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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. IX Kamal 1, 74 (August 20, 1918) No. 9
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 96)
MANUAL TRAINING ENDORSED
To a Bahai with two sons in a French school, Abdul-Baha said:
"Give your children a manual profession, something by which they may be able to support themselves and others. Let polite literature take care of itself; teach them a technical art or profession."
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Nov. 12, 1913.)
CAMP SCHOOL IN MOUNTAINS APPROVED
"When I was in Dublin", Abdul-Baha said, "the professor of the out-door school invited me to visit the pupils. The school is in the mountains of New Hampshire, built among the woods. All around there are green valleys, verdant palms and blue lakes. They have a large cabin and have pitched several tents. Their supreme object is to promote the art of beauty and gracefulness and the science of strength. For this reason they practice calisthenics and athletics and exercise bodily training. They are thinly clad and often sleep in the open air. They go bathing and during certain hours they study. Fresh air, outdoor exercise, wholesome food, clean sports, uplifting ideals and regular training of body, mind and spirit build up their constitutions and give them strong muscles, sterling characters and robust manhood. They have a school room and dining-room and except the hours of study and meals they spend their time entirely out in the open air, learning many excellent lessons from the book of nature. I saw there a very young lad who, I was told by the teacher, was very thin and emaciated when he was brought to the camp, but during his four weeks' stay he was completely changed, having gained flesh, health and color, so that he could take part in the vigorous exercises. The professor of this twentieth century school was one of the most refined and cultured men that it was my pleasure to meet in America, and he showed me much love, hospitality and affection. The boys were most polite and decorous and although some of them were very young yet they stayed through the talk and listened most attentively. I was very pleased with all of them. Resourcefulness and self-control are the two lessons taught to these boys through words and deeds—so that if in the course of their lives through an accident of checkered fortune they should be thrown on an uninhabited island in the midst of the sea, they would master the situation calmly, control themselves and provide through their own ingenuity and inventiveness
the essential means of livelihood. After all, this is the greatest lesson that any highly-evolved civilization can teach us. They are so taught that when the proper time arrives, they will not shun the dangers and risks of life; that like unto the birds of the fields and the animals of the woods they may be able to procure their sustenance and protect themselves from the encroachments of the enemy."
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 12, 1914.)
CARDINAL BAHAI PRINCIPLES OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
In this age the college which is dominated by a denominational spirit is an anomaly, and is engaged in a losing fight. It cannot long withstand the victorious forces of liberalism in education. The universities and colleges of the world must hold fast to three cardinal principles.
First: Whole-hearted service to the cause of education, the unfolding of the mysteries of nature, the extension of the boundaries of pure science, the elimination of the causes of ignorance and social evils, a standard universal system of instruction, and the diffusion of the lights of knowledge and reality.
Second: Service to the cause of morality, raising the moral tone of the students, inspiring them with the sublimest ideals of ethical refinement, teaching them altruism, inculcating in their lives the beauty of holiness and the excellency of virtue and animating them with the excellences and perfections of the religion of God.
Third: Service to the oneness of the world of humanity; so that each student may consciously realize that he is a brother to all mankind, irrespective of religion or race. The thoughts of universal peace must be instilled into the minds of all the scholars, in order that they may become the armies of peace, the real servants of the body politic—the world. God is the Father of all. Mankind are His children. This globe is one home. Nations are the members of one family. The mothers in their homes, the teachers in the schools, the professors in the college, the presidents in the universities, must teach these ideals to the young from the cradle up to the age of manhood.
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Feb. 15, 1914.)
CHARACTERISTICS OF BAHAI COLLEGE STUDENTS
You must become the shining candles of moral precepts and spiritual ideals and be the means of the illumination of others. Clothe your bodies with the robes of virtues. Characterize yourselves with the characteristics of the people of divine morality. Shun all manner of vices as you shun a poisonous snake or a leper. Let the corps of professors and the students be impressed with the purity and holiness of your lives so that they may take you as paragons of worthiness, examples of nobility of nature, observers of the moral laws, holding in subordination the lower element by the higher spirit, the conquerors of self and the masters of wholesome, vital forces in all the avenues of life. Strive always to be at the head of your classes through hard study and true merit. Be always in a prayerful state and appreciate the value of everything. Entertain high ideals and stimulate your intellectual and constructive forces.
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, April 17, 1914.)
I hope that while you are studying in this college you may so excel all other students in the various branches of knowledge taught therein that all of them may testify that the Bahai students have another power, are inspired with another
effort, are imbued with a nobler ambition, are stimulated by higher motives and make wider and deeper exertions than others. If you do not surpass the others, then what distinction will there remain for you? Therefore, you must strive to be superior to them, so that everyone may bear testimony to this fact. You are now like the tender plants that are trained according to the knowledge and wisdom of the gardener. From now on, you must strive to beautify the moral aspect of your lives. Advise one another with utmost consideration, watch daily your words and deeds; thus from the very beginning you may characterize yourselves with divine ideals.
The divine ideals are humility, submissiveness, annihilation of self, perfect evanescence, charity and loving-kindness. You must die to self and live in God. You must be exceedingly compassionate to one another and to all the people of the world. Love and serve mankind just for the sake of God and not for anything else. The foundation of your love toward humanity must be spiritual faith and divine assurance.
Again: be ye most careful that, God forbid, not one single word contrary to truth issue from your mouths. One falsehood throws man from the highest station of honor to the lowest abyss of disgrace. Always guard yourselves against this enemy so that all you state may correspond with reality. Forever supplicate and entreat at the Court of Majesty and beg confirmation and assistance. Make ye an effort that ye may win the good pleasure of the Blessed Perfection. All the natural and supernatural advancements in the human world revolve around this one problem. If you attain to this supreme goal all the elements of the world of creation will be ready to serve you at your bidding, (i. e., they will find their highest attainment in you and through you), or in other words you will become the fruits of the world of existence. The evolution of the trunk, branches, leaves and blossoms of the tree is the fruit thereof. Exalt your thought. Reflect over all your affairs. Magnify your endeavors. Enlarge the circle of your ideals. Open the wings of spiritual wisdom. Let your hope be the accomplishment of most great deeds, the results of which may immortalize your names. All that the people are holding fast to is as the mirage and will not last. Praise be to God, that you are under the protection of Baha'o'llah and His bounties have encircled you. I will always pray for you, and with the utmost humility beg extraordinary progress for you.
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, April 15, 1914.)
TO THE BAHAI STUDENTS OF BEIRUT COLLEGE (SYRIA)
Praise be to God, that the Bahai students in Beirut are well known for the beauty of their character, the purity of their deeds, and the loftiness of their morality. From whomsoever one enquires about the Bahai students, one will hear unstinted praise. This is through the favors and bounties of the Blessed Beauty, who has assisted you to attain such a high station. For you have lived in a manner conducive to the glorification of the Cause of God. Baha'o'llah is pleased with you; all the people are pleased with you; I am pleased with you, and the friends of God are pleased with you. This is the special divine bounty, which is being realized at rare intervals. If one asks any person concerning the Bahai students, he will answer: "In reality they are intelligent, sober, industrious, diligent, displaying good manners and behavior and concentrating all their attention on their acquirement of knowledge. They do not spend their time in frivolous amusements and distracting recreations." Even the enemies testify to your spotless character. I hope that through the favor and bounty of the Blessed Beauty, his holiness the Bab, and the ineffable blessings
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
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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. 9
which hallow this holy shrine,* the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abha may encircle you, and that you may be characterized with the shining qualities and brilliant attributes of the Bahai life. May your morality become more defined day by day! May your faith and assurance be increased day by day! May your attraction to the kingdom of Abha be intensified day by day! May your attainment in sciences and arts become more universal day by day! Perchance, God willing, you may become perfect and from every standpoint and be the means of the enlightenment of Persia.
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Oct. 12, 1914.)
God be praised! How wonderful are these students!✝ I am looking forward with great hope to their future! In reality they are beneath the shade of the Blessed Perfection, they are being animated with the spirit of the Holy Land. For this reason, they are superior to many students. Their mettle will become known in the future. They
*The Students were visiting the tomb of the Bab.
✝This is a talk to the believers visiting Abdul-Baha. The students were also present. These students visit the Holy Land during their vacations and most of them are permitted to live the whole summer near the tomb of the Báb on Mt. Carmel.—Dr. Zia M. Bagdadi.
are now under the process of refining. When they come out of the crucible their brightness will become manifest. The Word of God is the refining which will polish them, suffering them to become pure as tested gold. Every single assured and firm believer will consider himself the servant of all the friends of God, nay rather the servant of the world of humanity. The honor of man depends upon this. The everlasting glory of mankind lies in this! For this reason His Holiness Christ says: "The last shall be first, the least among you in the Kingdom is the greatest." Whosoever desires to walk in the path of the Kingdom—so that he may reach the court of the Almighty—must be a true servant. The path of God cannot be compared with the paths of men. The humbler the man is in the path of God, the more exalted is he; the greater his meekness and submissiveness, the more beloved is he; the more he is surrounded with tests and trials, the vaster the tranquillity and composure of his spirit.
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 15, 1914.)
Words of Abdul-Baha regarding infants before and after birth
TO AN EXPECTANT MOTHER
Your child will have extraordinary capacities. It will be a Bahai. Rear it in the teachings of Baha'o'llah. Rest assured your child will be assisted by the Divine Concourse, and through this assistance it will exhibit a universal consciousness. For this Cause encompasses the west and the east, and children born under these conditions in this day will have the advantages of the universal illumination. Today some children are called prodigies, but the inheritors of this Cause will attain to a degree that the others, even though educated in the best schools and with every advantage, know nothing of.
Children blessed in this way before they are born are of the new race. I was born in Persia, and while I nursed with my mother's milk I received truth. When a little child my first words were "Ya-Baha-El-Abha!"
(Divine Philosophy, page 59.)
SUPPLICATION FOR AN EXPECTANT MOTHER
My Lord! My Lord! I praise Thee and I thank Thee for that whereby Thou hast favored Thine humble maid-servant, Thy slave, beseeching and supplicating Thee—because Thou hast verily guided her to thine obvious Kingdom and caused her to hear Thine exalted call in the contingent world and to behold Thy signs, which prove Thy victorious reign over all things.
O my Lord! I dedicate that which is in my womb to Thee. Then cause it to be a praiseworthy child in Thy Kingdom and a fortunate one by Thy favor and generosity; to develop and grow up under the charge of Thine education.
Verily, Thou are the Generous! Verily, Thou art the Lord of Great Favor!
IMMORTALITY OF UNDEVELOPED INFANT SOULS
Question: "What becomes of an undeveloped infant's soul?"
Answer by Abdul-Baha: "It rests with the mercy of God and through the eternal bounty it will not be deprived of that mercy."
(Ten Days in the Light of Acca, page 4.)
STATION OF OPPRESSED INFANTS AND WEAK ONES
As to the subject of babes and infants and weak ones who are afflicted by the hands of oppressors: This contains great wisdom and this a subject of paramount importance. In brief, for those souls there is a recompense in another world and many details are connected with this matter. For those souls that suffering is the greatest mercy of God. Verily, that mercy of the Lord is far preferable to all the comfort of this world and the growth and development of this place of mortality.
(Tablets of Abdul-Baha, Vol. 2, p. 337.)
Children of unbelievers and infidels who die before the age of responsibility are not punished, because they are under the favor of God.
(Mrs. L. M. G. Notes.)
Question: "What is the condition of children who die before attaining the age of discretion, or before the appointed time of birth?"
Answer: "These infants are under the shadow of the favor of God, and as they have not committed any sin, and are not soiled with the impurities of the world of nature, they are the centers
of the manifestation of bounty, and the eye of compassion will be turned upon them."
(Some Answered Questions, p. 278.)
ABDUL-BAHA'S INTERPRETATION OF A DREAM
"A young girl became evident to me as belonging with the family, but I could not make out who she was. She spoke of a horse that my son had had long ago, but I did not understand what she meant. After a time it became known that she was my daughter, and I felt grieved to think that I had not been conscious of her presence in all the past years. She seemed not hurt, but surprised that we did not understand her. Just as I was waking, I realized that she was our little baby who had passed away over twenty-one years ago, when nine months old." (End of dream.)
Mrs. ___ added: "She was my idol, and because I loved her so much, I tried hard to put her out of my thought, and the dream made me feel that we should not do this."
Abdul-Baha, interpreted it thus:
"That child is your trust within the charge of God. She was a child when she went, but you shall find her full grown in the Kingdom of God. You shall find her mature. You shall not find her there as a child. You shall find her perfect and mature.
"As to the horse once belonging to your son, of which she spoke: Horse in the dream means a wish. It shows that your daughter has fulfilled her wish and her desire, and that shows the loftiness of her station. The wish is one in which your son shared, but she attained to it. It is my hope, God willing, that, he, too, will attain to it."
Surprise was expressed that a child of only nine months could have a wish, and Abdul-Baha said: "The child was born with a wish."
Mrs. __ was crying, and Abdul-Baha continued: "Do not cry. Be happy because you saw her, and you saw her perfected. You must be happy. She is your trust with God. You have not lost her out of your hands. The only difference is this; that you gave her as a trust to God as a child, but you will take her back as a full grown person. I had a son who was four years old, and when he died I did not at all change my attitude. I gave my son to God as a trust, and so at his death I did not grieve."
Mrs. __ said: "But there is a difference, you gave your son to God, but God takes ours."
Abdul-Baha replied: "It is the same thing. In both cases it is a trust of God."
Abdul-Baha said: "The cause of her surprise is this—that you are crying; your daughter would say: 'I have a good mother. She must be happy. Why does she cry? I am surprised.' The cause of her surprise is the thought that you do not recognize her. She belongs to a realm in which everything becomes mature, and she expected you to see her in the state of perfection in which she manifested herself to you; but the fact that you looked at her in this way, and that now you are crying—is a proof of your not having recognized her. For had you recognized her in the dream, you would not be crying now."
Relative to the comment of Mrs. ___ that she tried to put the child out of her thoughts, Abdul-Baha said: "It is not in man's control when to forget one. It is not good for one to try to forget them. One must always remember them."
(Notes by M. H. sent to Acca for approval and returned with the signature of Abdul-Baha as correct.)
CHRISTENING OR NAMING A BABE.
When thou wishest to name a babe, prepare a meeting therefor; chant the verses and communes, and supplicate and implore the Threshold of Oneness and beg the attainment of guidance for the babe and wish confirmed firmness and constancy; then give the name and enjoy beverage and sweetmeats. This is spiritual baptism.
(Tablets of Abdul-Baha, Vol. 1, p. 49.)
Question: "Should We baptize infants?"
Abdul-Baha answered: "The people have not understood the meaning of baptism. In one place in the Gospels it is commanded that one must be baptized by water and spirit, and also by fire, and from these commands we can understand that the meaning is spiritual and not material. The baptism of Christians as practiced today is not the teachings of Christ! The Christians in the beginning used to baptize as a symbol of the purification of the spirit.
"When the time drew near for the Manifestation of Christ, John the Baptist appeared and called the people to repentance, and when they repented they were baptized as a symbol that their hearts were purified and ready to accept the truth and teachings which would soon appear, for John was declaring the coming of Jesus. But these people were not children; they were men and women. And Jesus himself was baptized by John, but he was thirty years old when he was baptized. After he was baptized he said: 'John has baptized you with water, but I shall baptize you with the Spirit!' Water symbolizes the knowledge of God which gives eternal life, because all forms of life had their beginning in the water. Fire is the symbol of love, and the baptism by fire means the love of God which descends in the hearts that are turned unto him! Now as fire is used to symbolize love, be sure that water is used also as a symbol, for would it be possible for one to be put into the fire as one is put into the water for baptism? Many who have not understood what Christ meant by baptism think if a child dies without passing through this ceremony its soul is lost! But this is not true, for the child has not sinned and goes from this world quite free from faults and defects! And oftimes baptism of infants is attended by great danger to the child.
"One time I was invited in this very house to witness the baptism of a baby who was very young. They had put olive oil in the water and when they put the child into it, it shrieked and struggled, swallowing some of the oil and water, after which it, together with the shock to the nervous system, caused the child to be very ill, and it died. These are ceremonies which have a spiritual meaning but no spiritual effect upon the soul!"
(To Mrs. L. M. G., April 18, 1904.)
Words of Abdul-Baha regarding the importance of Prayer
The sweetest thing in this world is to obey strictly the commands of God and shun His prohibitions. Through this the attractions of the love of God will be created in human consciousness. . . . For example, there is nothing sweeter in the world of existence than prayer. Man must live in a state of prayerfulness. The most blessed condition is the condition of prayer and supplication. Prayer is "conversation with God." The greatest attainment or the sweetest state is no other than "conversation with God." It creates spirituality, generates mindfulness and celestial feelings, begets the attraction of
the Kingdom and engenders the susceptibilities of the higher intelligence. The highest attribute given to His Holiness Moses is the following verse: "God carried on a conversation with Moses."
What is prayer? It is "conversation with God." While man prays he sees himself in the presence of God. If he concentrates his attention he will surely at the time of prayer realize that he is "conversing with God." Often at night I do not sleep, and the thoughts of this world weigh heavily on my mind. I toss uneasily in my bed. Then in the darkness of the night I get up and pray—"converse with God." It is most sweet and uplifting. Prayer and supplication are so effective as to inspire one's heart for the whole day with high ideals and supreme serenity and calmness. One's heart must be sensitive to the music of prayer. He must feel the effect of prayer. He must not be like an organ from which softest notes stream forth without having consciousness of sensation in itself.
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, March 15, 1914.)
Mount Carmel is enveloped with the white mantle of spirituality. Its atmosphere is permeated with an indescribable peace and tranquillity. During these matchless moonlight nights, one's heart becomes tender and the mind wistful and meditative, pensive and musing. It is as though the trees, the brooks, the rocks, the sea, the grass, the stars hold communion with man and whisper into his ears the secrets of nature. It was mainly owing to this reason that the ancient prophets of God lived in the grottoes and caves of this mountain so that they might spend their time in quiet meditation. The divine, holy prophets have two stations. The first is the station of "abstraction." This is the station wherein they communicate with God, receive the graces of the Holy Spirit and become intimate with the fragrances of holiness. The second station is the station of "plurality." In this station they occupy themselves with the education of mankind. They have, as a result, to bear the enmity, persecution and calumny of the people. On account of their pride, haughtiness and conceit the people assail these divine temples of Truth; notwithstanding this they bring forward proofs and arguments, instruct them through the heavenly advices and exhortations and little by little cause them to ascend to the lofty height of beatific purity. This work is most exacting and difficult, yet they do not murmur. But the world of "abstraction" in which they quaff the chalice of immortality, is very pleasant and spiritual. It is a super-individual experience, commonly shared by all the elect of God. It is the light of the spirit and the spirit of the world. Its sweet delicacy is enjoyed by every class. For this reason, whenever the prophets of old desired to commune with God and enter the realm of "abstraction," they came to this holy mountain and prayed during the day and the night, thus strengthening in this manner the basis of their inspiration.
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Sept. 6, 1914.)
Beg everything thou desirest from Baha'o'llah. If thou art asking faith, ask of Him. If thou art yearning after knowledge, He will grant it unto thee. If thou art longing for the love of God, He will bestow it upon thee. He will descend upon thee all His Blessings.
(Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, May 9, 1914.)
(Continued on page 113)
