Universal House of Justice

Monogamy is universally recommended, etc.

Questions not treated are left to the civil law of each country and to the decisions of the Bayt-ul-Adl, or House of Justice, instituted by Bahá'u'lláh.

Respect towards the head of the state is a part of respect towards God.

A universal language and the creation of tribunals of arbitration between nations are to suppress wars.

Under such a circumstance defense is necessary, but it is the duty of men to organize and execute such defensive measures and not the women, because their hearts are tender and they cannot endure the sight of the horror of carnage, even if it is for the sake of defense.

From such and similar undertakings the women are exempt.

As regards the constitution of the House of Justice, Bahá'u'lláh addresses the men.

He says, "O ye men of the House of Justice." But when its members are to be elected, the right which belongs to women so far as their voting and their voice is concerned is indisputable.

The flowers differ in color and perfume, yet they receive growth.

beauty and bounty from the one god and are developed by this same divine breeze truth is like the light which is always the same the souls of believers are as mirrors which reflect the light truth is like the light of a candle which does not vary yet the candlestick which holds it may change each year the rose is the same beautiful flower although it appears in different gardens what will be the food of the future fruit and grains the time will come when meat will no longer be eaten medical science is only in its infancy yet it has shown that our natural diet is that which grows out of the ground the people will gradually develop up to the condition of this natural food there is no appointed length of life for man lengthen your life by living according to god's spiritual laws then you will live forever this is the true longevity the real life the real life is eternal happiness and existence in the knowledge of god jesus was a dyer by trade he also lived in egypt out of egypt have i called my son matthew to fifteen hosea eleven one was spoken of jesus the fifth gospel which is considered non-canonical gave other history of jesus than is contained in the gospels of the new testament there were fifty gospels but only four were accepted as genuine by the priesthood spirit is the highest and supreme development of the soul soul is the material or outer self the mind mind is the action of the soul's powers the body is the physical covering or medium in which the mind acts and functions at death everything but spirit is destroyed and becomes extinct the prophets and holy men always went into the wilderness to pray many of them walked upon mount carmel and communed with god true religion has nothing to do with human imagination god's will is independent of human opinion personal ideas and mere human prejudice are the great obstacles to spiritual growth for instance some difference of opinion arises between two believers in god each expects the lord to support his view of the question the word of god is perfect and arbitrary in its perfection when there is difference of view there is absence of the spirit the word is the only standard of truth discord and disagreement are impossible among those who adhere to the manifestation and sever themselves from human opinion there are no heads in this cause all are servants if all the world should combine to overthrow the covenant it could not succeed abdul baha loves all no matter how they turn away from him whether they love or hate him go or come he never changes in his love for them the blessed perfection has left nothing undone what he ordained can never be set aside everything in life ministers to our development our lesson is to study and learn money and difficulties are alike advantages to us tests are either stumbling-blocks or stepping-stones just as we make them the prophets of the word could not sin they possess the power and will to violate the will of god but the desire to do so is never present in them knowing the perfect fruit of oneness they have no inclination toward that which is imperfect like beautiful flowers they do not change in beauty even when surrounded by foul conditions there are two kinds of suffering one subtle the other gross the subtle suffering is hatred anger fear and torment which follows evil actions of the soul the gross suffering is imprisonment chastisement and physical pain of martyrdom at the time of muhammad he sanctioned war for the preservation of the lives of his followers the laws of individual justice were confused and preliminary in the souls of men therefore the law of general justice of the community was revealed by this prophet he commanded his followers to carry the religion of god by the sword when a man is about to take poison it is right to dash the cup from his hand even with extreme violence it will inflict injury but at the same time save his life there must be a law to prevent the wolves from destroying the lambs at such a period of religious history that is why the shepherd sanctioned such vigorous protection for the sheep behind such laws of a manifestation there is always a supreme wisdom during dinner abdul baha ate entirely with his fingers after a while he said in the east there are many peoples who never use a knife or fork to eat with their fingers is custom among them just as the western nations have their own peculiar customs we must each view with respect the customs of the other there is a kind of food which needs neither knife nor fork and of which everyone may partake with perfect ease and benefit it is the food spiritual this food brings life and stimulation instead of indolence and apathy it brings peace and content to the one who partakes of it the more food the more joy and peace for the spirit is always eager to furnish sustenance to the soul illusion cannot convey what reality teaches christ said what has happened in the past will happen again in the future the reason of this is that all things are under the operation of divine law which is the same today yesterday and forever by this the spiritual eye may discern that which is authentic in the scriptures sow the seeds of love in the heart and not the seeds of hatred the reflection in the glass proves whether we are laughing or frowning by our actions we reveal what is growing in the heart actions are mirrors of the soul these are precious and wonderful days in akka each day is as a year your visit cannot be measured merely by the length of time you have been here the real spiritual visit will be after you have gone some who remain but one day go away filled and enkindled with the spirit of god they are like the dry wood which bursts into flame as soon as it touches the fire so it is with a lamp the oil within it responds instantly to the fire and gives forth light the soul which possesses sight can see in a moment while the blind never see an awakened soul is like a precious pearl in the midst of a load of pebbles which have but little value to some it is given to hear and know the message of life in a short time while others hear and receive nothing even though they make a long stay in this holy place we should not be occupied with our failings and weakness but concern ourselves about the will of god so that it may flow through us thereby healing these human infirmities faith is not so much what we believe as what we carry out end of section one section two of ten days in the light of akka this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org recording by nicholas james bridge ten days in the light of acca by julia m grundy in america you have only received a taste of the spiritual food which is to come to you some will arise to serve the cause of god in your land who will sacrifice themselves entirely they will be given great power from god when they come forth to do his will concentrate the soul upon god so that it may become as a fountain pouring out the water of life to a thirsty world live up to the principles of sacrifice the world will then become as nothing and be without power to attract you away from god sacrifice your will to the will of god the kingdom is attained by the one who forgets self everything becomes yours by renunciation of everything a lion wolf and fox went hunting they captured a wild ass a gazelle and a hare the lion said to the wolf divide the spoil the wolf said that is easy the ass for yourself the gazelle for me and the hare for the fox the lion bit off the wolf's head saying you are not a good divider then turning to the fox he said you divide the fox said the ass the gazelle and the hare are yours the lion looking at him said because you have accounted yourself as nothing you may take all the prey the miracles of christ were spiritual teachings not literal what is the greatness in man his spiritual attributes no one can destroy his spiritual qualities they are from god tests are like fire which purifies how will the masses be benefited by this revelation the revelation of baha'u'llah contains all the great laws and principles of social government the basis of god's perfect laws is love for humanity and help for human needs if all people followed this revelation the masses would be immeasurably uplifted and the cause of god glorified this development of humanity will be gradual not sudden it will surely come to pass it is impossible to swim against the current of niagara teaching the truth is like building bridges by which humanity may cross over the current which threatens the world must come to know the word in christ how he was mocked scorned and laughed at yet his mission was to uplift the very world which refused him realization of this will bring tears to the eyes of those who deny him cause them to grow silent and thoughtful christ is always christ what is the best way to benefit humanity guidance to god what is dearer to man than life so therefore leading a soul to eternal life is the greatest blessing and benefit you can bestow upon that soul when does our responsibility cease in giving the message when we give the message we develop ourselves our own heart is opened when we teach the heart of the listener the more we give the more we get therefore as this is the means of our own development we should never cease teaching our responsibility remains as long as we have a listener what is the best thing to do when met by a difficult question a sincere worker in the cause of god is always assisted by the divine spirit when such questions arise the truth will flow through you if you stand in the right attitude toward the truth in the spiritual station you will never be without the knowledge necessary to answer a question with spiritual food the capacity to know increases with the will to serve what is sacrifice giving up everything in the cause of god and following his will no matter where it leads we must not have desire for anything else but god we must entirely forget self to be perfected we must give up everything in the cause of god judgment reason will everything to hold back anything is to be imperfect the thing we hold most dear is the thing to give this is real sacrifice upon which finger should the ring with the greatest name be worn the right hand is the hand of honor in the east wearing it upon this hand attracts attention and causes comment but the real place to wear the greatest name is in the heart what is prayer attitude or word prayer is both attitude and word it depends upon the soul condition it is like a song both words and music make the song sometimes the melody will move us sometimes the words what will be the future of this teaching know and realize the greatness of the cause into which you have entered look not at the present the day will come when there will not be a house which does not contain a believer in this revelation one book or tablet of the blessed perfection is more comprehensive than fifty volumes of the world's greatest wisdom the books and words of god have been sealed and the meanings locked all the sacred mysteries were sealed but now baha'u'llah has broken the seals revealed the meanings and we can understand the realities my greatest wish is to teach this message abdul baha said i will pray god to assist you it has often happened that one who is not able to teach would be sent forth and when the time came that one would be found powerful and eloquent one man of this kind in the east has even written a book two jewish children have written a beautiful commentary proving the cause of christ muhammad and the blessed perfection two unbelievers in the centre of the covenant have recently returned and are serving with zeal in the vineyard of god belief in this revelation is a priceless spiritual blessing just as a child will give up a jewel of great price for a sugar-plum so men will exchange the truth for a treasure of earth the bab said one glance from the eye of he whom god shall manifest is worth all the wealth of the world in this one look we can attain life everlasting resurrection from the dead and the treasures of heaven the revelation of baha'u'llah is not mere history it is the voice and will of god if we guard the seed of immortality it will bring forth the tree of eternal life this is the true realization of the manifestation's coming his mission is accomplished when we enter the spiritual kingdom and attain immortality god be praised this is the spiritual sight peter perceived christ when thousands of jews saw him not peter reached that station at once this knowledge is the glance from the eye of god it is more precious than all the wealth of the world abdul baha visited us in the afternoon he said speech is necessary and good between soul and soul nothing of this world is eternal the highest longing and ambition of some people is to be a king or queen but at the last even the great ones of earth must perish even the earthly personality of jesus has come and gone only by serving god do we attain everlasting life all our fame and glory should be in service to him this will never perish live in the cause of god this is the harmony of the universe shine in the horizon of his will life is wasted if not spiritual be of the spirit not of the body the light of the body is the eye the eye of conscience stands between the power of knowledge and the spiritual world does your soul feel as sure of god as your eye is sure of nature blessed are the pure in heart they shall see god once i was in prison under the ground and in chains yet i was happy because i was not deprived of spiritual sight i tell you this so that when you hear of my troubles and difficulties in the future you may know that i am spiritually happy i am showing you the way of true happiness by comparing the future with the past you may understand no matter what the future brings forth firmness is the beginning of spiritual happiness christ appeared in palestine and was held in contempt because he was from nazareth only twelve believed in him one deserted him there were other believers but they were not strong they were troubled with doubts and afterward fell away mary magdalene held steadfastly to christ and made others firm god will assist all who are firm in his cause firmness is the beginning of spiritual happiness spirituality is the possession of a good pure heart when the heart is pure the spirit enters and our growth is natural and assured every one is better informed of the condition of his own soul than the souls of others our responsibility to god increases with our years the government is upon the shoulder of abdul baha he bears a burden of human griefs and troubles yet helps all and is happy for he has cut himself from the world end of section two Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 3 love how can we love another whose personality is unpleasant see how the enemies of christ persecuted and crucified him yet he loved them all man is like a tree the tree lives to produce fruit the fruit of man is love it is easy for us to love a friend or even an animal but how difficult to love one who is without attraction yet if the love of god is shining in our hearts we like christ may see that love reflected in every personality and love all alike What is the difference between universal and individual love? we must love all humanity as the children of god even if they kill us we must die with love for them it is not possible for us to love everybody with a personal love but we must love all humanity alike man is capable of attaining a supreme station through the manifestation of love god created man to attain a supreme station man must reflect the love of god there are many stages or kinds of love in the beginning god through his love created man man is the highest product of his love and the purpose of man's existence is to reflect this love of god in his soul but man in his egotism and love of self turns away from his creator and thereby prevents the accomplishment of the divine plan the manifestations appear to show man the way to god through love by them man is brought to the condition of severance from his egotism and being absorbed into the ocean of love divine the three stages of love are therefore first god's love for man second man's love for self third man's love for god there is a profound a divine wisdom in love the light of god shines in the eyes when the heart is pure the home of religion is the heart soul and spirit compiled from abdul baha's teachings soul is the human will to live temporally spirit is the divine will to live forever salvation is the quickening of soul into spirit all souls are alike in essence or quality as created owing to environment soul needs differ rich and poor wise and ignorant etc environment has its dark side and its light side development has its good aspects and bad aspects sin is the absence of righteousness righteousness is doing the will of god all souls have a free will to choose or refuse the will of god each soul has its station of individuality in which it may develop itself but a soul cannot leave its own station for another station or individuality man accomplishes his true growth when the soul develops in its own station his station does not change simply his capacity for knowing god is increased and developed knowledge of god is the only spiritual development the power of the manifestations of god is beyond question inasmuch as human development invariably follows their teachings this development is unmistakably toward a higher existence every manifestation teaches the existence of god as their power is evident their knowledge must likewise be true the soul can prove the existence of god through its intellectual powers but the true perception of god is through the spiritual eye of the soul this knowledge transcends mere mental proof it is spiritual sight it is vision the atheist has intelligence of the mere mind his words denying the existence of god are in reality evidence that god exists the atheist's real station of development is not ours to judge or estimate spirit is oneness of vision and knowledge the mind has many attributes or powers the spirit is conscious perception when all the powers of the soul work together and are concentrated upon god the soul has its highest employment spirit is like the sun the source of all light alone in its station the mind or soul has many lights as the stars the mind or soul manifests itself throughout the whole body in perfect harmony the spirit or spirit of god manifests itself throughout the whole body of the universe and is in perfect harmony wherever manifest a wicked soul is the only thing out of harmony in the universe as it does not come into the flow of the divine will it is not of the spirit this failure of the soul has led man to believe that god will give the wicked soul another opportunity by allowing it to return in another body and atone for its failure there is no proof of this outside or inside the holy book of scriptures whatever is the destiny of the wicked soul in the hereafter we know that its development rests with the mercy of god a wicked soul lacking development is non-existent spiritually just as in the station of the tree the stone is non-existent because the stone lacks the powers and development of the tree therefore a soul which continues in a condition of non-development through violating the will of god suffers extinction and is spiritually non-existent the fields and flowers of the spiritual realm are pointed out to us by the manifestations who walk amid their glories it remains for the soul of man to follow them in these paths of eternal life through the exercise of its own human will the house of justice the house of justice must be obeyed in all things because it has been established by the blessed perfection the council of constantine decided many things wisely but its power and influence did not continue because it was not established by christ himself it was founded upon the words of christ interpreted according to the ideas of men the house of justice will be appointed by the people it must be obeyed because it is the law of god expressed through the people by their own will and voice in this day we are near to the source of true religion and the law of god before revelation has been corrupted by the interpretations of men the true believer is one who follows the manifestation of god in all things after the departure of baha'u'llah we are commanded to obey the house of justice i myself will obey the house of justice because it is founded upon the commands of the blessed perfection the council of constantine did not survive because it was not founded by christ but in this day the house of justice has been established by the manifestation of god it is the centre of true government and must be obeyed in all things it is the law of god embodied in the people reflecting his will and their need and desire not blindly following command in war both parties are wrong neither japan nor russia is fulfilling the law and will of god the kings and rulers of the world will find their true authority under the rulings of the house of justice the law of god will be vested in nineteen men who will compose the house of justice and render decisions war is never necessary it is always an expense and a calamity never a great help god utilizes even the wars of nations to carry out his ultimate purposes the house of justice will decide between kings and kings all judgment will be from the standpoint of god's laws then rich and poor will be alike justly treated when men are developed spiritually they obey god the rule of the house of justice will be the dominion of the spirit of god human will brings conditions to a climax in the affairs of nations the only solution and remedy is the administration of god's laws end of section three HEAVEN what is meant by heaven in the bible christ said that nothing could ascend into heaven except that which came down from heaven he also said i came from heaven and will return to heaven and the son of man is in heaven he said this while still upon the earth and notwithstanding the fact that he had been born of mary there is no doubt christ came from heaven and always was in heaven but when he spoke he did not mean the literal sky what then is meant by heaven science proves that there is no heaven or sky but all is limitless space and one universe in this limitless space the heavenly spheres revolve and have their orbits but the heaven of christ is that invisible world which is beyond the sight and comprehension of mere man it is the spiritual condition therefore the heaven of christ is the will of god the sun of that heaven will never set in it the moon and stars are always shining it is the limitless kingdom of god it is sanctified from all place christ is always there there elijah and the holy prophets live eternally it is sanctified from all comprehension the jews were deprived because they could not understand this spiritual condition the heaven of the material world is something else it is the sky overhead in which the clouds move this heaven is up to us and down to those upon the other side of the earth while vice versa their material heaven is down to us in the heavenly book it is said that the stars will fall from heaven where will they fall science proves that nearly all the stars are larger than the earth where will they find room to fall when the heart is pure and filled with the light of the spirit we will know that we are in the true heaven christ came from heaven and still the jews are sleeping the kingdom of heaven is within your soul let all people see that you have the light that they may recognize something in you which they themselves do not possess the manifestation when you give the message of this manifestation many say this is nothing new i prefer the home of my old religious belief which has been so serviceable and trustworthy abdul baha answered baha ullah is the same light in a new lamp to see we must look at the light and not at the lamp this is spiritual sight the sun is one orb but it has different rising points on the horizon one point was jesus one moses one baha ullah and so on therefore be a lover of the sun and worship it no matter at what point it may arise if you worship the dawning place you will fail to see the sun when it arises in another point of the horizon many stand at the old point and worship while they are losing the light of the sun in this manifestation true lovers of the sun worship the sun itself and not the point of its rising they see and know the light pray for those who stand worshipping the old rising-point of the sun spiritually blind to its new appearance upon the heavenly horizon spiritually deprived of its light and bounty the ministers and clergy do not accept the message on account of their position in the church as stars in heaven they have become darkened when the bab arose and declared his mission many of the clergy who had occupied positions found it necessary to give them up and follow his teaching many people likewise who hear the message are deprived of its glory because they receive it from one whom they deem less competent to know than themselves the word of god is revealed according to the degree of spiritual sight no matter who the messenger may be again people do not receive the manifestation of god because they are veiled by their imaginations imagination is one of our greatest powers and a most difficult one to rule imagination is the father of superstition for example two men are dear friends they love each other so much they never wish to be parted yet when one of them dies the other through fear dreads to be alone with the one he cared so much for in life his imagination controls him and fills him with fear and horror we are led astray by imagination even in violation of will and reason it is our test power we are tested by our ability to control and subdue it a man imagines he is wealthy some day real wealth comes to him but it is never what he imagined it would be imagination is our greatest misleader we hold to it until it becomes fixed in memory then we hold to it the stronger believing it to be fact it is a great power of the soul but without value unless rightly controlled and guided through imagination men receive a distorted view of a former manifestation and are prevented from recognizing and accepting the truth and reality of the present one they are veiled from the light and glory of god by imagination these veils prevent the true light from entering the soul therefore men follow the false light of their imaginations and cling to error instead of truth thus the egyptians were veiled from the light of god in moses the jews were veiled from the glory of jesus simply because they did not know moses rightly and so were blinded to the one he promised would come after him today jews muhammadans and christians not seeing the former manifestation with true vision are veiled from the glory of god in baha'u'llah one of the greatest veils is literal interpretation of the prophecies again many refuse the manifestation in his day because they do not want to walk the hard road of devotion and servitude but prefer the easy road of hereditary belief misconception of the word of god and its meanings is another great veil which imagination throws over the soul and by which the light is lost also people inherit their belief from parents and ancestors and follow it blindly too negligent to know and see for themselves negligence and apathy are heavy veils of glory read mirza abul fazl's book of bahai proofs and you will find irresistible evidence of this manifestation will is the centre of focus of human understanding we must will to know god just as we must will in order to possess the life he has given us the human will must be subdued and trained into the will of god it is a great power to have a strong will but a greater power to give that will to god the will is what we do the understanding is what we know will and understanding must be one in the cause of god intention brings attainment do the manifestations differ in degree these supreme holy souls are godlike in their attributes the garments in which they appear are different but the attributes are the same in their real intrinsic power they show forth the perfection of god the reality of god in them never varies only the garment in which the primal reality is clothed is different according to the time and place of their appearance and declaration to the world one day it is the garment of abraham then moses then jesus then baha ullah knowledge of this oneness is true enlightenment some see the garment only and worship the personality some see the reality and worship in spirit and in truth some of the hebrews admired the embroidered beauty of the garment of abraham but were blind to the real light which shone upon the darkness of the world through him moses was denied jesus was denied crucified all have been denied and persecuted for this reason men see the garment and are blind to the reality worship the personality and do not know the truth the light itself some worship the tree of life but do not eat of the blessed fruit of the tree therefore differences and disagreements arise in religious belief if all would eat of the fruit itself they could never disagree for instance four men were travelling along a road they possessed a frank between them one was a turk the others persian arab and greek they became hungry and wished to buy some grapes but as they did not understand each other's language none of them could express his wish to the others so they began to quarrel and abuse each other finally a man came along who knew all four languages he asked them what the trouble was then he said give me the money i will buy each one what he wishes so he bought grapes and they were all satisfied they had disagreed upon a word or term only all meant the same thing terms are of no importance the fruits of the tree should be our desire these are the spiritual grapes find the light itself and there will be no difference of opinion or belief as to the personality or degree of the manifestations of god the greatest proof of a manifestation is the manifestation himself we do not have to prove the existence of the sun the sun is independent of proof he who has sight can see the sun and prove it for himself it is not necessary to seek for other proof for instance it is a fixed fact that nothing could grow upon the earth without the light of the sun it is easily proved that without the sun's heat and light no animal life could exist the sun's light is indispensable its heat essential this is the sun's greatest proof god with all his qualities is independent of all his creatures look at the christ he was a youth of israel not a great and honored man but born from a poor family he was so poor that he was born in a manger yet he changed the conditions of the whole world what proof could be greater than this that he was from god it is so strong and evident that no one can deny it without the light the world could not grow spiritually the blessed perfection came from persia which is not a prominent nation the great prophets did not enter school to be taught of men yet so many things did they manifest that at last we must admit that the world is not able to destroy the wisdom of the prophets or grow without them everything of god is proof against the people and evidence for god peter was the greatest of all the disciples he was the head appointed by christ yet he denied the christ three times see what happened afterward see what a power of penetration the word of god possessed how the truth in christ grew and spread all over the world there must be a standard the kings of the earth cannot stand against the power of the word the light of god will shine must shine the great flag of nero was lowered and christ's standard raised in its stead all the kings of earth all the learned men have become subject to the word and are its worshippers the blessed perfection during his own lifetime had one thousand followers who believed in him only one proved ungrateful yet he did not deny baha'u'llah many of these followers were martyred with his name upon their lips the renown of jesus name did not reach outside his own country we hear nothing of him from the phoenicians but the name of baha'u'llah reached the whole world while he lived jesus did not write to any of the rulers of the world bahavla sent tablets to all the rulers and kings of the earth when napoleon the third was in the zenith of his power the blessed perfection wrote to him if we should gather together all that the christ said it would be very little in amount but consider the number of tablets and books left by the blessed perfection although the christ was not a great and honoured man although he was of such poor and humble condition that he was born in a manger yet he changed the whole world by his power and divinity what proof could be greater than this how can anyone deny his proof in the same way the blessed perfection came from persia which is not an important nation of the world he did not go to school and yet so much knowledge was manifest in him that we must confess that it is impossible to deny his wisdom and his divinity so universal were the bounties of the blessed perfection that the very stones and trees mourned his departure everything sent from god is proof enough for the peoples of the world to accept and believe the manifestations of god are sent when most needed there were nineteen letters of the living who accepted the bab the blessed perfection himself spread the bab's message great and learned men likewise embraced his cause they were mullahs or clergy of the muhammadans one of them is known as the king of the martyrs on account of his death for the cause they were celebrated for their great knowledge and learning the manifestation of god is proof of himself just as the sun is its own greatest and sufficient proof the sun says i am proof in the ancient times the women of egypt thought joseph was an angel no proof was necessary but his own beauty and excellence the proof was himself people of sight and perception see at a glance what the blind and incapable can never see another great proof of a manifestation is his power to develop souls miracles are but secondary proofs our first and important duty is to ascertain if the real physician has come to heal the spiritual sickness of the world to learn if the commander of the hosts of righteousness has appeared to prove the appearance of a true manifestation of god if in crossing the ocean everyone on board the ship should assume the authority of captain where would be the safety of the ship and its passengers it would be impossible to reach the destination if everybody was captain then after we have found the captain of the ship of truth it is our duty to obey him submit to his wisdom and be guided by him into eternal life before each manifestation a sign appears in both the material and spiritual heavens it is the appearance of a literal star and the rise of a man as a forerunner the forerunner announces the manifestation of the promised one before moses appeared a messenger came to the hebrews bidding them prepare for his manifestation john the baptist came before christ the manifestations are greater or less in degree according to the message they are able to reveal muhammad was preceded by a forerunner or announcer before the manifestation of this day as it is the full reality of revelation there were two heralds ahmad and it will be a long time before the rise of another manifestation the manifestations are like seas some seas such as the caspian are alone and separated from all the others some like the mediterranean are connected with the great body of the ocean itself the manifestation in muhammad was like the caspian alone and separate the bab and the blessed perfection are as the mediterranean and the ocean the manifestations are as suns in the heaven of the divine will sometimes the sun and moon are far apart for instance in the middle of the month they are one hundred eighty degrees from each other but in the beginning and end of the lunar month they are only one degree apart in the koran muhammad prophesied that in this day the sun and moon will meet in heaven that is the spiritual sun and moon of this dispensation will rise together in the form of man we should thank god continually that we live in this day of a manifestation of god the manifestation ended with the blessed perfection the cycle of the sun and moon is finished i am nothing but the servant of god some in america are looking for a third christ or personage this is only imagination some call me christ this also is imagination the cycle of the blessed perfection will last for a long time the next manifestation will not be so great as this one when he appears he will not be an independent one do they realize that i make no claim for myself i have sacrificed everything my body my comfort my station all to the blessed perfection baha'u'llah is the consummation of all degrees he is the revelation of all truth and light whereas the revelation of other prophets had to be spread by the sword baha'u'llah commanded that we must be killed rather than kill so he was the consummation of all degrees of revelation which preceded him end of section four Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M.

Grundy Section 5 spiritual development abdul baha sent for me i found him in a little room opening from the courtyard he was sitting upon a raised chair his beautiful face majestic in repose and strength turned toward the only window he greeted me joyfully both the daughters were present he said i want you to carry away from acca the joy and peace of the spiritual life i answered it would be impossible for me to be in this atmosphere of spirit as i have been and not receive wonderful benefit he continued god is like the calm and limitless sea his bounty is overflowing and illimitable in our physical selves we are like the animals yet in some ways the animals are even higher than men they are more restful and composed more trustful and reliant upon the bounty of god more in the flow of his will the birds of mount carmel are his creatures they can fly to the highest branches of the trees and build their nests from the tree-tops the bird can enjoy the beautiful view of sea and mountain by its power of sight all this beauty exists for us as well the love of god the beauty of god is everywhere and exists for man if he will but rise to spiritual heights open his spiritual vision and behold it is the king free as the bird is free to fly upward the king's head is often heavy with anxiety and the things of this world which hold him down the true pleasure and happiness depend upon the spiritual perception and enjoyment the powers of mind are the bounties of god given to man to lead him towards spiritual happiness the highest grace in man is to love god love of god knowledge of god is the greatest the only real happiness because it is nearness to god this is the kingdom of god to love god is to know him to know him is to enter his kingdom and be near him this is what i desire for you that you may walk in this path i answered now that you have shown me the way i wish to walk in this heavenly path he said you are near to god and day by day you will progress by the knowledge of god towards spiritual joy then you will be a source of guidance to others in you they will now behold another person in fact everybody will witness the change in your life you must develop spiritual love in yourself and in them physical love is very different from spiritual love to awaken spiritual love in others is to attain peace and joy for yourself i said i wish to teach this message of light and truth but i feel that my efforts are small and unimportant he answered the mountain is large but it has no intelligence the diamond is small but it is filled with light the elephant produces no melody the nightingale's song is like the music of heaven i will pray that you may become the recipient of the bounties of god you will be filled with power because the spirit will speak through you you must not bring unhappiness to others in the future sacrifice yourself more and more in the cause of god then the love of god will grow and grow in your heart i told him my regret in leaving the household where everything is in such peace and harmony he said you are always here in spirit you will never be absent now i asked what shall i say to those who state that they are satisfied with christianity and do not need this present manifestation he answered let them alone what would they do if a former king had reigned and a new king was now seated upon the throne they must acknowledge the new king or they are not true subjects of the kingdom last year there was a springtime can a man say i do not need a new springtime this year the old springtime is enough for me no the new spring must come to fill the earth with beauty and brightness the sun rose this morning shall we say to the sun go away we do not need you this morning you were here yesterday if we strive to upbuild this cause with faith and love in our hearts it will overpower all the science philosophy and metaphysics of this day i myself am surprised at the wonderful things that are happening the word of god shows such power and penetration that all will be surprised and astonished at its advance i said i will pray to be assisted and strengthened he replied god will help you in this then he continued do everything in your power to help the poor and needy serve god in this way the poor are the trust of god give the message to every listening soul give them whatever they can take of it in persia there was a man who could not read or write yet he was the cause of guidance to many great men in this truth by his pure love of god if you will turn to god he will turn to you and assist you he will make you eloquent he will make you irresistible by his wisdom the tongue speaks from the heart and if you are sincere god will speak for you help and assist others to see this truth as you do be their guide and helper this message is vital to young and old in it the young must make more progress and bring forth more fruit than the old just as young and vigorous trees yield the most fruit to the gardener christ said ye shall know the tree by its fruits meaning whether the fruits be good or bad much or little those who are born of the spirit have all the divine qualities of growth without these qualities they are nothing but mere men and women they are not spiritually alive they are without the power of growth christ said they were dead let all your thoughts be upon this so that the believers and others will know that you have the spiritual spring within your soul and have attained a newness of life this is complete happiness the only peace after a while you will realize that you have been in the presence of the blessed perfection you are always in the presence of god open the windows of your soul so his presence may be within you souls differ in their capacity to receive and manifest the light of the spirit the blessed perfection said there are as many ways to god as the breaths of his human creatures each soul must develop according to its individual capacity peter differed from john paul from barnabas yet all of them were filled with the light of the spirit of christ therefore it follows that as each soul has its own possibility of development it is necessary for each soul to stand alone before god no one can stand for you in the presence of god in the last day as the soul grows its capacity increases capacity is the measure of development love is the evidence of capacity when we love humanity as god loves us we have reached the perfect station eternal life is then ours and this mortal world can give us nothing more do good each day if only by speaking a kind word knowledge of god is attained through desire and patience we must knock at the door of truth and seek god with earnestness ignorance is as much our natural condition as knowledge is our condition of development a good conscience is the divinity within us that needs to be awakened and which shapes our eternal destiny all souls come into this world through the bounty of god and have equal right of development the soul is affected by its hereditary qualities but no matter what its condition it never loses the possibility of being quickened by the fire of the spirit of god one brain may work quicker than another one soul may acquire intelligence easier than another but the power and presence of the spirit does not depend upon mental capacity the disciples of christ were humble fishermen while the learned pharisees failed to see him the soul or mental intelligence awakes in the mother's womb spirit enters when the conscience is quickened and the soul awakes to eternal realities jesus said the true worship is to worship god in spirit and in truth for such worshippers as these the spirit seeketh therefore as all souls have capacity for enkindlement by the spirit and as we all may be assisted by its divine power we must will to receive it some behold in a seed only a hard black substance while others see in it the life principle a tree leaves and fruit the true believer in baha ullah brings forth leaves and fruit proving that the life principle within him has been awakened and quickened people are not sure of this being the reality and complete truth it is bound to be true if we see spiritual growth in souls from the blessed perfections planting christ spake the parable of the seed the seed contained the truth some of the seed was wasted he said and some that grew up was choked by human teachings for instance by associating with people who do not believe in god the growth of the spirit is stopped when we find believers in this condition we should strive to get them into different surroundings and under better influences they need a physician the most needy are the ones to help first the poor are always with us christ said meaning those who are without the teachings of the word they are our charge and responsibility during the greek turkish war the condition of the turkish soldiers was frightful the people appointed a commission to raise money for their relief many contributed for a while but finally nobody but myself gave to help them the soldiers complained that they were receiving less and less assistance the governor replied to them that all they were getting came from the hand of abbas effendi and that all other donations had ceased the soldiers showed no gratitude for what they were receiving but on the contrary complained bitterly against their benefactors just so we cry out to god have mercy upon us when god is the only giver of bounty to us war is a grievous calamity it begins and ends in disaster a mother has a beautiful boy filled with every grace and promise he develops into manhood goes to war and in an instant all his possibilities and usefulness are cut off end of section five Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 6 return of the spirit in the book of ikan we can read the word of god concerning the true reincarnation which is the return of the spiritual qualities in the servants of god in the gospel it is written that they asked john the baptist if he was elijah and that he answered plainly i am not elijah appeared long before jesus when the christ came he was veiled in a cloud from the eyes of the jews a voice came out of the cloud saying this is my beloved son clouds and darkness gradually obscure all the former manifestations although they are promised and expected they are refused during their earthly life on account of the spiritual blindness of the people elijah came but was not recognized in john it was not the person or entity of elijah but his perfection and qualities which john embodied the flowers of last year will come again this year we can say they have returned not the actual substance of the former flowers but their colour perfume and perfection have returned some are awaiting the coming of christ in the clouds of heaven he has already come in the heart if you believe while those who do not believe in the revelation of baha ullah cannot see him on account of clouds and veils many people are going out of the churches dissatisfied with religious teaching it is because they do not see spiritually spiritual relationship at dinner a violent rainstorm swept in from the sea may we all live in the sea of reality and be filled with the love of god thank god we are in the ark of the covenant see what great blessings god has showered upon us how many people of persia looked upon the blessed perfection yet they do not know as you know you have reached this station while they are deprived there are two kinds of relationship physical and spiritual the highest and greatest is the spiritual the physical is of no importance it is very good to possess both in each other god be praised at this table we are joined in spiritual relationship We are all of one family because we are under the shadow of the blessed perfection.

look at the earth of itself it is worthless yet it can reflect the light and heat of the sun clouds gather the rains descend and the earth becomes fruitful in the same way the spirit of god gives life to the soul of man and the breeze of god awakens the soul from its sleep peter was only a catcher of fishes yet his attainment was very great ananias the high priest was much greater in the eyes of the world yet he was deprived while peter received the bounty of god spiritual relationship is the true familyhood of god's children the bab had many relatives he particularly wished that his mother should believe in this revelation and attain christ said that his mother mary was not of his relationship also that those were his brothers and sisters who were in the kingdom of god obedience today we will speak about obedience the manifestation of god is a perfect example of real obedience like him we must sacrifice everything every plan every longing and ideal must be given up completely to the will of god we must look to god for all we desire all we attain the will of god must outwork its purposes in us our human will must be laid down in sacrifice and love abdul baha has given everything in sacrifice and obedience to the will of god am only his servant nothing more all our soul powers our outward self our inward self must be consecrated to god in service and sacrifice even life must be given if necessary if we have not reached this station of nothingness we have not attained to real obedience to the will of god a pupil must submit entirely to the will of the teacher this is true sacrifice true obedience real obedience and real sacrifice are identical absolute readiness to follow and perform whatever you are called upon to do in the cause of god when you really love god you will be willing to sacrifice everything and submit yourself entirely to his will consecrate yourself wholly to him his will is everything his service paramount if they were to burn me kill or torture me no matter what affliction may descend upon me i shall welcome it as one welcomes pleasure these are precious moments in acca so precious we wish they might never end how is the bahai faith progressing in america after your return the believers will be in a much stronger and better condition but this cannot be unless they see and know the will and desire of god i have no wish but his will his will is abdul if each human creature had his own will and way spiritual development would be impossible the soldiers in an army are under the will and control of one commander therefore they are united and can press on to victory if each soldier carried out his own inclination and desire there would be just that many different intentions and nothing would be accomplished one thousand soldiers under the control of a commander can overthrow and defeat any number of disorganized troops without a directing will all would be conquered and defeated be sure therefore that if the believers are not united in the will of god they will not be assisted this is especially necessary because all of them are under the tent of the covenant in this revelation there is strength only in unity under one tent there is union and harmony the covenant of god in this day of manifestation is a lifeboat an ark of salvation all true followers of the blessed perfection are sheltered and protected in this ark whoever leaves it trusting in his own will and strength will drown and be destroyed for the blessed perfection left no possibility for discord disagreement and dissension the covenant is like the sea and the believers are as the fishes in the sea if a fish leaves the water it cannot live there is nothing to equal nothing so effective as the covenant of god to bring about and continue unity christ said to peter thou art the rock upon which i will build my church therefore all the disciples followed peter and there was no dissension among them the blessed perfection wrote a testament or covenant with his own pen so that no one who obeys it will deny or disobey god this point is expressed very clearly in the covenant he revealed therefore there can be no possibility no position of disobedience he knew that muhammad ali would disobey the covenant by violating the covenant he has become a fallen branch the covenant was also written by muhammad ali's own hand from dictation of the blessed perfection who knew he would disobey what cause of union could be greater than the covenant god has revealed through his manifestation baha ullah many of those who followed muhammad ali are coming back after the departure of baha ullah all the beautiful blossoms upon the tree of life were destroyed by muhammad ali and must now be grown again by the love of abdul the work and mission of abdul baha is very great no one could express the grief which followed the turning away from the covenant by muhammad ali we should be thankful that the blessed perfection foreseeing this action ordained a centre of the covenant through which by allegiance and love we may protect and preserve the revelation of god at the time muhammad ali denied the covenant and occasioned so much grief and suffering the perfect calmness and spiritual strength of the holy leaf were most remarkable the blessed perfection devotedly loved abdul baha and when he appeared his expression would change from gravity to one of great happiness and joy before his ascension the blessed perfection realizing the trouble muhammad ali would bring about would say O to be pitied, Master! For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Nicholas James Bridgewater Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M.

He also knew and announced the year of the manifestation of Baha'u'llah, who first declared himself near Baghdad.

Thereupon the name Baha'u'llah descended upon him.

10 Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 13 from the mother of the household she said i regret indeed that i cannot speak your language you also feel your need of persian persian is most important in this day as it is the language of the word we will understand each other perfectly in the spiritual world a tradition of muhammad says blessed is the one who sleeps one night in acca he also said they who rest in acca shall be honoured even though they know it not again blessed is the one who has seen the one who is in acca the eyes of the muhammadans in acca are spiritually closed then she read to us in persian from the tablet of ishraqat she continued the house of justice will be established men will watch over this house day and night the people will come to it for protection they must obey its laws and be attentive to its commands it will be the sun of wisdom which will distribute light to the politics of the whole world the people of wealth honor and power must turn to religion as the evident light and firm fortress of humanity our duty is to be kind to everybody and avoid wrong-doing the light of the world is religion without it we live in darkness the blessed perfection commanded all the people of the world to establish peace the kings of the world must unite they are the dawning places and rising places of the will of god to assist them we must strive to obey the laws of god the wisdom of god is revealed in two lights the sun and the moon just as in the material world one the moon is the consolation or the mercy to the world the other the sun is the foundation upon which the world must build what shall be our reward and punishment we ask the victorious armies of god are made up of good deeds and actions these are the soldiers of his army the commander of the army is righteousness and guidance toward god the true helper the king must know his subjects and reward or punish them according to their merits so those who are dishonest servants may not receive what the good are rightly entitled to so it is with those who come to acca when the blessed perfection was six years of age he had a vision he saw himself fall into the sea in the water his long hair became shining like the sun and spread out around him like a golden net all the fishes large and small came swimming toward him holding to the strands of his hair the fishes came closer and closer following him as he swam through the waters which were shining like the sun the fishes were countless in number when he awoke he told his vision to his father who was an important man of persia his father consulted a wise man named abdul karim who interpreted visions for the kings abdul karim said your son will be a great man the water is knowledge and the fishes swimming about him are the people of all nations who will come to be taught by his wisdom he will be forced away and separated from earthly things and will reflect the light of the word of god give the message whenever you are called even if it be in china abdul baha has often prayed that his conditions might become more severe in order that his strength to meet them might be increased this blessing has always followed his prayer in prayer we must seek for strength to meet conditions the garment with which god will clothe you when you teach will be an armor of protection against all assault the teachers in this cause will be as planets in the heavens illuminating the great world of the west teaching is the crown of action this was the crown jesus bestowed upon his disciples the blessed perfection said when the sun of my beauty has set be not disturbed nor troubled for i will see you from the highest horizon and help those who arise in my cause all existence is in conformity with divine law this law is and must be universal it is a natural order and there can be no deviation in its action man must conform to divine law that which is at variance with the truth and reality of god cannot stand against the action of divine will or law the law of god which punishes and destroys is at the same time eternal life to those who obey it it is necessary for the soul to prove the message and reach a station of belief through its own power of judgment you can see at once.

when the soul is firm and steadfast in its faith it instantly reflects the light are many firm in america even the greatest are sometimes weak peter for instance the bob was a supremely holy soul he went to school at the age of six his teacher confessed that he could not teach him saying he knows more than i do the same teacher was one of the bab's most devoted followers and was afterward martyred section thirteen section fourteen of ten days in the light of acca 10 Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 14 talks from mirza asadullah persian is the language of the word because baha'u'llah revealed himself in it god be praised that you have come to acca mr m is a teacher it is well that he has come to abdul baha as a pupil he should come to learn how abdul baha teaches this revelation is like beautiful writing which the teacher sets forth as an example for the devoted pupils to copy it is from god all who teach must come to learn in order that they may give forth truth to others christ's teaching came forth after his ascension he was the example by washing the feet of his disciples he taught them the lesson of servitude and love he set forth his qualities and they followed him every day of your stay in acca will be as a year this will be evident to you after you have returned to america here asadullah remained silent not speaking for a long time then we asked him to talk he said it is not difficult for me to talk that is my work why is it so because i look upon the universe for my knowledge whereas the teaching of science and philosophy are from books and books are faulty the whole world is my book therefore it is no trouble for me to talk for i simply speak of what i see in this great volume it would tire my eyes to read the books of science weary my brain to repeat and remember all they say when i read the book of the universe i read the essence of all books all the prophets of god read this book and were taught in this way those who love true knowledge know in this manner when a prophet appeared bringing a new message of truth he was considered crazy the prophets are able to speak from different standpoints because their knowledge is from god and not from books where are the books of men they perish and are destroyed the book of god is everlasting imperishable messages from god are as points of beginning they are sources of light and knowledge in the persian alphabet you will find points or dots which change and form the letters these letters form words the words make sentences and the sentences express thoughts for instance beginning with the letter alif or a then alif b or ob and so on by addition of other letters and words until the meaning is conveyed in the first point in alif the meaning was hidden waiting to be revealed the meaning was not opened until the book and its sentences were formed with as a source or first point so it is with the seed and flower the flower is in the seed and comes from it at maturity thus words gather together make a chapter and the chapters form a book the prophets from the point of oneness with god composed a holy book the world is a book it proceeds from the point of oneness the bab said i am the point of the book of the world all things are good if we see aright a flower is beautiful we desire to smell it and possess it when we see something ugly we wish to get away from it once we possess something good it is always beautiful therefore truth and righteousness are forever beautiful the prophets came into the world as living examples so the people might acquire their good qualities and perfections the resvan is not in its full beauty at this season of the year but when its flowers are in bloom when you breathe their many and varied fragrances which fill the air in summer when you look upon their lovely glorious faces you are made happy all your senses are delighted your nostrils are saluted by the heavenly odors your eyes are greeted by matchless colors you taste delicious fruits you hear the sweet song of the birds all this beauty is for your benefit intended to make you happy then why not praise god for the beauty of the garden in which everything praises god but if you go to another place which does not contain these beauties you wish to hurry away immediately for instance a swamp infested with gnats and mosquitoes this is only natural thus it is with the people of god who show forth the beauty and graces of god in their attitude toward humanity we long to be with them we love the beauty of their good qualities they refresh our spiritual senses we are filled with their beauty they are the flowers and fruits in the garden of abha in the resvan of the blessed perfection now i will tell you something about an orange it will encourage you as a teacher in this truth for each one you teach will be the means of leading twenty others into the same pure light out of one seed by planting you may produce one thousand oranges the outcome increasing in greater and greater proportion so it is with the word of god a teacher drops a seed the one he teaches teaches another and in the end the outcome of your planting will be one thousand believers if this increase is certain in the vegetable kingdom how much higher and greater the result in the kingdom of men just as the description of acca by one who has lived here is different from your own impressions as you drive through these streets and actually see for yourself so it is with the real disciples of abdul without knowing the question asked him i gather from what he says the attitude of the seeker his words cover every phase of a question a perfect discourse must meet and fill everybody's requirements to teach aright one must wander through the wilderness of human ideas as i have done then you will learn the secret of teaching by meeting all sorts of people and discussing and answering every kind of question no one loves to teach more than i do with my own tongue but the truth and reality of interpretation must be given according to the form of abdul baha's teaching the one desire of a teacher should be to reflect the truth as a mirror on the face of the listener the teacher should see what is needed and desired so that he may give forth that which will confirm strengthen and develop the one taught that is to say there is a key of knowledge which will unlock any door and enable us to enter with the message of truth this may sound difficult but it is easy to prove if you possess it you must lead the seeker into the right road then progress is straight ahead in chicago i taught many ladies i will now give you a beautiful lesson for you are a comparatively new believer a new child in the kingdom of al abha human hearts are like mirrors and their light is the knowledge of god if the light should be dim the mirror cannot reflect the knowledge of god but the light of god is never dim we can always depend upon its standard purity and power depend upon the light and it will always increase in power and illumination to you the great need is to keep the mirror polished and clean and its face always turned toward the light when the mirror is pure you will have perfect knowledge full power and true light the more faith one has in the heart the more the mirror is kept turned toward god and the more fixed the soul becomes upon god the greater the firmness the greater the understanding then the greater the peace and so on if you do not grow after you see the light shining from your words it is your own neglect and failure the spirit of man is the cradle of the lord in it there comes the new birth the new being which is to live forever if you teach but a few souls you have attained to spiritual greatness from each one you will gain a hundred spiritual children you are in the kingdom gratitude and love will guide them to you you will be like a lamp the souls you have illumined have been lighted from your flame you will be the focus of the rays the center from which they come christ taught peter peter planted the seed and a thousand souls arose in the kingdom of christ the blessed perfection would teach one soul and from that one a multitude would be raised up when the heart is pure it will be guided and directed in the truth and power to teach will be given to you end of section section fifteen of ten days in the light of akka this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org recording by nicholas james bridgewater ten days in the light of acca by julia m grundy section fifteen sometimes in america i had no one to translate for me to speak in the language of love we must have an instrument through which that love may manifest itself love lives in the heart even if one tries to hide it and is unwilling to speak it forth love in the heart becomes evident and speaks in our actions for instance suppose i have a strong desire to perform some action can i do it without the hand to carry out my desire it is through actions that qualities and attributes express themselves the rose is revealed through its colour perfume and outer beauty knowledge is our greatest possession but we cannot give it to others without speech or writing if we do not express it in this way it remains hidden and unrevealed take for instance a quality like mercy or generosity if we do not use the tongue and bring forth these attributes they are hidden concealed therefore all the human and divine qualities become visible through the powers god has given to man and through the powers god himself possesses the tongue the eyes the ears are necessary to perfect man and enable him to express reality god created man with the intention that man should perfect his powers if we did not possess these qualities and the powers to express them we could not reflect the work of god god has said through his manifestation i have created man and through man my likeness is revealed man can therefore attain a very high station by reflecting the attributes of god this power of expression is the spirit independence is man's greatest gift the knowledge of good and evil makes us responsible otherwise we would be as the angels who are messengers of divine purpose so it came to pass that man was made of the dust and from the earth he should appear and be developed into a high station this is reflected everywhere in creation the eyes ears all the body of man evidence this high purpose a child's knowledge does not depend upon the size of a child but upon the capacity of its mind mountain is very large but it does not possess understanding a bird is small by comparison yet it has life and the power of flight which the mountain has not do not look at your own inability and shortcomings when you wish to teach this truth look at the power and bounty of god which are limitless when man looks at himself the view is hopeless because he sees no ability and capacity in himself alone.

It remains for the soul of man to follow them in these paths of eternal life through the exercise of its own human will.

The House of Justice The House of Justice must be obeyed in all things because it has been established by the blessed perfection.

The Council of Constantine decided many things wisely, but its power and influence did not continue because it was not established by Christ himself.

It was founded upon the words of Christ interpreted according to the ideas of men.

The House of Justice will be appointed by the people.

It must be obeyed because it is the law of God expressed through the people by their own will and voice.

In this day, we are near to the source of true religion and the law of God before revelation has been corrupted by the interpretations of men.

The true believer is one who follows the manifestation of God in all things.

This is constantly on my mind.

In particular, I'm thinking about a statement that the Universal House of Justice offered a few years ago.

Actually, when they were writing about development in general, they said that the oneness of humankind is at once our ultimate goal and our operating principle.

Even more recently, the Universal House of Justice, writing about the systematic development of the Baha'i faith around the world, said there are no shortcuts.

Well, I'm trying to think about this far from equilibrium state, and I wanted to share with you initially a brief description of the situation as I understand it.

Shoghi Effendi said that there are these three stages or ages of the faith.

is when we ask the difficult issues, when we find ourselves in an uncomfortable position.

Well, I wanted to ask you to consider that there's really a purpose for all this, far from equilibrium state.

For years, the Bahá’í National Assembly negotiated to recover the site, but without a building design, the future of the project remained uncertain.

Meanwhile, in Tehran, a young architect named Fariborz Sahba was working as an associate architect on the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, the Bahá’í Faith’s international governing body.

Sahba was still in his late twenties, but he had already led design teams on several important projects in Iran and received recognition from the country’s Ministry of Housing.

One evening after a meeting, Sahba drove home a respected Bahá’í leader named Dr. Rahmatullah Muhajir.

The flowers differ in color and perfume, yet they receive growth.

beauty and bounty from the one god and are developed by this same divine breeze truth is like the light which is always the same the souls of believers are as mirrors which reflect the light truth is like the light of a candle which does not vary yet the candlestick which holds it may change each year the rose is the same beautiful flower although it appears in different gardens what will be the food of the future fruit and grains the time will come when meat will no longer be eaten medical science is only in its infancy yet it has shown that our natural diet is that which grows out of the ground the people will gradually develop up to the condition of this natural food there is no appointed length of life for man lengthen your life by living according to god's spiritual laws then you will live forever this is the true longevity the real life the real life is eternal happiness and existence in the knowledge of god jesus was a dyer by trade he also lived in egypt out of egypt have i called my son matthew to fifteen hosea eleven one was spoken of jesus the fifth gospel which is considered non-canonical gave other history of jesus than is contained in the gospels of the new testament there were fifty gospels but only four were accepted as genuine by the priesthood spirit is the highest and supreme development of the soul soul is the material or outer self the mind mind is the action of the soul's powers the body is the physical covering or medium in which the mind acts and functions at death everything but spirit is destroyed and becomes extinct the prophets and holy men always went into the wilderness to pray many of them walked upon mount carmel and communed with god true religion has nothing to do with human imagination god's will is independent of human opinion personal ideas and mere human prejudice are the great obstacles to spiritual growth for instance some difference of opinion arises between two believers in god each expects the lord to support his view of the question the word of god is perfect and arbitrary in its perfection when there is difference of view there is absence of the spirit the word is the only standard of truth discord and disagreement are impossible among those who adhere to the manifestation and sever themselves from human opinion there are no heads in this cause all are servants if all the world should combine to overthrow the covenant it could not succeed abdul baha loves all no matter how they turn away from him whether they love or hate him go or come he never changes in his love for them the blessed perfection has left nothing undone what he ordained can never be set aside everything in life ministers to our development our lesson is to study and learn money and difficulties are alike advantages to us tests are either stumbling-blocks or stepping-stones just as we make them the prophets of the word could not sin they possess the power and will to violate the will of god but the desire to do so is never present in them knowing the perfect fruit of oneness they have no inclination toward that which is imperfect like beautiful flowers they do not change in beauty even when surrounded by foul conditions there are two kinds of suffering one subtle the other gross the subtle suffering is hatred anger fear and torment which follows evil actions of the soul the gross suffering is imprisonment chastisement and physical pain of martyrdom at the time of muhammad he sanctioned war for the preservation of the lives of his followers the laws of individual justice were confused and preliminary in the souls of men therefore the law of general justice of the community was revealed by this prophet he commanded his followers to carry the religion of god by the sword when a man is about to take poison it is right to dash the cup from his hand even with extreme violence it will inflict injury but at the same time save his life there must be a law to prevent the wolves from destroying the lambs at such a period of religious history that is why the shepherd sanctioned such vigorous protection for the sheep behind such laws of a manifestation there is always a supreme wisdom during dinner abdul baha ate entirely with his fingers after a while he said in the east there are many peoples who never use a knife or fork to eat with their fingers is custom among them just as the western nations have their own peculiar customs we must each view with respect the customs of the other there is a kind of food which needs neither knife nor fork and of which everyone may partake with perfect ease and benefit it is the food spiritual this food brings life and stimulation instead of indolence and apathy it brings peace and content to the one who partakes of it the more food the more joy and peace for the spirit is always eager to furnish sustenance to the soul illusion cannot convey what reality teaches christ said what has happened in the past will happen again in the future the reason of this is that all things are under the operation of divine law which is the same today yesterday and forever by this the spiritual eye may discern that which is authentic in the scriptures sow the seeds of love in the heart and not the seeds of hatred the reflection in the glass proves whether we are laughing or frowning by our actions we reveal what is growing in the heart actions are mirrors of the soul these are precious and wonderful days in akka each day is as a year your visit cannot be measured merely by the length of time you have been here the real spiritual visit will be after you have gone some who remain but one day go away filled and enkindled with the spirit of god they are like the dry wood which bursts into flame as soon as it touches the fire so it is with a lamp the oil within it responds instantly to the fire and gives forth light the soul which possesses sight can see in a moment while the blind never see an awakened soul is like a precious pearl in the midst of a load of pebbles which have but little value to some it is given to hear and know the message of life in a short time while others hear and receive nothing even though they make a long stay in this holy place we should not be occupied with our failings and weakness but concern ourselves about the will of god so that it may flow through us thereby healing these human infirmities faith is not so much what we believe as what we carry out end of section one section two of ten days in the light of akka this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org recording by nicholas james bridge ten days in the light of acca by julia m grundy in america you have only received a taste of the spiritual food which is to come to you some will arise to serve the cause of god in your land who will sacrifice themselves entirely they will be given great power from god when they come forth to do his will concentrate the soul upon god so that it may become as a fountain pouring out the water of life to a thirsty world live up to the principles of sacrifice the world will then become as nothing and be without power to attract you away from god sacrifice your will to the will of god the kingdom is attained by the one who forgets self everything becomes yours by renunciation of everything a lion wolf and fox went hunting they captured a wild ass a gazelle and a hare the lion said to the wolf divide the spoil the wolf said that is easy the ass for yourself the gazelle for me and the hare for the fox the lion bit off the wolf's head saying you are not a good divider then turning to the fox he said you divide the fox said the ass the gazelle and the hare are yours the lion looking at him said because you have accounted yourself as nothing you may take all the prey the miracles of christ were spiritual teachings not literal what is the greatness in man his spiritual attributes no one can destroy his spiritual qualities they are from god tests are like fire which purifies how will the masses be benefited by this revelation the revelation of baha'u'llah contains all the great laws and principles of social government the basis of god's perfect laws is love for humanity and help for human needs if all people followed this revelation the masses would be immeasurably uplifted and the cause of god glorified this development of humanity will be gradual not sudden it will surely come to pass it is impossible to swim against the current of niagara teaching the truth is like building bridges by which humanity may cross over the current which threatens the world must come to know the word in christ how he was mocked scorned and laughed at yet his mission was to uplift the very world which refused him realization of this will bring tears to the eyes of those who deny him cause them to grow silent and thoughtful christ is always christ what is the best way to benefit humanity guidance to god what is dearer to man than life so therefore leading a soul to eternal life is the greatest blessing and benefit you can bestow upon that soul when does our responsibility cease in giving the message when we give the message we develop ourselves our own heart is opened when we teach the heart of the listener the more we give the more we get therefore as this is the means of our own development we should never cease teaching our responsibility remains as long as we have a listener what is the best thing to do when met by a difficult question a sincere worker in the cause of god is always assisted by the divine spirit when such questions arise the truth will flow through you if you stand in the right attitude toward the truth in the spiritual station you will never be without the knowledge necessary to answer a question with spiritual food the capacity to know increases with the will to serve what is sacrifice giving up everything in the cause of god and following his will no matter where it leads we must not have desire for anything else but god we must entirely forget self to be perfected we must give up everything in the cause of god judgment reason will everything to hold back anything is to be imperfect the thing we hold most dear is the thing to give this is real sacrifice upon which finger should the ring with the greatest name be worn the right hand is the hand of honor in the east wearing it upon this hand attracts attention and causes comment but the real place to wear the greatest name is in the heart what is prayer attitude or word prayer is both attitude and word it depends upon the soul condition it is like a song both words and music make the song sometimes the melody will move us sometimes the words what will be the future of this teaching know and realize the greatness of the cause into which you have entered look not at the present the day will come when there will not be a house which does not contain a believer in this revelation one book or tablet of the blessed perfection is more comprehensive than fifty volumes of the world's greatest wisdom the books and words of god have been sealed and the meanings locked all the sacred mysteries were sealed but now baha'u'llah has broken the seals revealed the meanings and we can understand the realities my greatest wish is to teach this message abdul baha said i will pray god to assist you it has often happened that one who is not able to teach would be sent forth and when the time came that one would be found powerful and eloquent one man of this kind in the east has even written a book two jewish children have written a beautiful commentary proving the cause of christ muhammad and the blessed perfection two unbelievers in the centre of the covenant have recently returned and are serving with zeal in the vineyard of god belief in this revelation is a priceless spiritual blessing just as a child will give up a jewel of great price for a sugar-plum so men will exchange the truth for a treasure of earth the bab said one glance from the eye of he whom god shall manifest is worth all the wealth of the world in this one look we can attain life everlasting resurrection from the dead and the treasures of heaven the revelation of baha'u'llah is not mere history it is the voice and will of god if we guard the seed of immortality it will bring forth the tree of eternal life this is the true realization of the manifestation's coming his mission is accomplished when we enter the spiritual kingdom and attain immortality god be praised this is the spiritual sight peter perceived christ when thousands of jews saw him not peter reached that station at once this knowledge is the glance from the eye of god it is more precious than all the wealth of the world abdul baha visited us in the afternoon he said speech is necessary and good between soul and soul nothing of this world is eternal the highest longing and ambition of some people is to be a king or queen but at the last even the great ones of earth must perish even the earthly personality of jesus has come and gone only by serving god do we attain everlasting life all our fame and glory should be in service to him this will never perish live in the cause of god this is the harmony of the universe shine in the horizon of his will life is wasted if not spiritual be of the spirit not of the body the light of the body is the eye the eye of conscience stands between the power of knowledge and the spiritual world does your soul feel as sure of god as your eye is sure of nature blessed are the pure in heart they shall see god once i was in prison under the ground and in chains yet i was happy because i was not deprived of spiritual sight i tell you this so that when you hear of my troubles and difficulties in the future you may know that i am spiritually happy i am showing you the way of true happiness by comparing the future with the past you may understand no matter what the future brings forth firmness is the beginning of spiritual happiness christ appeared in palestine and was held in contempt because he was from nazareth only twelve believed in him one deserted him there were other believers but they were not strong they were troubled with doubts and afterward fell away mary magdalene held steadfastly to christ and made others firm god will assist all who are firm in his cause firmness is the beginning of spiritual happiness spirituality is the possession of a good pure heart when the heart is pure the spirit enters and our growth is natural and assured every one is better informed of the condition of his own soul than the souls of others our responsibility to god increases with our years the government is upon the shoulder of abdul baha he bears a burden of human griefs and troubles yet helps all and is happy for he has cut himself from the world end of section two Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 3 love how can we love another whose personality is unpleasant see how the enemies of christ persecuted and crucified him yet he loved them all man is like a tree the tree lives to produce fruit the fruit of man is love it is easy for us to love a friend or even an animal but how difficult to love one who is without attraction yet if the love of god is shining in our hearts we like christ may see that love reflected in every personality and love all alike What is the difference between universal and individual love? we must love all humanity as the children of god even if they kill us we must die with love for them it is not possible for us to love everybody with a personal love but we must love all humanity alike man is capable of attaining a supreme station through the manifestation of love god created man to attain a supreme station man must reflect the love of god there are many stages or kinds of love in the beginning god through his love created man man is the highest product of his love and the purpose of man's existence is to reflect this love of god in his soul but man in his egotism and love of self turns away from his creator and thereby prevents the accomplishment of the divine plan the manifestations appear to show man the way to god through love by them man is brought to the condition of severance from his egotism and being absorbed into the ocean of love divine the three stages of love are therefore first god's love for man second man's love for self third man's love for god there is a profound a divine wisdom in love the light of god shines in the eyes when the heart is pure the home of religion is the heart soul and spirit compiled from abdul baha's teachings soul is the human will to live temporally spirit is the divine will to live forever salvation is the quickening of soul into spirit all souls are alike in essence or quality as created owing to environment soul needs differ rich and poor wise and ignorant etc environment has its dark side and its light side development has its good aspects and bad aspects sin is the absence of righteousness righteousness is doing the will of god all souls have a free will to choose or refuse the will of god each soul has its station of individuality in which it may develop itself but a soul cannot leave its own station for another station or individuality man accomplishes his true growth when the soul develops in its own station his station does not change simply his capacity for knowing god is increased and developed knowledge of god is the only spiritual development the power of the manifestations of god is beyond question inasmuch as human development invariably follows their teachings this development is unmistakably toward a higher existence every manifestation teaches the existence of god as their power is evident their knowledge must likewise be true the soul can prove the existence of god through its intellectual powers but the true perception of god is through the spiritual eye of the soul this knowledge transcends mere mental proof it is spiritual sight it is vision the atheist has intelligence of the mere mind his words denying the existence of god are in reality evidence that god exists the atheist's real station of development is not ours to judge or estimate spirit is oneness of vision and knowledge the mind has many attributes or powers the spirit is conscious perception when all the powers of the soul work together and are concentrated upon god the soul has its highest employment spirit is like the sun the source of all light alone in its station the mind or soul has many lights as the stars the mind or soul manifests itself throughout the whole body in perfect harmony the spirit or spirit of god manifests itself throughout the whole body of the universe and is in perfect harmony wherever manifest a wicked soul is the only thing out of harmony in the universe as it does not come into the flow of the divine will it is not of the spirit this failure of the soul has led man to believe that god will give the wicked soul another opportunity by allowing it to return in another body and atone for its failure there is no proof of this outside or inside the holy book of scriptures whatever is the destiny of the wicked soul in the hereafter we know that its development rests with the mercy of god a wicked soul lacking development is non-existent spiritually just as in the station of the tree the stone is non-existent because the stone lacks the powers and development of the tree therefore a soul which continues in a condition of non-development through violating the will of god suffers extinction and is spiritually non-existent the fields and flowers of the spiritual realm are pointed out to us by the manifestations who walk amid their glories it remains for the soul of man to follow them in these paths of eternal life through the exercise of its own human will the house of justice the house of justice must be obeyed in all things because it has been established by the blessed perfection the council of constantine decided many things wisely but its power and influence did not continue because it was not established by christ himself it was founded upon the words of christ interpreted according to the ideas of men the house of justice will be appointed by the people it must be obeyed because it is the law of god expressed through the people by their own will and voice in this day we are near to the source of true religion and the law of god before revelation has been corrupted by the interpretations of men the true believer is one who follows the manifestation of god in all things after the departure of baha'u'llah we are commanded to obey the house of justice i myself will obey the house of justice because it is founded upon the commands of the blessed perfection the council of constantine did not survive because it was not founded by christ but in this day the house of justice has been established by the manifestation of god it is the centre of true government and must be obeyed in all things it is the law of god embodied in the people reflecting his will and their need and desire not blindly following command in war both parties are wrong neither japan nor russia is fulfilling the law and will of god the kings and rulers of the world will find their true authority under the rulings of the house of justice the law of god will be vested in nineteen men who will compose the house of justice and render decisions war is never necessary it is always an expense and a calamity never a great help god utilizes even the wars of nations to carry out his ultimate purposes the house of justice will decide between kings and kings all judgment will be from the standpoint of god's laws then rich and poor will be alike justly treated when men are developed spiritually they obey god the rule of the house of justice will be the dominion of the spirit of god human will brings conditions to a climax in the affairs of nations the only solution and remedy is the administration of god's laws end of section three HEAVEN what is meant by heaven in the bible christ said that nothing could ascend into heaven except that which came down from heaven he also said i came from heaven and will return to heaven and the son of man is in heaven he said this while still upon the earth and notwithstanding the fact that he had been born of mary there is no doubt christ came from heaven and always was in heaven but when he spoke he did not mean the literal sky what then is meant by heaven science proves that there is no heaven or sky but all is limitless space and one universe in this limitless space the heavenly spheres revolve and have their orbits but the heaven of christ is that invisible world which is beyond the sight and comprehension of mere man it is the spiritual condition therefore the heaven of christ is the will of god the sun of that heaven will never set in it the moon and stars are always shining it is the limitless kingdom of god it is sanctified from all place christ is always there there elijah and the holy prophets live eternally it is sanctified from all comprehension the jews were deprived because they could not understand this spiritual condition the heaven of the material world is something else it is the sky overhead in which the clouds move this heaven is up to us and down to those upon the other side of the earth while vice versa their material heaven is down to us in the heavenly book it is said that the stars will fall from heaven where will they fall science proves that nearly all the stars are larger than the earth where will they find room to fall when the heart is pure and filled with the light of the spirit we will know that we are in the true heaven christ came from heaven and still the jews are sleeping the kingdom of heaven is within your soul let all people see that you have the light that they may recognize something in you which they themselves do not possess the manifestation when you give the message of this manifestation many say this is nothing new i prefer the home of my old religious belief which has been so serviceable and trustworthy abdul baha answered baha ullah is the same light in a new lamp to see we must look at the light and not at the lamp this is spiritual sight the sun is one orb but it has different rising points on the horizon one point was jesus one moses one baha ullah and so on therefore be a lover of the sun and worship it no matter at what point it may arise if you worship the dawning place you will fail to see the sun when it arises in another point of the horizon many stand at the old point and worship while they are losing the light of the sun in this manifestation true lovers of the sun worship the sun itself and not the point of its rising they see and know the light pray for those who stand worshipping the old rising-point of the sun spiritually blind to its new appearance upon the heavenly horizon spiritually deprived of its light and bounty the ministers and clergy do not accept the message on account of their position in the church as stars in heaven they have become darkened when the bab arose and declared his mission many of the clergy who had occupied positions found it necessary to give them up and follow his teaching many people likewise who hear the message are deprived of its glory because they receive it from one whom they deem less competent to know than themselves the word of god is revealed according to the degree of spiritual sight no matter who the messenger may be again people do not receive the manifestation of god because they are veiled by their imaginations imagination is one of our greatest powers and a most difficult one to rule imagination is the father of superstition for example two men are dear friends they love each other so much they never wish to be parted yet when one of them dies the other through fear dreads to be alone with the one he cared so much for in life his imagination controls him and fills him with fear and horror we are led astray by imagination even in violation of will and reason it is our test power we are tested by our ability to control and subdue it a man imagines he is wealthy some day real wealth comes to him but it is never what he imagined it would be imagination is our greatest misleader we hold to it until it becomes fixed in memory then we hold to it the stronger believing it to be fact it is a great power of the soul but without value unless rightly controlled and guided through imagination men receive a distorted view of a former manifestation and are prevented from recognizing and accepting the truth and reality of the present one they are veiled from the light and glory of god by imagination these veils prevent the true light from entering the soul therefore men follow the false light of their imaginations and cling to error instead of truth thus the egyptians were veiled from the light of god in moses the jews were veiled from the glory of jesus simply because they did not know moses rightly and so were blinded to the one he promised would come after him today jews muhammadans and christians not seeing the former manifestation with true vision are veiled from the glory of god in baha'u'llah one of the greatest veils is literal interpretation of the prophecies again many refuse the manifestation in his day because they do not want to walk the hard road of devotion and servitude but prefer the easy road of hereditary belief misconception of the word of god and its meanings is another great veil which imagination throws over the soul and by which the light is lost also people inherit their belief from parents and ancestors and follow it blindly too negligent to know and see for themselves negligence and apathy are heavy veils of glory read mirza abul fazl's book of bahai proofs and you will find irresistible evidence of this manifestation will is the centre of focus of human understanding we must will to know god just as we must will in order to possess the life he has given us the human will must be subdued and trained into the will of god it is a great power to have a strong will but a greater power to give that will to god the will is what we do the understanding is what we know will and understanding must be one in the cause of god intention brings attainment do the manifestations differ in degree these supreme holy souls are godlike in their attributes the garments in which they appear are different but the attributes are the same in their real intrinsic power they show forth the perfection of god the reality of god in them never varies only the garment in which the primal reality is clothed is different according to the time and place of their appearance and declaration to the world one day it is the garment of abraham then moses then jesus then baha ullah knowledge of this oneness is true enlightenment some see the garment only and worship the personality some see the reality and worship in spirit and in truth some of the hebrews admired the embroidered beauty of the garment of abraham but were blind to the real light which shone upon the darkness of the world through him moses was denied jesus was denied crucified all have been denied and persecuted for this reason men see the garment and are blind to the reality worship the personality and do not know the truth the light itself some worship the tree of life but do not eat of the blessed fruit of the tree therefore differences and disagreements arise in religious belief if all would eat of the fruit itself they could never disagree for instance four men were travelling along a road they possessed a frank between them one was a turk the others persian arab and greek they became hungry and wished to buy some grapes but as they did not understand each other's language none of them could express his wish to the others so they began to quarrel and abuse each other finally a man came along who knew all four languages he asked them what the trouble was then he said give me the money i will buy each one what he wishes so he bought grapes and they were all satisfied they had disagreed upon a word or term only all meant the same thing terms are of no importance the fruits of the tree should be our desire these are the spiritual grapes find the light itself and there will be no difference of opinion or belief as to the personality or degree of the manifestations of god the greatest proof of a manifestation is the manifestation himself we do not have to prove the existence of the sun the sun is independent of proof he who has sight can see the sun and prove it for himself it is not necessary to seek for other proof for instance it is a fixed fact that nothing could grow upon the earth without the light of the sun it is easily proved that without the sun's heat and light no animal life could exist the sun's light is indispensable its heat essential this is the sun's greatest proof god with all his qualities is independent of all his creatures look at the christ he was a youth of israel not a great and honored man but born from a poor family he was so poor that he was born in a manger yet he changed the conditions of the whole world what proof could be greater than this that he was from god it is so strong and evident that no one can deny it without the light the world could not grow spiritually the blessed perfection came from persia which is not a prominent nation the great prophets did not enter school to be taught of men yet so many things did they manifest that at last we must admit that the world is not able to destroy the wisdom of the prophets or grow without them everything of god is proof against the people and evidence for god peter was the greatest of all the disciples he was the head appointed by christ yet he denied the christ three times see what happened afterward see what a power of penetration the word of god possessed how the truth in christ grew and spread all over the world there must be a standard the kings of the earth cannot stand against the power of the word the light of god will shine must shine the great flag of nero was lowered and christ's standard raised in its stead all the kings of earth all the learned men have become subject to the word and are its worshippers the blessed perfection during his own lifetime had one thousand followers who believed in him only one proved ungrateful yet he did not deny baha'u'llah many of these followers were martyred with his name upon their lips the renown of jesus name did not reach outside his own country we hear nothing of him from the phoenicians but the name of baha'u'llah reached the whole world while he lived jesus did not write to any of the rulers of the world bahavla sent tablets to all the rulers and kings of the earth when napoleon the third was in the zenith of his power the blessed perfection wrote to him if we should gather together all that the christ said it would be very little in amount but consider the number of tablets and books left by the blessed perfection although the christ was not a great and honoured man although he was of such poor and humble condition that he was born in a manger yet he changed the whole world by his power and divinity what proof could be greater than this how can anyone deny his proof in the same way the blessed perfection came from persia which is not an important nation of the world he did not go to school and yet so much knowledge was manifest in him that we must confess that it is impossible to deny his wisdom and his divinity so universal were the bounties of the blessed perfection that the very stones and trees mourned his departure everything sent from god is proof enough for the peoples of the world to accept and believe the manifestations of god are sent when most needed there were nineteen letters of the living who accepted the bab the blessed perfection himself spread the bab's message great and learned men likewise embraced his cause they were mullahs or clergy of the muhammadans one of them is known as the king of the martyrs on account of his death for the cause they were celebrated for their great knowledge and learning the manifestation of god is proof of himself just as the sun is its own greatest and sufficient proof the sun says i am proof in the ancient times the women of egypt thought joseph was an angel no proof was necessary but his own beauty and excellence the proof was himself people of sight and perception see at a glance what the blind and incapable can never see another great proof of a manifestation is his power to develop souls miracles are but secondary proofs our first and important duty is to ascertain if the real physician has come to heal the spiritual sickness of the world to learn if the commander of the hosts of righteousness has appeared to prove the appearance of a true manifestation of god if in crossing the ocean everyone on board the ship should assume the authority of captain where would be the safety of the ship and its passengers it would be impossible to reach the destination if everybody was captain then after we have found the captain of the ship of truth it is our duty to obey him submit to his wisdom and be guided by him into eternal life before each manifestation a sign appears in both the material and spiritual heavens it is the appearance of a literal star and the rise of a man as a forerunner the forerunner announces the manifestation of the promised one before moses appeared a messenger came to the hebrews bidding them prepare for his manifestation john the baptist came before christ the manifestations are greater or less in degree according to the message they are able to reveal muhammad was preceded by a forerunner or announcer before the manifestation of this day as it is the full reality of revelation there were two heralds ahmad and it will be a long time before the rise of another manifestation the manifestations are like seas some seas such as the caspian are alone and separated from all the others some like the mediterranean are connected with the great body of the ocean itself the manifestation in muhammad was like the caspian alone and separate the bab and the blessed perfection are as the mediterranean and the ocean the manifestations are as suns in the heaven of the divine will sometimes the sun and moon are far apart for instance in the middle of the month they are one hundred eighty degrees from each other but in the beginning and end of the lunar month they are only one degree apart in the koran muhammad prophesied that in this day the sun and moon will meet in heaven that is the spiritual sun and moon of this dispensation will rise together in the form of man we should thank god continually that we live in this day of a manifestation of god the manifestation ended with the blessed perfection the cycle of the sun and moon is finished i am nothing but the servant of god some in america are looking for a third christ or personage this is only imagination some call me christ this also is imagination the cycle of the blessed perfection will last for a long time the next manifestation will not be so great as this one when he appears he will not be an independent one do they realize that i make no claim for myself i have sacrificed everything my body my comfort my station all to the blessed perfection baha'u'llah is the consummation of all degrees he is the revelation of all truth and light whereas the revelation of other prophets had to be spread by the sword baha'u'llah commanded that we must be killed rather than kill so he was the consummation of all degrees of revelation which preceded him end of section four Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M.

Grundy Section 5 spiritual development abdul baha sent for me i found him in a little room opening from the courtyard he was sitting upon a raised chair his beautiful face majestic in repose and strength turned toward the only window he greeted me joyfully both the daughters were present he said i want you to carry away from acca the joy and peace of the spiritual life i answered it would be impossible for me to be in this atmosphere of spirit as i have been and not receive wonderful benefit he continued god is like the calm and limitless sea his bounty is overflowing and illimitable in our physical selves we are like the animals yet in some ways the animals are even higher than men they are more restful and composed more trustful and reliant upon the bounty of god more in the flow of his will the birds of mount carmel are his creatures they can fly to the highest branches of the trees and build their nests from the tree-tops the bird can enjoy the beautiful view of sea and mountain by its power of sight all this beauty exists for us as well the love of god the beauty of god is everywhere and exists for man if he will but rise to spiritual heights open his spiritual vision and behold it is the king free as the bird is free to fly upward the king's head is often heavy with anxiety and the things of this world which hold him down the true pleasure and happiness depend upon the spiritual perception and enjoyment the powers of mind are the bounties of god given to man to lead him towards spiritual happiness the highest grace in man is to love god love of god knowledge of god is the greatest the only real happiness because it is nearness to god this is the kingdom of god to love god is to know him to know him is to enter his kingdom and be near him this is what i desire for you that you may walk in this path i answered now that you have shown me the way i wish to walk in this heavenly path he said you are near to god and day by day you will progress by the knowledge of god towards spiritual joy then you will be a source of guidance to others in you they will now behold another person in fact everybody will witness the change in your life you must develop spiritual love in yourself and in them physical love is very different from spiritual love to awaken spiritual love in others is to attain peace and joy for yourself i said i wish to teach this message of light and truth but i feel that my efforts are small and unimportant he answered the mountain is large but it has no intelligence the diamond is small but it is filled with light the elephant produces no melody the nightingale's song is like the music of heaven i will pray that you may become the recipient of the bounties of god you will be filled with power because the spirit will speak through you you must not bring unhappiness to others in the future sacrifice yourself more and more in the cause of god then the love of god will grow and grow in your heart i told him my regret in leaving the household where everything is in such peace and harmony he said you are always here in spirit you will never be absent now i asked what shall i say to those who state that they are satisfied with christianity and do not need this present manifestation he answered let them alone what would they do if a former king had reigned and a new king was now seated upon the throne they must acknowledge the new king or they are not true subjects of the kingdom last year there was a springtime can a man say i do not need a new springtime this year the old springtime is enough for me no the new spring must come to fill the earth with beauty and brightness the sun rose this morning shall we say to the sun go away we do not need you this morning you were here yesterday if we strive to upbuild this cause with faith and love in our hearts it will overpower all the science philosophy and metaphysics of this day i myself am surprised at the wonderful things that are happening the word of god shows such power and penetration that all will be surprised and astonished at its advance i said i will pray to be assisted and strengthened he replied god will help you in this then he continued do everything in your power to help the poor and needy serve god in this way the poor are the trust of god give the message to every listening soul give them whatever they can take of it in persia there was a man who could not read or write yet he was the cause of guidance to many great men in this truth by his pure love of god if you will turn to god he will turn to you and assist you he will make you eloquent he will make you irresistible by his wisdom the tongue speaks from the heart and if you are sincere god will speak for you help and assist others to see this truth as you do be their guide and helper this message is vital to young and old in it the young must make more progress and bring forth more fruit than the old just as young and vigorous trees yield the most fruit to the gardener christ said ye shall know the tree by its fruits meaning whether the fruits be good or bad much or little those who are born of the spirit have all the divine qualities of growth without these qualities they are nothing but mere men and women they are not spiritually alive they are without the power of growth christ said they were dead let all your thoughts be upon this so that the believers and others will know that you have the spiritual spring within your soul and have attained a newness of life this is complete happiness the only peace after a while you will realize that you have been in the presence of the blessed perfection you are always in the presence of god open the windows of your soul so his presence may be within you souls differ in their capacity to receive and manifest the light of the spirit the blessed perfection said there are as many ways to god as the breaths of his human creatures each soul must develop according to its individual capacity peter differed from john paul from barnabas yet all of them were filled with the light of the spirit of christ therefore it follows that as each soul has its own possibility of development it is necessary for each soul to stand alone before god no one can stand for you in the presence of god in the last day as the soul grows its capacity increases capacity is the measure of development love is the evidence of capacity when we love humanity as god loves us we have reached the perfect station eternal life is then ours and this mortal world can give us nothing more do good each day if only by speaking a kind word knowledge of god is attained through desire and patience we must knock at the door of truth and seek god with earnestness ignorance is as much our natural condition as knowledge is our condition of development a good conscience is the divinity within us that needs to be awakened and which shapes our eternal destiny all souls come into this world through the bounty of god and have equal right of development the soul is affected by its hereditary qualities but no matter what its condition it never loses the possibility of being quickened by the fire of the spirit of god one brain may work quicker than another one soul may acquire intelligence easier than another but the power and presence of the spirit does not depend upon mental capacity the disciples of christ were humble fishermen while the learned pharisees failed to see him the soul or mental intelligence awakes in the mother's womb spirit enters when the conscience is quickened and the soul awakes to eternal realities jesus said the true worship is to worship god in spirit and in truth for such worshippers as these the spirit seeketh therefore as all souls have capacity for enkindlement by the spirit and as we all may be assisted by its divine power we must will to receive it some behold in a seed only a hard black substance while others see in it the life principle a tree leaves and fruit the true believer in baha ullah brings forth leaves and fruit proving that the life principle within him has been awakened and quickened people are not sure of this being the reality and complete truth it is bound to be true if we see spiritual growth in souls from the blessed perfections planting christ spake the parable of the seed the seed contained the truth some of the seed was wasted he said and some that grew up was choked by human teachings for instance by associating with people who do not believe in god the growth of the spirit is stopped when we find believers in this condition we should strive to get them into different surroundings and under better influences they need a physician the most needy are the ones to help first the poor are always with us christ said meaning those who are without the teachings of the word they are our charge and responsibility during the greek turkish war the condition of the turkish soldiers was frightful the people appointed a commission to raise money for their relief many contributed for a while but finally nobody but myself gave to help them the soldiers complained that they were receiving less and less assistance the governor replied to them that all they were getting came from the hand of abbas effendi and that all other donations had ceased the soldiers showed no gratitude for what they were receiving but on the contrary complained bitterly against their benefactors just so we cry out to god have mercy upon us when god is the only giver of bounty to us war is a grievous calamity it begins and ends in disaster a mother has a beautiful boy filled with every grace and promise he develops into manhood goes to war and in an instant all his possibilities and usefulness are cut off end of section five Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 6 return of the spirit in the book of ikan we can read the word of god concerning the true reincarnation which is the return of the spiritual qualities in the servants of god in the gospel it is written that they asked john the baptist if he was elijah and that he answered plainly i am not elijah appeared long before jesus when the christ came he was veiled in a cloud from the eyes of the jews a voice came out of the cloud saying this is my beloved son clouds and darkness gradually obscure all the former manifestations although they are promised and expected they are refused during their earthly life on account of the spiritual blindness of the people elijah came but was not recognized in john it was not the person or entity of elijah but his perfection and qualities which john embodied the flowers of last year will come again this year we can say they have returned not the actual substance of the former flowers but their colour perfume and perfection have returned some are awaiting the coming of christ in the clouds of heaven he has already come in the heart if you believe while those who do not believe in the revelation of baha ullah cannot see him on account of clouds and veils many people are going out of the churches dissatisfied with religious teaching it is because they do not see spiritually spiritual relationship at dinner a violent rainstorm swept in from the sea may we all live in the sea of reality and be filled with the love of god thank god we are in the ark of the covenant see what great blessings god has showered upon us how many people of persia looked upon the blessed perfection yet they do not know as you know you have reached this station while they are deprived there are two kinds of relationship physical and spiritual the highest and greatest is the spiritual the physical is of no importance it is very good to possess both in each other god be praised at this table we are joined in spiritual relationship We are all of one family because we are under the shadow of the blessed perfection.

look at the earth of itself it is worthless yet it can reflect the light and heat of the sun clouds gather the rains descend and the earth becomes fruitful in the same way the spirit of god gives life to the soul of man and the breeze of god awakens the soul from its sleep peter was only a catcher of fishes yet his attainment was very great ananias the high priest was much greater in the eyes of the world yet he was deprived while peter received the bounty of god spiritual relationship is the true familyhood of god's children the bab had many relatives he particularly wished that his mother should believe in this revelation and attain christ said that his mother mary was not of his relationship also that those were his brothers and sisters who were in the kingdom of god obedience today we will speak about obedience the manifestation of god is a perfect example of real obedience like him we must sacrifice everything every plan every longing and ideal must be given up completely to the will of god we must look to god for all we desire all we attain the will of god must outwork its purposes in us our human will must be laid down in sacrifice and love abdul baha has given everything in sacrifice and obedience to the will of god am only his servant nothing more all our soul powers our outward self our inward self must be consecrated to god in service and sacrifice even life must be given if necessary if we have not reached this station of nothingness we have not attained to real obedience to the will of god a pupil must submit entirely to the will of the teacher this is true sacrifice true obedience real obedience and real sacrifice are identical absolute readiness to follow and perform whatever you are called upon to do in the cause of god when you really love god you will be willing to sacrifice everything and submit yourself entirely to his will consecrate yourself wholly to him his will is everything his service paramount if they were to burn me kill or torture me no matter what affliction may descend upon me i shall welcome it as one welcomes pleasure these are precious moments in acca so precious we wish they might never end how is the bahai faith progressing in america after your return the believers will be in a much stronger and better condition but this cannot be unless they see and know the will and desire of god i have no wish but his will his will is abdul if each human creature had his own will and way spiritual development would be impossible the soldiers in an army are under the will and control of one commander therefore they are united and can press on to victory if each soldier carried out his own inclination and desire there would be just that many different intentions and nothing would be accomplished one thousand soldiers under the control of a commander can overthrow and defeat any number of disorganized troops without a directing will all would be conquered and defeated be sure therefore that if the believers are not united in the will of god they will not be assisted this is especially necessary because all of them are under the tent of the covenant in this revelation there is strength only in unity under one tent there is union and harmony the covenant of god in this day of manifestation is a lifeboat an ark of salvation all true followers of the blessed perfection are sheltered and protected in this ark whoever leaves it trusting in his own will and strength will drown and be destroyed for the blessed perfection left no possibility for discord disagreement and dissension the covenant is like the sea and the believers are as the fishes in the sea if a fish leaves the water it cannot live there is nothing to equal nothing so effective as the covenant of god to bring about and continue unity christ said to peter thou art the rock upon which i will build my church therefore all the disciples followed peter and there was no dissension among them the blessed perfection wrote a testament or covenant with his own pen so that no one who obeys it will deny or disobey god this point is expressed very clearly in the covenant he revealed therefore there can be no possibility no position of disobedience he knew that muhammad ali would disobey the covenant by violating the covenant he has become a fallen branch the covenant was also written by muhammad ali's own hand from dictation of the blessed perfection who knew he would disobey what cause of union could be greater than the covenant god has revealed through his manifestation baha ullah many of those who followed muhammad ali are coming back after the departure of baha ullah all the beautiful blossoms upon the tree of life were destroyed by muhammad ali and must now be grown again by the love of abdul the work and mission of abdul baha is very great no one could express the grief which followed the turning away from the covenant by muhammad ali we should be thankful that the blessed perfection foreseeing this action ordained a centre of the covenant through which by allegiance and love we may protect and preserve the revelation of god at the time muhammad ali denied the covenant and occasioned so much grief and suffering the perfect calmness and spiritual strength of the holy leaf were most remarkable the blessed perfection devotedly loved abdul baha and when he appeared his expression would change from gravity to one of great happiness and joy before his ascension the blessed perfection realizing the trouble muhammad ali would bring about would say O to be pitied, Master! For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Nicholas James Bridgewater Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M.

He also knew and announced the year of the manifestation of Baha'u'llah, who first declared himself near Baghdad.

Thereupon the name Baha'u'llah descended upon him.

10 Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 13 from the mother of the household she said i regret indeed that i cannot speak your language you also feel your need of persian persian is most important in this day as it is the language of the word we will understand each other perfectly in the spiritual world a tradition of muhammad says blessed is the one who sleeps one night in acca he also said they who rest in acca shall be honoured even though they know it not again blessed is the one who has seen the one who is in acca the eyes of the muhammadans in acca are spiritually closed then she read to us in persian from the tablet of ishraqat she continued the house of justice will be established men will watch over this house day and night the people will come to it for protection they must obey its laws and be attentive to its commands it will be the sun of wisdom which will distribute light to the politics of the whole world the people of wealth honor and power must turn to religion as the evident light and firm fortress of humanity our duty is to be kind to everybody and avoid wrong-doing the light of the world is religion without it we live in darkness the blessed perfection commanded all the people of the world to establish peace the kings of the world must unite they are the dawning places and rising places of the will of god to assist them we must strive to obey the laws of god the wisdom of god is revealed in two lights the sun and the moon just as in the material world one the moon is the consolation or the mercy to the world the other the sun is the foundation upon which the world must build what shall be our reward and punishment we ask the victorious armies of god are made up of good deeds and actions these are the soldiers of his army the commander of the army is righteousness and guidance toward god the true helper the king must know his subjects and reward or punish them according to their merits so those who are dishonest servants may not receive what the good are rightly entitled to so it is with those who come to acca when the blessed perfection was six years of age he had a vision he saw himself fall into the sea in the water his long hair became shining like the sun and spread out around him like a golden net all the fishes large and small came swimming toward him holding to the strands of his hair the fishes came closer and closer following him as he swam through the waters which were shining like the sun the fishes were countless in number when he awoke he told his vision to his father who was an important man of persia his father consulted a wise man named abdul karim who interpreted visions for the kings abdul karim said your son will be a great man the water is knowledge and the fishes swimming about him are the people of all nations who will come to be taught by his wisdom he will be forced away and separated from earthly things and will reflect the light of the word of god give the message whenever you are called even if it be in china abdul baha has often prayed that his conditions might become more severe in order that his strength to meet them might be increased this blessing has always followed his prayer in prayer we must seek for strength to meet conditions the garment with which god will clothe you when you teach will be an armor of protection against all assault the teachers in this cause will be as planets in the heavens illuminating the great world of the west teaching is the crown of action this was the crown jesus bestowed upon his disciples the blessed perfection said when the sun of my beauty has set be not disturbed nor troubled for i will see you from the highest horizon and help those who arise in my cause all existence is in conformity with divine law this law is and must be universal it is a natural order and there can be no deviation in its action man must conform to divine law that which is at variance with the truth and reality of god cannot stand against the action of divine will or law the law of god which punishes and destroys is at the same time eternal life to those who obey it it is necessary for the soul to prove the message and reach a station of belief through its own power of judgment you can see at once.

when the soul is firm and steadfast in its faith it instantly reflects the light are many firm in america even the greatest are sometimes weak peter for instance the bob was a supremely holy soul he went to school at the age of six his teacher confessed that he could not teach him saying he knows more than i do the same teacher was one of the bab's most devoted followers and was afterward martyred section thirteen section fourteen of ten days in the light of acca 10 Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 14 talks from mirza asadullah persian is the language of the word because baha'u'llah revealed himself in it god be praised that you have come to acca mr m is a teacher it is well that he has come to abdul baha as a pupil he should come to learn how abdul baha teaches this revelation is like beautiful writing which the teacher sets forth as an example for the devoted pupils to copy it is from god all who teach must come to learn in order that they may give forth truth to others christ's teaching came forth after his ascension he was the example by washing the feet of his disciples he taught them the lesson of servitude and love he set forth his qualities and they followed him every day of your stay in acca will be as a year this will be evident to you after you have returned to america here asadullah remained silent not speaking for a long time then we asked him to talk he said it is not difficult for me to talk that is my work why is it so because i look upon the universe for my knowledge whereas the teaching of science and philosophy are from books and books are faulty the whole world is my book therefore it is no trouble for me to talk for i simply speak of what i see in this great volume it would tire my eyes to read the books of science weary my brain to repeat and remember all they say when i read the book of the universe i read the essence of all books all the prophets of god read this book and were taught in this way those who love true knowledge know in this manner when a prophet appeared bringing a new message of truth he was considered crazy the prophets are able to speak from different standpoints because their knowledge is from god and not from books where are the books of men they perish and are destroyed the book of god is everlasting imperishable messages from god are as points of beginning they are sources of light and knowledge in the persian alphabet you will find points or dots which change and form the letters these letters form words the words make sentences and the sentences express thoughts for instance beginning with the letter alif or a then alif b or ob and so on by addition of other letters and words until the meaning is conveyed in the first point in alif the meaning was hidden waiting to be revealed the meaning was not opened until the book and its sentences were formed with as a source or first point so it is with the seed and flower the flower is in the seed and comes from it at maturity thus words gather together make a chapter and the chapters form a book the prophets from the point of oneness with god composed a holy book the world is a book it proceeds from the point of oneness the bab said i am the point of the book of the world all things are good if we see aright a flower is beautiful we desire to smell it and possess it when we see something ugly we wish to get away from it once we possess something good it is always beautiful therefore truth and righteousness are forever beautiful the prophets came into the world as living examples so the people might acquire their good qualities and perfections the resvan is not in its full beauty at this season of the year but when its flowers are in bloom when you breathe their many and varied fragrances which fill the air in summer when you look upon their lovely glorious faces you are made happy all your senses are delighted your nostrils are saluted by the heavenly odors your eyes are greeted by matchless colors you taste delicious fruits you hear the sweet song of the birds all this beauty is for your benefit intended to make you happy then why not praise god for the beauty of the garden in which everything praises god but if you go to another place which does not contain these beauties you wish to hurry away immediately for instance a swamp infested with gnats and mosquitoes this is only natural thus it is with the people of god who show forth the beauty and graces of god in their attitude toward humanity we long to be with them we love the beauty of their good qualities they refresh our spiritual senses we are filled with their beauty they are the flowers and fruits in the garden of abha in the resvan of the blessed perfection now i will tell you something about an orange it will encourage you as a teacher in this truth for each one you teach will be the means of leading twenty others into the same pure light out of one seed by planting you may produce one thousand oranges the outcome increasing in greater and greater proportion so it is with the word of god a teacher drops a seed the one he teaches teaches another and in the end the outcome of your planting will be one thousand believers if this increase is certain in the vegetable kingdom how much higher and greater the result in the kingdom of men just as the description of acca by one who has lived here is different from your own impressions as you drive through these streets and actually see for yourself so it is with the real disciples of abdul without knowing the question asked him i gather from what he says the attitude of the seeker his words cover every phase of a question a perfect discourse must meet and fill everybody's requirements to teach aright one must wander through the wilderness of human ideas as i have done then you will learn the secret of teaching by meeting all sorts of people and discussing and answering every kind of question no one loves to teach more than i do with my own tongue but the truth and reality of interpretation must be given according to the form of abdul baha's teaching the one desire of a teacher should be to reflect the truth as a mirror on the face of the listener the teacher should see what is needed and desired so that he may give forth that which will confirm strengthen and develop the one taught that is to say there is a key of knowledge which will unlock any door and enable us to enter with the message of truth this may sound difficult but it is easy to prove if you possess it you must lead the seeker into the right road then progress is straight ahead in chicago i taught many ladies i will now give you a beautiful lesson for you are a comparatively new believer a new child in the kingdom of al abha human hearts are like mirrors and their light is the knowledge of god if the light should be dim the mirror cannot reflect the knowledge of god but the light of god is never dim we can always depend upon its standard purity and power depend upon the light and it will always increase in power and illumination to you the great need is to keep the mirror polished and clean and its face always turned toward the light when the mirror is pure you will have perfect knowledge full power and true light the more faith one has in the heart the more the mirror is kept turned toward god and the more fixed the soul becomes upon god the greater the firmness the greater the understanding then the greater the peace and so on if you do not grow after you see the light shining from your words it is your own neglect and failure the spirit of man is the cradle of the lord in it there comes the new birth the new being which is to live forever if you teach but a few souls you have attained to spiritual greatness from each one you will gain a hundred spiritual children you are in the kingdom gratitude and love will guide them to you you will be like a lamp the souls you have illumined have been lighted from your flame you will be the focus of the rays the center from which they come christ taught peter peter planted the seed and a thousand souls arose in the kingdom of christ the blessed perfection would teach one soul and from that one a multitude would be raised up when the heart is pure it will be guided and directed in the truth and power to teach will be given to you end of section section fifteen of ten days in the light of akka this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org recording by nicholas james bridgewater ten days in the light of acca by julia m grundy section fifteen sometimes in america i had no one to translate for me to speak in the language of love we must have an instrument through which that love may manifest itself love lives in the heart even if one tries to hide it and is unwilling to speak it forth love in the heart becomes evident and speaks in our actions for instance suppose i have a strong desire to perform some action can i do it without the hand to carry out my desire it is through actions that qualities and attributes express themselves the rose is revealed through its colour perfume and outer beauty knowledge is our greatest possession but we cannot give it to others without speech or writing if we do not express it in this way it remains hidden and unrevealed take for instance a quality like mercy or generosity if we do not use the tongue and bring forth these attributes they are hidden concealed therefore all the human and divine qualities become visible through the powers god has given to man and through the powers god himself possesses the tongue the eyes the ears are necessary to perfect man and enable him to express reality god created man with the intention that man should perfect his powers if we did not possess these qualities and the powers to express them we could not reflect the work of god god has said through his manifestation i have created man and through man my likeness is revealed man can therefore attain a very high station by reflecting the attributes of god this power of expression is the spirit independence is man's greatest gift the knowledge of good and evil makes us responsible otherwise we would be as the angels who are messengers of divine purpose so it came to pass that man was made of the dust and from the earth he should appear and be developed into a high station this is reflected everywhere in creation the eyes ears all the body of man evidence this high purpose a child's knowledge does not depend upon the size of a child but upon the capacity of its mind mountain is very large but it does not possess understanding a bird is small by comparison yet it has life and the power of flight which the mountain has not do not look at your own inability and shortcomings when you wish to teach this truth look at the power and bounty of god which are limitless when man looks at himself the view is hopeless because he sees no ability and capacity in himself alone.

The flowers differ in color and perfume, yet they receive growth.

beauty and bounty from the one god and are developed by this same divine breeze truth is like the light which is always the same the souls of believers are as mirrors which reflect the light truth is like the light of a candle which does not vary yet the candlestick which holds it may change each year the rose is the same beautiful flower although it appears in different gardens what will be the food of the future fruit and grains the time will come when meat will no longer be eaten medical science is only in its infancy yet it has shown that our natural diet is that which grows out of the ground the people will gradually develop up to the condition of this natural food there is no appointed length of life for man lengthen your life by living according to god's spiritual laws then you will live forever this is the true longevity the real life the real life is eternal happiness and existence in the knowledge of god jesus was a dyer by trade he also lived in egypt out of egypt have i called my son matthew to fifteen hosea eleven one was spoken of jesus the fifth gospel which is considered non-canonical gave other history of jesus than is contained in the gospels of the new testament there were fifty gospels but only four were accepted as genuine by the priesthood spirit is the highest and supreme development of the soul soul is the material or outer self the mind mind is the action of the soul's powers the body is the physical covering or medium in which the mind acts and functions at death everything but spirit is destroyed and becomes extinct the prophets and holy men always went into the wilderness to pray many of them walked upon mount carmel and communed with god true religion has nothing to do with human imagination god's will is independent of human opinion personal ideas and mere human prejudice are the great obstacles to spiritual growth for instance some difference of opinion arises between two believers in god each expects the lord to support his view of the question the word of god is perfect and arbitrary in its perfection when there is difference of view there is absence of the spirit the word is the only standard of truth discord and disagreement are impossible among those who adhere to the manifestation and sever themselves from human opinion there are no heads in this cause all are servants if all the world should combine to overthrow the covenant it could not succeed abdul baha loves all no matter how they turn away from him whether they love or hate him go or come he never changes in his love for them the blessed perfection has left nothing undone what he ordained can never be set aside everything in life ministers to our development our lesson is to study and learn money and difficulties are alike advantages to us tests are either stumbling-blocks or stepping-stones just as we make them the prophets of the word could not sin they possess the power and will to violate the will of god but the desire to do so is never present in them knowing the perfect fruit of oneness they have no inclination toward that which is imperfect like beautiful flowers they do not change in beauty even when surrounded by foul conditions there are two kinds of suffering one subtle the other gross the subtle suffering is hatred anger fear and torment which follows evil actions of the soul the gross suffering is imprisonment chastisement and physical pain of martyrdom at the time of muhammad he sanctioned war for the preservation of the lives of his followers the laws of individual justice were confused and preliminary in the souls of men therefore the law of general justice of the community was revealed by this prophet he commanded his followers to carry the religion of god by the sword when a man is about to take poison it is right to dash the cup from his hand even with extreme violence it will inflict injury but at the same time save his life there must be a law to prevent the wolves from destroying the lambs at such a period of religious history that is why the shepherd sanctioned such vigorous protection for the sheep behind such laws of a manifestation there is always a supreme wisdom during dinner abdul baha ate entirely with his fingers after a while he said in the east there are many peoples who never use a knife or fork to eat with their fingers is custom among them just as the western nations have their own peculiar customs we must each view with respect the customs of the other there is a kind of food which needs neither knife nor fork and of which everyone may partake with perfect ease and benefit it is the food spiritual this food brings life and stimulation instead of indolence and apathy it brings peace and content to the one who partakes of it the more food the more joy and peace for the spirit is always eager to furnish sustenance to the soul illusion cannot convey what reality teaches christ said what has happened in the past will happen again in the future the reason of this is that all things are under the operation of divine law which is the same today yesterday and forever by this the spiritual eye may discern that which is authentic in the scriptures sow the seeds of love in the heart and not the seeds of hatred the reflection in the glass proves whether we are laughing or frowning by our actions we reveal what is growing in the heart actions are mirrors of the soul these are precious and wonderful days in akka each day is as a year your visit cannot be measured merely by the length of time you have been here the real spiritual visit will be after you have gone some who remain but one day go away filled and enkindled with the spirit of god they are like the dry wood which bursts into flame as soon as it touches the fire so it is with a lamp the oil within it responds instantly to the fire and gives forth light the soul which possesses sight can see in a moment while the blind never see an awakened soul is like a precious pearl in the midst of a load of pebbles which have but little value to some it is given to hear and know the message of life in a short time while others hear and receive nothing even though they make a long stay in this holy place we should not be occupied with our failings and weakness but concern ourselves about the will of god so that it may flow through us thereby healing these human infirmities faith is not so much what we believe as what we carry out end of section one section two of ten days in the light of akka this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org recording by nicholas james bridge ten days in the light of acca by julia m grundy in america you have only received a taste of the spiritual food which is to come to you some will arise to serve the cause of god in your land who will sacrifice themselves entirely they will be given great power from god when they come forth to do his will concentrate the soul upon god so that it may become as a fountain pouring out the water of life to a thirsty world live up to the principles of sacrifice the world will then become as nothing and be without power to attract you away from god sacrifice your will to the will of god the kingdom is attained by the one who forgets self everything becomes yours by renunciation of everything a lion wolf and fox went hunting they captured a wild ass a gazelle and a hare the lion said to the wolf divide the spoil the wolf said that is easy the ass for yourself the gazelle for me and the hare for the fox the lion bit off the wolf's head saying you are not a good divider then turning to the fox he said you divide the fox said the ass the gazelle and the hare are yours the lion looking at him said because you have accounted yourself as nothing you may take all the prey the miracles of christ were spiritual teachings not literal what is the greatness in man his spiritual attributes no one can destroy his spiritual qualities they are from god tests are like fire which purifies how will the masses be benefited by this revelation the revelation of baha'u'llah contains all the great laws and principles of social government the basis of god's perfect laws is love for humanity and help for human needs if all people followed this revelation the masses would be immeasurably uplifted and the cause of god glorified this development of humanity will be gradual not sudden it will surely come to pass it is impossible to swim against the current of niagara teaching the truth is like building bridges by which humanity may cross over the current which threatens the world must come to know the word in christ how he was mocked scorned and laughed at yet his mission was to uplift the very world which refused him realization of this will bring tears to the eyes of those who deny him cause them to grow silent and thoughtful christ is always christ what is the best way to benefit humanity guidance to god what is dearer to man than life so therefore leading a soul to eternal life is the greatest blessing and benefit you can bestow upon that soul when does our responsibility cease in giving the message when we give the message we develop ourselves our own heart is opened when we teach the heart of the listener the more we give the more we get therefore as this is the means of our own development we should never cease teaching our responsibility remains as long as we have a listener what is the best thing to do when met by a difficult question a sincere worker in the cause of god is always assisted by the divine spirit when such questions arise the truth will flow through you if you stand in the right attitude toward the truth in the spiritual station you will never be without the knowledge necessary to answer a question with spiritual food the capacity to know increases with the will to serve what is sacrifice giving up everything in the cause of god and following his will no matter where it leads we must not have desire for anything else but god we must entirely forget self to be perfected we must give up everything in the cause of god judgment reason will everything to hold back anything is to be imperfect the thing we hold most dear is the thing to give this is real sacrifice upon which finger should the ring with the greatest name be worn the right hand is the hand of honor in the east wearing it upon this hand attracts attention and causes comment but the real place to wear the greatest name is in the heart what is prayer attitude or word prayer is both attitude and word it depends upon the soul condition it is like a song both words and music make the song sometimes the melody will move us sometimes the words what will be the future of this teaching know and realize the greatness of the cause into which you have entered look not at the present the day will come when there will not be a house which does not contain a believer in this revelation one book or tablet of the blessed perfection is more comprehensive than fifty volumes of the world's greatest wisdom the books and words of god have been sealed and the meanings locked all the sacred mysteries were sealed but now baha'u'llah has broken the seals revealed the meanings and we can understand the realities my greatest wish is to teach this message abdul baha said i will pray god to assist you it has often happened that one who is not able to teach would be sent forth and when the time came that one would be found powerful and eloquent one man of this kind in the east has even written a book two jewish children have written a beautiful commentary proving the cause of christ muhammad and the blessed perfection two unbelievers in the centre of the covenant have recently returned and are serving with zeal in the vineyard of god belief in this revelation is a priceless spiritual blessing just as a child will give up a jewel of great price for a sugar-plum so men will exchange the truth for a treasure of earth the bab said one glance from the eye of he whom god shall manifest is worth all the wealth of the world in this one look we can attain life everlasting resurrection from the dead and the treasures of heaven the revelation of baha'u'llah is not mere history it is the voice and will of god if we guard the seed of immortality it will bring forth the tree of eternal life this is the true realization of the manifestation's coming his mission is accomplished when we enter the spiritual kingdom and attain immortality god be praised this is the spiritual sight peter perceived christ when thousands of jews saw him not peter reached that station at once this knowledge is the glance from the eye of god it is more precious than all the wealth of the world abdul baha visited us in the afternoon he said speech is necessary and good between soul and soul nothing of this world is eternal the highest longing and ambition of some people is to be a king or queen but at the last even the great ones of earth must perish even the earthly personality of jesus has come and gone only by serving god do we attain everlasting life all our fame and glory should be in service to him this will never perish live in the cause of god this is the harmony of the universe shine in the horizon of his will life is wasted if not spiritual be of the spirit not of the body the light of the body is the eye the eye of conscience stands between the power of knowledge and the spiritual world does your soul feel as sure of god as your eye is sure of nature blessed are the pure in heart they shall see god once i was in prison under the ground and in chains yet i was happy because i was not deprived of spiritual sight i tell you this so that when you hear of my troubles and difficulties in the future you may know that i am spiritually happy i am showing you the way of true happiness by comparing the future with the past you may understand no matter what the future brings forth firmness is the beginning of spiritual happiness christ appeared in palestine and was held in contempt because he was from nazareth only twelve believed in him one deserted him there were other believers but they were not strong they were troubled with doubts and afterward fell away mary magdalene held steadfastly to christ and made others firm god will assist all who are firm in his cause firmness is the beginning of spiritual happiness spirituality is the possession of a good pure heart when the heart is pure the spirit enters and our growth is natural and assured every one is better informed of the condition of his own soul than the souls of others our responsibility to god increases with our years the government is upon the shoulder of abdul baha he bears a burden of human griefs and troubles yet helps all and is happy for he has cut himself from the world end of section two Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 3 love how can we love another whose personality is unpleasant see how the enemies of christ persecuted and crucified him yet he loved them all man is like a tree the tree lives to produce fruit the fruit of man is love it is easy for us to love a friend or even an animal but how difficult to love one who is without attraction yet if the love of god is shining in our hearts we like christ may see that love reflected in every personality and love all alike What is the difference between universal and individual love? we must love all humanity as the children of god even if they kill us we must die with love for them it is not possible for us to love everybody with a personal love but we must love all humanity alike man is capable of attaining a supreme station through the manifestation of love god created man to attain a supreme station man must reflect the love of god there are many stages or kinds of love in the beginning god through his love created man man is the highest product of his love and the purpose of man's existence is to reflect this love of god in his soul but man in his egotism and love of self turns away from his creator and thereby prevents the accomplishment of the divine plan the manifestations appear to show man the way to god through love by them man is brought to the condition of severance from his egotism and being absorbed into the ocean of love divine the three stages of love are therefore first god's love for man second man's love for self third man's love for god there is a profound a divine wisdom in love the light of god shines in the eyes when the heart is pure the home of religion is the heart soul and spirit compiled from abdul baha's teachings soul is the human will to live temporally spirit is the divine will to live forever salvation is the quickening of soul into spirit all souls are alike in essence or quality as created owing to environment soul needs differ rich and poor wise and ignorant etc environment has its dark side and its light side development has its good aspects and bad aspects sin is the absence of righteousness righteousness is doing the will of god all souls have a free will to choose or refuse the will of god each soul has its station of individuality in which it may develop itself but a soul cannot leave its own station for another station or individuality man accomplishes his true growth when the soul develops in its own station his station does not change simply his capacity for knowing god is increased and developed knowledge of god is the only spiritual development the power of the manifestations of god is beyond question inasmuch as human development invariably follows their teachings this development is unmistakably toward a higher existence every manifestation teaches the existence of god as their power is evident their knowledge must likewise be true the soul can prove the existence of god through its intellectual powers but the true perception of god is through the spiritual eye of the soul this knowledge transcends mere mental proof it is spiritual sight it is vision the atheist has intelligence of the mere mind his words denying the existence of god are in reality evidence that god exists the atheist's real station of development is not ours to judge or estimate spirit is oneness of vision and knowledge the mind has many attributes or powers the spirit is conscious perception when all the powers of the soul work together and are concentrated upon god the soul has its highest employment spirit is like the sun the source of all light alone in its station the mind or soul has many lights as the stars the mind or soul manifests itself throughout the whole body in perfect harmony the spirit or spirit of god manifests itself throughout the whole body of the universe and is in perfect harmony wherever manifest a wicked soul is the only thing out of harmony in the universe as it does not come into the flow of the divine will it is not of the spirit this failure of the soul has led man to believe that god will give the wicked soul another opportunity by allowing it to return in another body and atone for its failure there is no proof of this outside or inside the holy book of scriptures whatever is the destiny of the wicked soul in the hereafter we know that its development rests with the mercy of god a wicked soul lacking development is non-existent spiritually just as in the station of the tree the stone is non-existent because the stone lacks the powers and development of the tree therefore a soul which continues in a condition of non-development through violating the will of god suffers extinction and is spiritually non-existent the fields and flowers of the spiritual realm are pointed out to us by the manifestations who walk amid their glories it remains for the soul of man to follow them in these paths of eternal life through the exercise of its own human will the house of justice the house of justice must be obeyed in all things because it has been established by the blessed perfection the council of constantine decided many things wisely but its power and influence did not continue because it was not established by christ himself it was founded upon the words of christ interpreted according to the ideas of men the house of justice will be appointed by the people it must be obeyed because it is the law of god expressed through the people by their own will and voice in this day we are near to the source of true religion and the law of god before revelation has been corrupted by the interpretations of men the true believer is one who follows the manifestation of god in all things after the departure of baha'u'llah we are commanded to obey the house of justice i myself will obey the house of justice because it is founded upon the commands of the blessed perfection the council of constantine did not survive because it was not founded by christ but in this day the house of justice has been established by the manifestation of god it is the centre of true government and must be obeyed in all things it is the law of god embodied in the people reflecting his will and their need and desire not blindly following command in war both parties are wrong neither japan nor russia is fulfilling the law and will of god the kings and rulers of the world will find their true authority under the rulings of the house of justice the law of god will be vested in nineteen men who will compose the house of justice and render decisions war is never necessary it is always an expense and a calamity never a great help god utilizes even the wars of nations to carry out his ultimate purposes the house of justice will decide between kings and kings all judgment will be from the standpoint of god's laws then rich and poor will be alike justly treated when men are developed spiritually they obey god the rule of the house of justice will be the dominion of the spirit of god human will brings conditions to a climax in the affairs of nations the only solution and remedy is the administration of god's laws end of section three HEAVEN what is meant by heaven in the bible christ said that nothing could ascend into heaven except that which came down from heaven he also said i came from heaven and will return to heaven and the son of man is in heaven he said this while still upon the earth and notwithstanding the fact that he had been born of mary there is no doubt christ came from heaven and always was in heaven but when he spoke he did not mean the literal sky what then is meant by heaven science proves that there is no heaven or sky but all is limitless space and one universe in this limitless space the heavenly spheres revolve and have their orbits but the heaven of christ is that invisible world which is beyond the sight and comprehension of mere man it is the spiritual condition therefore the heaven of christ is the will of god the sun of that heaven will never set in it the moon and stars are always shining it is the limitless kingdom of god it is sanctified from all place christ is always there there elijah and the holy prophets live eternally it is sanctified from all comprehension the jews were deprived because they could not understand this spiritual condition the heaven of the material world is something else it is the sky overhead in which the clouds move this heaven is up to us and down to those upon the other side of the earth while vice versa their material heaven is down to us in the heavenly book it is said that the stars will fall from heaven where will they fall science proves that nearly all the stars are larger than the earth where will they find room to fall when the heart is pure and filled with the light of the spirit we will know that we are in the true heaven christ came from heaven and still the jews are sleeping the kingdom of heaven is within your soul let all people see that you have the light that they may recognize something in you which they themselves do not possess the manifestation when you give the message of this manifestation many say this is nothing new i prefer the home of my old religious belief which has been so serviceable and trustworthy abdul baha answered baha ullah is the same light in a new lamp to see we must look at the light and not at the lamp this is spiritual sight the sun is one orb but it has different rising points on the horizon one point was jesus one moses one baha ullah and so on therefore be a lover of the sun and worship it no matter at what point it may arise if you worship the dawning place you will fail to see the sun when it arises in another point of the horizon many stand at the old point and worship while they are losing the light of the sun in this manifestation true lovers of the sun worship the sun itself and not the point of its rising they see and know the light pray for those who stand worshipping the old rising-point of the sun spiritually blind to its new appearance upon the heavenly horizon spiritually deprived of its light and bounty the ministers and clergy do not accept the message on account of their position in the church as stars in heaven they have become darkened when the bab arose and declared his mission many of the clergy who had occupied positions found it necessary to give them up and follow his teaching many people likewise who hear the message are deprived of its glory because they receive it from one whom they deem less competent to know than themselves the word of god is revealed according to the degree of spiritual sight no matter who the messenger may be again people do not receive the manifestation of god because they are veiled by their imaginations imagination is one of our greatest powers and a most difficult one to rule imagination is the father of superstition for example two men are dear friends they love each other so much they never wish to be parted yet when one of them dies the other through fear dreads to be alone with the one he cared so much for in life his imagination controls him and fills him with fear and horror we are led astray by imagination even in violation of will and reason it is our test power we are tested by our ability to control and subdue it a man imagines he is wealthy some day real wealth comes to him but it is never what he imagined it would be imagination is our greatest misleader we hold to it until it becomes fixed in memory then we hold to it the stronger believing it to be fact it is a great power of the soul but without value unless rightly controlled and guided through imagination men receive a distorted view of a former manifestation and are prevented from recognizing and accepting the truth and reality of the present one they are veiled from the light and glory of god by imagination these veils prevent the true light from entering the soul therefore men follow the false light of their imaginations and cling to error instead of truth thus the egyptians were veiled from the light of god in moses the jews were veiled from the glory of jesus simply because they did not know moses rightly and so were blinded to the one he promised would come after him today jews muhammadans and christians not seeing the former manifestation with true vision are veiled from the glory of god in baha'u'llah one of the greatest veils is literal interpretation of the prophecies again many refuse the manifestation in his day because they do not want to walk the hard road of devotion and servitude but prefer the easy road of hereditary belief misconception of the word of god and its meanings is another great veil which imagination throws over the soul and by which the light is lost also people inherit their belief from parents and ancestors and follow it blindly too negligent to know and see for themselves negligence and apathy are heavy veils of glory read mirza abul fazl's book of bahai proofs and you will find irresistible evidence of this manifestation will is the centre of focus of human understanding we must will to know god just as we must will in order to possess the life he has given us the human will must be subdued and trained into the will of god it is a great power to have a strong will but a greater power to give that will to god the will is what we do the understanding is what we know will and understanding must be one in the cause of god intention brings attainment do the manifestations differ in degree these supreme holy souls are godlike in their attributes the garments in which they appear are different but the attributes are the same in their real intrinsic power they show forth the perfection of god the reality of god in them never varies only the garment in which the primal reality is clothed is different according to the time and place of their appearance and declaration to the world one day it is the garment of abraham then moses then jesus then baha ullah knowledge of this oneness is true enlightenment some see the garment only and worship the personality some see the reality and worship in spirit and in truth some of the hebrews admired the embroidered beauty of the garment of abraham but were blind to the real light which shone upon the darkness of the world through him moses was denied jesus was denied crucified all have been denied and persecuted for this reason men see the garment and are blind to the reality worship the personality and do not know the truth the light itself some worship the tree of life but do not eat of the blessed fruit of the tree therefore differences and disagreements arise in religious belief if all would eat of the fruit itself they could never disagree for instance four men were travelling along a road they possessed a frank between them one was a turk the others persian arab and greek they became hungry and wished to buy some grapes but as they did not understand each other's language none of them could express his wish to the others so they began to quarrel and abuse each other finally a man came along who knew all four languages he asked them what the trouble was then he said give me the money i will buy each one what he wishes so he bought grapes and they were all satisfied they had disagreed upon a word or term only all meant the same thing terms are of no importance the fruits of the tree should be our desire these are the spiritual grapes find the light itself and there will be no difference of opinion or belief as to the personality or degree of the manifestations of god the greatest proof of a manifestation is the manifestation himself we do not have to prove the existence of the sun the sun is independent of proof he who has sight can see the sun and prove it for himself it is not necessary to seek for other proof for instance it is a fixed fact that nothing could grow upon the earth without the light of the sun it is easily proved that without the sun's heat and light no animal life could exist the sun's light is indispensable its heat essential this is the sun's greatest proof god with all his qualities is independent of all his creatures look at the christ he was a youth of israel not a great and honored man but born from a poor family he was so poor that he was born in a manger yet he changed the conditions of the whole world what proof could be greater than this that he was from god it is so strong and evident that no one can deny it without the light the world could not grow spiritually the blessed perfection came from persia which is not a prominent nation the great prophets did not enter school to be taught of men yet so many things did they manifest that at last we must admit that the world is not able to destroy the wisdom of the prophets or grow without them everything of god is proof against the people and evidence for god peter was the greatest of all the disciples he was the head appointed by christ yet he denied the christ three times see what happened afterward see what a power of penetration the word of god possessed how the truth in christ grew and spread all over the world there must be a standard the kings of the earth cannot stand against the power of the word the light of god will shine must shine the great flag of nero was lowered and christ's standard raised in its stead all the kings of earth all the learned men have become subject to the word and are its worshippers the blessed perfection during his own lifetime had one thousand followers who believed in him only one proved ungrateful yet he did not deny baha'u'llah many of these followers were martyred with his name upon their lips the renown of jesus name did not reach outside his own country we hear nothing of him from the phoenicians but the name of baha'u'llah reached the whole world while he lived jesus did not write to any of the rulers of the world bahavla sent tablets to all the rulers and kings of the earth when napoleon the third was in the zenith of his power the blessed perfection wrote to him if we should gather together all that the christ said it would be very little in amount but consider the number of tablets and books left by the blessed perfection although the christ was not a great and honoured man although he was of such poor and humble condition that he was born in a manger yet he changed the whole world by his power and divinity what proof could be greater than this how can anyone deny his proof in the same way the blessed perfection came from persia which is not an important nation of the world he did not go to school and yet so much knowledge was manifest in him that we must confess that it is impossible to deny his wisdom and his divinity so universal were the bounties of the blessed perfection that the very stones and trees mourned his departure everything sent from god is proof enough for the peoples of the world to accept and believe the manifestations of god are sent when most needed there were nineteen letters of the living who accepted the bab the blessed perfection himself spread the bab's message great and learned men likewise embraced his cause they were mullahs or clergy of the muhammadans one of them is known as the king of the martyrs on account of his death for the cause they were celebrated for their great knowledge and learning the manifestation of god is proof of himself just as the sun is its own greatest and sufficient proof the sun says i am proof in the ancient times the women of egypt thought joseph was an angel no proof was necessary but his own beauty and excellence the proof was himself people of sight and perception see at a glance what the blind and incapable can never see another great proof of a manifestation is his power to develop souls miracles are but secondary proofs our first and important duty is to ascertain if the real physician has come to heal the spiritual sickness of the world to learn if the commander of the hosts of righteousness has appeared to prove the appearance of a true manifestation of god if in crossing the ocean everyone on board the ship should assume the authority of captain where would be the safety of the ship and its passengers it would be impossible to reach the destination if everybody was captain then after we have found the captain of the ship of truth it is our duty to obey him submit to his wisdom and be guided by him into eternal life before each manifestation a sign appears in both the material and spiritual heavens it is the appearance of a literal star and the rise of a man as a forerunner the forerunner announces the manifestation of the promised one before moses appeared a messenger came to the hebrews bidding them prepare for his manifestation john the baptist came before christ the manifestations are greater or less in degree according to the message they are able to reveal muhammad was preceded by a forerunner or announcer before the manifestation of this day as it is the full reality of revelation there were two heralds ahmad and it will be a long time before the rise of another manifestation the manifestations are like seas some seas such as the caspian are alone and separated from all the others some like the mediterranean are connected with the great body of the ocean itself the manifestation in muhammad was like the caspian alone and separate the bab and the blessed perfection are as the mediterranean and the ocean the manifestations are as suns in the heaven of the divine will sometimes the sun and moon are far apart for instance in the middle of the month they are one hundred eighty degrees from each other but in the beginning and end of the lunar month they are only one degree apart in the koran muhammad prophesied that in this day the sun and moon will meet in heaven that is the spiritual sun and moon of this dispensation will rise together in the form of man we should thank god continually that we live in this day of a manifestation of god the manifestation ended with the blessed perfection the cycle of the sun and moon is finished i am nothing but the servant of god some in america are looking for a third christ or personage this is only imagination some call me christ this also is imagination the cycle of the blessed perfection will last for a long time the next manifestation will not be so great as this one when he appears he will not be an independent one do they realize that i make no claim for myself i have sacrificed everything my body my comfort my station all to the blessed perfection baha'u'llah is the consummation of all degrees he is the revelation of all truth and light whereas the revelation of other prophets had to be spread by the sword baha'u'llah commanded that we must be killed rather than kill so he was the consummation of all degrees of revelation which preceded him end of section four Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M.

Grundy Section 5 spiritual development abdul baha sent for me i found him in a little room opening from the courtyard he was sitting upon a raised chair his beautiful face majestic in repose and strength turned toward the only window he greeted me joyfully both the daughters were present he said i want you to carry away from acca the joy and peace of the spiritual life i answered it would be impossible for me to be in this atmosphere of spirit as i have been and not receive wonderful benefit he continued god is like the calm and limitless sea his bounty is overflowing and illimitable in our physical selves we are like the animals yet in some ways the animals are even higher than men they are more restful and composed more trustful and reliant upon the bounty of god more in the flow of his will the birds of mount carmel are his creatures they can fly to the highest branches of the trees and build their nests from the tree-tops the bird can enjoy the beautiful view of sea and mountain by its power of sight all this beauty exists for us as well the love of god the beauty of god is everywhere and exists for man if he will but rise to spiritual heights open his spiritual vision and behold it is the king free as the bird is free to fly upward the king's head is often heavy with anxiety and the things of this world which hold him down the true pleasure and happiness depend upon the spiritual perception and enjoyment the powers of mind are the bounties of god given to man to lead him towards spiritual happiness the highest grace in man is to love god love of god knowledge of god is the greatest the only real happiness because it is nearness to god this is the kingdom of god to love god is to know him to know him is to enter his kingdom and be near him this is what i desire for you that you may walk in this path i answered now that you have shown me the way i wish to walk in this heavenly path he said you are near to god and day by day you will progress by the knowledge of god towards spiritual joy then you will be a source of guidance to others in you they will now behold another person in fact everybody will witness the change in your life you must develop spiritual love in yourself and in them physical love is very different from spiritual love to awaken spiritual love in others is to attain peace and joy for yourself i said i wish to teach this message of light and truth but i feel that my efforts are small and unimportant he answered the mountain is large but it has no intelligence the diamond is small but it is filled with light the elephant produces no melody the nightingale's song is like the music of heaven i will pray that you may become the recipient of the bounties of god you will be filled with power because the spirit will speak through you you must not bring unhappiness to others in the future sacrifice yourself more and more in the cause of god then the love of god will grow and grow in your heart i told him my regret in leaving the household where everything is in such peace and harmony he said you are always here in spirit you will never be absent now i asked what shall i say to those who state that they are satisfied with christianity and do not need this present manifestation he answered let them alone what would they do if a former king had reigned and a new king was now seated upon the throne they must acknowledge the new king or they are not true subjects of the kingdom last year there was a springtime can a man say i do not need a new springtime this year the old springtime is enough for me no the new spring must come to fill the earth with beauty and brightness the sun rose this morning shall we say to the sun go away we do not need you this morning you were here yesterday if we strive to upbuild this cause with faith and love in our hearts it will overpower all the science philosophy and metaphysics of this day i myself am surprised at the wonderful things that are happening the word of god shows such power and penetration that all will be surprised and astonished at its advance i said i will pray to be assisted and strengthened he replied god will help you in this then he continued do everything in your power to help the poor and needy serve god in this way the poor are the trust of god give the message to every listening soul give them whatever they can take of it in persia there was a man who could not read or write yet he was the cause of guidance to many great men in this truth by his pure love of god if you will turn to god he will turn to you and assist you he will make you eloquent he will make you irresistible by his wisdom the tongue speaks from the heart and if you are sincere god will speak for you help and assist others to see this truth as you do be their guide and helper this message is vital to young and old in it the young must make more progress and bring forth more fruit than the old just as young and vigorous trees yield the most fruit to the gardener christ said ye shall know the tree by its fruits meaning whether the fruits be good or bad much or little those who are born of the spirit have all the divine qualities of growth without these qualities they are nothing but mere men and women they are not spiritually alive they are without the power of growth christ said they were dead let all your thoughts be upon this so that the believers and others will know that you have the spiritual spring within your soul and have attained a newness of life this is complete happiness the only peace after a while you will realize that you have been in the presence of the blessed perfection you are always in the presence of god open the windows of your soul so his presence may be within you souls differ in their capacity to receive and manifest the light of the spirit the blessed perfection said there are as many ways to god as the breaths of his human creatures each soul must develop according to its individual capacity peter differed from john paul from barnabas yet all of them were filled with the light of the spirit of christ therefore it follows that as each soul has its own possibility of development it is necessary for each soul to stand alone before god no one can stand for you in the presence of god in the last day as the soul grows its capacity increases capacity is the measure of development love is the evidence of capacity when we love humanity as god loves us we have reached the perfect station eternal life is then ours and this mortal world can give us nothing more do good each day if only by speaking a kind word knowledge of god is attained through desire and patience we must knock at the door of truth and seek god with earnestness ignorance is as much our natural condition as knowledge is our condition of development a good conscience is the divinity within us that needs to be awakened and which shapes our eternal destiny all souls come into this world through the bounty of god and have equal right of development the soul is affected by its hereditary qualities but no matter what its condition it never loses the possibility of being quickened by the fire of the spirit of god one brain may work quicker than another one soul may acquire intelligence easier than another but the power and presence of the spirit does not depend upon mental capacity the disciples of christ were humble fishermen while the learned pharisees failed to see him the soul or mental intelligence awakes in the mother's womb spirit enters when the conscience is quickened and the soul awakes to eternal realities jesus said the true worship is to worship god in spirit and in truth for such worshippers as these the spirit seeketh therefore as all souls have capacity for enkindlement by the spirit and as we all may be assisted by its divine power we must will to receive it some behold in a seed only a hard black substance while others see in it the life principle a tree leaves and fruit the true believer in baha ullah brings forth leaves and fruit proving that the life principle within him has been awakened and quickened people are not sure of this being the reality and complete truth it is bound to be true if we see spiritual growth in souls from the blessed perfections planting christ spake the parable of the seed the seed contained the truth some of the seed was wasted he said and some that grew up was choked by human teachings for instance by associating with people who do not believe in god the growth of the spirit is stopped when we find believers in this condition we should strive to get them into different surroundings and under better influences they need a physician the most needy are the ones to help first the poor are always with us christ said meaning those who are without the teachings of the word they are our charge and responsibility during the greek turkish war the condition of the turkish soldiers was frightful the people appointed a commission to raise money for their relief many contributed for a while but finally nobody but myself gave to help them the soldiers complained that they were receiving less and less assistance the governor replied to them that all they were getting came from the hand of abbas effendi and that all other donations had ceased the soldiers showed no gratitude for what they were receiving but on the contrary complained bitterly against their benefactors just so we cry out to god have mercy upon us when god is the only giver of bounty to us war is a grievous calamity it begins and ends in disaster a mother has a beautiful boy filled with every grace and promise he develops into manhood goes to war and in an instant all his possibilities and usefulness are cut off end of section five Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 6 return of the spirit in the book of ikan we can read the word of god concerning the true reincarnation which is the return of the spiritual qualities in the servants of god in the gospel it is written that they asked john the baptist if he was elijah and that he answered plainly i am not elijah appeared long before jesus when the christ came he was veiled in a cloud from the eyes of the jews a voice came out of the cloud saying this is my beloved son clouds and darkness gradually obscure all the former manifestations although they are promised and expected they are refused during their earthly life on account of the spiritual blindness of the people elijah came but was not recognized in john it was not the person or entity of elijah but his perfection and qualities which john embodied the flowers of last year will come again this year we can say they have returned not the actual substance of the former flowers but their colour perfume and perfection have returned some are awaiting the coming of christ in the clouds of heaven he has already come in the heart if you believe while those who do not believe in the revelation of baha ullah cannot see him on account of clouds and veils many people are going out of the churches dissatisfied with religious teaching it is because they do not see spiritually spiritual relationship at dinner a violent rainstorm swept in from the sea may we all live in the sea of reality and be filled with the love of god thank god we are in the ark of the covenant see what great blessings god has showered upon us how many people of persia looked upon the blessed perfection yet they do not know as you know you have reached this station while they are deprived there are two kinds of relationship physical and spiritual the highest and greatest is the spiritual the physical is of no importance it is very good to possess both in each other god be praised at this table we are joined in spiritual relationship We are all of one family because we are under the shadow of the blessed perfection.

look at the earth of itself it is worthless yet it can reflect the light and heat of the sun clouds gather the rains descend and the earth becomes fruitful in the same way the spirit of god gives life to the soul of man and the breeze of god awakens the soul from its sleep peter was only a catcher of fishes yet his attainment was very great ananias the high priest was much greater in the eyes of the world yet he was deprived while peter received the bounty of god spiritual relationship is the true familyhood of god's children the bab had many relatives he particularly wished that his mother should believe in this revelation and attain christ said that his mother mary was not of his relationship also that those were his brothers and sisters who were in the kingdom of god obedience today we will speak about obedience the manifestation of god is a perfect example of real obedience like him we must sacrifice everything every plan every longing and ideal must be given up completely to the will of god we must look to god for all we desire all we attain the will of god must outwork its purposes in us our human will must be laid down in sacrifice and love abdul baha has given everything in sacrifice and obedience to the will of god am only his servant nothing more all our soul powers our outward self our inward self must be consecrated to god in service and sacrifice even life must be given if necessary if we have not reached this station of nothingness we have not attained to real obedience to the will of god a pupil must submit entirely to the will of the teacher this is true sacrifice true obedience real obedience and real sacrifice are identical absolute readiness to follow and perform whatever you are called upon to do in the cause of god when you really love god you will be willing to sacrifice everything and submit yourself entirely to his will consecrate yourself wholly to him his will is everything his service paramount if they were to burn me kill or torture me no matter what affliction may descend upon me i shall welcome it as one welcomes pleasure these are precious moments in acca so precious we wish they might never end how is the bahai faith progressing in america after your return the believers will be in a much stronger and better condition but this cannot be unless they see and know the will and desire of god i have no wish but his will his will is abdul if each human creature had his own will and way spiritual development would be impossible the soldiers in an army are under the will and control of one commander therefore they are united and can press on to victory if each soldier carried out his own inclination and desire there would be just that many different intentions and nothing would be accomplished one thousand soldiers under the control of a commander can overthrow and defeat any number of disorganized troops without a directing will all would be conquered and defeated be sure therefore that if the believers are not united in the will of god they will not be assisted this is especially necessary because all of them are under the tent of the covenant in this revelation there is strength only in unity under one tent there is union and harmony the covenant of god in this day of manifestation is a lifeboat an ark of salvation all true followers of the blessed perfection are sheltered and protected in this ark whoever leaves it trusting in his own will and strength will drown and be destroyed for the blessed perfection left no possibility for discord disagreement and dissension the covenant is like the sea and the believers are as the fishes in the sea if a fish leaves the water it cannot live there is nothing to equal nothing so effective as the covenant of god to bring about and continue unity christ said to peter thou art the rock upon which i will build my church therefore all the disciples followed peter and there was no dissension among them the blessed perfection wrote a testament or covenant with his own pen so that no one who obeys it will deny or disobey god this point is expressed very clearly in the covenant he revealed therefore there can be no possibility no position of disobedience he knew that muhammad ali would disobey the covenant by violating the covenant he has become a fallen branch the covenant was also written by muhammad ali's own hand from dictation of the blessed perfection who knew he would disobey what cause of union could be greater than the covenant god has revealed through his manifestation baha ullah many of those who followed muhammad ali are coming back after the departure of baha ullah all the beautiful blossoms upon the tree of life were destroyed by muhammad ali and must now be grown again by the love of abdul the work and mission of abdul baha is very great no one could express the grief which followed the turning away from the covenant by muhammad ali we should be thankful that the blessed perfection foreseeing this action ordained a centre of the covenant through which by allegiance and love we may protect and preserve the revelation of god at the time muhammad ali denied the covenant and occasioned so much grief and suffering the perfect calmness and spiritual strength of the holy leaf were most remarkable the blessed perfection devotedly loved abdul baha and when he appeared his expression would change from gravity to one of great happiness and joy before his ascension the blessed perfection realizing the trouble muhammad ali would bring about would say O to be pitied, Master! For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Nicholas James Bridgewater Ten Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M.

He also knew and announced the year of the manifestation of Baha'u'llah, who first declared himself near Baghdad.

Thereupon the name Baha'u'llah descended upon him.

10 Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 13 from the mother of the household she said i regret indeed that i cannot speak your language you also feel your need of persian persian is most important in this day as it is the language of the word we will understand each other perfectly in the spiritual world a tradition of muhammad says blessed is the one who sleeps one night in acca he also said they who rest in acca shall be honoured even though they know it not again blessed is the one who has seen the one who is in acca the eyes of the muhammadans in acca are spiritually closed then she read to us in persian from the tablet of ishraqat she continued the house of justice will be established men will watch over this house day and night the people will come to it for protection they must obey its laws and be attentive to its commands it will be the sun of wisdom which will distribute light to the politics of the whole world the people of wealth honor and power must turn to religion as the evident light and firm fortress of humanity our duty is to be kind to everybody and avoid wrong-doing the light of the world is religion without it we live in darkness the blessed perfection commanded all the people of the world to establish peace the kings of the world must unite they are the dawning places and rising places of the will of god to assist them we must strive to obey the laws of god the wisdom of god is revealed in two lights the sun and the moon just as in the material world one the moon is the consolation or the mercy to the world the other the sun is the foundation upon which the world must build what shall be our reward and punishment we ask the victorious armies of god are made up of good deeds and actions these are the soldiers of his army the commander of the army is righteousness and guidance toward god the true helper the king must know his subjects and reward or punish them according to their merits so those who are dishonest servants may not receive what the good are rightly entitled to so it is with those who come to acca when the blessed perfection was six years of age he had a vision he saw himself fall into the sea in the water his long hair became shining like the sun and spread out around him like a golden net all the fishes large and small came swimming toward him holding to the strands of his hair the fishes came closer and closer following him as he swam through the waters which were shining like the sun the fishes were countless in number when he awoke he told his vision to his father who was an important man of persia his father consulted a wise man named abdul karim who interpreted visions for the kings abdul karim said your son will be a great man the water is knowledge and the fishes swimming about him are the people of all nations who will come to be taught by his wisdom he will be forced away and separated from earthly things and will reflect the light of the word of god give the message whenever you are called even if it be in china abdul baha has often prayed that his conditions might become more severe in order that his strength to meet them might be increased this blessing has always followed his prayer in prayer we must seek for strength to meet conditions the garment with which god will clothe you when you teach will be an armor of protection against all assault the teachers in this cause will be as planets in the heavens illuminating the great world of the west teaching is the crown of action this was the crown jesus bestowed upon his disciples the blessed perfection said when the sun of my beauty has set be not disturbed nor troubled for i will see you from the highest horizon and help those who arise in my cause all existence is in conformity with divine law this law is and must be universal it is a natural order and there can be no deviation in its action man must conform to divine law that which is at variance with the truth and reality of god cannot stand against the action of divine will or law the law of god which punishes and destroys is at the same time eternal life to those who obey it it is necessary for the soul to prove the message and reach a station of belief through its own power of judgment you can see at once.

when the soul is firm and steadfast in its faith it instantly reflects the light are many firm in america even the greatest are sometimes weak peter for instance the bob was a supremely holy soul he went to school at the age of six his teacher confessed that he could not teach him saying he knows more than i do the same teacher was one of the bab's most devoted followers and was afterward martyred section thirteen section fourteen of ten days in the light of acca 10 Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 14 talks from mirza asadullah persian is the language of the word because baha'u'llah revealed himself in it god be praised that you have come to acca mr m is a teacher it is well that he has come to abdul baha as a pupil he should come to learn how abdul baha teaches this revelation is like beautiful writing which the teacher sets forth as an example for the devoted pupils to copy it is from god all who teach must come to learn in order that they may give forth truth to others christ's teaching came forth after his ascension he was the example by washing the feet of his disciples he taught them the lesson of servitude and love he set forth his qualities and they followed him every day of your stay in acca will be as a year this will be evident to you after you have returned to america here asadullah remained silent not speaking for a long time then we asked him to talk he said it is not difficult for me to talk that is my work why is it so because i look upon the universe for my knowledge whereas the teaching of science and philosophy are from books and books are faulty the whole world is my book therefore it is no trouble for me to talk for i simply speak of what i see in this great volume it would tire my eyes to read the books of science weary my brain to repeat and remember all they say when i read the book of the universe i read the essence of all books all the prophets of god read this book and were taught in this way those who love true knowledge know in this manner when a prophet appeared bringing a new message of truth he was considered crazy the prophets are able to speak from different standpoints because their knowledge is from god and not from books where are the books of men they perish and are destroyed the book of god is everlasting imperishable messages from god are as points of beginning they are sources of light and knowledge in the persian alphabet you will find points or dots which change and form the letters these letters form words the words make sentences and the sentences express thoughts for instance beginning with the letter alif or a then alif b or ob and so on by addition of other letters and words until the meaning is conveyed in the first point in alif the meaning was hidden waiting to be revealed the meaning was not opened until the book and its sentences were formed with as a source or first point so it is with the seed and flower the flower is in the seed and comes from it at maturity thus words gather together make a chapter and the chapters form a book the prophets from the point of oneness with god composed a holy book the world is a book it proceeds from the point of oneness the bab said i am the point of the book of the world all things are good if we see aright a flower is beautiful we desire to smell it and possess it when we see something ugly we wish to get away from it once we possess something good it is always beautiful therefore truth and righteousness are forever beautiful the prophets came into the world as living examples so the people might acquire their good qualities and perfections the resvan is not in its full beauty at this season of the year but when its flowers are in bloom when you breathe their many and varied fragrances which fill the air in summer when you look upon their lovely glorious faces you are made happy all your senses are delighted your nostrils are saluted by the heavenly odors your eyes are greeted by matchless colors you taste delicious fruits you hear the sweet song of the birds all this beauty is for your benefit intended to make you happy then why not praise god for the beauty of the garden in which everything praises god but if you go to another place which does not contain these beauties you wish to hurry away immediately for instance a swamp infested with gnats and mosquitoes this is only natural thus it is with the people of god who show forth the beauty and graces of god in their attitude toward humanity we long to be with them we love the beauty of their good qualities they refresh our spiritual senses we are filled with their beauty they are the flowers and fruits in the garden of abha in the resvan of the blessed perfection now i will tell you something about an orange it will encourage you as a teacher in this truth for each one you teach will be the means of leading twenty others into the same pure light out of one seed by planting you may produce one thousand oranges the outcome increasing in greater and greater proportion so it is with the word of god a teacher drops a seed the one he teaches teaches another and in the end the outcome of your planting will be one thousand believers if this increase is certain in the vegetable kingdom how much higher and greater the result in the kingdom of men just as the description of acca by one who has lived here is different from your own impressions as you drive through these streets and actually see for yourself so it is with the real disciples of abdul without knowing the question asked him i gather from what he says the attitude of the seeker his words cover every phase of a question a perfect discourse must meet and fill everybody's requirements to teach aright one must wander through the wilderness of human ideas as i have done then you will learn the secret of teaching by meeting all sorts of people and discussing and answering every kind of question no one loves to teach more than i do with my own tongue but the truth and reality of interpretation must be given according to the form of abdul baha's teaching the one desire of a teacher should be to reflect the truth as a mirror on the face of the listener the teacher should see what is needed and desired so that he may give forth that which will confirm strengthen and develop the one taught that is to say there is a key of knowledge which will unlock any door and enable us to enter with the message of truth this may sound difficult but it is easy to prove if you possess it you must lead the seeker into the right road then progress is straight ahead in chicago i taught many ladies i will now give you a beautiful lesson for you are a comparatively new believer a new child in the kingdom of al abha human hearts are like mirrors and their light is the knowledge of god if the light should be dim the mirror cannot reflect the knowledge of god but the light of god is never dim we can always depend upon its standard purity and power depend upon the light and it will always increase in power and illumination to you the great need is to keep the mirror polished and clean and its face always turned toward the light when the mirror is pure you will have perfect knowledge full power and true light the more faith one has in the heart the more the mirror is kept turned toward god and the more fixed the soul becomes upon god the greater the firmness the greater the understanding then the greater the peace and so on if you do not grow after you see the light shining from your words it is your own neglect and failure the spirit of man is the cradle of the lord in it there comes the new birth the new being which is to live forever if you teach but a few souls you have attained to spiritual greatness from each one you will gain a hundred spiritual children you are in the kingdom gratitude and love will guide them to you you will be like a lamp the souls you have illumined have been lighted from your flame you will be the focus of the rays the center from which they come christ taught peter peter planted the seed and a thousand souls arose in the kingdom of christ the blessed perfection would teach one soul and from that one a multitude would be raised up when the heart is pure it will be guided and directed in the truth and power to teach will be given to you end of section section fifteen of ten days in the light of akka this is a librivox recording all librivox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit librivox.org recording by nicholas james bridgewater ten days in the light of acca by julia m grundy section fifteen sometimes in america i had no one to translate for me to speak in the language of love we must have an instrument through which that love may manifest itself love lives in the heart even if one tries to hide it and is unwilling to speak it forth love in the heart becomes evident and speaks in our actions for instance suppose i have a strong desire to perform some action can i do it without the hand to carry out my desire it is through actions that qualities and attributes express themselves the rose is revealed through its colour perfume and outer beauty knowledge is our greatest possession but we cannot give it to others without speech or writing if we do not express it in this way it remains hidden and unrevealed take for instance a quality like mercy or generosity if we do not use the tongue and bring forth these attributes they are hidden concealed therefore all the human and divine qualities become visible through the powers god has given to man and through the powers god himself possesses the tongue the eyes the ears are necessary to perfect man and enable him to express reality god created man with the intention that man should perfect his powers if we did not possess these qualities and the powers to express them we could not reflect the work of god god has said through his manifestation i have created man and through man my likeness is revealed man can therefore attain a very high station by reflecting the attributes of god this power of expression is the spirit independence is man's greatest gift the knowledge of good and evil makes us responsible otherwise we would be as the angels who are messengers of divine purpose so it came to pass that man was made of the dust and from the earth he should appear and be developed into a high station this is reflected everywhere in creation the eyes ears all the body of man evidence this high purpose a child's knowledge does not depend upon the size of a child but upon the capacity of its mind mountain is very large but it does not possess understanding a bird is small by comparison yet it has life and the power of flight which the mountain has not do not look at your own inability and shortcomings when you wish to teach this truth look at the power and bounty of god which are limitless when man looks at himself the view is hopeless because he sees no ability and capacity in himself alone.

Dear friends, I am so thankful that this conference has as its overarching theme advancing human welfare and prosperity as described by our beloved House of Justice in the 1 March 2017 message to the Baha'is of the world.

I'm looking forward to seeing how this conference can create an environment for thoughtful, ongoing reflection by the friends.

You know, the sessions in the afternoon, they are part of this environment, and we hope that you are able to join us as much as possible.

Thinking within the context of our current social reality, we will explore how our main contribution in this day will be efforts towards the spiritualization of our society.

Finally, we will think about how, as we are drawn further and further into the life of society, it will be inevitable for us, the Baha'i community, to start to address some of the material dimensions of the lives of our brothers and sisters.

The House of Justice makes many strong statements regarding how society is conducting its affairs, each of them a profound concept in and of itself.

It states in the message, the economic impact of the afflictions, earlier described inequity, discrimination, exploitation, has resulted in prolonged suffering of so many, as well as structural defects in society.

Another statement, humanity's collective life suffers when any one group thinks of its own well-being in isolation from that of its neighbors.

there is a beautiful persian story

which tells of the love of majnun and laili it is mentioned by baha'u'llah in the tablet of the seven valleys majnun was seen searching everywhere for laili after she had passed into the spirit world the lover although he knew his search was hopeless continued to seek his beloved even by sifting sand through his fingers proving his devotion and worship the story of this love teaches us that there is a deep hidden wisdom in our trials and disappointments for they prove the quality of our love and devotion to god like majnun we must seek him everywhere we must seek him continually while seeking for his beloved one dark night majnun was seen and pursued by a patrol just as he was about being taken prisoner majnun climbed over a high wall and jumped down into a garden falling at the feet of his beloved laili who happened to be searching with a candle for a lost ring when he found himself in her presence he forgot his fears offered a prayer of thanksgiving and asked god to bless the patrol who had pursued him so it is in our search for god at first everything seems difficult trials and oppositions beset us on every side but when we find him in our love and confidence we thank him for all the difficulties and troubles we pass through our faith and peace have been perfected by our search for him our enjoyment of his love is so much greater for the obstacles which have beset us on the way the prophets and messengers of god live their lives through storms of oppression and tempests of hatred and suffering they are despised and rejected imprisoned tortured and martyred if they did not love god and know to what a paradise of love this road of thorns was leading them they could not go on to the end the soul is like gold which must be tried in the fire and in the crucible before it is perfected and purified in the crucible of his love all the base metal all the alloy is burned away and disappears leaving only that which is precious and proof against all tests outside the soul are innumerable barriers numberless enemies and hostile pursuers by the mercy of god we have been permitted to surmount these walls escape from these pursuers and fall at the feet of our beloved having found him and his love we must be like our beloved and love one another even blessing our enemies and those who have persecuted us all the light and love you have received in acca will illumine and uplift other souls in america if you love them in our actions we reveal what the tongue cannot speak this is like putting a candle in a dark place so that the light may reach many eyes and guide many souls the real light of the soul shines forth to the world in our actions the most important message for us to deliver to the world is the message of love through love we form companionship and by uniting in spiritual companionship we attain power when this magic circle of love unity and power is established our influence widens and the number of our friends will increase the reality of love is to love others better than we love ourselves to excel one another in service to do this all ill-feeling must be taken out of the heart we must remove ill-feeling entirely from our dispositions the blessed perfection said in one of his tablets that if he knew he had been the cause of sadness to any soul during the day he could not sleep until all that sadness had been taken away by love if this love and companionship do not exist our meeting together in the cause of god is impossible and fruitless for without unity there is no accomplishment god has said because i love thee therefore i created thee the elements have been attracted toward each other coerced as it were through affinity for each other therefore in their mingling we witness growth and being the existence of the physical and mental kingdom is through the cohesion of these atoms and this makes the life of the spiritual kingdom possible for the spirit although not of these atoms can only manifest itself in the mental and physical and it is by the life of the spirit in us that the eternal life of god is transmitted to humanity why do we bahais love one another because god wishes us to love the creatures of god so that his purpose may be accomplished in them and in us then we are the lover and humanity is the beloved majnun and laili could not be mated because they belonged to opposite and hostile tribes just as romeo and juliet came from different families which bitterly hated each other finally the love of majnun grew so strong that he wandered away into the wilderness where a dog crossed his path weeping he stopped and caressed the creature for it had once belonged to laili if the earthly love was so strong in majnun how much stronger should our spiritual love be for each other in everything we must strive to find god our love for abdul baha must bring peace harmony and good-will everywhere among ourselves the foundation of all existence is love and the foundation of love is god what would there be in this world without love the blessed perfection said the reason i have suffered all these tribulations is that love should be established among the friends of god they asked majnun why do you love the earth because it is dark like lely he replied the lover of an earthly beloved is most unhappy and yet most interesting to us simply because he loves in the seven valleys the blessed perfection shows that some lovers of god must slowly traverse all seven stages of the road toward the eternal beloved while others attain in one bound in one step love is the true self of the soul for god himself is love the sign of a true lover is that his heart must be in perfect accord with his actions or rather that his actions must speak the secrets of his heart events show that muhammad ali has followed his own will and not the will of the blessed perfection a true seeker must seek for the reality may the power of god grow so strong within you that the world will become aflame with your words and all the people be enkindled with the fire of the love of god what the blessed perfection has desired and announced will surely come to pass when love is established in human hearts war will cease and swords be made into plowshares then will peace reign over all nations and kingdoms question asked badi ullah was there communication between the bab and baha ullah he answered before the bab was martyred he directed that a large box of books and writings be sent to baha ullah this was less than a year before his death at the age of twenty-five he declared himself to be the door or gate to he whom god will make manifest he announced himself to be the mediator between this promised one and the people of the world it is said that for a short time they were together but this statement is without authority i never heard bahawla say that he had seen the bab it is not historically established that they met but the sending of the box is a fact of history there were many writings of the bab in this box treatises upon the koran etc also a paper entitled conjugations in the name of abha in which baha'u'llah is mentioned kabbalistically and otherwise three hundred and sixty times the purpose of this was to announce the hidden one the manifest one to the people and prepare them for his appearance baha means glorious light or effulgent splendour the bab knew this was to be his name when he appeared he also knew and announced the year of the manifestation of baha'u'llah who first declared himself near baghdad thereupon the name baha'u'llah descended upon him end of section twelve 10 Days in the Light of Acre by Julia M. Grundy Section 13 from the mother of the household she said i regret indeed that i cannot speak your language you also feel your need of persian persian is most important in this day as it is the language of the word we will understand each other perfectly in the spiritual world a tradition of muhammad says blessed is the one who sleeps one night in acca he also said they who rest in acca shall be honoured even though they know it not again blessed is the one who has seen the one who is in acca the eyes of the muhammadans in acca are spiritually closed then she read to us in persian from the tablet of ishraqat she continued the house of justice will be established men will watch over this house day and night the people will come to it for protection they must obey its laws and be attentive to its commands it will be the sun of wisdom which will distribute light to the politics of the whole world the people of wealth honor and power must turn to religion as the evident light and firm fortress of humanity our duty is to be kind to everybody and avoid wrong-doing the light of the world is religion without it we live in darkness the blessed perfection commanded all the people of the world to establish peace the kings of the world must unite they are the dawning places and rising places of the will of god to assist them we must strive to obey the laws of god the wisdom of god is revealed in two lights the sun and the moon just as in the material world one the moon is the consolation or the mercy to the world the other the sun is the foundation upon which the world must build what shall be our reward and punishment we ask the victorious armies of god are made up of good deeds and actions these are the soldiers of his army the commander of the army is righteousness and guidance toward god the true helper the king must know his subjects and reward or punish them according to their merits so those who are dishonest servants may not receive what the good are rightly entitled to so it is with those who come to acca when the blessed perfection was six years of age he had a vision he saw himself fall into the sea in the water his long hair became shining like the sun and spread out around him like a golden net all the fishes large and small came swimming toward him holding to the strands of his hair the fishes came closer and closer following him as he swam through the waters which were shining like the sun the fishes were countless in number when he awoke he told his vision to his father who was an important man of persia his father consulted a wise man named abdul karim who interpreted visions for the kings abdul karim said your son will be a great man the water is knowledge and the fishes swimming about him are the people of all nations who will come to be taught by his wisdom he will be forced away and separated from earthly things and will reflect the light of the word of god give the message whenever you are called even if it be in china abdul baha has often prayed that his conditions might become more severe in order that his strength to meet them might be increased this blessing has always followed his prayer in prayer we must seek for strength to meet conditions the garment with which god will clothe you when you teach will be an armor of protection against all assault the teachers in this cause will be as planets in the heavens illuminating the great world of the west teaching is the crown of action this was the crown jesus bestowed upon his disciples the blessed perfection said when the sun of my beauty has set be not disturbed nor troubled for i will see you from the highest horizon and help those who arise in my cause all existence is in conformity with divine law this law is and must be universal it is a natural order and there can be no deviation in its action man must conform to divine law that which is at variance with the truth and reality of god cannot stand against the action of divine will or law the law of god which punishes and destroys is at the same time eternal life to those who obey it it is necessary for the soul to prove the message and reach a station of belief through its own power of judgment you can see at once.

when the soul is firm and steadfast in its faith it instantly reflects the light are many firm in america even the greatest are sometimes weak peter for instance the bob was a supremely holy soul he went to school at the age of six his teacher confessed that he could not teach him saying he knows more than i do the same teacher was one of the bab's most devoted followers and was afterward martyred section thirteen section fourteen of ten days in the light of acca 10 DAYS IN THE LIGHT OF ACCA by Julia M. Grundy.

Section 14. talks from mirza asadullah persian is the language of the word because baha'u'llah revealed himself in it god be praised that you have come to acca mr m is a teacher it is well that he has come to abdul baha as a pupil he should come to learn how abdul baha teaches this revelation is like beautiful writing which the teacher sets forth as an example for the devoted pupils to copy it is from god all who teach must come to learn in order that they may give forth truth to others christ's teaching came forth after his ascension he was the example by washing the feet of his disciples he taught them the lesson of servitude and love he set forth his qualities and they followed him every day of your stay in acca will be as a year this will be evident to you after you have returned to america here asadullah remained silent not speaking for a long time then we asked him to talk he said it is not difficult for me to talk that is my work why is it so because i look upon the universe for my knowledge whereas the teaching of science and philosophy are from books and books are faulty the whole world is my book therefore it is no trouble for me to talk for i simply speak of what i see in this great volume it would tire my eyes to read the books of science weary my brain to repeat and remember all they say when i read the book of the universe i read the essence of all books all the prophets of god read this book and were taught in this way those who love true knowledge know in this manner when a prophet appeared bringing a new message of truth he was considered crazy the prophets are able to speak from different standpoints because their knowledge is from god and not from books where are the books of men they perish and are destroyed the book of god is everlasting imperishable messages from god are as points of beginning they are sources of light and knowledge in the persian alphabet you will find points or dots which change and form the letters these letters form words the words make sentences and the sentences express thoughts for instance beginning with the letter alif or a then alif b or ob and so on by addition of other letters and words until the meaning is conveyed in the first point in alif the meaning was hidden waiting to be revealed the meaning was not opened until the book and its sentences were formed with alif as a source or first point so it is with the seed and flower the flower is in the seed and comes from it at maturity thus words gather together make a chapter and the chapters form a book the prophets from the point of oneness with god composed a holy book the world is a book it proceeds from the point of oneness the bab said i am the point of the book of the world all things are good if we see aright a flower is beautiful we desire to smell it and possess it when we see something ugly we wish to get away from it once we possess something good it is always beautiful therefore truth and righteousness are forever beautiful the prophets came into the world as living examples so the people might acquire their good qualities and perfections the resvan is not in its full beauty at this season of the year but when its flowers are in bloom when you breathe their many and varied fragrances which fill the air in summer when you look upon their lovely glorious faces you are made happy all your senses are delighted your nostrils are saluted by the heavenly odors your eyes are greeted by matchless colors you taste delicious fruits you hear the sweet song of the birds all this beauty is for your benefit intended to make you happy then why not praise god for the beauty of the garden in which everything praises god but if you go to another place which does not contain these beauties you wish to hurry away immediately for instance a swamp infested with gnats and mosquitoes this is only natural thus it is with the people of god who show forth the beauty and graces of god in their attitude toward humanity we long to be with them we love the beauty of their good qualities they refresh our spiritual senses we are filled with their beauty they are the flowers and fruits in the garden of abha in the resvan of the blessed perfection now i will tell you something about an orange it will encourage you as a teacher in this truth for each one you teach will be the means of leading twenty others into the same pure light out of one seed by planting you may produce one thousand oranges the outcome increasing in greater and greater proportion so it is with the word of god a teacher drops a seed the one he teaches teaches another and in the end the outcome of your planting will be one thousand believers if this increase is certain in the vegetable kingdom how much higher and greater the result in the kingdom of men just as the description of acca by one who has lived here is different from your own impressions as you drive through these streets and actually see for yourself so it is with the real disciples of abdul baha without knowing the question asked him i gather from what he says the attitude of the seeker his words cover every phase of a question a perfect discourse must meet and fill everybody's requirements to teach aright one must wander through the wilderness of human ideas as i have done then you will learn the secret of teaching by meeting all sorts of people and discussing and answering every kind of question no one loves to teach more than i do with my own tongue but the truth and reality of interpretation must be given according to the form of abdul baha's teaching the one desire of a teacher should be to reflect the truth as a mirror on the face of the listener the teacher should see what is needed and desired so that he may give forth that which will confirm strengthen and develop the one taught that is to say there is a key of knowledge which will unlock any door and enable us to enter with the message of truth this may sound difficult but it is easy to prove if you possess it you must lead the seeker into the right road then progress is straight ahead in chicago i taught many ladies i will now give you a beautiful lesson for you are a comparatively new believer a new child in the kingdom of al abha human hearts are like mirrors and their light is the knowledge of god if the light should be dim the mirror cannot reflect the knowledge of god but the light of god is never dim we can always depend upon its standard purity and power depend upon the light and it will always increase in power and illumination to you the great need is to keep the mirror polished and clean and its face always turned toward the light when the mirror is pure you will have perfect knowledge full power and true light the more faith one has in the heart the more the mirror is kept turned toward god and the more fixed the soul becomes upon god the greater the firmness the greater the understanding then the greater the peace and so on if you do not grow after you see the light shining from your words it is your own neglect and failure the spirit of man is the cradle of the lord In it there comes the new birth, the new being, which is to live forever.