“The continent of America is most progressive”: - “The natural civilization is well-nigh perfect; but it is in need of the civilization of heaven—Divine civilization”

Reporter: Are you pleased with the United States?

‘Abdu’l-Baha: The continent of America is most progressive. The means of instructions are prepared; the educational institutions are thoroughly equipped and the pupils are being systematically trained and educated. The wealth is on an upward tendency. Its government is democratic. Its advancement is unceasing. Its nation is hospitable. Its people are loyal, energetic and noble. Its inhabitants are free and the lovers of liberty. Its men are civilized and its women are cultured, refined and idealistic. On the other hand, all these advantages are on the material plane, and I observe the majority of the people are submerged in the sea of materialism and agnosticism. The natural civilization is well-nigh perfect; but it is in need of the civilization of heaven—Divine civilization. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, From an interview with a San Francisco newspaper reporter, October 3, 1912; Star of the West volume 4, no. 12, October 16, 1913)

One of the meanings of “scrifice”: - the “natural state of man, which is the animalistic state, must, be sacrificed”

As long as you are interested in the Movement, and interested seriously, and you are investigating reality, you are the lover of reality, there is no doubt that you will attain.

When man dedicates his life to a cause, he must dedicate entirely, then he is really dedicated. It is not through word, but through deed. One must dedicate his life completely, fully, in reality, just as the dead branch sacrifices its life to the fire, and just as the oil sacrifices its life to give light. This is the great station—the station of sacrifice. There is no greater station than this.

In Oriental language, there is the expression, "May my life be a sacrifice to you," and a man writing a hundred letters a day might use these words a hundred times and yet he would not sacrifice anything for his friend. But this is a custom—a usage. Everybody who writes a letter to his friend says "May my life be a sacrifice to you," and perhaps he does not realize the meaning at all.

The station of sacrifice is the great foundation. When you read the Old and New Testament, you will find that constantly the word "sacrifice" is mentioned. It is recorded that the Israelites sacrificed sheep so that their sins might be forgiven. In the time of Adam, Cain made sacrifice of sheaves of wheat and Abel made sacrifice of sheep. Now this is a symbol, and this word extended after the time of Christ.

What is the symbol? Just as the sheep sacrificed its life, likewise this natural state of man, which is the animalistic state, must, be sacrificed. How should it be sacrificed? The vices of the animalistic state of man must be entirely annihilated, and he must be characterized with divine virtues. It was a symbol and before His Holiness Christ appeared, all the Israelitish prophets made sacrifice of animals. This was a mystery of that higher sacrifice and when Christ came He said, I will sacrifice myself for the sake of the salvation of all. What did He mean? He meant to change their characters, and in this way make them heavenly, in this way make them God- like, spiritual and divine.

This is one of the meanings of sacrifice.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to a Baha’i, October 22, 191; Star of the West, volume 4, no. 12, October 16, 1913)

“it is not permissible to quarrel even with the devil”

Yesterday, the editor-in-chief of ‘The Christian Commonwealth’ requested that I write something for publication in his newspaper. I wrote a piece for him describing how, because of his quarrel with Satan, Adam was banished from Paradise, and explaining how, for this reason, it is not permissible to quarrel even with the devil.' It is likewise forbidden to engage in conflict and contention with ones enemies, inasmuch as this would render one deprived of the grace of the loving Lord. One must leave one’s opposers to themselves. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 25 December 1912, London, England recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)

“the heat of the love of God…lies dormant and hidden within every heart”

The property of heat exists in all things, but a power is needed for that heat to be made manifest. In the realm of religion, it is the power of Bahá’u’lláh that causes the heat of the love of God - that power which lies dormant and hidden within every heart – to appear, and widens the ken of the human mind. This heat confers gladness and imparts guidance. You, too, must now manifest this heat. With this power, you must pave the way to the Kingdom and deliver humankind to the abode of salvation. Such a path is even better than the tracks of railroads’ Lift up your voice, then, to the Kingdom of God. Yea, lift it up even as John the Baptist lifted up his voice, that you may pave the way, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Such a way must be paved, and to such a path must humanity be guided. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 24 December 1912, London, England recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)

“Baha'u'llah at the time of His Departure had from one to two hundred thousand followers.”

When Christ was crucified He left only eleven Disciples, and yet see how Christianity encompassed the world! Baha'u'llah at the time of His Departure had from one to two hundred thousand followers. While they have already filled the world with His light, see how marvellous will be its effects in the future! When we were exiled to Constantinople from Baghdad, the Persian Ambassador at the former city did his best to bring about our total destruction. Supposing he had succeeded in destroying us - could he destroy the Cause of God? They said they would wholly annihilate the Cause by destroying the Báb. Could they do so? No. the very martyrdom of the Báb strengthened His Cause a thousand-fold. Now some people imagine the Cause of God depends upon my existence: and that by destroying me they could destroy the Cause! Verily, this is far from reality. Nay, when I go the Cause will make great progress after me. Remember this. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Ali Kuli Khan, 'Abdu'l-Baha's English-language secretary during 1899 to 1901; ‘Ali-Kuli Khan 1906 Pilgrim Notes’)

The senseless efforts of the enemies of the Cause to resist “the Power of Baha'u'llah”

On Friday, June 29. 1906. in the evening. 'Abdu'l-Baha addressed us (the pilgrims) in the following words. Pointing to the stars in the Heavens. He said in part:

"Were the whole world to act together in order to prevent these stars from giving light - verily they will fail to do so. Now. see how unwise are the enemies of the Cause - who are endeavoring to resist this Truth and quench this Light. How senseless are they! They do not see the Power of Baha'u'llah who proves the Truth of Christ to unbelievers after nineteen centuries, the Truth of Islam after thirteen centuries and the Truth of Abraham after four thousand years! They do not realize the Bounty of this Manifestation in that it upholds the Truth of all the Religions and unifies mankind upon the basis of faith in one God.” 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Ali Kuli Khan, 'Abdu'l-Baha's English-language secretary during 1899 to 1901; ‘Ali-Kuli Khan 1906 Pilgrim Notes’)

‘Abdu’l-Baha’s reference to World War I

I hope that the Balkan War shall come to an end, and that the rights of both belligerents’ be protected and preserved. Otherwise, the flame of this war shall devour the earth - in particular Europe, which is even as an arsenal filled with explosives, and needs only a single spark to utterly obliterate the entire continent. Thus, there is no recourse but to embrace universal peace. This, indeed, is the most pressing issue of the day; I pray God that this peace will be realized. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 24 December 1912, London, England recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)

Characteristics of “divine civilization” to be established in countries

America and Europe have advanced to the utmost in terms of material civilization; day by day, they continue to make material progress. My hope, however, is that divine civilization shall likewise be established in these countries - a civilization whose foundation was laid by the prophets of God, whose success depends on the realm of saintly character and spiritual education, and whose existence shall be the cause of spiritual advancements in the world of humanity. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 24 December 1912, London, England recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)

Bahá’u’lláh “made Himself even as a shield” so that we “may be kept safe from the cruelty of ferocious and relentless beasts, and sheltered from the oppression of the wolves of self and desire”

God made manifest the True Shepherd to gather together all His flocks, and that kind Shepherd was Bahá’u’lláh. He brought together the scattered flocks, and fostered fellowship among various peoples. Wishing to protect and support the peoples of the world, He made Himself even as a shield - and in so doing became the target of the darts of calamity, and prey to the onslaught of ravenous wolves - so that the sheep of God may be kept safe from the cruelty of ferocious and relentless beasts, and sheltered from the oppression of the wolves of self and desire, with the aim that these sheep may enjoy protection and eternal life. My hope is that we, too, may succeed in gathering together the scattered flocks beneath the shade of the True Shepherd, guiding them to the pasture of divine bounty and protecting them from the wolves. Thus shall these scattered flocks come together and live our their days in the utmost happiness. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 24 December 1912, London, England recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)

While the multitude were so violently aroused against the Cause in Shiraz ‘Abdu’l-Baha directed the believers to repair the House of the Báb

The sacred House of the Holy Báb at Shiraz needed much repairing: and yet the people were so violently aroused against the Cause in the city and made so much trouble, that the believers could not even pass through the street in which the House is situated - how much less to be allowed to work at it. The populace revolted against the Baha'is to such an extent, that even the Governor was made incapable of checking them. He finally said that nothing could be done, and that the Baha'is should quit the city in order to save themselves. Such was the news we received at the time from Shiraz. But we notified them not to mind the words at all but to engage in repairing the Sacred House immediately. We wrote them: 'Go and build, and let them come and destroy it directly!'

To be brief: They began to work in repairing the House, and by God's providence no one interrupted them, nor said a word against the undertaking, whereas the believers had at first thought that naturally no sooner they laid down one brick than the people would remove it. Thus all such repairing was completed. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Ali Kuli Khan, 'Abdu'l-Baha's English-language secretary during 1899 to 1901; ‘Ali-Kuli Khan 1906 Pilgrim Notes’)

‘Abdu’l- Baha’s garden in Akka

One evening 'Abdu'l-Baha was in the little garden outside the house. A number of us pilgrims were present. Calling attention to trees and flowers He had planted. He said in part:

"This was a place of dirt and refuse and loathsome to look upon. During the days when Akka was in confusion and the whirlwind of tests was violent, and a rumor persisted that they were about to banish us to a remote place, we were engaged in planting these trees and flowers and laying out this garden. Now this has become such a delightful place. How surprising indeed is the assertion made by some people that existence needs no trainer! Were it not for the direct result of care and training, this place would have ever remained a heap of dirt and refuse." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Ali Kuli Khan, 'Abdu'l-Baha's English-language secretary during 1899 to 1901; ‘Ali-Kuli Khan 1906 Pilgrim Notes’)

“For the people of Faith, calamities, trials and tribulations are conducive to spiritual progress: provided one endures them patiently and with severance for all else save God.”

Many a time, a calamity becomes the means to a bounty. Not until man has endured hardship because of a thing will he appreciate the full value of the thing. The more one suffers on account of an object, the greater he realizes its worth. It is said in the Quran: 'They will never attain (unto Divine Bounty) except through severe trials.' The more you search the earth and the deeper you dig into its bosom with the plough, the more fertile it becomes. For the people of Faith, calamities, trials and tribulations are conducive to spiritual progress: provided one endures them patiently and with severance for all else save God. It is said in the Quran: 'Did ye suppose that ye will enter the Paradise, but when trials, similar unto those suffered by men before you come upon you, you were overcome with grief and afflictions?' Man cannot find intoxication without drinking from his cup. Man cannot take part in the hilarity of those drunk from the wine of the love of God without quaffing the cup of calamity. The more you beat the iron, the sharper it becomes; the longer you subject gold to red-hot fire, the purer and clearer it becomes.

Even among the people of the world, and even in worldly pursuits, trials and tests play a similar part. The more a man endures hardship in a matter and the more trials one meets in learning a handicraft, the more experienced and skillful he becomes therein. But a man who spends his days in quiet and ease never attains a high degree in any matter.

One must therefore, know their value and wish for whatever suffering may befall us in the path of God. His Holiness the Supreme (The Báb) has said in one of His supplications: 'Were it not to suffer calamities in the path of Love I would never have accepted to be born into this world.' This is the worth of trials in the path of God! 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Ali Kuli Khan, 'Abdu'l-Baha's English-language secretary during 1899 to 1901; ‘Ali-Kuli Khan 1906 Pilgrim Notes’)

“In this age every face must turn to God, so that spiritual enlightenment will go hand in hand with material education.”

In this age every face must turn to God, so that spiritual enlightenment will go hand in hand with material education. Material education alone cannot make the world happy. Spiritual civilization must assist the material civilization. The men of science and philosophy are the founders of the material education, but His Holiness Christ was the founder of the spiritual, divine civilization. Material civilization serves the world of men, but the spiritual civilization founds the world of morals. These two kinds of civilization must go hand in hand. The material civilization is like the lamp, but the spiritual civilization is like the light in the lamp. This lamp without the light is a useless thing. Therefore, in our day philosophy and science must go hand in hand with the spiritual civilization. The material civilization is like the body; the spiritual civilization is like the spirit which is the life to the body. So long as the spirit gives life to the body, we behold a living thing, but a body without spirit is dead. It is my desire that ye all may reach the state of spiritual civilization. Like as ye have made great progress in material science, so may ye also progress in the spiritual world. Then the light of the Kingdom of God will shine through all the world. May the Sun of Reality illumine the East and the West." 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 3 April 1913, Stuttgart, Germany; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 4, 17 May, 1913)

“The world of humanity is in the dark. Our aim is to illumine mankind.”

The world of humanity is in the dark. Our aim is to illumine mankind. It is natural that after the darkness of every night the brilliant day will come. It is our hope that this darkness may be dispelled and that the rays of the Sun of Reality will shine again. We are confident that the darkness will again be followed by the brightness of the day. It is our hope that after the cold winter a new spring will come, giving new life to nature, so that the trees of humanity will again sprout and become verdant in the gardens, so that they may bring forth leaves and blossoms and fruit. Thanks be to God, the illumined century has dawned. Thank God that this spiritual spring has come. Thanks be to God that the reality of all things has been revealed. This century is the century of light. This period is the period of science. This cycle is the cycle of reality. This age is the age of progress and freedom of thought. This day is the greatest day of the Lord. This time is the time of eternal life. This age is the age of the breath of the Holy Spirit. This time is the time in which all is resurrected into new life. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 3 April 1913, Stuttgart, Germany; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 4, 17 May, 1913)

“Everything in the world is subject to change” - including religion

Everything in the world is subject to change. But this transmutation and change are requirements of life. See, for instance, these flowers before us. They come forth from a seed. They grow to perfection, but when they have reached the state of perfection they go back again. This is the invariable law of creation. Likewise man develops until he has grown to maturity. When he reaches beyond the state of maturity he begins to decline. All religions of God are subject to this same law. They are founded in order to blossom out and develop and fulfill their mission. They reach their zenith and then decline and come to an end. So a few thousand years ago came Moses. He promulgated the ten commandments. Later these laws were changed, and this change was so complete that of the original nothing more was visible. Then God sent the Roman Empire to destroy the Holy Land, because the Jews had forgotten the law of God. They had in the end only a bundle of superstitions. When this religion had sunk to such a depth, God sent his Holiness Jesus Christ. His Holiness Christ appeared as the Light of the Sun, and He founded anew the religion of God. He revivified the light which had been given by Moses and fulfilled that law. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 3 April 1913, Stuttgart, Germany; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 4, 17 May, 1913)

The “essence of the religion of God” and the “dogmas” in each religion

The religions of today consist of dogmas. Because these dogmas differ from each other, discord and even hatred is manifest. Religion must be the basis of all good fellowship….The essence of the religion of God is love, and the Holy Books bear testimony to that, for the essence of the religion of God is the light of the world of humanity; but mankind today has forgotten what constitutes true religion. Each nation and each people today hold to some definite dogma. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 3 April 1913, Stuttgart, Germany; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 4, 17 May, 1913)

The crucifixion of Christ and the “redemption of sins”

In the evening some clergymen announced a meeting to observe the crucifixion of Christ. The Master remarked,

“Their speeches in the meeting will be to the effect that Christ sacrificed Himself in order to redeem us from our sins. But they do not understand the inner meaning.”

After the meeting He spoke extensively on this subject:

“The redemption of sins depends on our acting upon the admonitions of Christ, and the martyrdom of Christ was to cause us to attain praiseworthy morals and supreme stations.” 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, April 6, 1912, aboard the Cedric, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

An example of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s amazing scientific knowledge

While walking in the stern of the ship [sailing to America] in the afternoon ‘Abdu'l-Bahá said:

“It is the twelfth day of our voyage. We have traveled a quarter of the way around the globe and have traversed six degrees of longitude. Here it is afternoon, while in Egypt it is the middle of the night at this time.” 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, April 6, 1912, aboard the Cedric, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

“between two Manifestations there are days of concealment”

A person from Tihrán has written that the Universal Will is always manifest; that is to say, God is always manifest in human form. I have sent him an emphatic reply and urge you also to remember that between two Manifestations there are days of concealment. There is no doubt that for the Sun of Reality there is no rising or setting in its own sanctified center but, owing to the exigencies of the contingent world, it rises and sets. Those persons who say in the days of concealment and interval that God is manifest in human form and that `He always shows Himself in different forms like an artful beloved' are the sources of difference in the Cause and create discord among the people. All these evasive statements of theirs are mere pretensions. Their only object is to get themselves known as persons in whom divine signs are centered. We must, therefore, adhere to the explicit text, to the literal meaning of what is written in the Tablets, and must not deviate from this even to a hair's breadth. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, April 6, 1912, aboard the Cedric, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)