“Today the force for unity is the Holy Spirit of Baha’u’llah”

The magnet of your love brought me here. My hope is that the divine light may shine here, and that the heavenly Star of Baha’u’llah may strengthen you, so that you may be the cause of the oneness of humanity, that you may help to make the darkness of superstition and prejudice disappear and unite all creeds and all nations.

We have had wars and disputes for over 6,000 years. Even if we look on this state of affairs as an experiment, surely it is sufficient, surely it is time to stop. This is a brilliant century. Eyes are open now to the beauty of the oneness of humanity, of love and brotherhood. The darkness of suppression will disappear and the light of unity will shine. We cannot bring love and unity to pass only by talk. Knowledge is not enough. Wealth, science, education are good, we know that, but we must also work and study.

Knowledge is the first step; Resolve, the second step; Action, the fulfilment, is the third step. To make a building, first of all one must make a plan, then one must have the power (money) to build, then, after all these preparations, one can build. One forms a Society of Unity—that is good—but meetings and talk are not enough. In Egypt these meetings take place, there is only talk and no result. These meetings here in London are good, the knowledge and the intention are good, but how can there be a result without action? 

Today the force for unity is the Holy Spirit of Baha’u’llah. He manifested this Spirit of Unity. Baha’u’llah brings East and West together. Go back, search history, you will not find a precedent for this. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Discourses given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)

Making pilgrimage to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh on foot

After going for a lengthy stroll on the deck, the Master seated Himself and said:

I have taken 4,600 steps. This is the distance between the city of ‘Akká and the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh. I wish to practise walking, that I may be able to travel to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh on foot. In the latter days of my time in the Holy Land, I had grown so weak as to be deprived of the bounty of making pilgrimage on foot. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha en route to Liverpool, on board the Celtic, 5 December 1912; 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)

“A seed has been planted in the states of America.”

A seed has been planted in the states of America. Many people have become stirred and roused to excitement. The rest is now in Gods hands. Praised be God, we have acted in accordance with the injunction of Jesus Christ - in every land and city through which we have passed, no dust has settled on our hem or on our shoes,’ and we have spread the sweet savours of God and promulgated His Word with the utmost detachment. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha en route to Liverpool, on board the Celtic, 5 December 1912; 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)

An example of “true brotherly love”

One day some soldiers came to the house of a believer and asked for one of his guests to be brought to them, that they might take him to his execution, according to their warrant. The host gave himself up in his guest place and was killed in his stead. This is an instance of true brotherly love. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha from discourses given in London and Paris; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)

‘Abdu’l-Baha compares His visit to London with a former Persian ambassador

These are wonderful days! We see an Eastern guest received with love and courtesy in the West. I have been drawn here, in spite of my ill health, by the magnet of your love and sympathy.

Some years ago an ambassador was sent from Persia to London where he stayed five years. (His name was Abdul Hassan Khan.) When he returned to Persia they asked him to tell them about the English people. He answered: “I do not know the English people. Although I have been in London five years, I have only met the people of the Court.” This man was a great man in Persia, and sent to England by princes, and yet he did not know the people, although he lived among them five years. Now I, a prisoner, come to England for the first time, and although my visit is so short, I have already met many dear friends and I can say I know the people. Those I have met are true souls working for peace and unity. Think of this subject: What a difference there is between this time we are living in now, and seventy years ago! Think of the progress! the progress toward unity and peace! 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha from discourses given in London and Paris; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)

“The real life is the life which is everlasting. Let your thoughts be fixed upon that which is eternal, that you may have no fear of death, and ever regard yourself as one alive.”

The permanence of those souls, [those who are “content with this earthly life”] when compared with that of the sanctified souls, is even as non-existence itself. It is similar to this wood, which does exist, but has no real life when compared with the world of humanity. Therefore, the existence and permanence of worldly souls, when compared with heavenly existence and permanence, cannot truly be called life. If this mortal life had any real significance, Jesus Christ would not have consented to be crucified. This ephemeral life is nothing but grief and sorrow. With every passing day, people grow anxious about their hopes and dreams, or mourn the loss of a loved one, or suffer an unforeseen calamity. What sort of life is this? The real life is the life which is everlasting. Let your thoughts be fixed upon that which is eternal, that you may have no fear of death, and ever regard yourself as one alive. Be courageous! A persons heart must overflow with life, his spirit must be filled with gladness, and his understanding must be vast and all-embracing; otherwise, he is like the animal - no, baser would he be! If merit lies in material existence, then the birds fare better than we. How hard must one work to live, and what hardships one must endure to survive! Yet, the birds of the mountains and prairies live effortlessly on the highest peaks and branches of trees. The fields and plains are their scenery, and the seeds and crops their wealth. No human knows such peace! If physical comfort were the only criterion, rhe lives of these birds would assuredly be superior to human life. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha en route to Liverpool, on board the Celtic, 5 December 1912; 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)

“One must embark upon the divine Ark, for this world is a turbulent ocean.”

Afterwards, the subject of the stillness of the ocean and the gentle course of the ship was raised. The Master stated:

One must embark upon the divine Ark, for this world is a turbulent ocean. All the people of the earth, more than two billion in number, shall all be drowned within the next hundred years, except for them that have boarded the divine Ark; they shall be saved. That Ark is the Ark of the Kingdom; it is a heavenly Ark. He that embarks thereon shall never drown. How many the kings who came into the world! How many the men of stature who lived in it! And yet they all drowned, while the apostles of Christ were spared. My meaning is this, that those who are illumined with the light of God will shine from the horizon of everlasting glory. One must be wise; one should not be content with this earthly life, which will eventually come to an end. A wise person is one who seeks eternal life and perpetual glory. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha en route to Liverpool, on board the Celtic, 5 December 1912; 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)

Reflection of harmony and love from the Supreme Concourse in Baha’i gatherings

Thanks be to God, this is a good meeting. It is very enlightened; it is spiritual; it is heavenly. As has been said by a Persian poet, the celestial globe is in such a form that the under part is, as it were, a reflection of the upper part. That is to say, whatever exists in heaven is reflected in this world. Now, praise be to God that this meeting of ours is a reflection from the Heavenly Concourse. It is as though we had taken a mirror and gazed into it. This reflection from the Heavenly Concourse is love. As harmony and love exists in the Supreme Concourse, so it is reflected here. In the Supreme Concourse the desire for God exists and thank God it is here also. Therefore, if we say that this meeting is heavenly, it is true. Because we have no other desire except for that which comes from God. We have no other object save the mentioning of God.  '

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha at Lady Blomfield's drawing room, 12 September 1911; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 12, 16 October, 1911)

The Bible

After the service, in the City Temple vestry, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote a few sentences in Persian in the pulpit Bible and added his signature, as follows:

“This book is the Holy Book of God, of celestial inspiration. It is the Bible of Salvation, the noble Gospel. It is the mystery of the Kingdom and its light. It is the Divine Bounty, sign of the guidance of God.” —'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas.

(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 11, 27 September 1911)

The Sun of Truth like the physical sun gives “light and warmth to the souls of men”

The sun shines upon the earth, giving light and warmth to all creatures. The Sun of Truth also shines, giving light and warmth to the souls of men. All existing creatures need the sun to shine upon them and develop them that they may grow. The souls of men also need the Sun of Truth to shine upon them, to educate and encourage them. Circumstances that benefit the body do not benefit the soul, and the soul of man is his reality, not his body, i.e., there are some men who are perfected in material things and very backward in the spiritual. Likewise many, who are at the bottom of the social and material ladder, are very much advanced spiritually. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, October 19, 1911, Paris, France; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, 31 December 1911)

“The causes of disputes among different nations are always due to one of the following classes of prejudices: (a) Racial, language; (b) theological; (c) personal; (d) beliefs, customs, traditions.”

The Universal Races Congress was good. The result of it was intended to be the furtherance and progress of unity among all nations, a better international understanding. The purpose was good. The causes of disputes among different nations are always due to one of the following classes of prejudices: (a) Racial, language; (b) theological; (c) personal; (d) beliefs, customs, traditions.

It requires a universal active force to overcome these differences. A small lamp could light a room, a larger could light a whole house, a larger still could shine through the city, but the sun is needed to light the whole world. A small disease needs a small remedy, but a disease which pervades the whole body needs a very strong remedy.

The differences in languages cause disunion between nations. There must be one universal language. The diversity in Faiths is also a cause of separation. The true foundation of all Faiths must be established, the outer differences abolished. There must be a oneness of Faith. To end all these differences is a very hard task. The whole world is sick—this is a very bad illness to cure. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Discourses given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)

“We should not be constantly preoccupied with bodily comfort”

That evening, a respected woman attained the presence of the Master. This woman was sailing first class, and had been moved by the Master’s talk - which He gave on the ship before it had set sail - and had sought permission through the Bahá’ís of New York to visit the Master. After receiving permission to make this visit, she sat down and asked Him, ‘How are You faring with this voyage across the ocean?’ 

The Master said in response:

“When God entrusts one to do something, He also gives one the capacity to endure it. We should not be constantly preoccupied with bodily comfort; rather, we should strive for lofty goals, even if those goals are incompatible with physical comfort.”

The woman then remarked, ‘I fear hardship and death’, to which the Master responded:

“In that case, do something that will cause you never to die, but rather to become more alive with every passing day, and will confer eternal life upon you. According to the words of Christ, those who enter the Kingdom of God will never die. Enter, then, into the Kingdom of God, that you may have no fear of death. One should seek that life which has no end. This mortal life lasts for only a few days. This eating and sleeping will come to an end; it has no significance. What should be sought is that life which ends not in death, that day which is not succeeded by night, and that joy which is not followed by sorrow. Strive to the utmost; be not content with the ease and comfort of the flesh. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha en route to Liverpool, on board the Celtic, 5 December 1912; 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 significance of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s journey to the West “will become known in the future”

The significance of this journey will become known in the future. Up until the present time, such a thing has not happened before, and has never been witnessed in any age - that a person from the East should travel to the farthest cities of the West, teaching the Cause of God, promulgating its new precepts, and expounding upon questions of theology, in temples and in gatherings of various peoples - with such resolve and conviction chat none is able to reject or object to them. On the contrary, all have been enamoured of and enraptured by these ideas, and express their deepest reverence for them.

In His own land, Jesus Christ visited Jerusalem often, and entered the gatherings of the Israelites many times, offering admonitions and giving sermons. Consider how the Christian divines eventually came to ascribe such great importance to these acts. It is clear, then, what significance this journey - in which we have raised, in ringing tones, the call of Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá in great churches and large gatherings - will acquire in the future, for we have, in most eloquent language and with most convincing proofs, hailed the glad-tidings of the Kingdom of God, and enunciated the teachings of the Blessed Beauty. In the synagogues of the Jews, we arose to vindicate the message of Christ and demonstrate the truth of Islam. In the churches of the Christians, we expatiated upon the greatness of Muhammad, the Apostle of God - may the blessings of God and His salutation be upon Him. In gatherings of communists, we explained the laws that will conduce to the establishment of peace and order in the world. In materialist assemblies, we proved and established the extraordinary power of the supernatural. In congregations consecrated to the establishment of peace, and in the conferences of various peoples, we have raised the call of the Ancient Beauty, and have expounded upon that which leads to the advancement of universal peace, and promotes the unity of humankind, in such wise that in every gathering, heads were bowed in humility and tongues were unloosed in praise, hearts were enraptured by the sweet savours of God and souls were rejoiced at His glad-tidings. Behold, now, how great is this thing that has come to pass! 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha en route to Liverpool, on board the Celtic, 5 December 1912; 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)

“At the time of leaving Haifa, I had several ailments and did not expect to cross oceans and plains with such ease and comfort and to make such a long journey.”

It is now more than two years that I have been far from the Holy Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh. Now I must return. If God wills it, I shall make another journey in another direction according to a special program which I have already thought out, so that I can proclaim the Word of God in another way. Let us see what is the will of God. Now we are traveling from California to Chicago. Praise be to God that this journey has passed most pleasantly. At the time of leaving Haifa, I had several ailments and did not expect to cross oceans and plains with such ease and comfort and to make such a long journey. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, on the train, October 31, en route from Denver to Chicago, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

“The people of Bahá are they who, should they happen to come upon a valley of gold and silver, would pass by it like lightning in utter disregard.”

The Cause of God is sanctified from all political power and worldly affairs. Among the divine teachings are trustworthiness, detachment and sanctity. So if you should see a man coveting property and evincing greed toward the wealth of others, know that he is not of the people of Bahá. The people of Bahá are they who, should they happen to come upon a valley of gold and silver, would pass by it like lightning in utter disregard. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, From a talk, October 16, 1912, Pleasanton, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)