I Today the most pressing of all tasks is the purification of character, the reforming of morals, the rectification of conduct.1 The pure heart is one that is entirely cut away from self To be selfless is to be pure.2 Selflessness I At Wandsworth Prison the Master, ‘Abdu’l-Baha, wrote in the visitors’ book: ‘The greatest prison is the prison of self.’3 2 When people said to ‘Abdu’l-Baha how they were that He was now free, He replied: ‘Freedom is not a matter of place, but of condition. I was happy in that prison, for those days were passed in the path of service. ‘To me prison was freedom. ‘Troubles are a rest to me. ‘Death is life. ‘To be despised is honour. t p
His Will and Testament He wrote: ‘Of all the gifts of God the greatest is the gift of Teaching. ’2I ‘The disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all earthly things, forsook all their cares and belongings, purged themselves of self and passion and with absolute detachment scattered far and wide and engaged in calling the peoples of the world to the Divine Guidance, till at last they made the world another world . . . Let them that are men of action follow in their footsteps!’22 Humility 17 The Master’s humility was shown in many ways. He desired no name or title except that of Abdu’l-Baha - the Servant of God. He forbade pilgrims to fall at His feet. In the early days in ‘Akka, He cooked for His fellow prisoners, and later, when entertaining visitors at His table, He sometimes served His guests Himself, ‘a practice he recommended to other hosts’.23 18 When Baha’u’llah lived at Bahji - and Abdu’l-Baha at ‘Akka - the Master would visit His Father once a week. He liked to do this on foot and when asked why He did not ride to Bahji He responded by asking, ‘. . . who am I that I should ride where the Lord Christ walked?’24 However, His Father requested Him to ride, so in order to comply the Master rode out of‘Akka, but when He sighted Baha’u’llah’s Mansion, He dismounted. Baha’u’llah used to watch out for His approach from 16
Governor and ordering him to return to his room. This action by ‘Abdu’l-Baha not only defused a dangerous situation but also opened the eyes of the Governor to the existence of a real leader among the prisoners, a leader who would act with authority and justice. Due to this action the Governor’s attitude towards ‘Abdu’l-Baha changed. He realized that, contrary to the wild rumours circulating in ‘Akka at the time, ‘Abdu’l- Baha and His family were from a background, and not criminals as he had been led to believe. The Governor therefore began to act in a more humane way towards the prisoners. He eventually agreed to substitute the allotted ration of bread with a sum of money and allowed a small party of the prisoners, escorted by guards, to visit the markets of ‘Akka daily to buy their provisions.19 13 One day in 1912 the beloved Master was very stern while in New York. He held the book of the Hidden Words in His hand and walked back and forth and then lifted the book high and said, ‘Whosoever does not live up to these Words is not of Me.’20 Forgiveness 14 ‘Abdu’l-Baha was born on the same night that the Bab declared His Mission in Shiraz on 22 May 1844, so on that 49
no During part of the Master’s trip East in the United States ‘Again He would not take pullman accommodations, even though requested by the friends, saying that they should not be dependent on bodily comforts: “We must be equal to the hardships of traveling like a soldier in the path of Truth and not be slaves to bodily ease and comfort.” ’ The next night the little five-member body of people accompanying ‘Abdu’l-Baha apparently did not suggest pullman accommodations. Were these people learning to travel like soldiers ‘in the path of Truth’? ‘In any event ‘Abdu’l-Baha told them to reserve six berths for that night because too much austerity was not good. They suggested that perhaps only one might be secured for Him, and He replied, “No, we must share equally.’”145 Truthfulness For ‘Abdu’l-Baha truthfulness was as natural as breathing. He spoke not to gain popularity, nor to tell people what they wanted to hear. His words served to educate and help the hearer, if he chose to listen. few examples of this constant way of life must suffice. Ill At one time a high official in the federal government of the United States questioned ‘Abdu’l-Baha about the best way to serve his people and his government. The Master had a ready answer: ‘You can best serve your country
need for improving conditions of life for the worker, of the necessity of educating and boys equally. “The religious ideal is the soul of all plans for the good of mankind. Religion must never be used as a tool by party politicians. God’s politics are mighty, man’s politics are feeble.” ‘Speaking of religion and science, the two wings with which the bird of human kind is able to soar, He said, “Scientific discoveries have increased material civilization. There is in existence a stupendous force, as yet, happily, undiscovered by man. Let us supplicate God, the Beloved, that this force be not discovered by science until spiritual civilization shall dominate the human mind. In the hands of men of lower material nature, this power would be able to destroy the whole earth.” 'iZ His words proved prophetic, but it would be decades before they could be better understood. 14 Stanwood Cobb recorded that ‘the most important interview’ he had with the Master was while in Paris in 1913. He wrote, ‘I was one of the staff of Porter Sargent’s Travel School for Boys. On my first visit He inquired about the school and asked me what I taught. I told Him that I taught English, Latin, Algebra and Geometry. He gazed intently at me with His luminous eyes and said, “Do you teach the spiritual things?” ‘This question embarrassed me. I did not know how to explain to ‘Abdu’l-Baha that the necessity of preparing the boys for college-entrance exams dominated the nature of the curriculum. So I simply answered: “No, there is not time for that. ” ‘ ‘Abdu’l-Baha made no comment on this answer. But 139
He did not need to. Out of my own mouth I had condemned myself and modern education. No time for spiritual things! That, of course, is just what is wrong with our modern materialistic “civilization”. It has no time to give for spiritual things. ‘But ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s question and His silent response indicated that from His viewpoint spiritual things should come first.5,3 15 The Master loved children. It was observed that ‘many of His talks were given as He sat with His arm encircling one of them.’ To parents He would speak in the following vein: ‘Give this child a good education; make every effort that it may have the best you can afford, so that it may be enabled to enjoy the advantage of this glorious age. Do all you can to encourage spirituality in them.’34 16 One June day in New York ‘Abdu’l-Baha was tired and slept long enough to keep His audience waiting. He then told His friends, ‘While I was sleeping I was conversing with you as though speaking at the top of My voice. Then through the effect of My Own voice I awoke. As I awoke, one word was upon My lips, - the word “Imtiyaz” (Distinction). So I will speak to you upon that subject this morning.’ Gifted, impromptu speaker that He was, He then proceeded to give a now dearly-loved and speech. He pointed out that He was not desirous that the friends achieve ordinary worldly distinctions. At the 140 A
know Him is to His Kingdom and be near Him. This is what I desire for you - that you may walk in this path.’39 20 Early in 1909 Charles and Mariam Haney, the parents of Hand of the Cause of God Paul Haney, went to ‘Akka to see Abdu’l-Baha. In ‘A Heavenly Feast’ they recorded some of the utterances they heard from the Master during those nine days. One day Abdu’l-Baha asked about the health of Mr Haney. He told the Master quite frankly, ‘My body is always well, but I am receiving so much Spiritual Food while here that I fear I shall have Spiritual indigestion.’ But his Host assured him: ‘No, you are going to digest it, for He who gives you the Spiritual Food is going to give you digestive power.’40 During those days Abdu’l-Baha bade them ‘remember that the essential health is Spiritual Health, for by means of Spiritual Health eternal life is obtained; whereas, through physical health only temporary results are obtained.’41 21 The Master sent a Tablet to a lady who longed ‘for the Heavenly Kingdom’. In part, He wrote, ‘Recite the Greatest Name at every morn, and turn thou unto the Kingdom of Abha, until thou mayest apprehend my mysteries.’42 143
42 Even during those crowded days in London the Master never appeared tense or frustrated, wondering how He could do all that seemed to be required of Him. He knew His purpose and thus all things fell into their proper perspective. Before He left London in 1913 at the close of His second visit, He gave a talk at Cadogan Gardens, clearly stating that teaching the Baha’i Faith called for ‘undivided attention’. ‘Teach the Cause to those who do not know. It is now six months that Siyyid Asadu’llah implored that I write a few lines to my sister, my daughters. I have not done this because I find I must teach. I enter all meetings, all churches, so that the Cause may be spread. When the “Most Important” work is before our sight, we must let go the “Important” one. ’79 43 The calm with which ‘Abdu’l-Baha walked His ‘chosen highway’ endured until the very end of His earthly life. When He knew that His time had come He did not accept the food offered Him, saying, ‘You wish me to take some food, and I am going?’ He gave His two daughters ‘a beautiful look. His face was so calm, his expression so serene, they thought him asleep.’80 161
Humour Abdu’l-Baha was blessed with a delightful sense of humour. He found fun in situations and stories. few examples will illustrate this. 64 ‘One day in the Holy Land He told Harlan Ober, an American Baha’i, that he was to go to India. Harlan Ober did travel far and wide in the interests of the Faith, but at that particular time he did not cherish making that journey. few days later Abdu’l-Baha told him to go to America. “But, Master,” Ober said, “I thought I was going to India.” “So did Christopher Columbus,” ‘Abdu’l-Baha replied.’110 65 Once a reporter in London inquired about ‘Abdu’l- plans - to his astonishment the Master replied in English. The reporter commented on His good pronunciation, whereupon Abdu’l-Baha ‘rose up and, pacing the room, uttered a number of complicated English words, such as “hippopotamus”, and then laughingly said, “Very difficult English words I speak.” ’Iri 66 Lady Blomfield cited another instance of His delightful humour: ‘One day after a meeting when, as usual, many people had crowded round Him, Abdu’l-Baha arrived 174
home very tired. We were sad at heart that He should be so fatigued, and bewailed the many steps to be ascended to the flat. Suddenly, to our amazement, the Master ran up the stairs to the top very quickly without stopping. ‘He looked down at us as we walked up after Him, saying with a bright smile, from which all traces of fatigue had vanished: “You are all very old! I am very young!”’ He added, ‘“Through the power of Baha’u’- llah all things can be done. I have just used that )) ) 12 power. 67 As the Master travelled in the West, He compared the East and the West and was delighted with the contrasts. In the Hotel Rittenhouse in Philadelphia about fifty people were crowded into a small room for a meeting with the Master. For lack of chairs some people sat on the floor - this delighted ‘Abdu’l-Baha. He commented, ‘This is a cause of unity; see! The Occident is sitting on the floor like the Orient and the Orient is sitting on the chairs.’ He laughed with delight and then gave His talk.113 68 One day in London ‘Abdu’l-Baha heard laughter coming from the kitchen. Delighted, He joined the happy people. ‘It appeared that the Persian servant had remarked: “In the East women wear veils and do all the work. ” To which [the] English housekeeper had replied: “In the West women don’t wear veils, and take good care that the men do at least some of the work. You had better 175
go. We sold or gave away all our earthly possessions, reduced all our earthly goods to a trunk or two and a couple of suitcases. When we had bought our train ticket to Pittsburgh, we had just $7.00 between us.’24 Mr Ives only began to write in 1934 at the age of Before long his eyesight, along with his health, failed noticeably, but he wanted to record his ‘spiritual memoirs’, and Portals to Freedom was begun. When he was forbidden the use of his eyes, he still was undaunted ... ‘he learned the touch system on the typewriter and completed the book.’25 15 ‘When Abdu’l-Baha came to America, H. S. Fugeta was a medical student at the University of Michigan. Like his famous forerunner who was short of stature, he climbed a sycamore tree to see the Master pass by. “Come down, Zachias, for this day I would sup with thee,” called the voice of Abdu’l-Baha, and Fugeta relinquishing every human tie followed Him back to Mount Carmel to become a helper in the household.’26 Fujita, who passed away quite recently, spent most of his time, since that day in 1912, in the Holy Land. 16 Dorothy Baker became a Hand of the Cause of God. But ‘. . . in 1912 Mother Beecher [Dorothy’s grandmother] took Dorothy, then fourteen years old, to New York to see Abdu’l-Baha. She had been a very shy child, sensitive to the point of deep suffering in the presence of adults. She was so shy that years later she still remembered the tension she felt when she entered the room where 189