From: gt1274b@prism.gatech.edu (Dan Puckett)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.bahai
Subject: Greatest Name
Date: 9 Sep 92 15:55:53 GMT
Organization: <none>

What is the "Greatest Name?"
-----
Dan Puckett                                 "Hey!  You booted me in the head!"

[Coincidentally, I recently scanned in an article which answers this
very subject.  It comes from one of the volumes of "The Baha'i World"
(the biannual record of the happenings in The Baha'i Faith) and I
reproduce the relevent section here:--mmt]

	    Explanation of the Emblem of the Greatest Name
				   
				  by
				   
		 Hand of the Cause Abu'l-Qasim Faizi

   The identity of the Greatest Name, a mystery concealed from time
immemorial "behind the mystic veil" and preserved in the treasure
house of the knowledge of God, was to be revealed and manifested to
men's eyes at its appointed time in accordance with the Divine Plan,
like the other manifold and basic truths of the New Age.  Allusions
had been made to it by the Messengers of old, under the impact of
Whose Revelations, man made spiritual progress and gradually attained
a clearer understanding of its hidden meanings.  Like a brilliant sun
wrapt in clouds, the Greatest Name remained hidden and unknown.  Those
who longed to catch a glimpse of its splendor drew close, but enjoyed
only a dim vision of its radiance.  Throughout past centuries, in
accordance with the inscrutable wisdom of God's progressive revelation
of truth, the veils remained until gradually, one by one, they were
removed from this precious and all-embracing Name.

		    Anticipated in Past Religions

   The eager followers of past religions, in their deep desire to
witness a flickering of the approaching majestic dawn, found that the
new Name of the Great One to come meant "light", "splendor" and
"glory".  The followers of Krishna, for instance, expected His return
under the name of "Vishnu Yasha", which in Sanskrit means "Glory of
God".  The lost chapter of the Shrimad Bhagwad of the Hindu Scripture
states: "Vishnu Yasha will possess great energy, intelligence and
prowess ... He will restore order and peace in this world ... Man in
general will begin to honor and practice truth." [1]

   One of the Baha'i scholars in the Middle East, whose father had
formerly superintended a Buddhist Temple, and who was himself
well-versed in the writings of that Faith, told me that many times he
had read the entire Gospel of Buddha in Sanskrit, every word of which
he had understood with the exception of the meaning of a word composed
of "B", "H" and "A", which occasionally appears in Buddhist Scripture.
When he learned of the Baha'i Faith, the mystery was solved.  The
letters, joined together, formed the name of "Baha".

   The references by Buddha are exceptionally clear.  Ananda, one of
His disciples, asked Him, "Who shall teach us when Thou are gone?"
Buddha replied in these clear terms: "I am not the first Buddha who
came upon earth, nor shall I be the last.  In due time another Buddha
will arise ... He shall reveal to you the same eternal truths which I
have taught you.  He will preach to you His religion, glorious in its
origin, glorious at the climax and glorious at the goal, in the spirit
and in the letter." [2]

   It is most interesting to note that in Buddhist Scripture
particularly in the Amitayus Sutra, clear reference is made to
"AMITABHA" as the "Infinite Light of Revelation", "the Unbounded
Light" and the "Source of wisdom, of virtue and of Buddhahood".  When
giving the qualities of a "true follower" Buddha stated that it was he
who "relies with his heart upon Amitabha ... the unbounded Light of
Truth." [3]

   The Jewish mystics knew of the significance of the two letters "B"
and "H" and attached much importance to them.  Their spiritual leaders
and philosophers wrote commentaries and drew the attention of seeking
souls to these letters.  There is a legend among the Jews about
Solomon's Seal, a Seal said to have carried the Greatest Name from
which it reputedly derived its power over all creation, including the
animal world.

   In Isaiah, we read, "... Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon
is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits."
[4] Isaiah also says, "... The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto
it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of
the Lord and the excellence of our God." [5] It is interesting to
compare this last verse with its Arabic version which, when translated
literally into English, reads as follows: "God will render to Lebanon
its glory ; the Baha of Carmel and Sharon shall be manifested, and
they shall be the glory of God, the Baha of our Lord." [6] When Jesus
spoke to the Jews who were familiar with these terms, He therefore
told them that He would return "in the glory of the Father."

   As the Islamic Faith immediately preceded the New Day, followers of
Islam found that the veils covering this hidden treasurer [sic] had
become more diaphanous allowing the heavenly rays of light to
penetrate deeper, an to reveal in sharper detail the reality of this
mystery.  Explicit references had been made to the Greatest Name, and
as the seekers round clear indications of these references, they
became encouraged to persevere in their search.

   The words of the Imams and divines of Islam served to draw the
longing souls to the fountainhead of true knowledge.  There is a very
powerful prayer which the Shi'ih Muslims chant as a dawn prayer during
the month of the fast.  The faithful believer awakens at dawn to catch
the melody of its tune as it is chanted from the minarets of mosques
or, in these days, is broadcast from the radio stations.  In
introducing this prayer, Imam Rida has said, "I swear by God that the
Greatest Name is found in this prayer.  Had you known this, you would
have fought with swords to possess this prayer." [7] The opening words
of this prayer read as follows: "O God!  My God!  I beseech Thee by
Thy Baha, Thy Baha in its entirety.  I beseech Thee by all Thy Baha ..."
The prayer then goes on mentioning other Names of God including
"Beauty", "Splendor" and all the Names which are a part of the Baha'i
calendar.

			  Acclaimed by Poets

   Poets and philosophers found this mystic secret and openly
acclaimed it.  At the time of Shah `Abbas, the Persian King and
contemporary of Queen Elizabeth, the greatest of all the divines of
that age went to Persia from Lebanon and established his residence in
Isfahan which was then the royal seat and the country's capital.  This
man had an encyclopedic mind, and he wrote outstanding books on the
arts, sciences, the literature and philosophy of his age.  There are
many stories about him and his unique erudition and genius.  It is
even said that he had invented a machine which reproduced voices from
distant lands.  One of his discoveries was the Greatest Name, and he
adopted the name of "Baha'i" for himself.  Shaykh Baha' is
unquestionably the most renowned of all Persian divines.  In one of
his poetical works he says, "The Greatest Name is unknown to man, but
in the list of all the Names of God it stands first."  No doubt he had
in mind the dawn prayer mentioned above which opens with the name of
Baha.

   Mawlavi, the greatest of all the mystic poets of the East, whose
poems are well-known for their elucidations of the spiritual journey
of man and his attainments in the realms of God, has stated, "We have
found Baha and we hasten to offer our life as a sacrifice to Him.  He
is our ransom." [8]

   Hafiz, the most renowned of all lyric poets of the East, addressed
Persia, saying, "May this land remain forever prosperous.  From its
sacred soil at every breath the breezes of the Merciful are wafted.
Glad tidings to the glorious Kings of Persia!  Glad tidings for a
blissful ending!  The Power of the Greatest Name has stayed away the
hand of evil from that country".

   While I was in Arabia, I examined the manuscript of a book on
Mystic Philosophy from one of the learned men there.  In one chapter
the author speaks of the conditions to be observed by the seekers of
the path to God, and says, "Those who tread the path and knock at the
door of the knowledge of the Light are sincere and forebearing.  They
stand face to face with angels who greet them, cleanse and purify
them.  They pour for them water from the fountainhead of Baha.  When
they open their eyes they behold God passing by with great majesty,
His name appears above the horizon of the Kingdom ... Those people,
though they wander on earth, have their hearts attached _to_the_
_Exalted_Spot_ and the dwellers in the Great Tabernacle." [9]

			 Made Known to Babis

   With the inauguration of the New Age and the appearance of its
Herald, the Bab, the remaining veils were torn asunder through the
movement of His exalted Pen.  The people began to know more and more
clearly that "Baha" was, without any shadow of doubt, the name so
dearly treasured and destined to be manifested with all splendor and
majesty.  The explicit nature of the Bab's reference to Baha'u'llah
and the glowing terms with which He praised Him, made "Baha" the focus
of adoration.

   The Bab singled the Greatest Name out in the manuscript copies of
His matchless Writings.  Years ago, I had the honor to read three
volumes of His Writings before they were dispatched to the beloved
Guardian.  The books were written down by Mulla `Ali Akbar Ardestani
[10] in the first year of the Bab's Dispensation.  These books were
written in black ink, but whenever the many references were made to
the word "Baha", the word always appeared in red.  During the very
first year of His ministry, the Bab had instructed His amanuensis to
write in this manner in order that those who had no time or patience
to read all His Writings would be helped to see this Name.

   There are innumerable references to "Baha" in all of the writings
of the Bab and to quote them all here is beyond the scope of this
essay.  It is sufficient to note that He has said, "Well is it with
him, who fixeth his gaze upon the order of Baha'u'llah and rendereth
thanks unto his Lord." [11]

   When the followers of the Bab gathered under special circumstances
in Badasht, it was there that everyone received a new name.  It was
then that they knew this shining diadem of majesty and might found its
eternal manifestation, not on the forehead of one who was clad in the
garments of the learned; but shown instead on that of a Youth who was
majestic in appearance, glorious in gait and manners, and godly in
every atom of His being.  So exalted was He in the eyes of the people,
so highly respected and adored, that out of sheer homage and love they
did not dare to mention His name.  Instead He was referred to as
"Ishan." [12]

   The Letters of the Living and the early believers now knew the
Bearer of this Name and recognized in Him such heavenly attributes
that, even though they had quaffed from the newly-found stream of
life, they prayed and longed for the even more glorious day when they
could be drowned in the powerful, celestial ocean of the Utterance of
this Great One.

   Tahirih, in one of her epistles says, "O my God! O my God! the veil
must be removed from the face of the Remnant of the Lord.  O my God!
protect Husayn, the mystery of Muhammad and advance the day of reunion
with Him ... Make the point of Baha, O my God! to circulate ... O
my God! protect all who circumambulate the twin points and keep them
steadfast in Thy most Great Cause, so that they might behold the point
sending forth light upon them." [13]

   It was no wonder that so many hundreds of learned and outstanding
divines of the East sacrificed their lives with devotion and faith in
the path of the promulgation of the Greatest Name.  They waited for
its advent, waited for the moment when the effulgences would emanate
from it.  The instant they felt it was ascending toward the dawning
point, they burnt themselves in its light and rose like glowing lamps.
They became the "Dawn Breakers".

   There are numerous references to the name, the place of birth, the
date of declaration, the places of banishment, the imprisonment and
the fate of the Central Figure of our Faith.  For the purposes of this
essay it is sufficient to know this great, authentic Islamic
tradition: "All the followers of the Promised Qa'im shall be put to
death except One Whose face shall shine with Abha beauty in the plain
of `Akka."

   From the introduction we gather that the Greatest Name is "Baha".

FOOTNOTES:

1.  Prof. Printam Singh, _The_Second_Coming_of_Shri_Krishna_, p. 10

2.  Sermon of the Great Passing

3.  Shirin Khanum, _Lord_Buddha_and_Amitabha_, pp. 13, 17-19

4.  _Isaiah_, Chapter 33. Verse 9.

5.  _Isaiah_, Chapter 35. Verse 2.

6.  _Holy_Bible_, Arabic translation, 1881, Third Ed., also: Ishraq
    Khavari, Rahiq-i-Makhtum (The Sealed Wine) pp. 218-219

7.  Mafatihu'l Janan, _Keys_of_Paradise_, compilation of Muslim
    Prayers.

8.  _Nabil's_Narrative_, p. 72, "Whoso seeketh Me shall find Me ..."
    (a Tradition).

9.  Maqan A'ala is the name given by `Abdu'l-Baha to the Shrine of the
    Bab. It means "the Exalted Spot."

10.  _Nabil's_Narrative_, p. 146, footnote no. 3.

11.  Shoghi Effendi, _God_Passes_By_, p. 25.

12.  Honorific form of Persian pronoun for the third person singular.

13.  [a handwritten Persian transcription of the Tahirih verse--mmt]
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