| ←Issue 9 | Star of the West Volume 9 - Issue 10 |
Issue 11→ |
 Proofread onceReturn to PDF view
|
We are working hard to have proofread and nicely formatted text for you to read. Here is our progress on this section:
|
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. IX Eizzat 1, 74 (September 8, 1918) No. 10
Talks by Abdul-Baha in the Holy Land—Continued
TRANSLATED BY DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI
The following compilation of some of the utterances of Abdul-Baha after his return to the Holy Land from America, Europe and Egypt, is the third published under this heading—the first appeared in issue No. 2, page 17; the second in issue No. 3, page 25.
HADJI ABBAS is the name of an old Bahai who lived in Acca and for more than thirty years was chosen by Abdul-Baha to be the lantern carrier. Almost every night, whether walking in the dark narrow streets of the prison city Acca or in the fields outside, he was the only one who accompanied Abdul-Baha. (The translator, and perhaps others, entertained the thought that this man, on account of his bravery, strength and courage, was chosen to be as a guard to Abdul-Baha. But in recent years, it became evident that Hadji Abbas, during all those years of apparently faithful service was concealing a deadly weapon for the purpose of betraying and murdering Abdul-Baha, whenever he could find an opportunity. This was because his mind was poisoned and his heart changed by the deceitful nakazeen and the bitter enemies with whom he had joined.) Abdul-Baha, said regarding this person: "He was so sick and exhausted in Acca when he came to me for help and assistance, that I placed him in a hospital in Haifa and I loved him very much." Then Abdul-Baha turned to Agha Mohammed Kermani who was present and said to him:
"Tell me what is the voice that is calling loud in Kerman (Persia)? Is it the voice of the darvishes (tramps) or the moaning of shaykhis (a Mohammedan cult)? For the sake of the elevation of the call of God all these shall be silenced. When the call of God rises, all other cells become erased and forgotten. When the movement of the Supreme Pen (BAHA'O'LLAH) becomes audible, undoubtedly the buzzing of flies ceases. This is evident. May God give assistance and confirmation to the souls who serve the supreme word and elevate this call. The powers of the Kingdom of Abha and the divine confirmations will assist and reinforce every one who becomes engaged in teaching the Cause of God. There is no doubt about this."
February 23, 1914.
Abdul-Baha and a number of the friends took a walk outside the city of Haifa. He told them of the lofty degrees of severance and attraction of the old friends in the Cause, and when they passed by a cave he showed it to Mirza Sohrab and said: "We had a person by the name of Estad Esmail. Indeed, he was peerless. He suffered great calamities and ordeals in Teheran (Persia) and in Bagdad—they confiscated all his belongings and they took his wife, yet he was in the utmost joy and he used to say, 'Praise be to God! They have taken
my wife and my belongings. God willing, a day cometh when I may sacrifice my life in the path of God!' When he reached Acca it was at a time when no one was allowed to enter the forts. When I heard this I managed to get him into the barracks. After one month I sent him to Haifa. He dwelt in this cave. He became a peddler in the daytime and in the nights he used to chant with attractive and indescribable sincerity the verses which the Blessed Beauty (BAHA'O'LLAH) had sent to him."
In the afternoon of the same day Abdul-Baha gave the following utterances to the friends who gathered in his home:
"It is the duty of all the friends to help the families of the martyrs. They have become flesh of my flesh because the martyrs have sacrificed their lives for me. Whosoever renders a service to the families of the martyrs is serving the Blessed Beauty. Whosoever supports them is supporting the Blessed Beauty. Whosoever becomes a self-sacrifice in their behalf is a self-sacrifice in the path of the Beauty of Abha. The great martyrdom or the sacrifice of life is like unto a mirror and when turned toward the sun, the temple and the body of the mirror become utterly effaced; that is, the martyrs efface themselves in the love of God to such an extent that the bodies and mirrors no longer exist. They become the rays of the sun. Therefore, everything that is related or belongs to them belongs to God. Whosoever serves them serves God. Whosoever loves them, verily, he loves God. It is not a joke—when the time of test comes, for then the truth becomes known. Justice must be given. If a thorn enters our hand, we cry and become restless. If our head aches we become restless. But the sharp sword takes away one's life. The martyrs have tasted the sweetness of that cup. That is why His Holiness, the Messenger (Mohammed) said, 'The martyrs have stations that prophets are envious of.' Thus His Holiness the Supreme (the Bab)—May my soul be a ransom to him!—when addressing the Blessed Beauty, in his book titled Ahsan-el-Kessas (The Best of all the Stories), said, 'O our great Lord! verily, everything in me I sacrifice to Thee and I desire only to be killed in Thy path.' To whom do these addresses in the Ahsan-el-Kessas refer? Undoubtedly to the One-Whom-God-Shall-Manifest, that is His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH, and not to Mirza Yahya (Ezel). They used to attribute these references, before the declaration of the Manifestation to an imaginary person. Afterwards it became evident that the person was existing. But before investigation they believed that those references meant the Kayem himself, yet the Bab was the Kayem (Forerunner). Therefore, from these references, it becomes evident that the One-Whom-God-Shall-Manifest was existing. He (the Bab) says, moreover, 'By Gad, the Truth! I am an hooriet (girl of paradise) born from El-Baha, in a place of the red ruby, and by all those who are in heaven, I yearn for the soul that is killed in the path of God.'
Afterwards, Abdul-Baha, showed infinite kindness to Enayet'o'llah Khan, the son of Mullah Esmail, the martyr. Then he ordered the friends to be served with fruits and preserves. One of the Zoroasterian Bahais was present at that time and Abdul-Baha said the following to him about another believer: "Indeed, Mullah Bahram (a Zoroasterian Bahai) is a blessed being. He is active in the Cause of God and is never still. The station of such souls is not known now, but it will become evident in the future. During the first century of the holy Manifestations the beginning of the revelation is like the day, because the Sun of Reality is shining upon all the horizons, the stars are invisible. But in the second century, the station and the degree of the sincere ones will become evident. Their lights will become manifest and bright like unto the shining stars. The stations of the apostles of His Holiness
Christ became known after three hundred years."
In the evening there was a general meeting in the home of Abdul-Baha. Mr. Rothchild, a great financier, visited Haifa and Abdul-Baha talked about wealth. He said in part: "Unless the souls are believers in God and assured in the verses of God, wealth causes the hearts to be hardened and without light." At the close of the meeting a supplication of repentance, confession and pleading written by Hadji Aly Yazdi, was read in the presence of Abdul-Baha and the hearts of those who were present became touched. They turned their faces to the Horizon of the Cause, and implored the Kingdom of the Covenant and of the Beauty of Abha for a new confirmation. (Hadjy Aly Yazdi was at one time one of the nakezeen or violators of the Covenant and he lives in Acca.)
February 24, 1918.
Today, Abdul-Baha revealed tablets, concerning deeds. In one of them he says, "The deeds of man must be the cause of glory. Everything that is conducive to the honor of the religion of God is good. Every action that becomes the means of the elevation of the Word of God is accepted. This is the standard."
Afterwards, a group of Arabs and a Durzi Shiekh (a priest or chief of a sect originally Mohammedan), went to see Abdul-Baha and he talked to them about the sublime qualities of the world of humanity. He said: "Generosity, courage, faithfulness, truthfulness, etc., are all shining stars and brilliant planets. They are the cause of the illumination of hearts, of the assurance of souls, of the honor and dignity of man in this world and in the Kingdom."
Then Abdul-Baha spoke to the believers about the station of sanctity and severance. He said, "In this station, the souls are tested. This is what BAHA'O'LLAH said: 'By the life of God! all shall be sifted just as the wheat is separated from the tares. In a sieve they shall be cleaned and purified from dust and chaff'. Likewise, those whose actions are good, will be distinguished from the others. Therefore, in every cycle when a sifting and a great testing occur, all (the violators) will fall away except the sincere souls, who come under the shadow of the Word of God. The sea does not accept the dead. The souls who come under the shadow of the Cause of God are holy and purified from all superstitions. Consider the blessed souls who were sent forth into Persia during the beginning of the Revelation. All have sacrificed their lives, given up their possessions and homes, in the path of God. But on the other hand, the deniers, who arose in opposition, became occupied in vain pursuits and, night and day, thought only of fame and easy life. Their hearts were not pure and their souls were waning in hopes and desires. This happens in every cycle. 'Can light and darkness exist at the same'?'
ABDUL-BAHA AT THE SEA OF GALILEE
June 6, 1914.
Abdul-Baha, uttered the following words to a Persian family known as Falah, who went to visit him at Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee:
"In all the cities, the friends who are firm and steadfast, become the cause of guidance and illumination of the people. They endeavor to elevate the hearts and to enlighten the minds. For example, an arid valley, deserts of sand and waterless mountains which were near the equator and subject to intense heat, became the light of all the horizons and the pilgrimage of the people of the
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.
Editorial Staff: ALBERT R. WINDUST — GERTRUDE BUIKEMA — DR. ZIA M. BAGDADI
Honorary Member—MIRZA AHMAD SOHRAB
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. IX
No. 10
world, when it was illumined by the coming of His Highness the Messenger—May my soul be a ransom to him and his friends! How much it is advanced! In the beginning it was an insignificant village and now it is the mother of the cities (Mecca)."
June 8, 1914.
Mirza Ahmad Sohrab read to Abdul-Baha an article from the Christian Commonwealth, in which there was an appeal to Christianity to cease its useless ceremonies and to return to its original simplicity and spirituality. The article spoke also of a minister who courageously said to an assembly of ministers that "the time had now come for us to be ashamed of receiving high salaries and to be living in such comfort and luxury while the poor are left in such misery. We must leave the thoughts of our desires and become self-sacrificing." Abdul-Baha then said:
"They talk of doing, but they do not act. They think it would be easy to do this. They do not understand the meaning of martyrdom or self-sacrifice. As soon as a needle pricks the hand, their cries reach the heavens. There is no comparison between these souls and the sanctity and the self-sacrifice of the disciples of His Holiness Christ. They do not even breathe alike. It is the Bahais who walk in the footsteps of Christ and his disciples. They endure such calamities, hardships of hunger and thirst, prison, murder, persecution and malice. They have endured all sufferings. These men of passion and desire—how can they do such things? There was an akhond (Mohammedan priest) who thought that one of his fingers had become unclean and could not be purified. He went to a butcher and said, 'Come thou and out off my finger. I do not want it.' The butcher replied, 'This is impossible. It is not easy to out off a finger. The blood will flow like a fountain and there will be severe pain.' The akhond replied, 'No! there is only one way and that is that thou shouldst cut.' When the butcher considered the akhond's great persistence he replied, 'Very well. Put thou thy hand on this block.' Then with the back of his knife, he pressed upon the finger. Suddenly the akhond pulled away his hand and began to scream, 'Ouch! thou hast cut my hand! What an oppressor and unjust man! How cruel and unmerciful thou art!' Briefly, it is very easy to write and to speak upon these matters,
but it is hard to put them into action. Twenty years ago, this thought, that they must go out to teach as the disciples of Christ had done, was widespread among the Christians. Three or four persons went forth, but they could not endure it for more than two or three months."
One of the believers asked Abdul-Baha to explain what is meant by the special indulgence (in the Kitab-el-Akdas) during the holidays. To this he replied: "Bad conduct or deeds are not allowed at any time and especially during the Feast. But those are the days of happiness, days of joy and gladness. This is from the verses that shall be known afterwards. For example, it is bad not to work on other days, but in these days of feasts, work must be abandoned. But it does not mean that it is permissible to drink liquor or commit immoral deeds. Those days are the days of forgiveness and pardon, days of cheer and enjoyment, days of affection and attraction, days of blessings. Such deeds as may become the cause of the illumination of the world of humanity must be manifested by man."
To some of the visitors who were leaving for Haifa, Abdul-Baha said: "God willing, ye shall be always under the protection of the Truth. In your behalf, I seek favor and bounty from the Blessed Beauty. Rest ye assured. I am happy that ye shall be confirmed in everything. I am pleased with ye and shall never forget ye. Convey the wonderful Abha greetings to every one of the friends of God. Call them to steadfastness and firmness in the Cause of God so that the calamities and hardships may not become the cause of their relaxation. Should the sea of tests become almost overwhelming, it must not have any effect upon them. Consider ye that after His Holiness the Spirit (Christ), the disciples did not stop for a moment nor did they choose rest for themselves. They strove night and day. Then it is evident how much we must show self-sacrifice, service and steadfastness to the Most Holy Threshold! If the disciples had not been firm, after the departure of His Holiness the Christ, his Cause would have been utterly effaced and made non-existent. Now, the friends of God must be likewise firm and exercise effort and zeal in teaching the Cause of God. They may rest assured that the safety, protection, confirmation and assistance of the Blessed Beauty shall reach them. They must not be shaken by anything. Night and day, I pray in their behalf."
Mr. E. M. Newman, one of the best known and most eloquent American lecturers, who spends five months of the year traveling in different countries, collecting the moving picture photographs of famous people and places to accompany his talks, came to the Holy Land in 1914. He went to Acca to visit Abdul-Baha. Not finding him there, he proceeded to Tiberias, where he and his party of two men and one lady, met and talked with Abdul-Baha. They asked questions about the purpose of the Bahai Religion, to which Abdul-Baha replied: "The purpose of this Cause is the investigation of Reality and the oneness of all religions. BAHA'O'LLAH accepted fifty years of banishment, persecution and imprisonment for these divine principles. Now, praise be to God, His teachings have illumined the horizons of the East, delivered the souls and minds from worthless limitations, elevated the signs of guidance and united the East and the West with a spiritual power."
Among a number of Persian believers who came to see Abdul-Baha, was one from the city of Yezd, where (some years ago) a great number of Bahais had been martyred. Abdul-Baha inquired about the friends in Yezd and Teheran saying: "How are the friends of God? Are they enkindled and attracted? Those souls who arose against the Cause and brought about dissensions
and corruptions, who brought hardships and afflictions upon the friends, think that they shall attain the greatest ease and happiness. But they have failed and lost all and their own households have been scattered to the winds. What have the people of Persia to say? All of this they have seen with their own eyes. With their ears, they have heard that no trace is left of a soul, who had enmity towards the friends of God. Are they not yet awakened? Have they not yet arisen from the sleep of heedlessness?"
After having talked on the subject of Socialism from a Bahai standpoint to a minister who had come to see him, Abdul-Baha said: "His Holiness the Christ came to spread the law of love. The appearance of the Messengers and the revelation of the Books were for the promulgation of the law of love. But the souls with self-interest have made religion the cause of hate and animosity. They have stirred up among mankind quarrels and strife. Why should we oppress or be unjust to other religions? Why should we not love one another? Why should we curse and execrate? Every one of us must be the center of love, the sun of love, the sea of love, the star of love, the light of love and the heaven of love. We must be kind to all, wish no evil to anyone and know that all humanity is from one progeny."
June 9, 1914.
The following tablet was revealed today for the friends in the Orient, at Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee:
HE IS GOD!
"With regard to the assembly, there must be spiritual consultation therein; discourses about the manifestation of the Greatest Orb, the effulgence of the Sun of Reality, the greatness of the blessed Cause, the power and penetration of the Word of God, the might of the divine Covenant and Testament must be mentioned. This will be conducive to the spirituality and illumination of the hearts. Every discussion besides this, will not give complete results. Therefore, you must have no secrets in your assembly and no word should be spoken that, were it made public, might be the cause of depression or sorrow to any soul.
"The utterances of all must be concentrated in consultations concerning teaching and the promulgation of the Cause of God. In this way, there will be no secrets that might be spread. We have nothing to conceal, thanks be to God. We are famous for our devotion and all of the creatures jeer at us for our love in the path of God. Besides this we have no aim. It is impossible to have a secret that will not spread. It has been tried many times, especially when among a number of souls. It is said that every secret going beyond two people will go farther, because every member of the assembly must have a confidant in whom he has perfect trust, and oneness of condition. That person also has a confidant and, unquestionably, will not keep it from him. Therefore, it is much better not to have among you privacy and secrecy. May all of our secrets be a sacrifice to the secret of BAHA', and all of our confidentials be a ransom to Him. The secrets of BAHA' are: The oneness of the world of humanity, universal love, mercy and compassion to the broken-hearted, sympathy to the suffering, peace and happiness to the world of humanity, merciful breath, attraction to the fragrance of God, severance of the heart from attachment to the transitory world, liberty, purity, relief from worries and anxieties of the earth, etc. Should such secrets spread they would become the cause of the life of the world."
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
June 11, 1914.
Abdul-Baha went to bid farewell to Mr. Newman and his companions. He said: "I pray that God may aid your
journeys and that you may return to America with the utmost happiness and safety. May you be confirmed in a great service to the world of humanity. I shall think of you continually and I shall never forget this meeting at Tiberias."
In the afternoon, Abdul-Baha sat near the window at the hotel and revealed tablets for two of the friends who had departed from this mortal world. The following is for the family of an old believer known as Abdul-Razzak:
"O my Lord.. confirm these Thy servants and maid-servants With Thy ever increasing mercy and complete bounty, ordain for all of them immersion in the seas of Thy mercy, attainment to Thy generosity and bestowal, fulfillment of Thy greatest hopes, possession of Thy grandest gifts and bounty in the beginning and in the end, so that the angels of Thy mercy may commune with them in the mornings and in the evenings. Verily, Thou art the Beloved, the Generous!"
The following is for Youssif (Joseph), the father of a believer known as Abdul-Ghany:
"O my God! O my God! Verily, Thy slave, Joseph, the faithful, ascended to Thy supreme heaven hoping for Thy innumerable favors. O Lord! reach him with Thy forgiveness and pardon, O my Lord, the Merciful! Usher him to the summit of paradise. Verily, Thou art the Kind, the Bestower, and verily, Thou art the Generous, the Forgiver."
Then Abdul-Baha spoke to the pilgrims about the days of Christ and how he walked alone near the animals on the shore of Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee); and concerning the people, how they were prevented from seeing and knowing the Manifestation of God through their blindness, in these days. Abdul-Baha said: "The Supreme Báb was the promised one of the Koran, with regard to the question of the Seal of the Prophets. Mohammed was known as the Seal of the Prophets. (The Mohammedans think this title means that no prophet will appear after Mohammed.) This belief is not only limited to the Moslems. The Jews believed that Moses was the Seal of the Prophets, that he sealed the prophethood of Laws. The Christians believe that after Christ, no prophet with Laws will come, but that Christ himself will descend from heaven. Yes, these creatures are not waiting for the manifestation of the Truth, they are waiting for the manifestation of their own superstitions. For example, the Moslems are waiting for the Dedjal (false Christ or anti-Christ) more than for the Kayem (the Forerunner or Precursor of the Manifestation). They do not associate the appearance of the anti-Christ with the Forerunner. Nay, rather they associate the appearance of the Forerunner with the appearance of the anti-Christ. This (the anti-Christ) is known to them as unlimited or independent, the Forerunner as limited and dependent."
June 12, 1914.
When speaking of readiness, capacity and purity of hearts, Abdul-Baha said: "Should a black stone be placed facing the light of the sun, the signs of brilliancy would not appear, but, in the pure mirror, the sun, with all of its attributes and perfections, becomes reflected instantly."
Some Zoroastrian friend brought fruits and vegetables for Abdul-Baha, but he ate only bread and hot milk. Then he sat on the balcony facing the Sea of Galilee. A long letter was read from Mrs. Lua M. Getsinger, saying that she was confirmed in giving the message to more than one thousand people at a meeting in India, that she answered all of the questions asked by Mohammedan and Zoroastrian nobles; also good news about the spreading of the Cause was received from Chicago, Washington, New York, London and Stuttgart, all
of which became the cause of joy to his blessed heart.
June 13, 1914.
Abdul-Baha made the following statements concerning man's duty: "Man must be qualified with the attributes of the Kingdom. Man must characterize himself with the characteristics of the Merciful. Man must be the source of the perfections of God. Man must be good personified. Man must be the cause of comfort and ease to human society. Man must be the fountain of the signs (or verses) of guidance. Man must endeavor and strive for the progress and advancement of all of the people. Man must be self-sacrificing in serving the Cause of God and spreading the fragrances of God. Man must not think of himself, he must think of others."
Again Abdul-Baha sat, for about two hours, on the balcony of the hotel, speaking to the visitors on various subjects. The mayor, the judge and other eminent officials of Tiberias were present, and all were exhilarated by his utterances. Then, as the lake reflected the wonder of the rising moon and the stars—the beauty of the creator—Abdul-Baha spoke to the friends: "His Holiness Christ, used to walk most of the nights when in the region of this lake. He was all alone, thinking of the illumination of the world of humanity. He did not rest for one moment. He was not at liberty for even one day. He spent his days as a wanderer, and was shelterless in these deserts and mountains. The place where he called the disciples to enter the Kingdom of God is in this region. They were engaged in fishing. His Holiness Christ, used to walk alone on the shore. "Then he saw the signs of acceptance in their faces, he said, 'Come, so that I may make you the fishers of men,' and they at once left everything and followed that Light personified!
"God be exalted! Always, in the beginning of the Cause, common souls, who in the estimation of the people, were of no importance whatever, have advanced to the divine Manifestation. For example, these fishermen believed in His Holiness Christ. In the Koran it is revealed that the ignorant of the people would say to His Holiness the Messenger (Mohammed), 'None have followed thee except the most degraded of the people; the learned sages, the nobles and the high class count thee as a fool.' However, it cannot be said of this Cause, for everyone testifies that all of the learned philosophers and nobles of every nation were humble in the presence of the Blessed Beauty, and great numbers of these became believers."
June 14, 1914.
The following tablet was revealed by Abdul-Baha for one of the friends who had lost his daughter: "Beloved, the horrible and awful news of the departure of the daughter of that beloved became the cause of intense grief, because, undoubtedly, separation has a bitter taste; yet the people of the effulgences are happy by the favors of the Beloved of the Horizons, because the Lord of the Covenant has ordained eternal union, and everlasting unity for His friends. Therefore, this temporary separation, although it causes sorrow, yet, the infinite nearness and the heavenly union is the comfort for the hearts of the afflicted; although at present we are separated, confused, in anguish and helpless, yet, in the end, we will be His companions, His associates, joining in His melodious song and under His kind shelter. Therefore, thou shouldst not be grieved and saddened; comfort thyself with the infinite favor and the glad tidings of the heavenly life."
Abdul-Baha listened, for about two hours, to the reading of letters received
(Continued on page 115)
Bahai Methods of Education
A Compilation of the Words of Baha'o'llah and Abdul-Baha to assist Parents and Teachers in the Education of Children
COMPILED BY PAULINE A. HANNEN
Utterances of Abdul-Baha in Tablets and Talks—Continued
(Continued from page 104)
IN PRAYER.
Prayer and supplication are two wings whereby man soars toward the heavenly mansion of the True One. However, verbal repetition of prayer does not suffice. One must live in a perennial attitude of prayer. When man is spiritually free, his mind becomes the altar and his heart the sanctuary of prayer. Then the meaning of the verse "We will lift up from before his eyes the veil" will become fulfilled in him. Whenever I wanted to go to the Palace of Bahajee to meet the Blessed Perfection, I walked alone and on foot, in order to be in an attitude of prayer. In the Mosque of Acca for many years I had a simple room all to myself to which no one had any access. Now and then I would go there and stay one whole day, passing the time in quiet contemplation and prayer. But later on the affairs of the Cause became manifold, and I had to give practically all my time to their dispatch and management. Thus I could no longer enjoy these peaceful hours of spiritual reflection. How I would love to be able to arrange now so that I might go away alone and live in entire seclusion! For this reason I went to Tiberias, but it was not much of a seclusion.
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, June 18, 1914.)
In prayer one must turn his face towards the sanctified Reality of His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH—that Reality which surrounds all the phenomena. During the time of prayer His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH must be singly and alone the center towards whom all the faces are turned.
(Excerpt from Tablet. Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 30, 1914.)
PRAYERS FOR CHILDREN.
O God! Educate these children. These children are the plants of Thy orchard; they are the flowers of Thy meadow; they are the plants of Thy garden. Let Thy rain fall upon them; shine upon them with the heat of Thy Sun of Reality. Let Thy breezes refresh them, in order that they be trained, grow and develop, and appear in the utmost of beauty. Thou art the Giver! Thou art the Compassionate!
(Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 10. p. 32.)
O God, rear this little babe in the bosom of Thy love and give it milk from the breast of Providence.
Cultivate this fresh plant in the rose-garden of Thy love and nurture it by showers from the clouds of Providence. Make it a child of the Kingdom and lead it to the divine world. Thou art powerful and kind! Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, whose blessings precede all else.
(Tablets of Abdul-Baha, Vol. 1, p. 50.)
Make thou this little maid-servant a brilliant-starred daughter of the Kingdom;
endear her in the Threshold of Oneness and overflow her with the cup of Thy love, in order that she may raise the cries of joy and ecstacy and mix ambergris* with musk.
Verily, Thou art the Powerful and the Mighty, and Thou art the Wise, the Seer!
(Tablets of Abdul-Baha, Vol. 3, p. 551.)
*Ambergris—This metaphor means the state of spontaneous prayer and communion with God.
O my God! O my God! Thou seest these children, branches of the tree of life, birds of the garden of safety, pearls of the shells of the ocean of Thy mercy and roses of the rose-garden of Thy guidance.
O Lord! Verily we glorify Thy praise, sanctify Thee and supplicate to the Kingdom of Thy mercifulness to make us candles of guidance, stars of the horizon of the Eternal Majesty among the creatures; and teach us from Thy knowledge, O Glory of the Most Glorious!
(Tablet to Mrs. W., translated by Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi, Feb. 23, 1911.)
PRAYERS TO MEMORIZE AND USE.
O Thou pure God! I am a little child; make Thou the bosom of Thy gift a dear resting place of comfort; suffer me to grow and be nurtured with the honey and milk of Thy love and train me under the breast of Thy knowledge. Bestow Thou freedom while in a state of childhood and grant Thou excellence.
O Thou Incomparable One! Make me the confidant of the Kingdom of the unseen! Verily, Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful!
(Little book of prayers.)
O unequaled Lord! For this helpless child be a protector! For this weak and sinful one be kind and forgiving.
O Creator! Although we are but useless grass, yet we are of Thy garden. Though we are but young trees, bare of leaves and blossoms, yet we are of Thy orchard.
Therefore nourish this grass with the rain of Thy bounty, refresh and vivify these young, languishing trees with the eternal springtime.
Awaken us, enlighten us, give us eternal life and accept us in Thy kingdom.
(Little book of prayers.)
O my Lord! O my Lord! I am a child of tender years; nourish me from the breast of Thy mercy, train me in the bosom of Thy love, educate me in the school of Thy guidance and develop me under the shadow of Thy bounty. Deliver me from darkness; make me a brilliant light. Free me from unhappiness; make me a flower of the rose-garden. Suffer me to become a servant of Thy threshold and confer upon me the disposition and nature of the righteous ones. Make me a cause of bounty to the human world and crown my head with the diadem of eternal life!
Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty, the Seer, the Hearer!
(Little book of prayers.)
O God! Guide me, protect me, illumine the lamp of my heart and make me a brilliant star.
Thou art the Mighty and Powerful.
(In Tablet to Mrs. E. C.)
O loving God! I am a young child, a suppliant, a captive. Be Thou my refuge, my support, my protector. I am in distress: give me the means of tranquillity. I am needy: bestow upon me the treasure of the Kingdom. I am dead: give me the spirit of life. I am weak: favor
me with power and strength, so that I may be a maid-servant in Thy threshold, with perfect purity and sanctity; sacrifice myself unto Thee, be quit of myself and seek Thee, walk in the path of Thy good pleasure, speak Thy secret and witness the signs of Thy oneness wherever I look. O God! Make me ablaze, like unto the fire of Thy love, and make me free from attachment to this mortal world, until I find the peace of soul and the rest of conscience.
Thou art the Powerful, the Mighty! Thou art the Hearer, the Seer!
(Tablets of Abdul-Baha, Vol. 1, p. 196.)
O Thou kind God! I am a little babe; exalt me at the threshold of Thy Kingdom. I live on this earth; make me heavenly. I am of this world; make me of the world of the realm of might. I exist in this world of darkness; make me illumined. I am material; make me spiritual and suffer me to become the manifestor of infinite bounties. Thou art the Powerful, the Compassionate!
(Tablet. )
O God! Educate Thou this little child in the arm of Thy knowledge and nurse her at the breast of Thy providence. Plant Thou this fresh flower in the rose-garden of Thy love and refresh it by the showers from the clouds of Thy gifts. Make her one of the children of the Kingdom and guide her toward the realm of the Most High. Verily, Thou art the Powerful, the Kind; Thou art the Giver, the Generous, the Bounteous.
(Another translation of Commune in Tablets of Abdul-Baha, Vol. 1, p. 50.)
(To be continued)
Talks by Abdul-Baha in the Holy Land—Continued
(Continued from page 112)
from America, and other parts of the world. It was mentioned that three ministers happily invited the Bahais to speak and teach in their churches, concerning which Abdul-Baha said:
"Such incidents are so frequent now that they have lost their significance. There was a time when, if one heard a word of commendation from a minister, he was astonished. But now they come and invite the friends (Bahais). This is only through the confirmation of the Kingdom of Abha."
June 15, 1914.
News of the marriage of Noory, son of Akkash Effendi, who lives in Aintab, Asia Minor, was received, and the following tablet was revealed by Abdul-Baha: "My illumined Noory! According to what is mentioned, with abundant joy through the bounty of the One whose favors are concealed, a wedding was celebrated in the utmost splendor; happiness and rejoicing were obtained. Although, outwardly, I was not present at that reception, yet with heart and soul I was in the companionship of that assembly, with equal pleasure and cheerfulness I was with the zealous friends. Therefore, I present congratulations and felicitations on the occurrence of such a blessed marriage. From the Ancient, the Living, my hope is that a happy family may be established, so that through ages and centuries it may become the cause of spreading the Light."
Abdul-Baha then revealed the following tablet to an American believer regarding the care of the orphans: "In this blessed Cause, the matter of the orphans has a great importance. The orphans must be greatly cherished, trained, taught and educated, especially in the teachings of His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH. As much as possible, every orphan must be taught. I ask God that thou mayst become a kind father and mother to the orphan children. With the fragrances of
the Holy Spirit thou may'st revive them so that they may reach maturity and that every one may become the real servant of the world of humanity, nay, rather, an illumined candle."
In the evening, Abdul-Baha spoke to the believers regarding Persia, as follows: "The Cause appeared in Persia. The blood of so many martyrs was shed in Persia that, unquestionably, signs will appear. The Persians, for the safety and progress of the nation, have experimented during late years in several forms of government. First, independence and despotism, which resulted in destruction and oppression; then the constitution was established, the only effect of which was devastation and helplessness. The next step was to organize parties such as democrat, union and others; from these, too, there were no results. The constitution is very good, but the Persians did not realize any fruit thereof. Now, there is no way left to save Persia except through this Revelation. This is a Cause that has set all of the horizons in motion, and has made all humble. This Cause will be the means of progress, elevation and education of Persia. If from the beginning when His Holiness the Supreme (the Bab) appeared, Hadji Mirza Aghasee (the prime minister of Persia, who caused the martyrdom of the Bab, and in the Orient is known as Dedjal, meaning anti-Christ or false Christ) and others, had not resisted this Cause, Persia would now have been the first country in the world and distinguished in every way."
ABDUL-BAHA AT HAIFA
June 16, 1914.
After staying a period of six weeks in Tiberias and other towns, Abdul-Baha decided to return to Haifa. For a few moments he spoke to the friends about the Persian government: "In the laws of God the constitutional government is the law, but the electors of the people must abide by the conditions of the constitution; if they do not, destruction and misery will be more prevalent than before. We advised them according to our knowledge, but they did not listen or accept. In Europe I have met many chiefs, princes and ministers, advised them extensively and have said to them all that should be said."
Abdul-Baha then boarded the train for Haifa. There were some military officers in his stateroom. When they learned who he was, they showed him the greatest consideration all the way through. As the train reached Haifa, all of the believers were waiting in the station with longing and yearning, and Abdul-Baha's arrival was like unto the return of the soul to the body!
In the evening the friends gathered in the blessed home and Abdul-Baha gave them the following talk: "I went to Tiberias; this time my going was very long. Tiberias is an isolated spot. It is a quiet place; there is not a noise or voice; it is as though man finds a dwelling in the desert. It is situated in a byway, the place where His Holiness Christ—May my soul be a sacrifice to him!—was constantly traveling and moving. When man walks there, he thinks of those days when His Holiness Christ, was wont to walk there and teach the disciples. The place where he first proclaimed his Cause is near Tiberias, and is known as "the hill of home." There was a temple built where His Holiness Christ, entered and spoke. It is greatly esteemed by the Christians. During the days of the Crusaders it was destroyed, but its foundation remains, and it is a holy place. The effect of the word of Truth is so wonderful, but the Jews there are fanatical, selfish and filled with self-pride. The American Jews are very intelligent people. They listened to whatever
was said to them, but these Jews never listened. One day I related the talk that I delivered in the synagogue of the Jews in America to a Rabbi in Tiberias. When I looked into his face, I saw no sign of intelligence. What a difference among the souls who comprehend and those who are utterly deprived of the bestowals of God!"
His honor Dr. Ardasheer, one of the Zoroastrian Bahais of India, went to visit Abdul-Baha before leaving the Orient for America. Abdul-Baha said, "Perchance, God willing, a new spirituality, a beautiful fragrance, zeal and stirring enthusiasm may become manifest in India. India is exceedingly ready, but the appearance of these is dependent upon the attraction and the enkindlement of the friends. In this day, the confirmation of God will reach everyone who arises to teach. Many instances of this are happening continuously. Indeed, the confirmation surrounding him will amaze man himself.
"The light of the love of God must be ignited in the hearts of the children, during their childhood. When a child is reared in the shadow of divine education, truth is mentioned to him day by day. The Blessed Beauty, the teachings, the history of this Cause and of the divine prophets are taught him and then faith finds its place in his heart. Therefore, from this moment you must bring your brother under the system of the divine education. Speak to him of the love and the knowledge of God. Should a child be left without training and remain in his original state, he becomes like unto an animal and is a slave of nature."
Abdul-Baha, welcoming Shah'o'llah Khan, who came from Afghanistan, said, "In ancient history, they have praised and lauded the city of Samarkand. It is the city of Prince Taymoor. But at present, it is entirely changed and transformed. . . . . . . . . .This blessed Cause has such power and penetration that it will spread into all parts of the world. I am hopeful that in Afghanistan it will be of great effect. The gentlemen of Afghanistan are active. They are warm blooded. In their blood, there is power and heat. Therefore, you see that although the Mohammedan governments are in a state of chaos, Afghanistan is protecting itself as much as possible."
When someone mentioned the name of the late Hadji Mirza Hassan Khorassani of Cairo, Egypt, Abdul-Baha said, "In justice to him, he served the Cause very much. He helped the friends everywhere. He had zeal and enthusiasm. He assisted everybody."
On the subject of consultation, Abdul-Baha said, "Man must consult with a trustworthy and wise person. His Holiness the Messenger (Mohammed) says, 'The consulted is trusted.' Therefore, if man does not consult with a trustworthy, wise person, his own mind becomes confused. When man's thoughts are scattered, he falls into many troubles. But if he concentrates on one point, then he is relieved on all sides."
June 17, 1914.
A group of believers were strolling in the blessed garden. Abdul-Baha sent for them and when they came, he seated Mollah Abu Taleb, who was very advanced in years, in a chair close to him and said: "Father, how good it is for a man to be bent, to have bedimmed eyes and decrepit bones in the divine Cause." Then Abdul-Baha turned his face toward Agha Gholam'o'llah Ahamadoff, formerly from the city of Meelan, Russia, and said, "The friends in Meelan were self-sacrificing from the beginning of the Cause. They have always endured calamities and hardships in the divine path. They were always firm and steadfast. They were always the cause of the glory of the Cause of God. Never has anything that might cause harm in the Cause, appeared from them." After
a while, Abdul-Baha said: "We are continually working hard, writing and writing, encouraging and urging so that the fire of the love of God may be ignited in the hearts. Then suddenly you see one come and put it out."
On the subject of the Covenant, Abdul-Baha said: "Endeavor ye night and day that the banner of the Covenant may wave as it should, in those regions. For in this day, the souls reverberate by the power of the Covenant. They become enlivened by the spirt of the Covenant. They move by the call of the Covenant, otherwise they become depressed and inactive as a body without a soul, a lamp without a light."
June 18, 1914.
The following is a tablet revealed by Abdul-Baha today, to the friends in Boston:
"If the tablets of the Blessed Beauty (BAHA'O'LLAH) such as the Hidden Words, Ishrakat, Tajelleyat, Glad Tidings, Tarazat and the Words are read and one of the divine exhortations lived up to man attains to the degree of perfection. He becomes the center of merciful susceptibilities, the source of human perfection and the lights of the Kingdom will shine from his face and character."
Then Abdul-Baha walked in his room and looking from the window, said, "During the days of youth, man sees the pictures of life in all things wherever he looks, but, as his age advances, he sees the picture of death in everything and that all things have an end. When he looks at the trees he sees that in the end they will dry up. When he looks at the buildings, he sees that finally they too, will be destroyed. If he sees a thickly populated place, he remembers that a time will come when it will be devastated. Briefly, all things inform man of an end."
Afterwards, Abdul-Baha spoke of the king-of-the-martyrs. He praised him very much and said, "During the lifetime of the king-of-the-martyrs, the heart of the Blessed Beauty was in tranquillity for Isfahan (a city in Persia)." Then he related a story, which briefly was this, "One day, one of the opposers hit a dog with a stone, cursed him and called him names, hoping that by so doing, he might bring sorrow to the heart of the king-of-the-martyrs. 'Write down in thy memorandum that half a mann (mann, in Persian weight, is seven and one-quarter pounds) must be sent daily to this dog, because he was hit by a stone and cursed for our sake,' commanded the king-of-the-martyrs to his servant. These are the souls who 'do not speak before He speaks and who do according to His commands.'"
Then Abdul-Baha summoned the pilgrims and spoke in detail about assemblies and gatherings in London and Paris. He said: "There was a great commotion in the souls upon hearing my addresses. A seed was sown. God shall make it grow. Undoubtedly, He will make it grow. After 300 years, the seed that was sown by the disciples (of Christ) brought forth its fruit. But, in this day the seeds that the friends of God plant, grow in a short time. This is because of the power of the Cause."
That afternoon, a feast was held at the home of Abdul-Baha for the marriage of Mirza Mooneer Zein with Essmat, daughter of Ebrahim Mashadi Fattah. These were all of the old believers in Acca. Abdul-Baha came in and after sitting in silence for a few minutes, he said: "It is one month and a half since I was in the assembly of the friends. Now, things are so arranged that I find myself again in the gathering of the friends. Praise be to God! In this day a double happiness is obtained for the friends of God. The first is that this meeting is held near the Supreme Threshold (at the tomb of the Bab) at the foot of Mt. Carmel, in the utmost joy and fragrance. Such a gathering, at such a place, in the neighborhood of the Supreme
Threshold is a great bounty and the cause of great joy. Our hope is this, that from the favors of the Blessed Beauty, we may walk in His path and become confirmed in whatever the duty of servitude in the Holy Threshold might be. Although it is impossible for us to arise in servitude as we should—as the poet says, 'How can I raise my head for shame that I cannot serve the Beloved in a fitting manner?'—and although we cannot attain it in full degree, yet we should strive. Our hope is this, that although the whole ocean fail to confirm us, we may, through His confirmation, assistance, favor and bounty, be confirmed with one drop. The second joy is this, that this is the wedding of Mirza Mooneer. Praise be to God, this feast was prepared in the utmost joy, under the shadow of the bounties of the Blessed One. I beg of God that a blessed family may be established which will become hospitable and famous throughout centuries and ages, in servitude to the Holy Threshold. This is the fruit of existence. If the fruit of the existence of man is not the servitude of the Divine Threshold, by God—save whom there is no God!—life is death, existence is nonexistence, happiness is ennui, joy is sorrow and regret is the end. If man will only lay his time at His Threshold, then whatsoever is befitting and worthy of this Threshold, will become evident and manifest. This is the fruit of life. This is the result of existence. This is the illumination of the human world. This is the eternal life. This is the everlasting exaltation. This is the heavenly glory."
June 20, 1914.
Whenever news of teaching and spreading the Cause comes from various regions to Abdul-Baha, he becomes exceedingly happy. Today, after receiving good news from America, he revealed and sent the following tablet: "Thy letter was received. From its contents, it became evident that, Praise be to God! the lights of the Kingdom are spreading and the souls are listening to the Word. The heedless are being awakened and the blind are seeing. This news became the cause of happiness. In this day, the power of the Kingdom is assisting those who are standing forth in service and who are the cause of guiding the people. A person who is a herald of the Kingdom of Abha is like unto a lamp and the souls who possess high or lofty ideals are like unto butterflies. When the light is shining, undoubtedly the butterflies gather around it. Therefore, as many of ye as can, call ye to the Kingdom of Abha so that ye may become near to the Threshold of His Holiness BAHA'O'LLAH and so that the heavenly hosts may assist ye. In this day, the power of the Covenant is the magnetic power in the apex of the horizon. This is the power that moves the world of humanity. This is the power that causes the penetration of the words in the hearts. This is the power that ignites the fire of the love of God. This is the power that brings joy and cheer to the souls."
When Dr. Ardasheer was in the holy presence, Abdul-Baha said jokingly to Mirza Haydar Aly: "Dr. Ardasheer has learned osteopathy very well. He desires to give you a massage. Are you willing to have him give you a treatment? He claims that if a person is feeling ill, he will make him well; the powerless become powerful and the old will become young!"
Abdul-Baha, praised the people of America because they are worshippers of reality. He said, "They investigate every question. They do not quarrel and dispute. They think mostly of the investigation of truth or reality. America needs teachers who know languages. If there were severed and attracted souls who know the English language and who were skilled in ethics, great results would have been brought about. Likewise,
the teacher should know how to adjust his speech according to the exigency of the time and place. Now, if a person goes to Europe and someone asks him, 'What proofs have you concerning the prophethood of His Holiness the Messenger (Mohammed)?' and he replies, 'The Koran,' none would accept it. All the regions in the East and in the West are ready, but extraordinary souls who are highly developed in spirituality and refinement, are needed. If my health were good at present, I would not wait one day longer. I would go not only to America but to all parts of the world to cry and call out. Had I been free during the forty years of my imprisonment in Acca, I would have traveled to the East, West, North and South of the world. I would not have kept still for one minute and I would have illumined the horizons with the light of the Sun of Reality. And then you would have seen what great results had been obtained.
"There were three islands near the equator in the Indian (Pacific) Ocean. The weather there is very hot. The number of inhabitants was 4,000,000, all of whom were idolators, worshiping the sun and stars. In the ninth century of Islam, one blessed soul went there to serve God and God alone. He was alone and lonely. They inflicted upon him severe injuries, calamities and persecution, but he never ceased in his efforts until he had converted all the inhabitants of those three islands to Islam. Now if such souls could be found, in a short time all those regions (America) would become illumined."
The North Shore Review, dated May 2, 1914, reached Haifa and the friends rejoiced in reading the eloquent article on the Mashrekol-azkar written by the sincere maid-servant of God, Mrs. Isabel Fraser. In the morning Abdul-Baha spoke about the wicked nakezeen (violators of the Covenant). He said: "They go to self-interested strangers. They show unto them love and friendship; but they do not understand that these souls are the enemies of the Blessed Beauty. They go and show their love to the one who is an enemy to the Blessed Beauty. What ignorance! The Blessed Beauty said the following about such people, 'In every minute the wound of atheism and the arrows of infidelity come to me from them.' Also, He said, 'O Thou spirit of God, descend and see that my humiliation is more than Thy grandeur.'"
Then Abdul-Baha wrote the following tablet for a martyr from Ardakan, Persia:
HE IS GOD!
"Verily, those who quaffed the cup of the great martyrdom in the path of God, are favored from the bounty of Thy Lord, the Merciful, the Compassionate. They are the ones whose hearts God has chosen for His love. Their faces are shining with the light of God in the paradise of the rose-garden. The angels of mercy receive them and announce to them the glad tidings of holy resting places and of the canopy of sincerity in the Kingdom of their generous Lord. Their enemies will be repulsed and degraded to the lowest of the lowest as thou hast seen others in manifest loss. Verily, there is in this an example for those who are mindful. God shall do away with the helpers of the unjust.
"O my Lord, confirm the relatives of these martyrs in serving Thy Cause, elevating Thy Word, spreading Thy Religion, igniting Thy Love in the hearts of Thy servants and guide those who are lost in the wilderness of error. Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Dear, the Exalted!"
(Signed) ABDUL-BAHA ABBAS.
(Continued on page 121)
