Transcript:Abu'l-Qasim Faizi/Closing the youth conference in Plön, Germany

Transcript of: Remarks at the close of the youth conference in Plön, Germany (August 1972) by Abu’l-Qasim Faizi

Enoch Olinga and Adelbert Mühlschlegel also spoke at the close of this conference.Download: mp3, Source: © Gregory C. Dahl Proofread twice

[0:00] Dearly loved friends. What our most precious Adelbert Mühlschlegel said was indeed an introduction to what I wanted to say. He is a physician and he is a great spiritual person. Therefore, he reads the hearts of his lovers. As he said, in [the] future, the people will long to have witnessed such an occasion as we are having today.

[1:10] Now, I would like to explain two things. The first: what do we require to tread this path and reach final victory? The second is: what is the aim? Where are we going to? In one occasion, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has said Bahá’u’lláh loved three or four kinds of people. First, smiling persons. Those were always happy. And that's why our precious brother Enoch Olinga asks everyone, "Are you happy?" ‘Abdu’l-Bahá would ask this question always from the people. Are you happy? And then he said, "If you're not happy today, then when will you be happy?"

[3:01] The second kind of persons that Bahá’u’lláh loved was courageous people, valiant souls who would take upon their shoulders the very hard and heavy burdens and tasks of responsibility. And this had been always expected from the youths. The youths are asked to penetrate into the deep forests, to go to the summit of the mountains, to reach the most unhospitable climates of the world and bear it, and open villages, towns, countries and continents in the name of Bahá’u’lláh. This is your task. And in [the] future, you will be extremely grateful that you have been here and you have started the path towards these final trials. Therefore, Bahá’u’lláh wants you to be happy, wants you to be audacious.

[5:05] And the third kind of person that Bahá’u’lláh loved very much was this: He loved the people when they start something, they would bring it to an end. But I must explain this because it may be misunderstood. Once I saw the cartoon of a little child who was cutting a book with a pair of scissors. And he was saying, "When I have a book in my hand, I'll not leave it before ending it." Now, when Bahá’u’lláh says to the end, he means to completion. He has even written this: It's better for you not to start than to start and leave it unfinished.

[6:40] Now, the fourth kind of person mentioned by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, I really forgot. I don't know, but these three are sufficient for us. [Laughter] Now, what is the aim towards which we are going? We are extremely happy, grateful and spiritually uplifted to have listened to the voice of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá today. When he was chanting this, and you listen to it carefully, and you understand the words, he seemed to be like a person standing on the summit of the mountain, calling the people down below. The people down below the valley seems to be in the most miserable condition: have lost hope, have lost vision, have no shelter. And ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from the summit of the mountain is calling to them:

[8:32] "I give you glad tidings that the Sun of Truth is rising. The breeze of mercy is wafted over the whole world. Have hope and be strong. If we are pebbles, the power of this Sun makes you mountains. If you are drops, He'll make you oceans. His mercy, the ray of His mercy, the light of His love is covering the whole world over. And this handful of dust, this planet, will be the mirror of the Kingdom of God. Now, this is our aim. This is the end to which we are trying to reach. Therefore, with smiling hearts, hopeful hearts, and audaciousness, let's try to reach this aim. Alláh-u-Abhá.

[Final prayer]