Abdu'l-Baha on Divine Philosophy
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Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Abdu'l-Bahá, Abdu'l-Baha on Divine Philosophy, Boston, MA: Tudor Press, 1918, bahai-library.com.
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'Abdu'l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy

Abdu'l-Bahá

Elizabeth Fraser Chamberlain

, compiler

189 pages

Boston, MA: Tudor Press, 1918

single page

chapter 1

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   5

PRINCIPLES OF BAHA'O'LLAH
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  25

PRELUDE
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  29
CHAPTER
I.  Divine Revelators
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  33

II.  Education
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  79

III.  Soul, Mind and Spirit
.  .  .  .  .  .  .  . 117

IV.  Value of a Universal Language
.  .  .  .  . 141

V.  Questions asked by Theological Students
.  . 147

VI.  Letters to Religious Congress
.  .  .  .  . 159

VII.  Address to Theosophical Society
.  .  .  . 165

VIII.  Address to the Spiritual Alliance
.  .  .  . 175

IX.  A Loving Farewell
.  .  .  .  .  .  .   .  . 185

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INTRODUCTION

WHY this great unrest — wars and the rumors of wars, changing of dynasties,
earthquakes, cataclysms?  The people cry "Peace, peace; when there is no peace!"
Are not these the outer sign that man has lost the inner truth?  Students in every
land who have stepped out of the stream of humanity remind us of the holy books
of history — all of which foretell the coming of a great Messiah or world
teacher.  Once again the wheel has turned and brought man face to face with truth.
Truth is the handmaid of the prophet.  Can there be a handmaid without the
prophet?

A movement comes from the East which claims to be the divine instrument for
bringing unity into the world.  For this reason, if for no other, it deserves
attention.  Its claims are too

5

vital and important to be overlooked.  The wonderful lives of its founders command
interest.  The courageous lives of its followers and their uncompromising
sacrifice for this cause form a chapter that has no parallel in history.

During the last century three great seers or supermen have appeared in Persia
— the Bab, BAHA'O'LLAH, and Abdul Bahá.

The Bab was born in Shiraz, in the month of October, 1819.  At the age of twenty-
four he heralded the advent of a universal teacher whom God would manifest, and
through whom the unity of the nations would be established.  The Bab (door or
gate)  effected a reformation of Islam, opening the way for a broader movement
— for always with earnestness and zeal he cried of one who was to come
after him to illumine not only Islam, but the whole world.  The young reformer
made his declaration in 1844 at Shiraz and afterward at Mecca, where one hundred
thousand people had congregated.

His teachings met with instant opposition on the part of the orthodox religionists
of the day.  After two years he was imprisoned and held a prisoner until 1850
when he was shot in the public square of Tabriz.

But physical torture and death were ineffectual to stop the onsweep of the
reformation inaugurated by the Bab.  When, some years later BAHA'O'LLAH arose as
the one who was expected, thousands accepted him and at once came under his
banner.  BAHA'O'LLAH was not personally

6

related to the Bab, nor had he ever seen him, though he became one of the first
disciples of the Bab's teachings.

Dreadful persecutions ensued and more than twenty thousand martyrs joyfully
gave up property and life rather than renounce the faith which they recognized as
divine truth.  At such variance were his teachings with the creed-bound world
about him that BAHA'O'LLAH, with his family and followers, was banished to
Bagdad, to Constantinople, to Adrianople and finally to the penal colony of Acca in
Syria.

Few people of the western world were fortunate enough to see BAHA'O'LLAH, who
was born in Teheran November 12, 1817.  One who had journeyed afar, and who was
finally ushered into his presence, described him thus:  "The face of him on whom I
gazed I can never forget, though I cannot describe it.  Those piercing eyes seemed
to read one's very soul; power and authority sat on that ample brow... No need to
ask in whose presence I stood, as I bowed myself before one who is the object of a
devotion and love which kings might envy and emperors sigh for in vain!"

One of his followers in describing his power declares: "His proclamation was made
with the certainty of immediate knowledge and a divine understanding of the needs
of humanity for 'this gloomy and disastrous age!'  Brilliant, spontaneous, mighty
— he was like a conscious sun bursting on a dark, dead world.  Verily, in the
future these laws will be used 'for the healing of the nations.'"

7

The prison officials of Acca ultimately granted him the liberty of the fortressed
city and he pitched his tent upon the Mount of Carmel in the land of Sharon, the
very spot where, according to the ancient prophecies, the Glory of God would be
manifested in the latter days.  The name of BAHA'O'LLAH means the Glory of God,

Bahá
— Glory, and
Allah
— God.

It will be noted that the divine teachers of all ages in their efforts to direct man's
attention to God have assumed a spiritual title symbolic of their teachings.

BAHA'O'LLAH unsealed the holy books and revealed laws through which mankind can
attain to a high state of spiritual civilization.  These new laws will go into effect
after the great readjustment, when wars, cataclysms, famine, labor troubles, etc.,
have done their work of equalization!

From the prison of Acca, BAHA'O'LLAH issued proclamations to the crowned heads
of Europe and to the Pope, exhorting them to cease from their injustice and
oppression and hasten to the tent of unity and consultation — that the reality
of each matter might become disclosed.  These epistles (copies of which are to be
found in the British Museum) were dispatched by personal messengers, volunteers
from his little band of exiles.

His commands, like a resonant call upraised from a land of oppression to the
confused and sorrowful world — stern, irrefutable, immutable — stand
out against the bloody background of Europe.  Those who are following this call

8

declare that the soundless voice will be heard throughout the ages, for they
believe the words to be creative, and affirm that, notwithstanding his banishment
and incarceration, BAHA'O'LLAH has been enabled to impress every nation on earth
with a glory and universality of thought that promises the loosening of the
shackles which have held mankind in the political, ecclesiastical and financial
slavery of the times.

When a great force is liberated by the entrance of a divine being into the world
arena, it must of necessity express itself through the vehicle of a human temple,
and the objective expression of this force manifests itself in thoughts of
different grades and degrees according to the capacity of the people.  The master-
teachers are the expounders of divine common sense which is the pathway to a
knowledge of universal law, the result of which will be a harmonious humanity.
Man confines his consciousness to this material plane.  This new force will
liberate him and he will become conscious of many planes and of the ultimate
oneness of them all.

Tolstoi in one of his books says that we spend our lives attempting to unravel the
mystery of life, but adds, "There is a Persian, a Turkish prisoner, who knows the
secret."  Tolstoi was one of those who was in communication with BAHA'O'LLAH.
With him he held that a life uncompromisingly sacrificed to the ideals is the life
of the superman.

BAHA'O'LLAH continually urges man to free

9

himself from the superstitions and traditions of the past and become an
investigator of reality, for it will then be seen that God has revealed his light
many times in order to illumine mankind in the path of evolution, in various
countries and through many different prophets, masters and sages.

Life must hold as its primary foundation the opportunity of a knowledge of the
divine law.  The great ones come, primarily, to remind man of this law which
remains the same in all ages — immutable, unchangeable, eternal, and which
deals with man attaining immortality.  The mundane laws, those governing human
conduct and regulating the Sabbath, divorce, capital punishment, etc., vary with
each age according to the capacity of the people.  "These diversities are
established out of regard for the times, seasons, ages and epochs."

Before his ascension from the prison of Acca in 1892, BAHA'O'LLAH, commanded
his followers to look to his eldest son, Abbas Effendi, whose spiritual title is
Abdul Bahá (Servant of God), as the expounder of his teachings and the one through
whom the new kingdom on earth would eventually be established.  The mantle of
glory descended upon this beloved son in order that the divine decrees might be
fulfilled.  BAHA'O'LLAH was the great lawgiver.  Abdul Bahá is the law establisher,
as he was the first to live these laws.  He was born in the city of Teheran, Persia,
May 23, 1844.

A year after the departure of BAHA'O'LLAH

10

mention was made of this cause at the Chicago World's Fair, in 1893, by Dr. Harvy
Harris Jessup, President of the American College of Beirut, Syria, who sent a
paper to be read before the congress of religions.  This address was read during
the afternoon session of the thirteenth day of the congress, September 23, 1893.
Dr. Jessup closed his address thus: —

"In the place of Behjé, or Delight, just outside the fortress of Acca, on the
Syrian Coast, there died, a few months since, a famous Persian sage named
BAHA'O'LLAH — the Glory of God.

"Three years ago he was visited by a Cambridge scholar to whom he uttered
sentiments so noble, so Christ-like that we repeat them as our closing words
— 'We desire but the good of the world and the happiness of the nations
— that all nations should become one in faith and all men as brothers; that
all bonds of affection and unity between the sons of men should be strengthened;
that diversity of religion should cease and differences of race be annulled —
and so shall it be; these fruitless strifes, these ruinous wars shall pass away and
the most great peace shall come.  Is not this that which Christ foretold?  Let not a
man glory in this, that he loves his country; let him rather glory in this, that he
loves his kind.'"

Interest was enkindled in America and as there was no English literature on the
subject at that time, a party was formed to journey to the Syrian city to get
information of BAHA'O'LLAH at first

11

hand from his son.  They brought back graphic accounts from the prison
philosopher.  Meetings were held and a correspondence was begun with Abdul
Bahá.

Soon from all parts of the world people journeyed to Acca.  They wrote accounts of
their visits and these, with the letters or tablets from Abdul Bahá, were widely
distributed.  The city of Acca became a center of pilgrimage.  Around the board of
Abdul Bahá gathered all races and creeds — it was the only place on earth
where Christian, Moslem, Jews, Zoroastrians, Buddhists and Hindus met and ate
together in perfect harmony and understanding.

The above are mere facts of history, but present history without the setting of the
background of time has no perspective to our clay-laden eyes.  We are ever looking
for some miracle, some proof — for the Christ life as viewed from the
outside seems so simple; yet could there be anything more dramatically
miraculous than this to establish peace in the hearts in the midst of a warring
world?  This kind of peace BAHA'O'LLAH calls the "most great peace."  To establish
this kingdom in the hearts — verily, it is the unrealized dream of the
planet!

After his liberation, in 1908, at the earnest solicitation of friends, Abdul Bahá
made an extensive tour of Europe and America, bringing the message of the new
creational day from shore to shore; speaking in churches of every denomination, in
the synagogues, before many

12

clubs, societies, universities and congresses.  So swiftly has this cause spread
that it has encircled the globe within a few years.

In America will be reared a material symbol standing for unity between the races,
unity between the classes and equality between the sexes.  In Chicago an imposing
temple is to be erected by the voluntary contributions from all the people of the
earth.  Every race, creed and color will be represented.

The temple wherein each may worship God in his own way is to be surrounded by
such accessories as a hospital, pilgrim-house, school for orphans and university
for the study of higher sciences.

The people of universal mind recognize in this plan the symbol of assurance that
we are at the beginning of the golden age that prophets and poets have depicted in
song and fable.  The people  who have come in contact with this spirit of the age
hold that the time has come when the highest concepts of man are to be realized
and become part and parcel of every nation's fabric.  With glowing faces these
people tell of future ideals based on justice.  They speak of international laws as
yet untranslated into our language which are to govern the world after wars have
ceased.

A new chapter in the life of the planet has been opened.  Humanity has attained its
maturity, and the race consciousness has awakened to the fact that it must put
away the childish things which seemed necessary in the day of the

13

"survival of the fittest."  This day "wherein the feet of the people deviate" is to be
followed by a glorious to-morrow; for —  "This is a new cycle of human
power.  All the horizons of the world are luminous and the world will become
indeed as a garden and a paradise.  It is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of
the drawing together of all races and all classes.

"The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind
and the fundamental oneness of religion.  War shall cease between the nations and
by the will of God the most great peace shall come;  the world will be seen as a
new world and all men will live as brothers."

The hour has struck — soon the vibration will be felt on this material plane;
for as Abdul Bahá so beautifully puts it — "Does not the dawn of a new day
arouse the sleeping ones from their couches of negligence and awaken all those
who are not dead?"

Speaking of the temple of the future, Abdul Bahá says — "Every country has a
hundred thousand gigantic temples, but what results have they yielded?  The
important point is this — from a temple of worship must go forth not only
the spiritual but the material needs.  Verily, the founding of this temple will mark
the inception of the Kingdom of God on earth.  It is the evident standard waving in
the center of the great continent of America.

"The doors will be open to all sects — no

14

differentiation; and by God's help this temple will prove to be to the body of human
society what the soul is to the body of man.  For when these colleges for the study
of higher science, the hospital, the orphanage and the hospice are built, its doors
will be opened to all nations, races and religions, with no line of demarkation and
its charities will be dispensed without regard to race or color.  Its gates will be
flung wide to mankind; prejudice toward none, love for all.  The central building
will be dedicated to prayer and worship and thus for the first time religion will
become harmonized with science and science will be the handmaid of religion
— both showering their spiritual gifts on all humanity.  In this way the
people will be lifted out of the quagmires of slothfulness and bigotry."

All of which would seem to verify the prediction of the great world thinkers of our
time, one of whom says: "Abdul Bahá will surely unite the East and West, for he
treads the mystic way with practical feet."

It was while Abdul Bahá was in Paris that a group composed of different sects
awaited an audience to argue their various faiths.  Suddenly this divine teacher of
men swept into the room and pointing out of the window, exclaimed:  The sun of
truth rises in each season from a different point of the horizon — to-day it
is here, yesterday it was there, and to-morrow it will appear from another
direction.  Why do you keep your eyes eternally fixed on the same point?  Why

15

do you call yourselves Christians, Buddhists, Mohammedans, Bahá'ís?  You must
learn to distinguish the sun of truth from whichever point of the horizon it is
shining!  People think religion is confined in an edifice, to be worshipped at an
altar.  In reality it is an attitude toward divinity which is reflected through
life.

"This movement eludes organization — it is the realization of a new spirit.
The foundation of that spirit is the love of God; and its method the love and
service of mankind.  Many who have never heard of this revelation teach its laws
and spiritual truths.  These people are performing what BAHA'O'LLAH hath
commanded though they never heard of him.  The power of BAHA'O'LLAH'S words is
compelling — therefore you must know and love them.  For instance, in the
spring season trees burst forth into verdure though they are not conscious of the
sunshine, of the falling rain or the gentle breeze — nevertheless, the power
of nature urges them on to yield forth their fruits."

Soon after his release as a prisoner of the Turkish Government, Abdul Bahá
journeyed from the little fortressed town of Acca to Egypt and thence to London.
While in London he gave the following interview to the writer.  It was published in
one of the leading journals, under date of September 23, 1911.

16

THE WORLD'S GREATEST PRISONER

Some Experiences of Abdul Bahá's Forty Years'

Imprisoned in a Turkish Fortress

In an apartment in Cadogan Gardens sits a Persian sage, Abdul Bahá, whose recent
advent in London marks the latest link between the East and the West.

The teachings of Abdul Bahá have already brought about a community of thought
between the Orient and the Occident. Upon the basis of mutual help and friendship
the people have joined hands with an earnestness and brotherly love contrary to
the theories of certain cynical poets and philosophers.

In his reception room one found a constantly augmented group representing many
languages and nationalities. There were turbaned people from the East, a member
of the English House of Lords, smartly dressed women from the continent, two
tramps, who, having read of Abdul Bahá in the papers, sought his presence; and
arch-deacon of the Church of England, and several Americans.

Abdul Bahá entered. With one impulse we arose, paying unconscious homage to the
majesty of the station of servitude. Surely there can be no greater station than
this! Instantly one felt an intangible something that stamped him as one apart. Try
as one would it could not be defined.

17

All that was tangible was the dome-like head with its patriarchal beard and eyes
that suggested eternity. After greeting us he waved us to our seats and inquired if
there were any questions we would like to ask. When informed that my editor had
sent me to ascertain if he would speak of his prison life, Abdul Bahá began at once
to tell his story in a simple, impersonal way:

"At nine years of age, I was banished with my father, BAHA'O'LLAH, on his journey
of exile to Baghdad, Arabia; seventy of his followers accompanying us. This decree
of exile after persistent persecution was intended to effectively stamp out of
Persia what the authorities considered a dangerous movement. BAHA'O'LLAH, his
family and followers were driven from place to place.

"When I was about twenty-five years old, we were moved from Constantinople to
Adrianople and from there we went with a guard of soldiers to the fortressed city
of Acca where we were imprisoned and closely guarded.

"There was no communication whatever with the outside world. Each loaf of bread
was cut open by the guard to see that it contained no message. All who believed in
the universal precepts of BAHA'O'LLAH, children, men and women, were imprisoned
with us. At one time there were one hundred and fifty of us together in two rooms
and no one was allowed to leave the place except four people who went to the
bazaar to market each morning under guard.

18

"Acca was a fever-ridden town in Palestine. It was said that a bird attempting to
fly over it would drop dead. The food was poor and insufficient, the water was
drawn from a fever-infected well and the climate and conditions were such that
even the natives of the town fell ill. Many soldiers succumbed and eight out of ten
of our guard died. During the intense heat of that first summer, malaria, typhoid
and dysentery attacked the prisoners, so that all the men, women and children
were sick at one time. There were no doctors, no medicine, no proper food and no
medical treatment of any kind. I used to make broth for the people and as I had
much practice, I made good broth," said Abdul Bahá, laughingly.

At this point one of the Persians explained to me that it was on account of Abdul
Bahá's untiring patience, resource and endurance that he was termed "The Master
of Acca."  I felt a mastership in his complete severance from time and place and
from all that even a Turkish prison could inflict. "The Master" continued:

"After two years of the strictest confinement, permission was granted me to find
a house, so that we could live outside the prison walls but still within the
fortifications. Many believers came from Persia to join us, but were not allowed
to do so. Nine years passed. Sometimes we were better off and sometimes very
much worse. It depended on the governor, who, if he happened to be a kind and
lenient ruler, would grant us permission to leave the fortification and would

19

allow the people free access to visit the house; but when the governor was more
rigorous, extra guards were placed around us and often pilgrims who had come
from afar were turned away."

Again my Persian friend, who, during these troublous time was a member of Abdul
Bahá's household, explained that the Turkish Government could not credit the fact
that the interest of the English and American visitors was spiritual and not
political. Finally, pilgrims were refused permission to see him and the whole trip
from America would be rewarded merely by a glimpse of Abdul Bahá from his
prison window. The government suspected that the tomb of the Bab, an imposing
building on Mount Carmel, was a fortification erected with the aid of American
money and that it was being armed and garrisoned secretly. Suspicion grew with
each new arrival, resulting in extra spies and guards.

Abdul Bahá continued: "One year before Abdul Hamid was dethroned, he sent an
extremely overbearing, treacherous and insulting committee of investigation. The
chairman was one of the governor's staff, Arif Bey, and with him were three army
commanders of varying rank.

"Immediately upon his arrival, Arif Bey proceeded to try and get proof strong
enough to denounce me to the Sultan and warrant sending me to Fezan, or throwing
me into the sea. Fezan is a caravan station on the boundary of Tripoli, where there
are no houses and no water. It is a month's journey by camel route from Acca.

20

"The committee, after denouncing me in their report, sent word that they wanted
to see me, but I declined. I assured them that I had no desire to meet them. This
infuriated them and when they sent for me again I sent this word back: 'I know
your purpose. You wish to incriminate me. Very well, write in your report just
what you like; send me a copy with instructions as to what you want me to write,
and I will seal it myself and give it to you.'

"A ship came into port reputed to be the one that was to take me to Fezan or drop
me into the sea. The people used to stand on the wall of the city and look at this
ship; but Arif Bey, rising in supreme wrath, declared that he would return to
Constantinople and bring back an order from the Sultan to have me hanged at the
gate of Acca.

"About this time another ship appeared in the harbor, an Italian vessel sent by
order of the Italian consul. On it I was to escape by night. The friends implored me
to go, but I sent this message to the captain: 'The Bab did not run away;
BAHA'O'LLAH did not run away; I shall not run away' — so the ship sailed
away after waiting three days and three nights.

"It was while the Sultan's committee of investigation was homeward bound that
the first historic shell was dropped into Abdul Hamid's camp and the first gun of
freedom was fired into the home of despotism. That was God's gun," said Abdul
Bahá, with one of his wonderful smiles.

"When the committee reached Constantinople

21

they had more urgent things to think of. The capital was in a state of uproar and
rebellion and the committee, as members of the government staff, were delegated
to investigate the insurrection. Meanwhile the people established a constitutional
government and Abdul Hamid was deposed.

"With the advent of the Young Turk's supremacy, realized through the Society of
Union and Progress, in 1898, all the political and religious prisoners of the
Ottoman Empire were freed. Events took the chains from my neck and placed them
about Hamid's.  Abdul baha came out of prison and Abdul Hamid went in!"

"What became of the committee?" was asked.

"Arif Bey," answered Abdul Bahá, "was shot with three bullets; the general was
exiled; the next in rank died suddenly and the third ran away to Cairo where he
sought and received help from some of the friends there."

"We are glad that you are free," I said.

Again the wonderous smile. "Freedom is not a matter of place. It is a condition. I
was thankful for the prison and the lack of liberty was very pleasing to me, for
those days were passed in the path of service under the utmost difficulties and
trials, bearing fruits and results.

"Unless one accepts dire vicissitudes he will not attain. To me prison is freedom;
troubles rest me; incarceration is an open court; death is life and to be despised is
honor. Therefore, I was happy all that time in prison. When one

22

is released from the prison of self, that is indeed freedom, for self is the greater
prison. When this release takes place, one can never be imprisoned. They used to
put my feet in stocks so,"  and he put out his feet before him to illustrate and
laughed as though it were a joke he enjoyed.

"I would say to the guard 'You cannot imprison me, for here I have light and air and
bread and water. There will come a time when my body will be in the ground and I
shall have neither light nor air nor food nor water, but even then I shall not be
imprisoned.'  The afflictions which come to humanity sometimes tend to center the
consciousness upon the limitations. This is a veritable prison. Release comes by
making of the will a door through which the confirmations of the spirit come."

This sounded so like the old theology that the modern within me rebelled doubting
if the discipline really compensated for the effort.

"What do you mean by the confirmations of the spirit?" I asked.

"The confirmations of the spirit are all those powers and gifts with which some
are born and which men sometimes call genius, but for which others have to strive
with infinite pains. They come to that man or woman who accepts his life with
radiant acquiescence."

Radiant acquiescence — that was the quality with which we suddenly seemed
inspired as Abdul Bahá bade us good-bye.

It was a remarkable experience, hearing one

23

who had passed along the prison path for forty years declare, "There is no prison
save the prison of self"; and it drove conviction to the heart as this white-robed
messenger from the East pointed the way out; not by renunciation, but by radiant
acquiescence — the shining pathway out of the "greater prison of self."

24

PRINCIPLES OF BAHA'O'LLAH

AS EXPOUNDED BY ABDUL BAHA

The sun of reality has risen from the eastern horizon.  Its light and heat are being
felt in all regions.

Just as the rays of the phenomenal sun are infinite, likewise the rays of the sun of
reality are infinite.  The following summary contains but a few of the rays which
may be likened unto great principles shining into the consciousness of man.

1.  The first is the independent investigation of reality.

2.  The second is the banishment of all prejudice.

3.  The third is the oneness of the world of humanity.

4.  The fourth is the oneness of the foundation of all religions.

5.  The fifth is the unity of science and religion.

6.  The sixth is the universal auxiliary language.

7.  The seventh is universal education.

8.  The eighth is the equality of the sexes.

9.  The ninth is the parliament of man.

10.	The tenth is universal peace.

25

1.  INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF REALITY

Discover for yourselves the reality of things, and strive to assimilate the methods
by which noble-mindedness and glory are attained among the nations and people of
the world.

No man should follow blindly his ancestors and forefathers.  Nay, each must see
with his own eyes, hear with his own ears and investigate independently in order
that he may find the truth.  The religion of forefathers and ancestors is based upon
blind imitation.  Man should investigate reality.

2.  ABANDONMENT OF ALL PREJUDICE

O people, make firm the girdle of endeavor, that perchance religious prejudice may
be annulled.  For love of God and his servants engage in this great and mighty
matter.  Religious hatred and rancor is a world-consuming fire, and the quenching
thereof most arduous, unless the hand of divine might give men deliverance from
this unfruitful calamity.

Beware of prejudice; light is good in whatsoever lamp it is burning.  A rose is
beautiful in whatever garden it may bloom.  A star has the same radiance if it
shines from the east or the west.

All the prophets of God have come to unite the children of men and not to disperse
them; to put in action the law of love and not enmity.

We must banish prejudice.  Religious, patriotic, racial prejudices must disappear,
for they are the destroyers of human society.

We must become the cause of the unity of the human race.

3.  THE ONENESS OF THE WORLD OF HUMANITY

White doves and gray doves associate with each other in perfect friendship.  Man
draws imaginary lines on the planet and says, "This is a Frenchman, a Mussulman,
an Italian!"  Upon these differences wars are waged.  Men are fighting for the
possession of the earth.  They fight for that which becomes their graves, their
cemeteries, their tombs.

In reality all are members of one human family — children of one Heavenly
Father.  Humanity may be likened

26

unto the vari-colored flowers of one garden.  There is unity in diversity.  Each sets
off and enhances the other's beauty.

4.  THE FOUNDATION OF ALL RELIGIONS IS ONE

The foundation underlying all the divine precepts is one reality.  It must needs be
reality and reality is one.  Therefore the foundation of the divine religions is one.
But we can see that certain forms and ceremonies have crept in.  They are
heretical, they are accidental, because they differ, hence they cause differences
among religions.  If we set aside all superstitions and seek the reality of the
foundation we shall all agree, because religion is one and not multiple.

5.  RELIGION MUST BE IN ACCORD WITH SCIENCE AND
REASON

Religion must agree with science, so that science shall sustain religion and
religion explain science.  The two must be brought together, indissolubly, in
reality.  Down to the present day it has been customary for man to accept blindly
what was called religion, even though it were not in accord with human reason.

6.  A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE

A universal language shall be adopted and taught in the schools and academies of
the world.  A committee appointed by national bodies shall select a suitable
language to be used as a means of international communication.

Every one will need but two languages, his national tongue and the universal
language.  All will acquire the international language.

7.  UNIVERSAL EDUCATION

Partaking of knowledge and education is one of the requisites of religion.  The
education of each child is obligatory.  If there are no parents, the community must
look after the child.  It is suggested that the childless educate a child.

It is incumbent on every one to engage in some occupation, such as arts, trades,
and the like.  We have made

27

this — your occupation — identical with the worship of God, the true
one.  Reflect, O people, upon the mercy of God, and upon his favors, then thank him
in mornings and evenings.

8.  EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN

This is peculiar to the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH.  Former religious systems placed
men above women.  Daughters and sons must follow the same form of study and
acquire a uniform education.  One course of education promotes unity among
mankind.

9.  AN INTERNATIONAL TRIBUNAL

The true civilization will raise its banner when some noble kings of high
ambitions, the bright suns of the world of humanitarian enthusiasm, shall, for the
good and happiness of all the human race, step forth with firm resolution and keen
mind and hold a conference on the question of universal peace;  when keeping fast
hold of the means of enforcing their views they shall establish a union of the
states of the world, and conclude a definite treaty and strict alliance between
them upon conditions not to be evaded.  When the whole human race has been
consulted through their representatives and invited to corroborate this treaty
which verily will be accounted sacred by all the peoples of the earth, it will be the
duty of the united powers of the world to see that this great treaty shall
endure.

A reflection of this parliament of man will be established in each community and
called the "house of justice."  Its members will be chosen for their attribute of
justice, and all matters pertaining to the community interests will be brought
here for consultation.

10.  UNIVERSAL PEACE

All men and nations shall make peace.  There shall be universal peace amongst
governments, universal peace amongst religions, universal peace amongst races,
universal peace amongst the denizens of all regions.  Today in the world of
humanity the most important matter is the question of universal peace.

28

PRELUDE

THE following words of Abdul Bahá were uttered after his American sojourn on the
occasion of his second visit to Europe, in 1913, when he stopped for some months
on his way to the Orient.

During his stay in Paris Abdul Bahá gave five public addresses (see Chapters 4, 5,
6, 7 and 8).

Each morning a group assembled at his apartment, 30 rue St. Didier, where he
spoke informally; sometimes answering questions, or, on request, explaining
points touched on in public addresses.  In this way, although there are seeming
repetitions, many abstruse subjects are elucidated in these informal conferences,
which are to be found in the first few chapters of the book.  (See chapters 1, 2 and
3.)

On these occasions Abdul Bahá would sometimes sit by the window over-looking
Paris and anon the majestic white-robed figure would pace the room as he
discoursed.

Every Friday evening he addressed an assemblage at M. and Mme. Dreyfus-Barney's,
15 rue Greuze and every Monday afternoon he visited a group at the studio of Mr.
Scott (an American artist), in the Latin quarter, 17 rue Boissonade.

29

His time in Paris was completely occupied.  In the afternoons and evenings one
found him surrounded by French
savants
and lovers of truth who sought an
audience with this master of wisdom.  Of a sudden he would sweep majestically
forth, and should an attendant make as though to follow, he would wave him aside
— "I walk alone!"  Many an hour did this man of mystery wander the streets of
Paris dispelling the fogs of ignorance.

After Abdul Bahá had returned to Egypt, the writer visited him at Ramleh.
Speaking of America one day, he said , "I have great hopes for the American people,
but alas!  as yet they do not understand the teachings of BAHA'O'LLAH.

"One of the veils is literal interpretation.  To penetrate the inner significances a
mighty effort is needed."

When one in reading substitutes the symbolic or spiritual title of the great ones,
the human temple fades and only reality remains.

The spirit of faith, the beloved, the spiritual ego, the friend, the adored one, the
desired one, the rays of the sun of truth, the flame of reality, the radiations of the
celestial world, the lord, the nightingale, etc., are all synonyms of the one reality
of man.

"This," says Abdul Bahá, "has been the mission of all the divine messengers —
to make man conscious of his eternal part.

"By God, who is the only God and there is no God but he, this servant swears the
masters did not come that man should adore them or worship

30

them or acknowledge their prophethood.  Nay, rather, the masters of all time have
suffered for none other than this — that fleshly veils might be rent asunder
and reality become manifest.

"Once again the dove of eternity hath descended from the
rizwan
* of
nearness to sing the long-forgotten melody in this gloomy and disastrous age.  O,
when will one arise and while listening to this song don the garment of
selflessness and hasten to the precinct of the friend!"

*Rizwan — a Persian word which means garden or paradise and
symbolizes a heavenly condition.

31

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Scanned 1998 by Robert Stauffer;  Formatted 1998 by Jonah Winters;  Proofread 1998 by Thellie Lovejoy.

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