‘Abdu’l-Baha’s amazement at being able to come to Paris

October 25, 1911, Paris, France

I regret that you have been kept waiting so long. Yet, I have waited so many years in prison before I could see you surely you do not mind waiting a little to see me. Our hearts are always together and the Bounty of the Kingdom of Abha binds our spirits in one. For have we not one aim, one desire and one prayer? Therefore we are always together.

Last night, when I returned home, I did not sleep. I lay awake thinking and I said to myself: "Here am I in Paris. O my God! what is Paris and who am I?" I never thought from the darkness of my prison that I should come here and be among you, for I was condemned to perpetual imprisonment. When I read the document which told me of my sentence, I said to the officials: ''It is impossible!'' And they were astonished. Then I said to them: "If Abdu'l-Hamid were immortal and I myself were immortal, then would it be possible for him to condemn me to be in prison forever, but as we are not immortal, then it is impossible. My spirit is free and that can no man imprison.”

Now you see the powers of God, that I am no longer in prison, but here in Paris, talking with yon. I am thankful to meet the spiritual friends and you also must be happy that God has allowed me to come among you. For who indeed would have thought it possible that I should be here talking in Paris? 

(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, December 31, 1911)

‘Abdu’l-Baha’is farewell words to Europe

December 1, 1911, Paris, France 

I bid a loving farewell to the people of France and England. I am very much pleased with them. I counsel them that they may day by day strengthen the bond of love and amity to this end -  that they may become the sympathetic embodiment of one nation - that they may extend themselves to a universal Brotherhood to guard and protect the interests and rights of all the nations of the East - that they may unfurl the Divine Banner of justice - that they may realize and treat each nation as a family composed of the individual children of God and may know that before the sight of God the rights of all are equal.

For all of us are the children of one Father. God is at peace with all His children: why should they engage in strife and warfare among themselves? God is showering down kindness; why should the inhabitants of this world exchange unkindness and cruelty? "Ye are all the leaves of one tree and the fruits of one branch."

Beware! Beware! Lest ye offend any heart.

Beware! Beware! Lest ye hurt any soul.

Beware! Beware! Lest ye deal unkindly toward any person.

Beware! Beware! Lest ye be the cause of hopelessness to any creature.

(Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 16, December 31, 1911)

Teachings of Baha'u'llah, spirituality, spirit and body

An address given at Alliance Spiritualise of Paris, France

November 9, 1911

I am very grateful for the words and sentiments expressed by the general secretary. I give thanks to God to find myself in Paris in such a spiritual assembly.

If we look at the atmosphere of this meeting, we see that the spirit floats in it, the bounties of God descend, the aid of the Holy Spirit is seen. Thanks to God, these hearts are endowed with spiritual sentiments; the vibrations of the soul make themselves felt.

The spirit is like the sea, this assembly like the waves -- though they are numerous, they all come from the same sea; though they apparently have different forms and aspects, the unity of the spirit is manifest.

All the prophets and Divine Manifestations have come to educate men, in order that the unity of the human world may shine clearly and distinctly, so that there remain no authority to the waves; that the authority be peculiar to the sea, for the spirit is like the sea and the bodies are like the waves.

It is said in the Gospels, “Jerusalem will come down out of heaven from God." This heavenly Jerusalem is not made of stone, of lime and of clay, but it is made of the divine teachings which shine among men by the power of the spirit. For a long time, the divine teachings had been forgotten, no trace remained of the light of the heavenly Jerusalem. When Baha’u’llah manifested Himself from the Orient, the light of His divine teachings shone forth in Persia unto otherer parts of the world. This divine teaching is the heavenly Jerusalem which has again “come down out of heaven." Although that edifice had fallen to pieces, it is founded anew. The corporal and material forces ruled over the Orient; now the spiritual forces have taken their place.

 Thanks to God, I see at Paris a respectable assembly which lives by the breath of the soul. Man is not man by the body, he is man by the spirit, for by the body he is the associate of the animal; that which distinguishes him is the spirit. As the sun illumines the earth, so the spirit illumines the body. It renders man celestial; gives him kindness by the breath of the Holy Spirit; makes him understand the reality of things; discovers all sciences; offers eternal life; unites the nations; joins the Orient and the Occident, and changes the human world into a divine world. Consequently, those who receive the bounties of the Spirit give life to others.

The First Opposers

An address given at Mrs. Champney's, 309 West 78th Street, July 8, 1912.

I learn from incidents here and there that some of the priests are giving vent to the utmost condemnation of us, that is the Catholic priests, that they attribute any sort of thing to us, pronounce anathema, and say we are the cause of misleading the people. We say nothing as regards them, nothing at all. But we shall mention this much, and this is to awaken you that you may be aware that such conversations, such speeches, such calumnies and libels are not specialized to us. It has always been thus.

In the time of Abraham, religious leaders, Pharisees Haran, anathemized His Holiness Abraham, saying, "This person is satan, He misleads the people; He misguides them; He pronounces evil words with regard to our idols; this person must be killed." At best because the government was rather fair, the learned men assembled and decided that His Holiness Abraham should be rescued and they caused him to flee. Thus the alienation of Abraham from his native land was caused by the anathema of the priests. "Abraham," they said, "is misguided and misguiding the people."

Then we come to the. period of Moses. All the priests of Egypt pronounced anathema regarding Moses, saying, "This person is the cause of corruption and sedition and this person must be killed. He must be effaced."

Then we come to the time of Christ. When His Holiness Christ appeared, the first people who objected to His Holiness were the Jewish priests. They said, "This Christ is not the promised Christ, this Christ is an imposter." They then pronounced the name which means in the Arabic The Ugly One, and according to the text of the Gospel the name of His Holiness was made to read Beelzebub, and this is an explicit text of the Gospel.

That glorious personage was debased; that Heavenly Radiance they pronounced as darkness; that Guide of the nations was accounted as misguidance of the people; that personified Spirit they pronounced as sheer body. All the rabbis of the Jews assembled forming a great body of learned men famous among the Jews and they consulted together regarding the killing or martyrdom of His Holiness Christ. They left no calumny unapplied to Him. There was no word of detestation which they did not pronounce regarding Him. At last they pronounced His death sentence, saying that Christ is both misguided and misguiding the people and deserving of punishment or killing, that His blood should be spilled but after due trial.

The two lives of a human being

An address given at 309 West 78th Street, New York, July 7, 1912.

Very welcome, very welcome!

Man has two lives. He is possessed of a physical life and also a spiritual life. The physical life of man is that of the animal. Consider and you will find that the physical life of man comprises the following actions: eating, drinking, sleeping, and the other exigencies of the animal state, walking, visualizing tangible objects, like other beings, the stars, the sun, the springs and the woods. This life is the animal life. It is evident and manifest that therein man is a partner of the animal.

The animal in its physical life is very comfortable, and it is most convenient for it to live; whereas for man to obtain a livelihood, it is more arduous and difficult. Consider all the animals which graze in the prairies, which live in the mountains and in the seas obtain their livelihood with the greatest ease, without difficulty and hardship. The birds do not have a profession, no arts, no business, no agriculture, and no farming. They are without any trouble whatever. They sense the utmost delicate fresh air, building their nests on the highest or loftiest branches of the trees and partaking of the grains which they find in the fields. All the harvest of the fields is their wealth. As soon as they become hungry, the grain is ready. After picking up some grain, they perch on the loftiest branches, resting in their nests in the utmost state of comfort and ease. It is likewise with the other animals.

But man, for his physical livelihood, must bear great hardships. Day and night he is restless, either farming or practicing his profession or business, or toiling and laboring in the mines beneath the earth. Or with the greatest difficulties and hardships he traverses long distances. In short, he works on the surface of the earth or beneath the surface of the earth to earn his physical livelihood. But the animal has none of these hardships and he shares his physical life in common with man. 

Notwithstanding all this, there is no result forthcoming from the physical livelihood. If a man should live for one hundred years, his material life eventually would yield no result whatever. Ponder over this and see if there is any result forthcoming from the material life of man.

Scientific Proof of the Existence of God

Sunday, February 9, 1913, at 30 rue St. Didier, Paris.

(Translated from notes in Persian)

Today someone asked a question regarding the existence of God. What are the proofs throng through which one can establish the existence of God?

People are divided into two sections, one which is satisfied with the knowledge of the attributes of divinity, and the other which strives to establish the existence of divinity, and be informed of the fundamental principles of divine philosophy. Therefore today If will speak to you of the proofs which establish scientifically the existence of God. I will not quote to you the scriptural proofs from the Old and the New Testament or the Qur’an, for you are more or less familiar with those ideas. Consequently I will deal with this abject from an intellectual standpoint. As it is an abstruse subject I request you to give your utmost attention.

When we look upon all forms of phenomena we observe that they are the results of composition. For example, certain single atoms are brought together through the inherent law of elective affinity existing between these various particles, the result of which is the human being. A number of primordial atoms have gone into the makeup of a plant, the result of which is the flower.

Again looking into the mineral kingdom we observe that this law of cohesion is working in the same manner in that kingdom, for we see that many atoms go into the composition of a piece of stone which through purification may reach to the state of a mirror.

Prophecies of Baha'u'llah concerning Adrianople, Constantinople and Rumelia

November 7, 1912
Home of Mrs. Parsons, Washington, D. C.

Although this evening I feel quite fatigued, yet now that I am face to face with you I suddenly feel animated; therefore I shall speak to you.

Consider events in the Balkans today, where a great conflagration is furiously raging and so much blood is being shed. You can say the whole world of humanity is virtually lamenting and mourning because of the revival of this warfare Governments are in the process of change and transformation. The sovereignty of the Orient at large is tottering; it is subjet to the greatest uncertainty. I desire, therefore, to touch upon this subject.

Most especially do I wish to touch upon the phases of this war which Baha’u’llah prophesied forty years ago fully and completely. He addressed a letter to the sultan of Turkey during his exile and while he was under surveillance in the prison of Akka. He likewise addressed epistles to Napoleon III and to the Shah of Persia. All these letters which he sent to the crowns heads of the earth were compiled in a book which was published thirty-five years ago in Bombay, India.

It was published years ago. There are several editions of the book. The first edition was about thirty-five years ago, and another twenty-two years ago. I have with me a copy of the edition of twenty-two years ago.

The spirit ---> the “greatest power in the realm and range of human existence”, and the Divine Spirit ---> “Souls deprived of that Spirit are accounted as dead”

25 April 1912

Talk to Theosophical Society at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Parsons

Washington, D.C.

The greatest power in the realm and range of human existence is spirit—the divine breath which animates and pervades all things. It is manifested throughout creation in different degrees or kingdoms. In the vegetable kingdom it is the augmentative spirit or power of growth, the animus of life and development in plants, trees and organisms of the floral world. In this degree of its manifestation spirit is unconscious of the powers which qualify the kingdom of the animal. The distinctive virtue or plus of the animal is sense perception; it sees, hears, smells, tastes and feels but is incapable, in turn, of conscious ideation or reflection which characterizes and differentiates the human kingdom. The animal neither exercises nor apprehends this distinctive human power and gift. From the visible it cannot draw conclusions regarding the invisible, whereas the human mind from visible and known premises attains knowledge of the unknown and invisible. For instance, Christopher Columbus from information based upon known and provable facts drew conclusions which led him unerringly across the vast ocean to the unknown continent of America. Such power of accomplishment is beyond the range of animal intelligence. Therefore, this power is a distinctive attribute of the human spirit and kingdom. The animal spirit cannot penetrate and discover the mysteries of things. It is a captive of the senses. No amount of teaching, for instance, would enable it to grasp the fact that the sun is stationary, and the earth moves around it. Likewise, the human spirit has its limitations. It cannot comprehend the phenomena of the Kingdom transcending the human station, for it is a captive of powers and life forces which have their operation upon its own plane of existence, and it cannot go beyond that boundary.

The Life of Baha’u’llah

15 April, 1912

At a gathering of Baha’i friends at the home of Mrs. EmorNew York City

Tonight I wish to tell you something of the history of the Baha’i Revelation.

The Blessed Perfection Baha’u’llah belonged to the royal family of Persia. From His earliest childhood He became distinguished among His relatives and friends. "This child," they said, "has extraordinary power." Not only in wisdom, but in the realm of new knowledge He was superior to His age and time. All were astonished. Some remarked, "Such a precocious child will not survive," for it has been believed that children who are precocious cannot live very long.

Until the Blessed Perfection reached the age of maturity He had not entered any school. He was not willing to be taught by any teacher. This fact is well known among the Persians of Tehran. Nevertheless He solved the difficult problems of all who came and inquired. In short whatever the meeting, whether scientific gathering or theological discussion, He always explained the abstruse problems presented to Him.

Until the father of Baha’u’llah passed away He did not seek after position or political station. All were surprised at this. Notwithstanding His connection with the government, He would not accept any position. They remarked: "How is it that a young man so intelligent, so keen, so perceptive, so subtle, is not a candidate for lucrative appointments; as a matter of fact, every position is open to Him." The people of Persia are witnesses to this historical fact.

He was most generous; giving abundantly to the poor. He did not refuse any who asked Him. The doors of His house were open to all. He always had many guests. This generosity was conduce to greater astonishment from the fact that He did not seek position or prominence. In commenting upon this His friends said that all His wealth would be given away, for His expenses were many, while His wealth was becoming limited. All were amazed at His conduct and greatly astonished at His doings. Some remarked, "Why is He not thinking of His own affairs?" Some who were wise declared: “This Personage is connected with another world. He has something sublime within Him that is not evident row, but the day will come when that shall be manifested."