Transcript:William Sears/Address to the 1983 International Convention
| Transcript of: Address to the International Convention, Haifa (1983) by |
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[0:08] The dark glasses were my tribute to you, a compliment. I wanted you to know that your shining radiant faces were so bright, it was difficult to read my notes. Well, maybe a slight exaggeration. But all these days are more than life like on the side of the mountain. I met a friend from Africa with tears in his eyes and he said my head is leaking love. And I understood that because my own tear ducts have become canals, especially during the day of the election. When I saw the name Iran and the standing ovation of silence for that wonderful body, and every time a red rose was given out, and I especially had tears of joy for all the wonderful new National Spiritual Assemblies. And out of the ocean, Bahá’u’lláh founded jewels and when I saw and heard them say "tuvalu" and on and on and on, I could see the wonderful things that were happening so really what I said probably is not an exaggeration.
[1:44] You know when I was on pilgrimage the beloved guardian said our faith was a faith of superlatives. That's why we say the Greatest Name, the Most Great Peace, the Greatest Holy Leaf, the Most Great Prison, all superlatives, and that's the best we can do. Language is too weak to try to express the majesty, greatness and wonder of this cause of our. Beloved Guardian said that that if we truly knew who Bahá’u’lláh was and understood his station and who we were just because we bore the name Bahá’ís we would fall to the ground, numb. No doubt like Ezekiel fell numb and overwhelmed in the presence of the glory of God. Well that's really my theme this morning, beloved friends. I'm taking the theme from Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum which she so eloquently began the first day of the consultations of this convention with. I would like to close the last day of this historic convention the same way, the greatness and power of the cause and our need to become purified, eager willing instruments.
[2:54] When I was a young man I came to this mountain of God and entered the presence of the beloved Guardian, and the world became another world. And everything I saw except him became ashes and before I left my pilgrimage, I know I've told some of you, I wanted to go up to the archives building and get Mullá Ḥusayn's sword, get on a white horse, and right out shouting "Yá Ṣáḥibu’z-Zamán" and conquer the world for him, and bring in that vast number of new believers he longed to see. Now I am an old man, and I still haven't done it. Once again I'm on the side of the mountain of God, but this time I have been given the greatest opportunity in my entire Bahá’í life, to become worthy of him, the Sign of God on earth, and to help usher in that great tidal wave of triumphs, and I'm hoping to do it through you, the generals of the plan, and your radiant spiritual army, planetary army, for that's what it is, the one waiting for you at home.
[4:11] What I'm going to say most of you already know, and some of you surely better than I, but maybe many of your believers at home, especially the new ones, do not know the fantastic, incredible, wonderful, power and transforming love of the Faith they they have accepted. Look above me at the Greatest Name, Bahá’u’lláh said in the Gleanings that with just one of the powers of the Greatest Name, we could change the world. And he says from his lips have gone out councils that can satisfy the needs of the whole of mankind, as the Universal House of Justice has told us in their message. And through the power of this name the dissension that divide the people and kindreds of the world can be blotted out from the face of the earth forever. "Arise", Bahá’u’lláh calls out before the nation's of earth, and arm thyself with the power of this Most Great Name, a name empowered to revive the dead souls of humankind.
[5:14] Imagine, each one of you in this room, from among the nearly three billion people of the world, have been chosen by God to be here this week. You have entered and been seated under the dome of the seat of the house of the lord of hosts, and you are among the very first people on the planet ever to have that long awaited privilege. Think of that, to be present here on the mountain of God when that historic, prophetic process has taken place and our majestic Universal House of Justice has assumed its holy seat.
[6:05] The beloved guardian wrote, the Universal House of Justice will be elected, raising high its noble frame above the world of existence. It will pour its healing waters upon the warring nations and peoples of the world to wash away the evils and iniquities of the realm of dust. And heal man's age old ills and ailments. Then, in that moment Shoghi Effendi wrote, I'm paraphrasing his beautiful words: then we'll all our hopes and aspirations be realized. The pillars of the faith, you, will be firmly established and the cause of our lord will bear fruit and its fame will be fulfilled from one end of the earth to the other. When that house of justice is erected the beloved Guardian said it will be the beginning of an era the like of which has never been witnessed in by gone ages. An age the like of which the eyes of men have never seen."
[7:13] It is no wonder the blessed beauty Bahá’u’lláh declared that neither the sun nor the moon have witnessed such a day as this day. So my appeal to you now this morning is very simple and very direct. It is to lead and inspire your country unitedly in a great wave of teaching and win the most important goal of all, that goal that still has escaped us, that vast increase in the number of new believers in every part of the world.
[7:54] Our beloved Guardian in his very last message to the Bahá’í world dated October 1957 made clear his longing to see this process underway. The beloved Guardian said, our efforts must be immortalized, immortalized by an unequaled increase in the number of avowed supporters of the faith in all the continents of the globe, of every race, clan, creed, and color and from every stratum of present day society, immortalize. Our Universal House of Justice has issued many similar appeals for teaching for those new believers to be taught everywhere in every land in cities, on the farms, in the schools, the universities the factories, among the masses, and they have even made it the stated goals of our plan so we no longer can avoid it. But we simply haven't done it yet, have we? Wonderful things, but not that goal. At least I don't believe we have immortalized our lives with a flood of new believers. I know I haven't.
[9:08] Shoghi Effendi said that all other goals, all other victories, every ramification of every plan is designed in the end to win this major conversion of the masses which will lead to the spiritualization of mankind. This vast increase in new believers, he made it clear to us makes possible more, it is absolutely essential to the financial support needed to win and sustain and support all other goals. Building projects, temples, schools, those things of prestige, new National Assemblies, new Local Assemblies, a flood of new believers is the heart and soul of the plan. And our beloved Guardian also warned us that if we did not, if we did not enroll this great unprecedented number of new believers, we would be failing to protect the faith properly, how important it was. And if we didn't, he said we would suffer, and we should never forget this. If we establish strong vigorously functioning National Assemblies and Local Assemblies in the cities and in the villages, all around the planet representing large segments of that society our enemies would be afraid to attack us.
[10:37] Shoghi Effendi even said, wrote specifically, and you'll find it in the citadel of faith. That the mildness or the fierceness of the attacks that will be launched against us would be determined by the large number of devoted Bahá’ís we had, or the lack of it. If we were strong with large numbers in all walks of life, the enemy would hesitate. If we were weak with only a relatively few, they would overwhelm us and then when the crisis passed we should have to begin again all over, all over again. That alone should make us rise up like lions, as the world gets worse we have to get better, and we're not keeping pace. No matter what the crisis may be whatever crisis we face, new believers the beloved Guardian said was the answer. He said drown your troubles in an ocean of new believers, an ocean. And we have to hurry because the time is really getting short.
[11:45] A half a century ago our beloved Guardian urged us to hasten with this primary, prominent task in one of his messages which he said must take precedence over all other tasks, enrolling the masses. He said the world with all the various calamities that have befallen it will be completely ravaged and its civilization demolished if the Bahá’ís do not come to its health and imbue it with the spirit that's Bahá’u’lláh's brought into the world. The economic factions, political parties, national hatred, racial prejudice and religious antagonisms will continue to bring about devastating wars until the spirit of the Cause permeates the heart of man. And its universal teachings pull down the existing barriers.
[12:44] So he said the let us be reminded of our duty by the misery we see around us. And arise for the prosecution of our noble duty. Have we imbued the world with the faith? Have we permeated the heart of men and women everywhere, all mankind? Imbue means to saturate, to permeate means to pervade, and to pass through the very force and again saturate with spirit. Beloved friends in a hundred and forty years we still have far less than one half of one percent of the population of the world, and as an old sports broadcaster I know that even in the making of alcoholic beverages, if you'll forgive the expression, even in the making of alcoholic beverages one half of one percent is considered to be non intoxicating.
[13:49] Well, our wine of the love of God is intoxicating, and the faith is so powerful that we win victories no matter how pitiful and puny our efforts, inadequate our drops of sacrifice may be, but still we win victories and that's really the theme of my talk, it's really a joyous one. It's to see the power, but Bahá’u’lláh says, in fact when Mrs.Sears, my wife Marguerite was on pilgrimage, those are the five most loved and popular words that I have in my vocabulary, when I was on pilgrimage, for her the same.
[14:44] The beloved Guardian said that the Supreme Concourse was hovering between heaven and earth looking for instruments and that the power had been so little used that it was accumulating. That was thirty years ago, so the power to be released must be tremendous and it is our hope that this world convention will release it. But here's what the Blessed Beauty said to show that we win the victories in spite of ourselves, he said: an act, however infinitesimal, is when viewed in the mirror of the knowledge of God, mightier than a mountain. Every drop proffered in his path is as the sea when seen in that mirror. And when we are encouraged by the victories our infinitesimal acts had won, and our tiny drops of sacrifice had accomplished, once the beloved Guardian poignantly wrote, we see what even a little effort on our part can achieve.
[15:45] We can only wonder what would happen if an entire national community worked together in one great concerted effort. Isn't it about time we found out? Not in one great concerted national effort, but in one great concerted planetary effort. I mean you the generals of the seven year plan, you're all here, it's possible to begin such a planetary spiritual campaign now in this room. There will never be a higher level strategy meeting for the spiritual conquest of the planet then this. Will we ever have such a chance as this chance again? You are returning from the heart of the world to inspire the friends at your own national conventions, those delegates who can set on fire your entire national spiritual army if you bring the torch that set them ablaze from here.
[16:53] Once again I would like to take up that ringing call of Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum to seize this spirit and carry it back with you. I am speaking on behalf of all my fellow Hands, the remnants of the beloved Guardian and would like to share once again from our wonderful Writings the staggering fantastic spiritual power you hold in the palms of your hands. The blazing torch you can pass on to those homelands of yours and everyone in it. Shoghi Effendi says today the need is so great on the part of humanity to hear of the divine message that the believers must plunge into the work wherever and however they can heedless of their own shortcomings. He says that we must have a perfect reliance upon God and let our hearts burn with the desire to serve his mission and proclaim His call. And then he promises you will observe how eloquent and the power to change human hearts will come as a matter of course. From on high you just have to report for duty with a pure heart and say "Bahá’u’lláh here I am, use me", and the power will come pouring down. Every soldier in your army at home should know that and feel those things.
[18:20] The words which Shoghi Effendi wrote to all National Spiritual Assembly members applies equally as well to every Local Assembly member in your land, that Bahá’u’lláh would transform all of their shortcomings and deficiencies into positive ways to win the victory. This is what he says, we are filled with feelings of unworthiness and dismay and we would be truly disheartened but for the comforting thought that if we arise to play nobly our part every deficiency, every deficiency in our lives will be more than compensated for by the all conquering spirit of his grace and power. Not half of your deficiencies, or some of your deficiencies, and our deficiencies, all of them. But again we have to arise nobly to play our part. He says the very act of striving to serve, however unworthy we may feel, attracts the blessings of God and enables us to become worthy, more fitted for the task. Isn't that a tremendous thing? Never before in the religious history of the world, in our faith it is the service itself that is the capacity. If you arise to serve the capacity will come to win those victories.
[19:37] If we arise Shoghi Effendi says in the Advent of Divine Justice, the most puny and insignificant among the followers of Bahá’u’lláh can accomplish such wonders as would dwarf the mightiest achievements of even Peter, the first apostle of Jesus the Christ and founder of his church. The poor, the illiterate, the uneducated, the peoples in the village with those pure hearts, if they respond they will do things greater than the first apostle of Christ. Imagine what would happen if the educated and the privileged would have that same wonderful spirit, think of what will happen in your country if you give everybody a chance to arise. And it means everybody, Shoghi Effendi promises, the mere act of arising will win for you Gods help and blessing. The mere act of arising no matter what you were, what your background is, you just arise and the capacity to do whatever it is you want to do and has to be done will come.
[20:46] I don't know if you can believe it but this is only the beginning of the outpouring of these divine miracles we're sharing this morning. I wanted to have the privilege of telling you and the bounty of why I consider the year 1983, Bahá’í year 140, as a year of divine destiny. I'm not talking about the victories, you saw them Friday, nor about the martyrs who water the soil of the planet and shed a red river of blood on the sands of Persia to make everything alive. You saw Friday all too well what wonderful things that have happened. I want to tell you about some of the goals that have been won here in the World Centre. You see when I was on pilgrimage beloved Guardian said that whenever the goals were won a tremendous power was released into the world. National goals and World Centre goals, and he also made it clear that winning the goals was not the victory, those goals were the bare minimum that kept us from defeat, or from losing the plan. It was when we finish them out of the completion of the goals a power was released in every country, then came the supplemental goals. And like the ninth symphony of Beethoven when all the music comes pouring down the hill toward the sea, those are the victories we shall win.
[22:12] You have had the bounty of visiting the house of ‘Abdu’lláh Páshá. Acquired by the Universal House of Justice, reconstructed in all its beauty. And then you had the bounty of visiting and seeing the wonderful completion of the furnishings and the interior and all the marvelous exciting things of genius that were done on our behalf by Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum. History will long remember that gift she gave to you and to me this year. That's why I called her, and to me she'll always be, the Queen of the world, she doesn't like it when I say that, so I won't go any further. I won't go any further because I don't lose my privileges of coming for tea at the house of the master when I happen to have the bounty of being here at the same time she is. But that power's going out, because of that tremendous power we can't even measure it.
[23:17] In 1952-53 the beloved Guardian made it clear that the Bahá’í holy year began October '52 but it didn't end until October '53. It was a year of these out outpourings, and we have the year of the 50th anniversary of the Greatest Holy Leaf, July 15th, 1982 and it will go on in a special way until July 15th, 1983. You know she was so beautiful and so pure Bahá’u’lláh said that whatever prayers she uttered were answered. So you know a good secret between now and July 15th, to have a lot of the things you'd like to do answered through prayer. Of course they will be answered in many other ways but something special for this year. And of course, I saved this one about the 25th anniversary of the passing of our beloved guardian who always surrounded us with his love and protection and guidance while he was on this plane, more in the next plane, but with something special this year, from November 4th, 1982 to November 4th, 1983.
[24:24] Arise and do something in his name, something wonderful to repay in some small way for all of those years, those thirty six years of tremendous love that he poured out upon us. That power is with us this year. That's why this is a year unlike any other year and then of course, in this year the Universal House of Justice, God's house assumed its seat. So what a year, I mean were bathed in the spirit of love and action, unprecedented. Beloved friends, shivers go up my spine as I contemplate the wonder of that next accomplishment.
[25:06] When I was on pilgrimage, I had just come from Wilmette, the start of a beginning year of the ten year plan, and the House of Worship in Wilmette had been completed, and the beloved guardian talked about it and he told us what we had conquered one hundred countries in eleven months since the day of that dedication, something that never happened before in religious history. A hundred countries in eleven months and he said it was because the goal was completed and the power was poured out that the Master had said when that House of Worship was finished and dedicated to public worship, from that point of light the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh would be carried to all parts of the world. The pioneers were on the move and a hundred countries had been conquered, because of the tremendous power. Now just a glimpse of the significance of what you have witnessed and been a part of these last few days. Significant not only to you as an individual Bahá’í, to your National Assembly or to your Bahá’í community, or even to our precious faith itself, but significant to all religions and every single human being on the face of the planet.
[26:25] This is in indeed as our Universal House of Justice has said, a time of rejoicing for all mankind. A time of the fulfillment of the wonderful prophecies of Bahá’u’lláh about the men of the House of Justice, the people of Bahá. Bahá’u’lláh even tells Mount Carmel, the mountain itself where it all took place to rejoice. Rejoice he said, for God hath on this day established his throne upon thee. Nobody will ever understand the wonder of it. Verily, Bahá’u’lláh says, both land and sea rejoice at this announcement, ere long will God sail his arc upon thee, and will manifest the people of Bahá who have been mentioned in the book of names, the men of the House of Justice. So let us all rejoice so that's the spirit in power that has been released into the world that will help us win the victories.
[27:23] I'm sure already you can begin to hear the onrushing hoof beats of the new battalions of Bahá’u’lláh. And all the promises of Isaiah, Micah, Haggai and the prophets of old in their vision for the house of God have been also fulfilled. A fulfillment of prophecy and an outpouring of spirit from the earliest days of sacred literature. The House of the Lord has been built, as it was promised in the latter days, the latter days that's now. Let us go up to the House of the Lord, let us walk in His ways and declare His righteousness. And a voice behind me said, this is the path, walk ye in it. And the law shall go down from the mountain of God, and in those days the people of the Lord, the remnants of God shall come and they shall work in the House of the Lord of hosts. On and on go the wonders and the mystery and the significance of these great days you have experienced.
[28:34] Beloved friends, colleagues, fellow Bahá’ís. These are the blessing is that Bahá’u’lláh has showered upon us during these days of rapture and joy. You have seated yourselves beneath the dome of that House of the Lord of hosts. You have walked the arc, and as we go down now after these sessions today, and that wonderful feast this afternoon, from this mountain of God tomorrow and back into the world of man, do you think we can ever again be the same people we were before we came here? Can we ever again be satisfied with what we have done for Faith in the past? Will any number of victories seems sufficient for what God has poured over us and into our hearts?
[29:25] In the light of this outpouring, for you and your country, listen now to what that power can do, like it is never done in the past. This is from our writings. Beloved guardian, one soul can bring an active community life, can bring in numbers of new believers, and can restore lost assemblies: one soul. One sincere soul on fire with the faith can set an entire country ablaze: one soul, an entire country. From the master, one soul can illuminate an entire continent. One soul: a country, a continent. You are the generals of a whole army of such potential spiritual, one soul. And it takes only one such soul to conquer, change, and transform your country. That is the message you should bring back. Imagine the victories that could be born here in this room today. Let the title wave start here.
[30:32] Could there possibly be more? Is God in this great day of outpouring going to give us even greater gifts? He is indeed, one of the most beautiful, tender gift of all. So great is the need on our part to help humanity, so great is their need and suffering. So tremendous is the matching power of Bahá’u’lláh that we don't even have to to search for these souls in order to find this vast increase. These prepared souls are ready, waiting, standing by, hungering for our coming. We now need only to get our spiritual army on the move.
[31:10] When I was on pilgrimage the beloved Guardian one night at that wondrous table said that in every materialistic city there were thousands of souls hungering for the word of God. The master, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is quoted as saying in a pilgrim's note, we should pray that we may be guided to those souls whose hearts God has prepared for his cause, and that they may be guided to us. Our beloved Guardian wrote the same, not a pilgrim's note, it's on page thirty of that wonderful teaching compilation of the Universal House of Justice raising the divine call. Beloved Guardian says, make a special point of praying ardently not only for success in general but that God may send to you the souls that are ready. There are such souls in every city and I can hear his words saying, thousands of them hungering for the word of God in the cities, in the countries. So not only is that vast increase possible in your country, and in every country, but God himself has prepared them for us. And they are crying up to us "come and get me, I'm waiting". As Bahá’u’lláh said, every body is crying for a soul in this day, and in the words of a lovely Bahá’í song, we are the soul catchers.
[32:35] As Amatu’l-Bahá Rúḥíyyih Khánum said Saturday morning so movingly, the only thing beloved friends that holds us back from this flood tide of new believers is ourselves. And how vital is that to our own spiritual life? The beloved Guardian early in his ministry and the Universal House of Justice at the start of theirs, warned us about the danger of not immersing ourselves completely in the word of God in this day. Humanity, this is the quotation: humanity, through suffering is swiftly moving on towards its destiny, if we be loiterers, if we fail to play our part, surely other will be called upon to take up our tasks as ministers to the crying needs of this afflicted world.
[33:44] Beloved friends, if we fail to arise and play our part after the blessings and what we have heard here, and what we know from the Writings, that knowledge in this spirit others, others and not us, deserves to take up our tasks. Others not us, that's probably three of the saddest words in any language. Beloved friends, this appeal as I told you comes from all of the Hands of the Cause of God, there's still ten of us alive and walking on the face of the Earth. Eight are here today with you on the side of this mountain. Those in the Abhá kingdom sure are doing even more than any of us here. But never feel sad that there seemed to be so few of us left with you. Not if your spiritual army will arise here and win this great worldwide teaching victory. While the Hands of the Cause of God who are still here can see it beginning with their own eyes. And there's another wonderful reason for no sadness. Our beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, whenever I think of the beloved Guardian, I mentioned his names I can't think of any other word I want to say but the stand up and look at the stars say hallelujah, I know of course that's a Christian word, but since Bahá’u’lláh is the return of Christ, I thought this is the return of hallelujah and I've said it in that light. I remember when I went back to my room the first night, I couldn't think of anything just being in in his presence and all I said until I fell asleep was looked at the ceiling and said Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’u’lláh.
[35:40] Shoghi Effendi with another great gift to us said that when that noble edifice, the mighty Universal House of Justice came into being, it would establish glorious institutions. It has, the International Teaching Centre, you have met the members here, is described in our writing as one of those world shaping, world embracing, world directing institutions of Bahá’u’lláh's mighty World Order, of course it's glorious. The Universal House of Justice also raised up another glorious institution, the Continental Boards of Counselors, the Counselors of the world are all here with you today in this room to help this great spiritual campaign of the conquest of the planet. There was wonderful things about that Friday night with the programs so I need say no more, other than that the Hands of the Cause, the International Teaching Centre, the Continental Board of Counselors, the Auxiliary Board members and all their assistants, all of us are ready, poised and eager to rush to the aid of every National Spiritual Assembly everywhere that wants at last to win the victory.
[36:49] And if all of these precious outpourings and gifts were not enough, guiding, sustaining, inspiring, every hour of every day and every night those heroes and heroines, men women youth and children pouring out upon them the holy spirit of these eager and willing radiant potential one soul conquerors of the hearts of mankind everywhere are five separate sources of divine infallibility, not one, not two, not three, not four, but five. I mean the world throbs with the vibrations and the very soul feels shivers of awe and a stab-like thrill of delight to say, "I am a Bahá’í" and to know that pouring down upon you whatever task you have are the powers and blessed is an infinite infallibility of the Báb, Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and our supreme Universal House of Justice. Its members living walking amongst us sitting here with us in this room and we have been under shadow of the seat of the house of the Lord of Hosts.
[37:59] So generals, sound the call, for the entire planet is in your hands. And one final memory to carry back. I hope it will be burned into your hearts and the hearts of all my dearly love fellow Bahá’ís in your country. As it is burned into mine and please embraced them on my behalf and give them my warm love. This is another gift from our beloved Guardian through his matchless translation, it is that unforgettable picture of the beloved Master saying, oh how I long even if on foot and in the utmost poverty, to walk through every mountain and valley, to all the places in your countries, and crying allowed the Greatest Name to awaken the souls everywhere. Alas he said, I cannot do it, but please God he will achieve it. And the blessed beauty Bahá’u’lláh, supreme redeemer of men, organizer of the entire planet, promise of all ages, king of kings, and lord of hosts said tenderly, oh how I long to announce unto every spot on the surface of the earth and to carry to each one of its cities the glad tidings of this revelation. You know that he said that in the Tablet of Carmel.
[39:25] The charter for all these wondrous institutions at the World Center that you have seen including the mighty seat of the Universal House of Justice, source of all good, freed from all error, last refuge of a tottering civilization. Surely that was a special message to all the NSA members from the Blessed Beauty who sat there and voted for our Universal House of Justice. But remember, Bahá’u’lláh did not forget your spiritual army. All of them from the cities to the tiniest villages. His followers everywhere, Bahá’u’lláh in the Epistle to the Son of the Wolf says even more tenderly, that He longs to lay His face against the ground on every spot of the Earth for perhaps that will be the spot where the footsteps of one of his loved ones has passed on their way to carry His message of love and unity to this sad afflicted world, can you envision the picture in your country? Wherever your teachers are going the Blessed Beauty wanted to put his cheek to the earth in tribute of love and knowing the vast wonderful things that would happen to all of the world of man if they understood. That's why I say generals, sound the call, the planets in your hands. Someday, somewhere, someone is going to hear and is going to arise and win the victory. Let it not be tomorrow, and let it not be others, let it be now, and let it be us.
