Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Emeric Sala, Pilgrim Notes, bahai-library.com. ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── Pilgrim Notes Emeric Sala 1938? The object of my visit to the Holy Land was to meet Shoghi Effendi. I did not meet him. I met instead the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. Shoghi Effendi, the man, sacrificed himself long ago for this Faith which is to unite all humanity. There is perhaps no man living who has given so much of self. He has given everything to God. He has no will of his own. Yet whatever he wills becomes an accomplished fact. He has no desire of his own. Yet as soon as he expresses a wish, the followers of this Faith voluntarily strive to fulfill. He is the first Guardian of the Baha'i Faith and establishes the precedent for a new type of leadership. He commands the unconditional, spontaneous obedience of a world-wide community without need of coercion. His guidance is based on the same Faith upon which our loyalty rests. His authority and our obedience guarantee the unity of the World Order of Baha'u'llah. For five evenings I had the Guardian's undivided attention. To hear him speak, to watch his method, to follow his answers and to feel his power is one of the most unique experiences of our time. One feels that his faith is the Faith of God and that his will is the Will of God. There is nothing personal about him. He expects us also to forget ourselves. As my notes are not the exact words of the Guardian, they cannot be quoted as such. I will only try to express his views as far as I can understand them. They are approximations, and should not be taken as authoritative. My first few questions related to the Guardianship. His chief function is to guard the unity of the Baha'i Faith. Interpretation of the writings is vested in him as a means to that end. The Guardian has the sole right to determine what is subject to interpretation and what is subject to legislation. He can change his own verdict should he find it necessary. Future Guardians will re-interpret the writings as at present interpreted in the writings of Shoghi Effendi, even the Dispensation will be re-written. Each Guardian is guided as to the exigencies of the time and circumstances. In that sense their interpretation is limited to the understanding of the people he is speaking to. The Guardian is not all-knowing or perfect, yet we know he receives sufficient guidance to interpret what is required. Translation of the writings is also interpretation. The Administrative Order of the Baha'i Cause rests upon two pillars: the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. Upon both are conferred unerring guidance. The local and National houses are not infallible although they command the same authority within their respective jurisdiction. The years 1957 and 1963 referred to in the teachings indicate the beginning of the lesser peace, or the political unity of the nations of the world. The Most Great Peace with the universal recognition of Baha'u'llah will not occur in this century - 20th century. Abdu'l-Baha's statement regarding voluntary sharing of wealth, quoting 1/3 and in another instance 2/5 is only indicative of the future trend. Similarly every reference to profit-sharing should be taken only as examples. The International House of Justice will legislate on all these matters. There is no system of Baha'i economics. We have only general principles. The system will be developed as the need arises. We cannot compare, much less identify the Baha'i Commonwealth of the future with any of the existing or known systems of government. The assumption that the Baha'i plan is reformed capitalism is incorrect even though we do uphold private property. For so do the socialists and to a lesser degree the communists. The difference between socialism and capitalism does not rest upon the issue of property, but on the question of the ownership and control of the means of production. Baha'u'llah does not answer this directly therefore it will be settled by the International House of Justice. In the meantime we cannot and should not lean to the right or to the left. My observation of a tendency towards stereotyped thinking amongst the American Baha'is was confirmed by the Guardian. This however is temporary. Free and original thinking should be encouraged. Each Baha'i group should develop its own peculiar distinctions and through this diversity of characteristics, the whole Baha'i world will be enriched. The present censorship of Baha'i writers is also a temporary measure. Freedom of speech and thought will be maintained in the Baha'i World Order. Freedom does not mean license however. We may pray to God direct, if we have the right conception of God. We may pray to Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi, or any other person in the other world, or in this world who is close to us if our conception is the right one. Praying is like asking. If we ask long enough, earnestly for the right thing, we will get an answer. Dr. Esselmont's book has been translated into 33 languages, Hidden Words into 14, the Book of Assurance into 12 and Some Answered Questions into 4 languages. Question: If individuals withdraw, the Cause remains. What if groups do? Answer: In the future whole National Assemblies might withdraw, but the unity of the Cause will remain unimpaired. Question: Were there Manifestations before the Ice Age? Answer: If there were men, there were Manifestations. Future scientists will determine. Question: Can we pray to God direct? " " " " Baha'u'llah direct? " " " " Abdu'l-Baha " " " " " Shoghi Effendi " " " " " anyone "? Answer: Yes, if we have the right conception of each of these. We may pray to anyone in this world or in the next if we have the right conception. Question: The Baha'i system is a political institution? Answer: Yes but we do not stress this at present. Question: Is the fear of God a good thing to believe in? Answer: Yes. The fear and love of God are the same: we should fear His Justice, love His Mercy. Fear alone is not enough. Question: There is a tendency with the friends to curtail free thought. Any subject not touched upon or developed by the Guardian is thought of quite often as non-essential or even contrary to the teachings. Should not free thinking be encouraged? Answer: Yes. Free and original thinking should be encouraged. Question: Other Baha'is might be inspired to think of something before the Guardian thought of it? Answer: Yes. (The Guardian will receive inspiration according to the needs of the Baha'i World.) Question: You are the Guardian of the Cause. I am the guardian of my own life. Answer: Yes. Question: Do you always see the wisdom of your own decisions? Answer: Not necessarily - he does not always see the wisdom of his own decisions. Even Abdu'l-Baha's interpretations appeared contrary his reason (Shoghi Effendi's) sometimes. Question: Your interpretation is not every aspect of the truth? Answer: No it is not. Question: What you say is only relatively true? Answer: Yes but we must accept the aspect given for the time. Question: Is it better to have guidance than inspiration? Answer: Yes. Inspiration may come from the ego while guidance comes only to those who are free from self. The Baha'i Faith was founded on two orders and two Prophets. 1- Baha'u'llah, a Prophet. 2- Bab, a Prophet. 3- Abdu'l-Baha, an order. 4- Administrative Order, which has two pillars: these two are absolutely indispensable to each other. Regarding Abdu'l-Baha's statements. He was not a lawyer. He did not speak as one. His writings need to be codified and classified. Form of the writings need not be perfect but the substance must be. The Master's form was not perfect. To have faith and to retain it one must nourish it constantly as the sap nourishes the tree in order that it will not dry out - by prayer, meditation, study, observation and conscious activity (service). Greenland will become green, the climate will change. The Administration is sufficiently perfected for the present. We in the West are tempted to continue making laws and regulations. We must restrain this and concentrate on teaching. Teaching is now the most important thing. Outside ornamentation of the Temple is a necessity: interior is a luxury. The latter should be left for the next Baha'i century for completion. Centenial gatherings may be held in the Temple. Reading of prayers and meditations revealed by the other great Prophets should be encouraged in the Temple. Most striking difference between the Papacy and the Guardianship is that the former has both the power of interpretation and legislation while the latter has only the power of interpretation. Muhammadan Dispensation brought Patriotism. There is nothing in the teachings about the control of the means of production. The future will decide. Threefold unity upheld by the Baha'i Cause: unity of the Prophets, unity of mankind, unity of God. Regarding immaculate conception: the Master and Baha'u'llah both confirmed this. It is true but do not stress it. Regarding kissing Abdu'l-Baha's clothing, dress of the greatest Holy Leaf, do not encourage but do not forbid. Leave to the individual. Horace Holley in Green Acre referred to words attributed to the Master "Communism should have been stamped out the moment it appeared." It does not seem to be authentic - Shoghi Effendi said he did not know exactly. Question: In spirit are all the Guardians the same? Answer: Yes, all are under the same power of unerring guidance. Question: Is revelation interpretation? Answer: Yes: Guardians' differ from the Prophets' interpretation. The latter receive Theirs from God direct, the former derive theirs through the Prophets. Question: Is perfect justice impossible? Answer: Yes. Question: Does this mean that the International House of Justice will not give perfect justice? Answer: They will have the unerring guidance of God. Question: Between the two camps of right and left which will win? Answer: Neither. Question: Did you ever say or write anything in the capacity of Guardian, realizing afterwards that it was a mistake? Answer: Not in the interpretation of the teachings. Question: Does infallibility mean perfection? Answer: No. (At a later date Shoghi Effendi said the future Guardians may not all be saints but that that will not deter them from receiving the unerring guidance of God. I did not mean that Shoghi Effendi implied that he was a saint.) Baha'u'llah stated that drinking should be forbidden for 800 years. (It may be longer than that number of years.) He was very definite in His statements regarding this. When or if the Guardian comes to America, he does not know. It depends upon the friends. If he feels the urge from them. To teach Faith, a story, an episode, an act may be sufficient. Canadians should be proud of Miss Marion Jack. Her work should be increasingly appreciated. A child should be restrained, a youth curbed, the old supported. Question: Faith without reason is superstition? Answer: Yes, but the faith which supercedes reason is not superstition. Non-attendance at Unity Feasts does not disqualify voting rights or memberships in the Baha'i community. In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity. It is the right of the Guardian or the Universal House of Justice to decide which is which. The period of engagement is 90 days. If marriage does not take place within that time, the engagement must be annulled. This law is enforced in the East only. Faith should make us obey spontaneously. There is nothing in the writings about birth control. There is nothing about lotteries in the teachings, though gambling is forbidden. (While Emeric was in Haifa a letter was received by the Guardian from a Persian Baha'i regarding lotteries. The Guardian did not seem to regard it as gambling for as far as Emeric remembers the Guardian said that it was not mentioned in the writings. He said the Universal House of Justice would determine that question.) The Guardian does not wait for inspiration. He works and while working it comes in a continuous flow. He does not know at present when or where the War will come. (The Guardian does not speculate about the future. He has no curiosity.) Guardians will always be chosen from the family of Baha'u'llah. The Afnans will have no special privileges. The Guardian confirmed these thoughts of Emeric's. "Moses brought the law; Christ brought love; Baha'u'llah brought justice the combination of those two forces. Justice can only be expressed by groups and Baha'u'llah has created such groups." 19 equals unity, 19 years make a cycle, 19 cycles make 361 years, a great cycle. 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