Bahá'u'lláh

“ This is when the traces of the Sun of Truth and the fruits of the Tree of Knowledge and Wisdom disappear from among mankind and the reins of the people fall into the hands of the ignorant; when the doors of Unity and Knowledge—the essential purpose of the creation of man—are closed; when Knowledge is changed into superstition and guidance into adversity, just as it is witnessed in this day that the reins of every party are in the hands of an ignorant one who leads them in whatever way he desires. ”

“ We hope that the people of the Beyan may be trained; that they may soar in the atmosphere of spirit and abide in its court; that they may distinguish the True One from all others, and penetrate a false vestment with the eye of insight. But in these days such odor of jealousy is diffused, I swear by the Educator of Existence, including the seen and the unseen, that from the beginning of the foundation of the world though it hath no beginning to the present time, no such envy, animosity and hatred have appeared or ever will appear. ”

“ Before God these common people are accepted and approved above the learned who have turned away from the True One. Understanding the Divine words and comprehension of the utterances of the Ideal Doves have no connection with outward learning, but depend upon purity of heart, chastity of soul, and freedom of spirit. For at the present time there are some servants who have not seen a single letter of the forms of learning, yet they are seated upon the summit of Knowledge, the gardens of their hearts adorned with roses of Wisdom and tulips of Insight, through the cloud of the Divine Bounty. ”

“ Shouldst thou make the mirror of heart pure and clear from the dust of prejudice, thou wilt comprehend all the symbols in the sayings of the perfect Word of Divinity in every Manifestation and be informed of the mysteries of Knowledge. But unless thou destroyest with the fire of Severance the veils of learning which are conventional among the servants, thou wilt not attain to the brilliant morn of the Ideal Knowledge. ”

“ When the lamp of search, effort, longing, fervor, love, rapture, attraction and devotion is enkindled in the heart, and the breeze of love blows forth from the direction of Unity, the darkness of error, doubt and uncertainty will be dispelled and the lights of Knowledge and assurance will encompass all the pillars of existence. Then the ideal Herald will dawn as the true morn from the Divine City, with spiritual glad tidings, and awaken the heart, soul and spirit from the sleep of negligence, with the trumpet of Knowledge. ”

“ Thus the clouds of error may be removed and the world-illuminating Sun of Guidance dawn from the horizon of the soul. We trust in God, seeking His assistance. Perchance there may flow from this pen that whereby the minds of the people will be quickened until they arise from their beds of heedlessness and, through the permission of God, hear the warble of the Nightingales of Paradise from the Tree planted in the Rizwan of Unity by the Hands of Power. ”

“ Alas that man should withhold himself from this excellent gift and deprive himself of this eternal bounty and perpetual life! Therefore let him appreciate the value of this ideal food; perchance the dead bodies may receive new life through the wonderful favors of that Sun of Truth and faded souls may develop into the incomparable Spirit. O my brother, effort is needful while yet the days remain, in order to taste the Cups of Eternity. The breeze of life from the city of the Beloved will not blow continually ”

“ In no age and cycle hath the purpose of the Prophets and Holy Ones been other than the real life, real resurrection and real revival. By reflection upon this statement of His Holiness, what hath been intended by "grave," "tomb," "sirat," "paradise" and "hell" will be disclosed, but alas, all the people are veiled within the tomb of self and buried in the grave of passion. To resume; were ye to taste a little of the clear water of Divine Knowledge, ye would know that the real life is the life of heart and not the life of body; for both animals and men share in the life of body. ”

“ Consider how, according to the text of the Book, the Divine touchstone hath differentiated and distinguished between the pure and impure; still these people are not mindful, and in the sleep of heedlessness are occupied in gaining the mortal world and outward leadership.
O Son of man, days have already passed thee during which thou hast been occupied with the imaginations and superstitions prompted by thine egotism. How long wilt thou be asleep upon thy couch? Lift thy head from slumber, for verily the sun hath already reached mid-day; that it may shine upon thee with the lights of Beauty. ”

“ So thou hearest in the present day, that when the Divine verses are read, no one taketh heed thereof, as though they were of the least importance, whereas nothing hath been nor will be greater than the verses. Say unto them, O imprudent people, ye are saying that which your fathers said in former times! If they saw any fruit from the tree of their contradiction, ye will see likewise! Before long ye will dwell in the fire with your fathers; fire is their station; evil is the abode of the unjust! ”

“ The purpose of "heaven" is none other than to denote the exaltation and loftiness which is the station of the appearance of those Day-springs of Holiness and Dawningplaces of Pre-existence. Although these Ancient Beings outwardly appear from the wombs of mothers, yet in reality they descend from the Heavens of Command; and although they dwell upon the earth, yet they recline upon the couch of Significances; and while walking among the servants, they soar in the skies of Nearness. They journey in the land of Spirit without the motion of foot and fly upward to the summit of Oneness without wing. ”

“ Seeking after proof when the fact is attained is blamable, and occupying one's self with learning after reaching the object of knowledge, is to be censured." Say, O people of the earth, this is a fiery Youth who runneth in the wilderness of Spirit, heralding unto you the lamp of God, and reminding you of a Matter which is visible in concealment under the veils of light, from the horizon of Holiness in the region of Irak. ”

“ When the servants who have continued for years to imitate the religion of their ancestors and who have been brought up in its established ceremonies and customs, suddenly find one who hath been among them, their equal in all the human limitations, abolishing those religious ordinances in which they have been trained for successive centuries and the contradictor and denier of which they consider as infidel, impious and profligate,—such circumstances naturally constitute a veil and cloud for those whose hearts have not tasted the Salsabile of Severance nor drunk from the Kawther of Knowledge. ”

“ Many a pure and chaste heart became expressive of that Eternal Sun, and many a sprinkling of enlightenment from that Sea of Intuitional Knowledge encompassed the contingent beings. Though the divines and grandees in every city and town arose to reject and suppress them, girded up loins of envy, hatred and injustice to eradicate them, killed many a holy one who was the essence of justice, by the accusation of injustice, and destroyed with severest torment many a temple of spirit which showed forth pure knowledge and deeds ”

“ It is evident to the possessors of Knowledge and illumined minds that the Unseen Divinity and Essence of Oneness hath been holy beyond emanation and appearance, ascent and descent, ingress and egress; is exalted above the praise of every praiser and the comprehension of every comprehender. He hath been and is everlastingly hidden in His Own Essence and will be eternally concealed from eyes and sights in His Own Identity. ”

“ Thus God unites the hearts of those who are sincerely devoted to Him, believe in His signs, and are of those who drink from the Kawther of Grace through the Hands of Might. Moreover, how many people of different beliefs, creeds and customs have been clothed with the new garment of Oneness through this breeze of the Rizwan of Divinity and Spring-garden of Ideal Sanctity, and have drunk the cup of Singleness! ”

“ They have not even understood that if in any age the signs of a Manifestation were to appear in the phenomenal world in conformity with that which is recorded in the traditions, no one would dare deny or oppose them nor could the pious and the unjust, the sinner and the righteous, be distinguished. Be just; for instance, if these statements recorded in the Gospel be literally fulfilled, and angels descend with Jesus the Son of Mary from the phenomenal heaven in a cloud, who would dare to deny and who would be able to reject or dispute? ”

“ Notwithstanding all this, God conferred Prophethood upon that Essence of Spirit (Jesus) who was known among people as fatherless, and appointed Him His proof to all in the heavens and earth.
Behold how the King of Creation causes the affairs of the Manifestations to appear contrary to the wish and desire of the servants. When thou art acquainted with these essences of mysteries thou wilt be informed of the purpose of that Beloved One and discover the words and deeds of that powerful King to be alike ”