Los Angeles on October 19, 1912
Extracts from a talk
The Blessed Beauty (Baha’u’llah) appeared in Persia, in Teheran. He was in the utmost of ease and affluence. He was most influential and surrounded with luxury. All the pleasures of the transitory world were provided for him, and all the grandees of Persia longed to enjoy the influence and affluence, the things of wealth and position of Baha’u’llah. But consider that he suffered all these things to be separated from him. He sacrificed his honor, his fame and his station amongst men, sacrificing all, even his life. Ever was he subjected to the sword, and many were the ordeals which he endured, and many were the indignities to which he was subjected. How many nights he passed beneath chains, how many days in dark dungeons!
When I visited the dungeon in Teheran, as a child, in order to see Baha’u’llah when the door was opened there were some steps leading down into the place. They took me as far as midway. I peered through the darkness: I could not find anyone; it was exceedingly gloomy. Then I heard the blessed voice saying, "'Take him away." When I heard his voice I tried to see the Blessed Beauty, but because of the great darkness I could not. Then I was taken out; they seated me. They said it was customary about midday to take the prisoners out for their meals; so there I sat. About noon the jailers were all ready and the prisoners were taken out. I saw Baha’u’llah, neck in chains, and another, both chained to the same links, a link about his neck and another about the person who was chained with him. The weight of the chain was so excessive that his neck was bent; he walked with great difficulty, and he was in a very sad condition. His clothes were tattered and battered; even the hat on his head was torn. He was in the most severe ordeal and his health was quite visibly failing. They brought me and seated me, and they took him to the place where there was a pond, in order that he might wash his face. After that they took him back to the dungeon and, although I was a child, I was so overcome I was unconscious. And then Baha’u’llah said, "Take the child to the house, "therefore I was taken away.
This shows one of the ordeals of his life, and you can judge of the others accordingly. During fifty years, many were his vicissitudes. He suffered all these catastrophes for us, that we may turn to God; that we may attain to faith; that we may attain to certainty; that we may act in accordance with his teachings that we may be the cause of the illumination of the world; that we may be the means of guiding the people. And now I wish that you in the light of these sufferings of the Blessed Beauty for our guidance, for our illumination, likewise may be self-sacrificing. We must not forget his favors; we must not forget his troubles; we must not forget his catastrophes. We must ever remember them, striving that perchance, in thanksgiving for these favors, we may offer worthy service; we may be the cause of guiding the people; we may act in accordance with his instructions; we may live in accordance with his behests; we may forget ourselves; and that, like those holy souls who have sacrificed their lives, we may sacrifice our lives; we may be the cause of the heavenly peace; be the cause of the spreading of his fragrances; be the cause of the spread of his teachings. His teachings are the cause of the life of humanity; his teachings unify mankind; his teachings render eternal honor to man; his teachings are the cause of the sublimity of human nature; his teachings cause man to attain to progress and prosperity. His teachings are conducive to man's entrance into the Kingdom of Salvation. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West, vol. VII, no. 4, May 17, 1916)
