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Bahá’í Publishing 415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091-2844 Copyright © 2012 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States All rights reserved. Published 2012 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper ∞ 15 14 13 12 4 3 2 1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1844–1921. [Speeches. English. Selections.] Talks by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá : the spirit of Christ / ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 978-1-61851-020-4 (alk. paper) 1. Bahai Faith—Doctrines. 2. Jesus Christ. 3. Bahai Faith—Relations— Christianity. 4. Christianity and other religions—Bahai Faith. I. Title. II. Title: Spirit of Christ. BP363.A3 2012b 297.9’3824—dc23 2012021288
Cover design by Andrew Johnson Book design by Patrick Falso
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Introduction In 1912, a man known as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá arrived on the shores of North America. He was sixty-seven years of age and had spent the majority of his life as a prisoner of the Ottoman Empire. At the time of his visit, he was the head of a little-known religion called the Bahá’í Faith. Few people in the Western world knew of the Faith he represented, and fewer still had ever heard his name. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s extraordinary visit to these shores had such a monumental impact on all those with whom he came in contact, however, that history continues to shed light on its significance. The Bahá’í Faith, the newest of the independent world religions, was founded in 1844 in what is now Iran and owes its origin to two successive founding Prophets: the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. As the Báb explained, His mission was to prepare the way for “Him Whom God shall make manifest,” the Manifestation of God awaited by the followers of all faiths. During the course of successive waves of persecution that followed this announcement and that claimed the lives of the Báb and several thousands of His followers,
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Bahá’u’lláh declared Himself to be the fulfillment of the divine promise. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (23 May 1844–28 November 1921) was the eldest surviving son and designated successor to Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith. Though he was known as “‘Abbas Effendi” outside of the Bahá’í community, Bahá’ís often refer to him as “the Most Great Branch,” “the Mystery of God,” and “the Master”—titles bestowed on him by Bahá’u’lláh. After Bahá’u’lláh’s passing in 1892, he chose to refer to himself as “‘Abdu’l-Bahá,” meaning “Servant of the Glory.” From the age of eight, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá shared the exile and imprisonment of his Father at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Two years after finally being freed from prison, at the age of sixty-seven, undeterred by poor health that was the result of a lifetime of hardship and suffering, he set out from Palestine (present-day Israel) on a momentous series of journeys throughout Europe and North America. His purpose was to share the teachings and vision of Bahá’u’lláh with the people of the West. Over the course of his journeys, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave a series of public addresses, which have been documented in a number of books. Speaking in Persian with the aid of a translator, he shared profound insights on a number of topics in a simple manner, accessible to anyone who listened with an open heart. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá spoke on matters of spirituality as well as on the condition of the world. He shed
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light on complex matters of the soul and the spiritual nature of man, while addressing issues concerning society at large. Collected in this fourth volume in the Talks by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá series are talks that relate specifically to the spirit of Jesus Christ. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá gave many of his public addresses in the Western world to largely Christian audiences and often extolled the station and example of Christ, Who Bahá’ís revere as a divine Messenger of God. From a Bahá’í perspective, Christ is one of a number of divine Messengers—including Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Mu¥ammad, the Báb, and Bahá’u’lláh—Who have appeared at different times in history in order to advance human civilization and reveal God’s guidance to mankind. It should be noted that the talks of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, while invaluable for the insight they offer, are not considered authoritative statements of the Bahá’í teachings, nor are they considered Bahá’í scripture. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as the son and appointed successor of Bahá’u’lláh—the Prophet and Founder of the Bahá’í Faith—is, from a Bahá’í perspective, the authorized interpreter of the writings of his Father as well as the perfect exemplar of the Faith’s teachings. The writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are considered divine in origin and authoritative in nature. His recorded utterances, however, do not have the same status as they are less reliable renderings of his words.
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It is hoped that readers will be inspired by the talks collected here to reflect on the significance of the teachings and example of Christ, as well as to investigate the many profound links between Christianity and the Bahá’í Faith.
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T a l k a t H o m e o f M r . a n d M r s . H o w a r d M a c N u tt
935 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York Notes by Howard MacNutt
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his is a most happy visit. I have crossed the sea from the land of the Orient for the joy of meeting the friends of God. Although I am weary after my long journey, the light of the spirit shining in your faces brings me rest and reward. In this meeting the divine susceptibilities are radiant. This is a spiritual house, the home of the spirit. There is no discord here; all is love and unity. When souls are gathered together in this way, the divine bestowals descend. The purpose of the creation of man is the attainment of the supreme virtues of humanity through descent of the heavenly bestowals. The purpose of man’s creation is, therefore, unity and harmony, not discord and separateness. If the atoms which compose the kingdom of the minerals were without affinity for each other, the earth would never have been formed, the universe could not have been created. Because they have affinity for each other, the power of life is able to manifest itself, and the organisms of the phenomenal world become possible. When this attraction or atomic affinity is destroyed, the power of life ceases to manifest; death and nonexistence result. It is so, likewise, in the spiritual world. That world is the Kingdom of complete attraction and affin-
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Talks by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: The Spirit of Christ
ity. It is the Kingdom of the One Divine Spirit, the Kingdom of God. Therefore, the affinity and love manifest in this meeting, the divine susceptibilities witnessed here are not of this world but of the world of the Kingdom. When the souls become separated and selfish, the divine bounties do not descend, and the lights of the Supreme Concourse are no longer reflected even though the bodies meet together. A mirror with its back turned to the sun has no power to reflect the sun’s effulgence. Praise be to God! The purpose of this assembly is love and unity. The divine Prophets came to establish the unity of the Kingdom in human hearts. All of them proclaimed the glad tidings of the divine bestowals to the world of mankind. All brought the same message of divine love to the world. Jesus Christ gave His life upon the cross for the unity of mankind. Those who believed in Him likewise sacrificed life, honor, possessions, family, everything, that this human world might be released from the hell of discord, enmity and strife. His foundation was the oneness of humanity. Only a few were attracted to Him. They were not the kings and rulers of His time. They were not rich and important people. Some of them were catchers of fish. Most of them were ignorant men, not trained in the knowledge of this world. One of the greatest of them, Peter, could not remember the days of the week. All of them were men of the least consequence in the eyes of the world. But their hearts were pure and attracted by the fires of the Divine Spirit manifested in Christ. With this small army Christ conquered the
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world of the East and the West. Kings and nations rose against Him. Philosophers and the greatest men of learning assailed and blasphemed His Cause. All were defeated and overcome, their tongues silenced, their lamps extinguished, their hatred quenched; no trace of them now remains. They have become as nonexistent, while His Kingdom is triumphant and eternal. The brilliant star of His Cause has ascended to the zenith, while night has enveloped and eclipsed His enemies. His name, beloved and adored by a few disciples, now commands the reverence of kings and nations of the world. His power is eternal; His sovereignty will continue forever, while those who opposed Him are sleeping in the dust, their very names unknown, forgotten. The little army of disciples has become a mighty cohort of millions. The Heavenly Host, the Supreme Concourse are His legions; the Word of God is His sword; the power of God is His victory. Jesus Christ knew this would come to pass and was content to suffer. His abasement was His glorification; His crown of thorns, a heavenly diadem. When they pressed it upon His blessed head and spat in His beautiful face, they laid the foundation of His everlasting Kingdom. He still reigns, while they and their names have become lost and unknown. He is eternal and glorious; they are nonexistent. They sought to destroy Him, but they destroyed themselves and increased the intensity of His flame by the winds of their opposition.
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