`Abdu'l-Bahá in London
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This sounded so like the old theology that the modern in me rose doubting if the discipline could be compensated for by the effort. “What do you mean by the confirmations of the Spirit?”
“The confirmations of the Spirit are all those powers and gifts which some are born with (and which men sometimes call genius), but for which others have to strive with infinite pains. They come to that man or woman who accepts his life with radiant acquiescence.”
Radiant acquiescence—that was the quality with which we all suddenly seemed inspired as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá bade us good-bye.
It was a remarkable experience, hearing one who had passed along the prison path for forty years declare “There is no prison but the prison self;” and it drove conviction to one’s mind as this white-robed messenger from the East pointed the way out,—not by the path called “Renunciation,” but “Unattachment;” Radiant Acquiescence—the Shining Pathway out of the “greater prison of self” as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá so beautifully terms those bars that keep us from our fulfillment.
Isabel Fraser.
A Loving Farewell Greeting
After leaving London and during his two months stay in Paris, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá frequently sent back messages to his English friends, some of whom journeyed over to take advantage of the conferences there. On the eve of his departure for Alexandria, he gave the following admonitory farewell to the people of England and France.
“Work,” he said unceasingly, “for the day of Universal Peace. Strive always that you may be united. Kindness and love in the path of service must be your means.
“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 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?”
“I will pray for you that you may be illumined with the Light of the Eternal.”
Greetings by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá from Paris to London
October 1911Spoken to Mrs. Enthoven for conveyance to all the friends, and now written from memory.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent his greetings to all, begging all to go on acquiring strength in their belief and courage in its proclamation.
He spoke much of the pleasure he had felt in the atmosphere of England. He said there was a strength of purpose in the English people and a firmness which he liked and admired, There was honesty and uprightness. They were slow in starting a new idea, but, when they did, it was only because their minds and common-sense had told them that the idea was sound.
The English as a nation had pleased him greatly.
Believers, he added, must show their belief in their daily lives, so that the world might see the light shining in their faces. A bright and happy face cheers people on their way. If you are sad, and pass a child who is laughing, the child, seeing your sad face, will cease to laugh, not knowing why. If the day be dark, how much a gleam of sunshine is prized; so let believers wear smiling happy faces, gleaming like sunshine in the darkness. Let the Light of Truth and Honesty shine from them, so that all who behold them may know that their word in business or pleasure will be a word to trust and depend upon.
Forget self and work for the whole race. Remember always that one is working for the world, not for a town or even for a country; because, as all are brethren, so every country is, as it were, one’s own.
Remember, above all, the teaching of Bahá’u’lláh concerning gossip and unseemly talk about others. Stories repeated about others are seldom good. A silent tongue is the safest. Even good may be harmful, if spoken at the wrong time, or to the wrong person.
Finally ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sent his greetings and blessings to all, and assured me he was constantly thinking and praying for all.
To a gentleman who was questioning him, he remarked “The beginnings of all great religions were pure; but priests, taking possession of the minds of the people, filled them with dogmas and superstitions, so that religion became gradually corrupt. I come to teach no new religion. ‘My only desire is, through the blessing of God, to show the road to the Great Light.” Touching the gentleman gently on his shoulder, as a loving father might touch a son, he went on to say, “I am no Prophet, only a man like yourself.”
Message to the London Bahá’ís for the Day of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. Specially given to Mrs. Enthoven
November 26th, 1911GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The doors of the Kingdom of God are open!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
Armies of Angels are descending from Heaven!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Sun of Truth is rising!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
Heavenly food is being sent from above!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Trumpet is sounding!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Banner of the Great Peace is floating far and wide!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Light of the Lamp of the Oneness of Humanity is shining bright!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The fire of the Love of God is blazing!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
The Holy Spirit is being outpoured!
GOOD NEWS! GOOD NEWS!
For Everlasting Life is here!
O Ye that sleep, Awake!O ye heedless ones, Learn wisdom!O Blind, receive your sight!O Deaf, Hear!O Dumb, Speak!O Dead, Arise!Be Happy!Be Happy!Be full of Joy!This is the day of the Proclamation of the Báb!
It is the Festival of the Forerunner of the Blessed Beauty (Bahá’u’lláh).
It is the day of the dawning of the Morning of Guidance.
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Compare:—“My Name is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. My Reality is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: and Service to all the human race is my perpetual Religion.... ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the Banner of the Most Great Peace …The Herald of the Kingdom is he, so that he may awaken the people of the East and the West. The Voice of Friendship, of Truth, and of Reconciliation is he, quickening all regions. No name, no title will he ever have, except ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. This is my longing. This is my Supreme height. O ye friends of God! ‘Abdu’l-Bahá is the manifestation of Service, and not Christ. The Servant of humanity is he, and not a chief. Summon ye the people to the station of Service of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and not his Christhood.” (From a letter sent to the friends in New York, January 1st, 1907.)