, man will ascend to the supreme heights of bliss. A truly happy man will not be subject to the shifting eventualities of time. Like unto an eternal king he will sit upon the throne of fixed realities. He will be impervious to outward changing of circumstances and through his deeds and actions, impart happiness to others. A Bahai must be happy, for the blessings of God are bestowed upon him'."
(From Mirza Ahmad Sohrab's Diary, January 7, 1914.)
Abdul-Baha Speaks on Divine Politics and Other Topics
(Continued from page 77)
God, this veil does not exist in the world of spirit. The hearts speak with each other. There was once organized in Persia a society whose chief characteristic was that they spoke without the tongue, and with the slightest sign could communicate many important matters. This society progressed to such a degree that with the motion of a finger abstruse matters could be understood. The government feared that they might organize a society against the government and since none could understand their purpose they might work great mischief. Therefore they suppressed them.
"I wish to tell you a story about this society. Anyone who desired to join it had to stand at the door. Then they consulted with each other by signs and gave their opinions without speaking. Once a person with an awful looking visage stood at the door. The president looked at his face and saw what an awful looking figure he had. There was a cup on the table containing water. The president poured in some water until it was full to the brim. This was the sign of rejection. It meant that there was no room among them for that person. But the man was intelligent. He took a tiny piece of a flower leaf and with the utmost deference entered the room and put it on the surface of the water in the cup. He laid it so carefully that the water in the cup did not move. All were delighted. He meant that he did not need a big place, that he was like a flower leaf which does not need a place. They clapped their hands and accepted him. All their conversation was with signs; they progressed very much and by this method intelligence and memory became keen and their power in reading the face increased. Often they spoke to each other with their eyes. With the utmost clearness they conversed with each other by the motions of their eves." . . .
Someone asked about the future of America. Abdul-Baha answered that "In the future all the countries of America such as Mexico and Canada, and even South America will join the Union."
Some one asked about the great universal war among the nations. Abdul-Baha replied: "It must come, but America will not be involved. This war will be in Europe. You have taken a corner for yourselves. You do not interfere with others' business. You are not thinking of taking the European countries, and there is no one who is greedy to take your land. You are safe because the Atlantic ocean is a very strong, natural fort."
Someone asked regarding the forms of government, such as the republican, the constitutional, etc.
Abdul-Baha answered: "Europe and other countries will be compelled to apply the same order that you have. In all Europe great changes will take place. Their states will be independent, ruled by local governments. Indeed it is not just that a country should be ruled by one central government, because no matter how just and good the members of that center may be, they are not fully acquainted with the necessary details of other localities and cities, and they do not strive for an equal progress in all the regions of the country. For example: Now all the Germans serve Berlin; all the French serve Paris; all the English kingdoms and colonies adorn London. But your government has a good political order."
Someone asked about the economic question.
Abdul-Baha answered: "America cannot be compared with Europe. The problems of America in comparison to those of Europe are as nothing. One of the problems of Europe is to maintain a great army. All the French and German nations are soldiers. But you are free from this great calamity. You must thank God for saving you. In the interior of America there is protection and safety. The first banner of peace will rise here. Know for a certainty that this will come to pass. For man knows the result from the beginning. The result will be that the peace which you have here among your people will, from here, be spread to other regions."
Someone else asked-regarding election and whether the country should be ruled by the people or by the wise ones among the people.
Abdul-Baha answered: "It is evident that it is better if the people elect the noble ones among them, and then these elect the president of the republic. That is to say, the president should be the elect of the elect, because the public in general are not as well informed as they should be in regard to political affairs. The common people follow fame. In reality, whatever affair the wise people desire to execute, the common people agree to. The affairs should be in the hands of the wise and not of the common people. But the wise people must be in the utmost faithfulness and sincerity of purpose; they must serve all the people, and protect and safeguard their welfare. Consider, if you put the general affairs into the hands of the common people they will be ruined. If you put all the work into the hands of the laborer the house will not be built. A wise architect is needed. The work is done by the architect, but the common laborer suffers the hardships. The general draws the map of war, but the common people do the fighting. We cannot give them the map. Is it possible to leave a regiment in the hands of a soldier? But if we want to be victorious and conquerors, a wise, experienced person must be made commander."
Someone asked in regard to the question of capital and labor.
Abdul-Baha said: "The solution of this problem is one of the fundamental principles of his holiness BAHA'O'LLAH. But it must be solved with justice and not with force. If this problem is not solved lovingly it will result in war. Perfect communism and equality are an impossibility because they would upset the affairs and the order of the world. But there is a fair method which will not leave the poor in such need, nor the rich in such wealth. The poor and the rich, according to their degrees, can live happily, with ease and tranquillity. The first person in the world who had this idea was the king of Sparta. He sacrificed his kingdom for this work. He lived before Alexander the Great was born. This thought came to his mind, that he could render a service which would be higher than all services and become the cause of happiness to many. Thus he divided the people of Sparta
into three divisions. One division consisted of the ancient inhabitants, and they were the farmers. Another division consisted of the industrial people; another were the Greeks, who were originally from Phoenicia. The name of this king was Lycurgus, He desired real equality among these three divisions, and in this manner established a just government. He said that the ancient people, who were the farmers, were free from any obligation except that they had to pay one-tenth of their products and no more. The people of industry and commerce had to pay yearly taxes and nothing else. The third class, who were the nobles and descendants of the rulers, whose occupations were in politics, war and the defense of the country, had all the land of Sparta. He measured the whole land and divided it equally among them. For example, there were nine thousand of them. He divided all the land in nine thousand equal parts and gave one part to each one of them. He gave one-tenth of the product of each piece of land to the one who owned it. He also made other laws and ordinances for the citizens. When he found that he had accomplished what he wanted, he said: 'I am going to Syria, but I am afraid that after I go away you will change my laws. Therefore, take an oath that you will not make any change before my return.' They took an oath in the temple and assured him that they would never make any change and that they would maintain these laws always until the return of the king. But the king left the temple, traveled and never returned. He gave up his kingdom in order that these laws might be preserved. This equality of distribution, in a short time, became the cause of discord, because one of the men had five children, another three children, and another two children. Differences accrued and the whole thing was upset. Therefore the matter of equality is an impossibility.
"But here is the real solution. The rich should be merciful to the poor, but with their free-will, not with force. Should it be with force it would be useless. It should be according to law and not by violence, so that through a general law everyone might know his duty. For example, a rich person has a large income and a poor person a small income. To put it in a more explicit way: a rich person has ten thousand kilos of products, and a poor person has ten kilos. Now is it fair to tax them equally? Nay, rather, the poor person in this case must be exempt from taxes. If the poor person gives one-tenth of his income and the rich person one-tenth of his income, it will be unjust. Thus in this way a law should be made that the poor person who has only ten kilos and needs them all for his necessary food, be exempt from paying taxes. But if the rich person, who has ten thousand kilos, pays one-tenth or two-tenths taxes on his products, it will not be a hardship to him. For example, if he gives two thousand kilos, he will still have eight thousand kilos. If a person has fifty thousand kilos, even though he gives ten thousand kilos, he will still have forty thousand kilos. Therefore, laws must be made in this way. These laws must do away with the present system of wages and earnings. If today the owners of factories increase the wages of their employees, after a month or a year, they will again cry and strike and ask for more increase. This work has no end.
"Now I want to tell you about the law of God. According to the divine law no wages should be given to the employee. Nay, rather, indeed they are partners in every work. For example, the farmers plant near a village. They get products from their cultivation. They take one-tenth from the rich and the poor according to their income. A general store may be built in that village for all incomes and products to be brought therein. Then it will be considered who is rich and who is poor. The farmers whose incomes are sufficient only for their food and expenses
must be free from paying taxes. All products and incomes gathered and collected must be put in the general store. If there is a helpless one in that village his daily needs must be given to him. On the other hand, a rich person who needs only fifty kilos of products and still has five hundred thousand kilos, after all his expenses are paid, should be taxed two-tenths and at the end of the year whatever remains in the store should be distributed for the general expenses.
"The question of socialization is very important. It will not be solved by strikes for wages. All the governments of the world must be united and organize an assembly, the members of which should be elected from the parliaments and the nobles of the nations. These must plan, with utmost wisdom and power, so that neither the capitalists suffer from enormous losses, nor the laborers become needy. In the utmost moderation they should make the law, then announce to the public that the rights of the working people are to be strongly preserved. Also the rights of the capitalists are to be protected. When such a general plan is adopted by the will of both sides, should a strike occur, all the governments of the world collectively should resist it. Otherwise, the work will lead to much destruction, especially in Europe. Terrible things will take place. One of the several causes of a universal European war will be this question. For instance, the owners of properties, mines and factories should share their incomes with their employees, and give a fairly certain percentage of their products to their workingmen, in order that the employees may receive, beside their wages, some of the general income of the factory, so that the employee may strive with his soul in the work.
"No more trusts will remain in the future. The question of the trusts will be wiped away entirely. Also, every factory that has ten thousand shares, will give two thousand shares of these ten thousand to its employees, and will write them in their names, so that they may have them, and the rest will belong to the capitalists. Then at the end of the month or year, whatever they may earn after the expenses and wages are paid, according to the number of shares, should be divided among both. In reality, so far, great injustice has befallen the common people. Laws must be made because it is impossible for the laborers to be satisfied with the present system. They will strike every month and every year. Finally, the capitalists will lose. In the ancient times a strike occurred among the Turkish soldiers. They said to the government: 'Our wages are very small and they should be increased.' The government was forced to give them their demands. Shortly afterwards they struck again. Finally all the incomes went to the pockets of the soldiers, to the extent that they killed the king, saying: 'Why didst thou not increase the income, so that we might have received more?'
"It is impossible for a country to live easily without laws. To solve this problem strong laws must be made, so that all the governments of the world be the protectors thereof.
"The essence of this matter is that strikes are conducive to destruction, but laws are the cause of life. Laws must be framed. Demands should be according to the laws, and not with strikes, force and harshness. Tonight you have spoken of politics, but we are not accustomed to talk on politics. We speak about the world of spirit. We speak of the wealth of the kingdom, not of the wealth of the nether world. Politics are obligatory matters, but eternal happiness cannot be obtained by force. Happines and force are impossible. What is meant by happiness? It means that the people should live according to the most perfect virtues of the world of humanity, and the power of the divine kingdom. This is one story and that is another story."
