Transcript:Bahiyyih Nakhjavani/The Greatest Holy Leaf

Transcript of: The Greatest Holy Leaf  (1982)  by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani

Speaking on the life and service of the Greatest Holy Leaf at the Montreal International Bahá’í Conference 1982. Not proofreadDownload: mp3, Source: © Gregory C. Dahl, [2]

[0:00]Oh, my friends, you are an ocean and I am speechless looking at you. If this whole hall were empty, no sound echoing around it, no lights shining in our eyes, I would still be speechless. I face the people of Bahá, and they have made me speechless. I am here to speak about the 'Maid of Bahá', and that also makes me speechless. When I was preparing for this talk, I thought, "What can I say in a place so big, filled with so many of the people of Bahá? What can I say about one single woman called the 'Maid of Bahá', the 'Scion of Bahá', the 'Remnant of Bahá', an 'archetype of the people of Bahá'?"

[1:54]I looked in the writings to share words with you and there I found that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá before me said that He too could not speak of her befittingly. 'I dare make no mention', He wrote, 'of the feelings which separation from her have aroused in my heart. . .' 'I do not know', He continues, 'in what words I could describe my longing for my honored sister.'

[2:50]Shoghi Effendi, writing of his great-aunt, also said that he too could find no words: 'Not even a droplet of all thine endless love can I aspire to fathom, nor can I adequately praise and tell of even the most trifling out of all the events of thy precious life.'

[3:36]She was named Bahá'íyyih by Bahá’u’lláh. She was given the title of the Greatest Holy Leaf, the Most Exalted Leaf, but in her letters she referred to herself as 'this yearning prisoner', 'this lowly and grief-stricken maid servant', 'this wronged one'. I looked for expression in the writings of Shoghi Effendi that would try and capture something of her nature, and I found the most wonderful imagery to share with you. She has been called a 'leaf . . . sprung' from this 'Pre-existent Root,' a 'fruit of His Tree, . . . a lamp of His love, . . . a symbol of His serenity. . .' Shoghi Effendi called her a 'love-lorn moth,' a 'soaring pillar', a 'rich mine of faithfulness', an 'orb in the heaven of eternal glory'.

[5:20]How can we hope to encompass anything of her nature when words do not suffice, when all our lives put together in this great hall cannot comprehend the least trifling of the events in her life? She has a rank in this dispensation that is higher than any other woman can hold. Her station is one among those that revolved around the greater Manifestations of the past, those women, like moths, that revolved around the great suns of the Manifestations of the past. Bahá’u’lláh wrote of her station with these words: 'Verily, We have elevated thee to the rank of one of the most distinguished among thy sex, and granted thee, in My court, a station such as none other woman hath surpassed.' During the Ministry of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá her station was similarly exalted. Shoghi Effendi described her as a 'staunch and trusted supporter of the peerless Branch of Bahá’u’lláh', 'a companion to him beyond compare', 'His competent deputy', 'His representative and vicegerent with none to equal her.' Shoghi Effendi himself describes how much she meant to him during the first years of his ministry until her passing in 1932. He says she was 'my sole earthly sustainer', 'my most affectionate comforter', 'the joy and inspiration of my life'.

[8:10]Between her and Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and Shoghi Effendi there was a subtle bond, a kinship that was infinitely tender and powerful. To Bahá’u’lláh, she was far more then a daughter, for it seemed she was like a mirror in which His good pleasure was perfectly reflected. He says to her, 'How sweet to see thy presence before Me, how sweet to gaze upon thy face.' To ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, she was surely far more than a mere sister, for in letters of consuming tenderness, He writes to her as 'O My sister in the Spirit and the companion of My heart, the beloved of My soul'. After her passing the secretary of Shoghi Effendi wrote about the subtle bond between the Guardian and the Greatest Holy Leaf, saying for the subtle and spiritual attachment that the Guardian felt for her was 'a bond so strong as to defy description, nor can the mind encompass such an exalted state.'

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[10:10]Perhaps it is not presumptuous, therefore, if we should say that this subtle and mystic boned it's still present with us today, working through the Covenant of God through the divinely ordained Administrative Order of God, on that her loving care and protection is with us now. But there is no coincidence friends that the universal House of Justice should call up here today 50 years after her parting to coincide with the year that the House of Justice is itself stepping into the plenitude of its powers. Entering into the seat of the Universal House off justice on the slopes of Mount Carmel, a building set like a jewel on that ark at whose hub on center their lives enshrined the monument off the greatest curly leaf. Surely that subtle bond is with us today. It were the legacy given to us 50 years ago when she passed away. Today we are here to receive that legacy again on None of us need leave here. Portions are orphaned. I will speak today about the greatest holy leaf, not as a historian would, for I have no sense of biographical detail. I have no head. It's a date. I will fail you if I attempt to speak clearly on coherently about every detail off her life. What I will attempt to do instead is to speak about her suffering in her life, about her service that gradually widened its sphere of influence. As a result, all that suffering and finally about the nature of the symbol that she did for us, not only as individuals But as institutions, how can we model ourselves on her? Third Is's greatness of her station can only be measured by her obedience and her love for the covenant of God. Her obedience on love for the covenant is what ensures her proximity to the center off the covenant throughout her life. On that proximity surely cannot be measured, except by some reflection on the degree that she suffered greater totally. Leaf was an initiate of suffering, schooled in sacrifice, and she learned everything there was to know about loss. From the earliest years of her life, she was deprived not only of home security but also off her dearest father thrown into the prison of the CIA, Charl, when she was a mere child and removed from her again into the mountain. Fastness is off Sal Ammonia in the exile off Baghdad separation from her beloved father exile from her home. Such was the beginning of the life of the greatest, totally leaf on in his letters to her. Later in her life, we read how Abdel Baha'i was one of the educating voices that trained her in the school or sacrifice and instilled in her capacity to endure which is what makes her such a symbol for us today. For, he said, If thou does not bear these hardships, who would ever Baghdad? He counseled her when she and Euros separation in these words, however great the distance that separates us way still feel as though way were seated under the same roof in one on the same gathering. Are we not alone under the shadow or the Tabernacle of Gold and beneath the canopy off his infinite grace and mercy? During these early years off separation and sacrifice, during which she lost one younger brother and also later in Akka, her older brother Museum, 80 She waas in her role, acting as an auxiliary assisting her mother. Most of health services were internal doing within the household. She served tea. We can imagine how much she must have assisted mother who waas so dear to her with watch joy. She must have anticipated return off Baha'u'llah from Seoul Ammonia. She was herself, never married, but that training she received as an assistant to her own mother made off her a symbol off such motherhood as we cannot conceive, for she was entirely un profess it in her mother, and when she died, sugi offending wrote that we were orphaned, left destitute for the whole Baha'i world seemed under protection off her mothering. If we think of this quality in relation to ourselves way, see how often we may be called upon to be mothers to each other, no matter who we are. When we think of this quality in relation to the institutions, we realized that we surely have in our assemblies a parent whom we can turn to with absolute trust. If those institutions could also events the characteristics off such gentle mothering in relation to those institutions, could we not also mother than for this is an infant faith of God? And when we remember the greatest totally leaf way can also try and extend that mothering, that generosity that naturists that nourishment to the infant institutions that are growing up all over the world. The next point is, greatest suffering in her life was her own mother's death, and at that point in time, around 18 86 the greatest Holy Leaf receipt, the title off the greatest Holy Leave, she took the role off her mother became at the helm off the household was the whole lot conducted the management of the affairs of the house. So to the food that had to be bought, prepared, Met arrives off. The pilgrims offered her love and generosity to the community of women who entered that house. And in 18 92 she had to say the supreme affliction passing off the Howard on the degree of that suffering was what nerved her to enter and even wider arena off service to the cause. Her condition at that time with such that Abdul Baha'i wrote my sister for a considerable period, that is, from the day off, Baha'u'llah last attention had grown so thin and feeble and was in such a weakened conditions from the anguish off her morning that she was close to a breakdown. But it is such a lady who was nevertheless able to stand on DVD supporter and companion off Abdul Baha'i at a time of such severe crisis. Her role at this point was much more important where she had to receive on his behalf the wives of the dignitaries who came to visit the world center. Still, she conducted the household affairs, but the scope was wider and show G f nd writes off. How far reaching was her generosity and compassion to the people off Akka at that time and how, in spite of such compassion, she was greeted with rejection on denial and was given no relief at all. During the last year in Akka before the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, when times were so difficult on the life of Abdel Baha'i was under threat. It was the greatest holy leaf who was trusted by him, who was the custodian who was responsible for the safe, keeping off his will and testament. She it waas in whose room the casket off the blessed bath with kept for 10 years because she was so trusted by Abdul Baha'i on this surely is also a model for us. No Tony in our individual lives but through our institutions, for where else could return in a world so sadly shaken that to that cell, it's off these divinely appointed institution. Where else could we turn and put our trust? Greatest? Holy Leaf was an extremely practical purpose, and one of the difficulties that I had in preparing this talk waas to try and convey extraordinary multiplicity on her capacity because we owe her a faithfulness and we must try very hard not to violate her nature when we look at what she did. It is so easy for us to imagine her as some myth in our own imagination to impose on her the weight on stain off our 20th century interpretations, which are inadequate for the duration off this mighty dispensation. She was utterly sensitive and finally to, but she was also immensely practical, and there is a picture of her that I wish to share with you. It shows her as the housekeeper adieu, Baha'i a row, which she also performed during the years of shaggy offending ministry. In the early years, a pilgrim describes her like this one day way caught a glimpse of her in the kitchen, seated on a low stool, her firm capable hands busy with a large land that had just been brought in from the market. Quickly dividing it, she directed which part that's to be made into Brock, which part served for the evening meal rich part kept for the morrow and which sent to those poor or incapacitated friends who daily supplied from Abdul Baha'i table. Please turn tape over and play without rewinding that we should be considering her as a model not only for our individual lives but for the quality off service. On the kind of obedience to the covenant which can stream through our institution. When we think of her in this capacity for the practical housewife friends, our institutions are dealing with our lines. It is human beings that are passing through the hands of our assemblies. We must not only have tender compassion for them, but the immensely practical in the manner in which we deal with our affairs so as not to cause harm, hardship waste. During the trials that affected Abdul Baha'i on the threats on his life, this simple lady with her capacities as a housewife as a mother though she never was one was nevertheless supporter of Abdel Baha'i in a much deeper sense that went to the very root off stability and steadfastness in the covenant. Shoki offending says off that period. Suffice it to say, but for her sleepless vigilance, her attacked her courtesy, her extreme patient on heroic fortitude. Gray's complications might have ensued on the load off Abdel Baha'i. Anxious care would have bean considerably increased. That also is an element off her very practical nature. She did not wish to burden adult Baha'i anymore, then was necessary. And what a joy it must have given her. When the imprisonment was left on, this brother of hers was permitted to be free and travel to the west. This was one separation friends which she surely did not mind paying the cost off for the letters that streamed back to her must have build her heart with joy. Victories off the face were great recompense for a ll that suffering beforehand. And when he left her Baha'u'llah adult Baha'i gave her a much wider role In his absence, she had to deal with many off the affairs in Haifa which had bean left to him Everything which was not apart off the male world. Because you must remember this was the Middle East and the greatest. Totally leaf was a lady who would not deal with the business of property or commerce that was taken Carol by the male members off 'Abdu'l-Baha household. But nevertheless her role waas wider and she received both men on women dignitary and officials spoke to the pilgrims on behalf of Abbas inspired them, gave her assistance to the poor on offered her medical services, which is another element I wish to talk to you later. Sorry was during the war. That was when I was going to speak about it when, after Baha'i returns on this first World war was taking place, Greatest Holy Leaf was in a position to offer great services to the local community. Show G. Effendi writes that her words of cheer and comfort food, money, the clothing she freely dispensed remedies which by a process off her own she hurt self prepared on diligently applied. All these had their share in comforting, disconsolate. I wanted to bring up this point because it seemed to me that here, again, way might consider how much of a model she is for our lives. No Tony as individuals. But through our institutions, she was a natural healer. She had not only compassion for the sick but insight, and she offered remedies which she prepared as sugi, Effendi said, by a process off her own. It seemed we might bear this in mind when we think of how often our assemblies need to be a healing process, need to consider each individual case diagnose. It needs prescribe remedies in the same way that she did so that by prevention, help of the community might be insured. She, too, went to professionals. When she could not heal the sick herself, so do the institutions. But her suffering was not over on. Neither was the importance off her role. The next great blow in her life came in 1920 runs with the passing off Abdul Baha'i, the one who had always been there to comfort her, was now gone, and now she became the comforter. It is at this point in her life that I feel we might begin to hear her own voice speaking in these beautiful tablets, which have been translated by the universal House of Justice for this year. Among them, there is one prayer I want to read for you. It is a prayer that rises from the depths off her anguish, and in it she becomes a spokesman for the suffering masses of the world. She speaks in the language of the heart, on behalf off all who had bean down trouble, who have bean suppressed, who have experienced separation on lost to such magnitude that only she I could understand that flight. Oh, God! My God, that's see It's me immersed in the depths of grief Drowned in my source My heart on fire With the agony of parting my inmost self aflame with longing Thou c'est my tears streaming down Here is my size rising up like smoke My never ceasing grows my cries My shout that will not be stilled The useless weighing on my heart for the son of Joy has set has sunk below the horizon Off this world and in the hearts of the righteous lights off courage on Constellation have gone out so grave This catastrophe so dire this disaster that the inner being crumbles away to dust Where else friends could we find a spokesman who could speak on our behalf for our deepest anguish? We know now why she has Bean offered to us as an intercession. As one too. We might turn at times of greatest sorrow, reaching to her first, begging her assistance, asking for her compassion because she has felt the pain of being human So to our institutions might be that voice of compassion for us might speak on our behalf when we feel down Trodden might raise up the cry for the suppressed among humanity. Only the institutions of God. I can do that and be truly heard passing of Abdel Baha'i which was so dire Catastrophe nevertheless left the greatest totally leaf standing responsible for a cause that needed its guardian. And this truly was her ultimate role. For at that time she was the one who tabled the Baha'i world. She was the one who arranged for the funeral off Abdul Baha'i. She was the one who held us and contained our broken hearts until show G offending was ready to shoulder the burden off his ministry. Her letters that went out from east to the east and west at that time are among the most wonderful teaching letters that we have. She taught the behinds about the importance of the covenant. She taught them to revere on love, their guardian. She taught them about the nature of the will and testament off Adam Baha'i. She encouraged them to be united. She warned them against disharmony on these letters, show her as truly a teacher off the course, another of her roles that we cannot but model ourselves upon in one of these letters, she even uses the meta for of healing to teach. And she reminds the friends in very simple and direct language without wasting words that when you are six, you need a potent remedy. And since we are all shattered, she writes by the passing of Abdel Baha'i now it devolved upon every well assured and devoted friend. Every firm on in kindled believer in Ratchet by his love to drink this healing remedy. And she was referring to show g effendi to drink this healing remedy at one dropped so that the agony off bereavement maybe somewhat alleviated. She was always trying to help us endure separation. But her own separations were not completely over. For during the 1st 3 years off the Ministry of Shoki offending, she had to endure separation from him to Onda. Among her letters there is one so touching that I thought I would read it to you to explain how much he must have felt this separation. It is the hope of this writer that the friends of God will put for such efforts on Dhe will so radiate their love for him as to light up the world a love that will make the heart of the guardian leap for joy. And then, God willing, he will soon come back again so that before I close my eyes upon this life, separation I endure will be over and I can bid you all farewell with a happy heart. One of the characteristics of the greatest totally was her ability to endure separation on suffering with utmost joy on her face After her passing Sugi Effendi wrote. Even in the thick of the worst audio, she would smile like an opening rose. It is a smile that lingers with a still. Her smiling face looks at us through the photographs within the smile. There is so much of sorrow, so much off understanding, and it is a smile so deep that we might feel it penetrating our inmost hearts. For Bo, it's on a photograph and so evanescent something within us math needs respond to that smile in her own words. Many events are history could never face from the heart the importance of the days that they were passing through when Abdel Baha'i died. It is the heart that retains the importance and show the offending, wrote of that exquisite smile off hers. Those smiles that refreshed my life are forever. I'm safely imprinted in the inmost recesses off my stricken heart. This is surely why, in the inmost recesses of our hearts way carry her memory And whatever the tiger in his words, however distressing the vicissitudes which the nation faith of God may yet experience. We pledge ourselves before the mercy seat off Baha'u'llah two hands on the memory off the greatest holy leave A legacy we received that shall be passed on to the generations before us. A new impaired on a new divided Thank you.