1predominantly negative. Instead of reminding us of
the supreme honor of being made in Gods image,
of being the essence of beauty and perfection,
many theologians focus on our sinful nature and
remind us of our rebellious past when Adam and
Eve reached for the forbidden fruit. As Dr.
David Elkind, a noted child psychologist observes,
The Puritans constructed an image of the child
tainted with original sin. Your child, wrote James
Janeway, is never too young to go to hell.
A pastor was talking to an enthusiastic, but ignorant
member of his flock. My friend, I assume you
2One God, Many Faiths
3believe in total depravity? the preacher asked. The
man answered, Yes, sir, and what a worthy doctrine
it would be, if only folks would live up to it.
The reason for ignoring the good and focusing on
the bad is this: If people were good, it is assumed,
then they would not need Christs salvation. This
thinking is totally unfounded. When we say that
human beings are made perfect, we mean potentially
perfect. Just like a photograph, Gods image im-
printed on their souls needs to be developed. With-
out His help, the splendid and exalted image breaks
down and disappears. The perfect seed always needs
a cultivator, otherwise it rots. Christ said that the
kingdom of heaven is concealed within every human
being. That perfect kingdom always needs a King.
Without the King, only chaos can prevail.
Christ said that a good fruit can come only from a
good tree and a bad fruit only from a bad tree.
Since God is good, everything that comes from
Himthe creationalso must be good.
Among all created beings we are the only ones
made in Gods image. We are the only ones with
souls that reflect His Soul. Can a perfect Being
have an evil image? Can any honor compare with
being like the Essence of all Beauty and Perfec-
tion? Can we ever be grateful enough for receiving
such an unspeakably magnificent gift? In spite of
this, we find so many people completely unaware
of the great honor and glory of being human. Many
suffer from a low self-esteem. They have the power
to connect their souls to the Source of all joys and
pleasures, yet they remain deprived and depressed.
4161 One Garden, Many Flowers
5Theirs are the most sublime riches and gifts of
Gods kingdom, yet they live in poverty. Christ said
that the kingdom of heaven is within you. Can
anything good and beautiful be lacking in the
kingdom of heaven? The best of everything that
the mind can conceive dwells within us. We are,
indeed, made perfect.
When God created us, He was pleased with His
work and He called it good (Genesis 1:10, 12, 18,
21, 25, 31). Then where does the bad come from?
God fashioned us first as a blank film, and then
exposed it to His image. But He left the task of
developing the film to us. The bad always comes
from a lack of development, and that is perhaps the
main message in the story of Adam and Eve. That
story does not point to an existing innate evil in
human beings. Rather, it symbolizes a sublime gift
given to human beings: freedom of choice. If that
gift were removed, we would become mere animals.
Only when we expose ourselves to the light of the
knowledge of God, as manifested in His great
Messengers, can we reveal our souls inner beauty
and perfection. When we deny His Messengers and
reject His knowledge, we remain in an unsightly
and negative state.
Today we are constantly exposed to bad news
war, crime, child abuse, fraud, infidelity, and cruelty
of all kinds. The negative is seldom neutralized by
the positive. This abundance of bad news creates a
bad image of humans. Since we live up to our self-
image, when our attention is drawn to the negative,
our image of being human declines. And as our
image goes down, so do our values and our sense
6One God, Many Faiths
7of honor and dignity. As humorist Will Rogers said,
God made man a little lower than the angels, and
he has been getting a little lower ever since.
What we see is not what we are. Without cultivat-
ing our souls, we descend to a state lower than that
of lizards and lions, and worse than wasps and
wolves. If you owned a hotel, whom would you
prefer as a guest, a dog or a dishonest drunkard?
A man wrote this letter to a small hotel he planned
to visit on his vacation: I would very much like
to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed and
very well-behaved. Would you be willing to let me
keep him in my room with me at night?
An immediate reply came from the hotel owner,
who said, Ive been operating this hotel for many
years. In all that time, Ive never had a dog steal
towels, silverware, or pictures off the walls. Ive
never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night
for being drunk and disorderly. And Ive never had
a dog run out on a hotel bill. Yes, indeed, your dog
is welcome at my hotel. And, if your dog will
vouch for you, youre welcome to stay here, too.
A mother went to the school open house to speak
with her sons teacher. The teacher said, Im so
very pleased to meet you. Your son Tim is a delight
to have in my class! Hes helpful, conscientious,
courteous…
Tims mother wondered: My kid? Is she talking
about my kid? Later she told Tim: Your teacher
says you are delightful! Why cant you be that
8163 One Garden, Many Flowers
9good at home? Tim replied, Mom, Ive only got
so much goodness to go around!
Tim had a lot of potential for both good and evil.
He selected and gave to each person what he or she
expected of him.
How do we treat gold and garbage? We keep one,
and throw the other away. That principle applies to
how we perceive ourselves. If we think we are
made by God and for God, we glow and glitter like
gold, and our self-appreciation ascends as high as
the angels. If we think we were made by chance for
the grave and grubs, our self-worth descends like
an unopened parachute, crashing to the ground. As
the Book of Proverbs declares, As a man thinketh,
so is he.
Once again, we need to restore to our souls the
glory and honor of being human, of being made in
the Creators image. These quotations from Abdul-
Bahá express our true station:
Man is the sum of Creation, and the Perfect Man
is the expression of the complete thought of the
Creatorthe Word of God.187 Of all the created
beings man is the nearest to the nature of God
Man is the highest work of creation, the nearest
to God of all creatures.189
Baháulláh showers upon us every honor imaginable.
He elevates us to the rank of the angels. He declares
that God has put within each of us the very essence
of His light,190 that we are the very purpose and
fruit of all creation, the reason for which the universe
came into being.
10One God, Many Faiths
11We need to be constantly reminded of our splendid
destiny and the infinite riches the Creator has placed
within each of us.
O SON OF BEING!
Thou art My lamp and My light is in thee. Get
thou from it thy radiance and seek none other
than Me. For I have created thee rich and have
bountifully shed My favor upon thee.191
Baháulláh
O SON OF BEING!
With the hands of power I made thee and with
the fingers of strength I created thee; and within
thee have I placed the essence of My light. Be
thou content with it and seek naught else, for My
work is perfect and My command is binding.
Question it not, nor have a doubt thereof.192
Baháulláh
O SON OF SPIRIT!
I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself
down to poverty? Noble I made thee, wherewith
dost thou abase thyself? Out of the essence of
knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou
enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Out of
the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou
busy thyself with another? Turn thy sight unto
thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within
thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.193
Baháulláh
This statement from the Báb shows Gods infinite
love for human beings:
All things have been created for your sakes, and
for the sake of naught else hath your creation
been ordained.194 The Báb
12165 One Garden, Many Flowers
13Spiritually and emotionally we are living in a hostile
age. The prevalence of mental disorder in our time
is a symptom of deficiencies and pressures within
us. We are like ships at the mercy of the winds and
the waves. At this time in history, the best we can
do is simply to stay afloat. To accomplish this, we
must first make sure that the ship is strong and will
not break down in the storms; second, we must
have a goal, a sense of direction, so that we know
we are not lost.
The strength of the ship is our sense of self-worth.
It is having faith that, in spite of our weakness, we
are good, we are God-made; it is believing that we
are noble, worthy of preserving, not for the grave but
for God, not for a few seasons but for all eternity.
To have any value, this sense of self-worth must be
crowned with a purpose. That purpose for every
human being is to grow, to manifest ones inner
perfections, to become worthy of God, and to attain
His presence.
It is absolutely essential for every human being to
meet both of these needs. For our spiritual survival,
they are as essential as air is for our physical.
Without them, we are no more than dead bodies
floating on the sea.
If parents provide an example of self-worth and a
sense of passionate purpose for life, it is hard to
imagine that a child would consider suicide as an
alternative. People kill themselves for many reasons.
But at the root of every suicide lies the lack of a
strong sense of self-worth and purpose, which
should be instilled early in life. If religion fails to
provide both these needs, it is pseudo-religion.
14One God, Many Faiths
15The Baháí view of human nature has a profound
impact on the way children think about themselves
and relate to others. It teaches them to respect
every human being. Is it possible to view people as
Gods masterpieces, and yet fail to respect them?
Our awareness of our divine essence affects every
aspect of our lives, but is best demonstrated in the
way we relate to others. In the light of that knowl-
edge, people become precious to us. We consider it
a supreme honor to be in the presence of beings whom
God describes as the essence of My light. Like
a beam of light, our attitude toward others always
reflects back to us and helps us appreciate Gods
immortal gifts and His presence in our own souls.
16Are Baháís Active in Improving the
Socio-Economic State of the World?
The Baháí Faith combines the mystical and the
practical. It teaches world-mindedness and concern
for all members of the human race. Love is not just
a feeling. True love, like electricity, generates
powers called service and self-sacrifice:
That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicateth
himself to the service of the entire human race.195
Baháulláh
A report by UNICEF indicates that one fifth of the
worlds population lives in abject poverty. The
disparity between rich and poor nations offers
abundant opportunities for socio-economic service.
This prophecy is about our time:
Open your eyes and look at the fields. They are
ripe for harvest! Christ (John 4:35)
17167 One Garden, Many Flowers
18Baháís currently manage over 1,300 development
projects. The majority of them are the result of
grassroots efforts operating with little or no out-
side support.
Activities in health, social services, communi-
cations, agriculture, forestry, and community
development encourage work in the spirit of
service to humankind. The emphasis in Baháí
teachings on the necessity of universal education
has inspired the establishment of more than
tutorial schools and training centers in Africa,
Asia, and the Americas. Baháí communities
operate 29 formal primary and secondary schools.
The figures will continue to increase in the years
to come.
Social and economic development projects world-
wide also include medical centers, programs for
women, cooperative savings programs, building
renovation, arts and theater groups, communal
farms, cooperative fishing projects, homes for
refugees and for the aged, and computer educa-
tion to assist low income families.
Seven educational radio stations currently op-
erate in Liberia, Panama, Chile, Peru, Bolivia,
Ecuador and the United States, to serve the local
populations. Programs in native languages offer
information on health care, crop management,
animal husbandry, child development, the elimi-
nation of prejudice, and the equality of men and
women.196
The spiritual teachings of Baháulláh emphasize
self-reliance and self-sufficiency, and they promote
a holistic and world-embracing approach in
19One God, Many Faiths
20understanding social problems and their underly-
ing causes…For example, efforts to alleviate
poverty cannot be divorced from activities that
promote full equality for women. The vast majority
of the worlds poor are women and children. In
many developing countries, especially in Africa,
women farmers grow much of the food. Baháís
believe that efforts to ensure food security in
these regions depend largely on improvements to
the status of women. Issues of development
and environment are equally dependent on
finding solutions to problems of racism, under-
education and religious strife.197
The recent trend in the distribution of wealth in
many industrial nations, if continued, will lead to
grave consequences. It is contrary to one of the
most fundamental teachings of Baháulláh: an
equitable distribution of wealth. To get a clear picture
of what is happening in our time, read America:
What Went Wrong? by two Pulitzer Prize-winning
authors. For their book they did two years of research
and assembled over 100,000 pages of documents to
create a gripping portrayal of the painful dis-
mantling of the American middle class. This
brief excerpt from the book gives a glimpse of the
economic trends:
Between 1980 and 1989, the combined salaries of
people in the $20,000 to $50,000 income group
increased 44 percent. During the same period, the
combined salaries of people earning $1 million
or more a year increased, 2,184 percent.
Viewed more broadly, the total wages of all
people who earned less than $50,000 a year85
21169 One Garden, Many Flowers
22percent of all Americansincreased an average
of just 2 percent a year over those ten years. At
the same time, the total wages of all millionaires
shot up 243 percent a year. Those figures are not
adjusted for inflation, which cuts across all
income groups but hits the lower and middle
classes hardest.
Between 1980 and 1989, the number of people
reporting incomes of more than a half-million
dollars rocketed from 16,881 to 183,240 an
increase of 985 percent.198
According to Nightline (October 27, 1995), since
1973, the yearly income of the poorest people in
America has dropped by $1,300, while the yearly
income of the richest has climbed by $66,000. The
shift in wealth, the report stated, began in 1973.
One way Baháís try to improve the socio-economic
state of the world is through the United Nations:
The Baháí International Community has consul-
tative status with the United Nations Economic
and Social Council and with the United Nations
Childrens Fund. It is also affiliated with the
United Nations Environment Program and the
UN Office of Public Information. It has represen-
tatives with the United Nations in New York,
Geneva, and Nairobi. Local Baháí communities
are encouraged to support the UNs various
humanitarian projects. The Baháí International
Community participates in meetings of UN
agencies concerned with human rights, social
development, the status of women, the environ-
ment, human settlement, food, science and
23One God, Many Faiths
24technology, population, the law of the sea, crime
prevention, substance abuse, youth, children, the
family, disarmament, and the United Nations
University.199
Sometimes, poverty persists because of a lack of
motivation to work and earn a living. In Gods
sight, idleness diminishes our worth:
O MY SERVANT!
The basest of men are they that yield no fruit on
earth. Such men are verily counted as among the
dead, nay better are the dead in the sight of God
than those idle and worthless souls.200 Baháulláh
Baháí Writings elevate work done in a spirit of
service to the rank of worship. The true purpose of
working is not to make money but to serve others.
A wealthy man in Mexico was in the habit of
buying two tangerines daily from a woman who
operated a fruit stand near his house. One morning
he told her he wanted to buy her entire stock of
tangerines. Much to his surprise the lady refused to
sell him more than a few. But why? the buyer
asked. If I sold you all of my tangerines, she
answered with dignity, what would I do the rest
of the day?
25Do Baháís Pray?
Baháís have a spiritual obligation to pray every
day. Why should we pray? To express our love,
gratitude, and devotion to our supreme and ever-
lasting Lover, to seek spiritual guidance, to remind
ourselves of our immortal essence and destiny, and
to strengthen our souls against the pressures of
26171 One Garden, Many Flowers
27daily living. If we truly love someone, would we
not call on him or her every day? Then how can
we love God without remembering Him and talk-
ing to Him? Calling our true Lover and Beloved is
the only long-distance call that is free, never busy,
jammed, out of order, or under the control of a
soulless recorder. God asks us to keep in touch, He
loves to hear our voices: Call on Me and I will
answer thee (Jeremiah 33:3). God answers our
sincere prayers every time, but not always the way
we expect.
At the dawn of every day he [the true seeker]
should commune with God, and, with all his soul,
persevere in the quest of his Beloved. He should
consume every wayward thought with the flame
of His loving mention.201 Baháulláh
Yield ye praise then unto Him and glorify Him
and bear ye witness to the sanctity and oneness
of His Being and magnify His might and majesty
with wondrous glorification. This will enable you
to gain admittance into the all-highest Paradise.
Would that ye had firm faith in the revelation of
the signs of God.202 The Báb
We should speak in the language of heavenin
the language of the spiritfor there is a language
of the spirit and heart. It is as different from our
language as our own language is different from
that of the animals, who express themselves only
by cries and sounds.
It is the language of the spirit which speaks to
God. When, in prayer, we are freed from all out-
ward things and turn to God, then it is as if in
28One God, Many Faiths
29our hearts we hear the Voice of God. Without
words we speak, we communicate, we converse
with God and hear the answer…All of us, when
we attain to a truly spiritual condition, can hear
the Voice of God.203 Abdul-Bahá
30We should pray not out of fear but out of love:
In the highest prayer, men pray only for the love
of God, not because they fear Him or hell, or
hope for bounty or heaven…When a man falls in
love with a human being, it is impossible for him
to keep from mentioning the name of his beloved.
How much more difficult is it to keep from men-
tioning the Name of God when one has come to
love Him…The spiritual man finds no delight in
anything save in commemoration of God.204
Abdul-Bahá
31In the Baháí Scriptures, we find several volumes
of prayers. This is an example of a daily prayer:
I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created
me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at
this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy
might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth. There is
none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the
Self-Subsisting.205 Baháulláh
32A prayer for those in difficulties:
Is there any Remover of difficulties save God? Say:
Praised be God! He is God! All are His servants,
and all abide by His bidding! 206 The Báb
33173 One Garden, Many Flowers
34A morning prayer:
I have awakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and
it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide
within the Sanctuary of Thy Protection…Illumine
my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendors
of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, even as Thou
didst illumine my outer being with the morning
light of Thy favor. 207 Baháulláh
A prayer for tranquillity:
O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my
heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in
Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I
will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will
be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no
longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble
harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant
things of life.
O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am
to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.208
Abdul-Bahá
A prayer to express love for God:
O my God! O my God! This, Thy servant, hath
advanced towards Thee, is passionately wander-
ing in the desert of Thy love, walking in the path
of Thy service, anticipating Thy favors, hoping
for Thy bounty, relying upon Thy kingdom, and
intoxicated by the wine of Thy gift. O my God!
Increase the fervor of his affection for Thee, the
constancy of his praise of Thee, and the ardor of
his love for Thee.
35One God, Many Faiths
36Verily, Thou art the Most Generous, the Lord of
grace abounding. There is no other God but
Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.209 Abdul-Bahá
A prayer seeking assistance:
O Thou Whose face is the object of my adoration,
Whose beauty is my sanctuary, Whose habitation
is my goal, Whose praise is my hope, Whose
providence is my companion, Whose love is the
cause of my being, Whose mention is my solace,
Whose nearness is my desire, Whose presence is
my dearest wish and highest aspiration, I entreat
Thee not to withhold from me the things Thou didst
ordain for the chosen ones among Thy servants.
Supply me, then, with the good of this world and
of the next.
Thou, truly, art the King of all men. There is no
God but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most
Generous.210 Baháulláh
A prayer for healing:
Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remem-
brance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee
is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion.
Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor
in both this world and the world to come. Thou,
verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the
All-Wise.211 Baháulláh
A prayer praising God:
I beg Thee to forgive me, O my Lord, for every
mention but the mention of Thee, and for every
praise but the praise of Thee, and for every delight
but delight in Thy nearness, and for every pleasure
37175 One Garden, Many Flowers
38but the pleasure of communion with Thee, and
for every joy but the joy of Thy love and of Thy
good-pleasure, and for all things pertaining unto
me which bear no relationship unto Thee, O Thou
Who art the Lord of lords, He Who provideth the
means and unlocketh the doors.212 The Báb
39Praying and the reading of Scriptures should be
done with joy and in moderation:
Pride not yourselves on much reading of the
verses…Were a man to read a single verse with
joy and radiance it would be better for him than
to read with lassitude all the Holy Books of
God.213 Baháulláh
40The most acceptable prayer is the one offered
with the utmost spirituality and radiance; its
prolongation hath not been and is not beloved by
God. The more detached and the purer the prayer,
the more acceptable is it in the presence of
God.214 The Báb
41A pastor asked a little girl what she thought of her
first experience in a meeting of holy rollers,
where they praised the Lord for hours at a time.
The music was nice, she said, but the commercial
was too long.
If one friend feels love for another, he will wish
to say so. Though he knows that the friend is
aware that he loves him, he will still wish to say
so…God knows the wishes of all hearts, but the
impulse to pray is a natural one, springing from
mans love to God…
42One God, Many Faiths
43If this love and desire are lacking, it is useless
to try and force them. Words without love mean
nothing. If a person talks to you as an unpleasant
duty, with no love or pleasure in his meeting with
you, do you wish to converse with him?
Abdul-Bahá
44What Are the Sacred Scriptures
of the Baháí Faith?
The flowers fade, but the word of our God endures
for evermore. Isaiah 40:8
Never before has such an abundance of Scriptures
been entrusted to humankind. Because of the great-
ness of this day, the Word of God has poured forth
like a torrent.
For the first time in religious history, we have reliable
evidence of how the Word of God is revealed. Several
independent observers have testified that sometimes
the Báb and Baháulláh spoke the divine Words
with such speed that no one could write them down.
The Book of Certitude (257 pages), which resolves
the mysteries of past Scriptures, was written by
Baháulláh within the span of only two days.
Authors make corrections, change their minds,
modify their styles, and mature with time. Like a
candles flame before the wind, their thoughts
flicker and flutter, and die with little impact on
their surroundings.
The Word of God radiates like the sun with un-
matched splendor, beauty, and perfection to the
45177 One Garden, Many Flowers
46farthest reaches of the earth. It is the source of the
spiritual life of the world. The winds and whims of
time can never touch it.
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light
unto my path. Psalms 119:105
Kahlil Gibran, the famous author from Lebanon,
whose book The Prophet has been hailed as a classic,
made this statement about Baháulláhs Arabic
works, a language Baháulláh did not study:
He [Kahlil Gibran] said it was the most stupendous
literature that ever was written, and that He even
coined words. That there was no Arabic that even
touched the Arabic of Baháulláh.216
In the Baháí archives are treasured more than
15,000 Tablets or Epistles written by Baháulláh to
His disciples.217 If we assume that each of those
Epistles is an average of three pages long, we have
a total of about 45,000 pages. If 450 pages are put
in each volume, we end up with 100 volumes. Each
of those 15,000 Epistles reveals a glimpse of Gods
glory, perfection, and power. Each of those Epistles
expresses His unwavering and unfailing love for
humanity. And each of them manifests unparalleled
authority, beauty, and majesty. I have had the honor
of reading about 2,000 of those Epistles in the
original language of revelation. Each time I read a
new Epistle, my astonishment grows. Reading them
is like walking through a splendid mansion adorned
with majestic and precious pearls and jewels.
Those who witnessed the revelation of these sacred
writings have testified that they were spoken as fast
47One God, Many Faiths
48as they could be recorded. Secretaries could hardly
keep up with the speed with which the words were
uttered. What is even more astonishing is that they
required no correction, modification, or change of
any kind.
All sacred Scriptures testify to the supreme station
of the Word of God:
The words which I have spoken to you are both
spirit and life. Christ (John 6:63)
And the words of the Lord are flawless, like
silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven
times. Psalms 18:30
Both the Báb and Baháulláh declare repeatedly
that their Words are the surest evidence of their
divine distinction:
He, the divine King, hath proclaimed the un-
disputed supremacy of the verses of His Book
over all things that testify to His truth. For
compared with all other proofs and tokens, the
divinely-revealed verses shine as the sun, whilst
all others are as stars. To the peoples of the world
they are the abiding testimony, the incontro-
vertible proof, the shining light of the ideal
King. Their excellence is unrivaled, their virtue
nothing can surpass. They are the treasury of the
divine pearls and the depository of the divine
mysteries.218 Baháulláh
Indeed these manifest verses are conclusive
testimony for those who seek true guidance.219
The Báb
49179 One Garden, Many Flowers
50Certainly Gods way of thinking and speaking must
be distinct from oursas distinct and exalted as the
heavens are from the earth:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways and my thoughts
than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Whenever you examine the Writings of the Báb
and Baháulláh, remember that they were spoken
as quickly as the secretaries could record. No human
being, other than the One endowed and inspired by
God, can claim such distinction. The most talented,
seasoned, and skillful authors cannot produce, spon-
taneously and without pause, even as much as one
page that would come close, in beauty and novelty,
to the works of the Báb and Baháulláhneither
of whom had any education. When we add the
dimension of meaning to the dimension of language,
we get peerless pearls of celestial perfection.
The Word of God, spoken through His great Mes-
sengers, is the mightiest miracle. It is not like a
meteor that flashes forth and dies in the moments
of history. It is a celestial magic that endures for
all generations. It is as bright and enduring as the
sun, as ever-present as the universe itself. No
evidence, no proof can ever compare with it.
It seems God puts most or all of His miracles in
His Word. Consider the Báb. He began His ministry
at the age of 25. He had hardly any education. As
far as we know, He did not even finish elementary
school. His teacher sent Him home, saying that the
51One God, Many Faiths
52child knew much more than he did. Imagine a young
man, raised in an extremely regressive and repres-
sive culture, who arises with the most incredible
news and reveals Scriptures as fast as anyone can
write, in the most magnificent and exquisite style,
in a language other than His mother tongueone
that He has never studied! What greater miracle
does anyone need? This is an ever-present wonder
that we can witness any time we wish. This is the
evidence God wants us to depend on.
How could the Israelites endure so much pain in the
desert? What gave them the strength and courage
was the manna, the food from heaven. That food
symbolized the Word of God. (See John 6:30-58.)
To observe brevity, only a few brief selections from
the vast vineyard of Baháí sacred works are offered
here. It is essential for every seeker of truth to devote
much time to the study of those sources.
The Báb and Abdul-Bahá also wrote extensively.
Their works also constitute part of Baháí sacred
Scriptures. Here are a few references in English:
53By Baháulláh
Gleanings from the Writings of Baháulláh
The Hidden Words of Baháulláh
The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys
The Book of Certitude
Prayers and Meditations by Baháulláh
The Proclamation of Baháulláh
Tablets of Baháulláh
54181 One Garden, Many Flowers
55By the Báb
Selections from the Writings of the Báb
By Abdul-Bahá
Some Answered Questions
Selections from the Writings of Abdul-Bahá
The Secret of Divine Civilization
The Promulgation of Universal Peace
Paris Talks
The following quotations, selected by Shoghi Effendi,
the Guardian of the Baháí Faith, from Baháí Scrip-
tures, are inscribed over the alcoves and entrances
to the Baháí House of Worship in Wilmette, Illinois.
Each of them is like a facet of diamond harvested
from the vast mountains of celestial jewels. As you
read, ponder in your heart the meaning of each jewel:
All the prophets of God proclaim the same faith.
Religion is a radiant light and an impregnable
stronghold.
Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one
branch.
So powerful is unitys light that it can illumine
the whole earth.
Consort with the followers of all religions with
friendliness.
O Son of Being! Thou art My lamp and My light
is in thee.
O Son of Being! Walk in My statutes for love of
Me.
Thy Paradise is My love; thy heavenly home re-
union with Me.
56One God, Many Faiths
57The light of a good character surpasseth the light
of the sun.
The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.
The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice;
turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me.
My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein
is safe and secure.
Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art
thyself a sinner.
Thy heart is My home; sanctify it for My descent.
I have made death a messenger of joy to thee.
Wherefore dost thou grieve?
Make mention of Me on My earth, that in My
heaven I may remember thee.
O rich ones on earth! The poor in your midst are
My trust; guard ye My trust.
The source of all learning is the knowledge of God,
exalted be His Glory.220
The Scriptures of a religion are its very heart and
soul. They come not from human beings, but from
the heart of heaven. They are the hallmark of Gods
Messengers, the most evident sign of their greatness.
Anyone interested in knowing Baháulláh should
study His writings diligently. He invites the seekers
of truth again and again to test Him by His works
by the heavenly fruits He bears. As Christ declared,
a tree must be judged by its fruits. If the fruits are
good, the tree must be good.
Love is the greatest law in the universe. It is the light
of the world. Here are a few fruits from the vineyard
of Baháulláhs and Abdul-Bahás works on love:
58183 One Garden, Many Flowers
59Love is the source of all the bestowals of God. Until
love takes possession of the heart, no other divine
bounty can be revealed in it.221 Abdul-Bahá
60Order your lives in accordance with the first
principle of divine teaching, which is love.222
Abdul-Bahá
In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose
of love.223 Baháulláh
61To every human being must ye be infinitely kind.224
Abdul-Bahá
Look not upon the creatures of God except with the
eye of kindliness and mercy, for Our loving provi-
dence hath pervaded all created things, and Our
grace encompasseth the earth and the heavens.225
Baháulláh
You must have infinite love for each other, each
preferring the other before himself. 226 Abdul-Bahá
You must love your friend better than yourself; yes,
be willing to sacrifice yourself…I desire that you be
ready to sacrifice everything for each other, even
life itself. 227 Abdul-Bahá
62Blessed is he who prefers his brother before
himself. 228 Baháulláh
63A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more
powerful thought of love.229 Abdul-Bahá
64Think ye of love and good fellowship as the delights
of heaven, think ye of hostility and hatred as the
torments of hell.230 Abdul-Bahá
65One God, Many Faiths
66Love the creatures for the sake of God and not
for themselves. You will never become angry or
impatient if you love them for the sake of God.231
Abdul-Bahá
When a man turns his face to God he finds sun-
shine everywhere…Do not be content with showing
friendship in words alone, let your heart burn
with loving-kindness for all who may cross your
path.232 Abdul-Bahá
67Let them at all times concern themselves with
doing a kindly thing for one of their fellows,
offering to someone love, consideration, thoughtful
help. Let them see no one as their enemy, or as
wishing them ill, but think of all humankind as
their friends; regarding the alien as an intimate,
the stranger as a companion, staying free of
prejudice, drawing no lines.233 Abdul-Bahá
68Ye were created to show love one to another and
not perversity and rancor. Take pride not in love
for yourselves but in love for your fellow-creatures.
Glory not in love for your country, but in love
for all mankind.234 Baháulláh
69Love, in its fullness and purity, is the mother of all
virtues. It is the power that gives birth to everything
good and noble. It is the very purpose of human life.
Love, in its fullness, means seeking and embracing
truth and goodness. Everything true is good, and
everything good is true. God is truth and goodness.
Love is truth and goodness. A person who loves
truth and goodness understands that:
70185 One Garden, Many Flowers
71 There exists a just and caring God who must be
known, loved, and glorified for His greatness
Justice is better than cruelty
Honesty excels dishonesty
Knowledge is superior to ignorance
Wisdom transcends folly
Doing is nobler than simply sitting and dreaming.
Therefore love is the great secret. When we have
true love, we discover and live by truth and good-
ness; we have attained the purpose for which the
universe came into being.
We love to see you at all times consorting in
amity and concord…We shall always be with you;
if We inhale the perfume of your fellowship, Our
heart will assuredly rejoice, for naught else can
satisfy Us.235 Baháulláh
Let us conclude this section with two quotations on
virtues, one by Christ, the other by Baháulláh:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown
mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
72One God, Many Faiths
73Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Christ (Matt. 5:3-10)
Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity.
Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look
upon him with a bright and friendly face.
Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the
rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a pre-
server of the sanctity of thy pledge.
Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech.
Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to
all men.
Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a
joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven
for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the
victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness
distinguish all thine acts.
Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffer-
ing, a tower of strength for the fugitive.
Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the
feet of the erring.
Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a
crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the
temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the
body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice,
a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to
the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean
of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a
gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in
74187 One Garden, Many Flowers
75the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the
tree of humility.236 Baháulláh
76Do Baháís Believe in the Afterlife?
Without remembering, we have all made a journey
from heaven to the earth, and now we are on the
way back home.
All men have proceeded from God and unto Him
shall all return. All shall appear before Him for
judgment.237 The Báb
The dust returns to the ground it came from, and
the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
O Lord, my soul shall live with thee; do thou
give my spirit rest. Isaiah 38:16
It is so easy to forget that we are travelers on a
long journey, paying only a brief visit to the earth.
It is so easy to forget that we are passengers on a
spacecraft, that we have a chance to revolve around
the sun a few times and then we must leave. We
often get so attached to the spacecraft we dont
want to go home. We should leave this world in
the same spirit in which we arrived. When we came,
we did not say why or nay. Why should we
complain when we are leaving for a better world?
Therefore it behooveth you to return unto God
even as ye were brought forth into existence, and
to utter not such words as why or nay, if ye wish
your creation to yield fruit at the time of your
return.238 The Báb
77One God, Many Faiths
78Our Creator, in expectation of our return to heaven,
has prepared magnificent mansions with grand
banquet halls. He wants us to get ready, to become
pure, radiant, and fragrant. No one with a bad odor
or sweaty clothes can enter the banquet. Its gates
are quite sensitive to pollution; they simply do not
open. Imagine if people with all kinds of odors and
baggage entered the banquet! Then heaven would
become as chaotic and polluted as the earth.
What happens to those who fail to prepare them-
selves for the banquet?
Those who were ready went in with him to the
wedding hall, and the door was closed. The other
bridesmaids arrived later. Lord, Lord, they
said, open the door for us, But he replied, I
tell you solemnly, I do not know you.
Christ (Matt. 25:10-12)
Many of us lose hope and faith and cant see a
reason for going through this life. Others cant
wait; they want their rewards instantly. But our
Creator asks us to be patient and faithful, and to
keep reminding ourselves that the best is yet to
come. Art Linkletter told the children that life
begins at forty and asked the children if that were
true. One little lad said: Life begins at three for
me. Hows that? Linkletter asked. Well, three is
when school lets me out.
Those who have had near-death visions often report
traveling through a dark tunnel, and then reaching
the light. The tunnel symbolizes this life, the light
the next life. To reach our destination, we must go
through the tunnel, we must complete the journey
79189 One Garden, Many Flowers
80experience sickness, pain, and death. A little girl
went to a doctor for a checkup and noticed the
picture of an angel on the wall. Whats that for?
the girl asked. That reminds me that someday I
will go to heaven, the doctor replied. Wouldnt
you like to go to heaven? Sure, the girl answered.
Well, what do you think we must do to get there?
the doctor asked. We must die first. Thats right,
the doctor smiled, but what must we do before
that? The girl pondered and then said, We must
get sick and send for you!
Heaven is blessed with perfect rest, but the
blessing of the earth is toil.
While in this world, we have a choice to focus
either on the light or on the tunnel. Only by look-
ing up to the light does living and traveling in the
tunnel make any sense. Only little children who die
enjoy the privilege of getting to the light without
going through the tunnel. And only our lack of
faith and attachment to the world prevents us from
recognizing this.
The awareness of our immortality keeps us from
apathy, pessimism, and despair; or apathy, pessi-
mism, and despair keep us from the awareness of
our immortality.
Baháulláh teaches that the worlds of God are
infinite, and that this life is the first stage among
the infinite stages of our spiritual development. The
transition from this life to the next does not result
in the loss of any of our spiritual powers: our
intelligence, our individuality, and the memory of
our lives here. In fact, it results in the gaining of
new and greater powers.
81One God, Many Faiths
82Now we see a poor reflection; then we shall see
face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall
know fully. I Corinthians 13:12
The next world is far superior to this one, especially
for those who have lived a noble life on this plane
and have pleased the Lord. For them it is so
splendid, so grand and enchanting that, if they could
experience it, they would no longer wish to con-
tinue to live. They would deem this world a dark
and gloomy prison.
Such is the station ordained for the true believer
that if to an extent smaller than a needles eye
the glory of that station were to be unveiled to
mankind, every beholder would be consumed
away in his longing to attain it. For this reason
it hath been decreed that in this earthly life the
full measure of the glory of his own station
should remain concealed from the eye of such a
believer.239 Baháulláh
Didst thou behold immortal sovereignty, thou
wouldst strive to pass from this fleeting world.
But to conceal the one from thee and to reveal
the other is a mystery which none but the pure
in heart can comprehend.240 Baháulláh
A friend asked: How should one look forward to
death? Abdul-Bahá answered:
How does one look forward to the end of any
journey? With hope and with expectation. It is
even so with the end of this earthly journey.241
Baháulláh teaches that this realm is a place of
planting, not of harvesting; hence, we should not
83191 One Garden, Many Flowers
84always expect to receive the rewards of our good
deeds here. He who plants a seed does not receive
an instant harvest. God wishes us to show our trust
in Him by being patient.
Because you have seen me, you have believed;
blessed are those who have not seen and yet have
believed. Christ (John 20:29)
A wealthy man died and went to heaven. An angel
took him on a guided tour of the celestial city. He
came to a beautiful mansion. Who lives there?
asked the wealthy man. Oh, the angel answered,
on earth he was your servant. The rich man got
excited. If his servants lived this way, think of the
kind of mansion he would have. Then they came
to an even more magnificent mansion. Whos is
this? asked the rich man, almost overwhelmed. The
angel answered, She spent her life teaching little
children. The rich man was really getting excited
now. Finally they came to a tiny shack. It was the
most modest home the rich man had ever seen.
This is your home, said the angel. The wealthy
man began to cry. Im sorry, said the angel. We
did all we could with what you sent us.
This world is a school and this life a test. If it
werent a test, we would have been subjected to
binding controls and commands as are given to cats
and crocodiles. Our prime purpose in the school of
life is to get a good report card.
Teacher: Johnny, give me a sentence with a
direct object.
Johnny: Teacher, everybody thinks youre
beautiful.
85One God, Many Faiths
86Teacher: Thank you, Johnny, but what is the
object?
Johnny: A good report card!
In this school, we have the choice of being an
honor student, a mediocre one, or a dropout. What-
ever grade we receive here will be ours forever. In
fact, our grade is the only thing we can carry beyond
the grave. Have you ever seen anyone take gold to
the grave? A man thought he could. Before his
death, he told his friend, People say you cant take
anything with you, I am going to prove them wrong.
Shortly before his death, he turned his wealth into
cash, put the cash in three envelopes, gave one
envelope to his friend, one to his lawyer, and one
to his minister. In his will he specified that when
his body was lowered to the grave, the three enve-
lopes were to be dropped on to his coffin. His will
was followed but not quite. After the man was
buried, the lawyer asked the other two if they had
faithfully followed the will. The dead mans friend
said, Thoughts and thanks are more precious than
money. Instead of cash, I put a thank-you note in
his envelope. The lawyer said that he was not so
wordy. He summarized his message in only three
words. He wrote, Are you kidding? The minister
said, You both are so untrustworthy. I wrote him
a personal check for the total amount!
Some people are quite good at gambling with the
gifts of life. They act like a man who went to a
casino in a $50,000 Cadillac and returned on a
$350,000 bus!
We are worth not as much as we have but as much
as we are.
87193 One Garden, Many Flowers
88Most people spend their lives in pursuit of pleasures
and possessions. The promise of paradise does not
move them. They work hard for ephemeral palaces
on earth, but not for eternal mansions in paradise.
They devote their energies to be at the top of their
graduating class in this worlda glamorous illusion
that endures for but a little while and then vanishes.
But when it comes to graduating from this world,
their standards go down. A student rushed into the
office of his faculty advisor just after mid-terms,
I need help! The professor asked, Whats your
trouble? The student replied, I got an F in science,
an F in math, and a D in geography. Well, whats
your explanation for that? asked the professor. The
student replied, I think I spent too much time on
geography!
Sacred Scriptures assure us that no learning however
small, no act however insignificant, will be lost, that
the One who has made the universe can certainly
preserve our deeds and reward us accordingly.
And if anyone gives a cup of cold water to one
of these little ones…I tell you the truth, he will
certainly not lose his reward. Christ (Matt. 10:42)
Again, those who have had near-death visions
indicate that:
Death does not destroy the self, its sense of
individuality, identity, or consciousness.
The soul enters a new spiritual dimension, in-
describable in its beauty and perfection.
Physical pain and infirmity (blindness, deafness,
etc.) disappear.
89One God, Many Faiths
90 The soul gains new gifts and powers, like the
freedom to travel throughout the universe without
any instrument, and to pass through physical
barriers.
The soul remembers and reviews all the events
of its life, including caring or uncaring acts.
There is some kind of evaluation of ones life.
The soul has a chance to meet loved ones who
have died.
The individual returns with a sense of purpose
and meaning for this life. He or she learns that
the most critical goal in life is to love and to
learnto love all humanity (not just ones
family members) and to seek knowledge.242
The following are a few brief quotes from people
who have had near-death visions:
All pain vanished. There was a feeling of
utter peace and quiet, no fear at all. After I
came back, I cried off and on for about a week
because I had to live in this world after seeing
that one. It opened up a whole new world for
me…I kept thinking, Theres so much that Ive
got to find out. I heard a voice telling me
what I had to dogo backand I felt no fear.
Baháí sacred writings on the afterlife are abundant.
Here is an excerpt from Baháulláhs works:
Thou hast asked Me concerning the nature of
the soul. Know, verily, that the soul is a sign of
God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most
learned of men hath failed to grasp, and whose
91195 One Garden, Many Flowers
92mystery no mind, however acute, can ever hope
to unravel. It is the first among all created things
to declare the excellence of its Creator, the first
to recognize His glory, to cleave to His truth, and
to bow down in adoration before Him. If it be
faithful to God, it will reflect His light, and will,
eventually, return unto Him. If it fail, however,
in its allegiance to its Creator, it will become a
victim to self and passion, and will, in the end,
sink in their depths.
Whoso hath, in this Day, refused to allow the
doubts and fancies of men to turn him away from
Him Who is the Eternal Truth, and hath not
suffered the tumult provoked by the ecclesiasti-
cal and secular authorities to deter him from
recognizing His Message, such a man will be
regarded by God, the Lord of all men, as one
of His mighty signs, and will be numbered among
them whose names have been inscribed by the
Pen of the Most High in His Book. Blessed is he
that hath recognized the true stature of such a
soul, that hath acknowledged its station, and
discovered its virtues.244
In this world we see only the visible. Sometimes
we doubt that we will ever enjoy the fruits of our
labor. One cold February day a snail started
climbing an apple tree. As he inched slowly upward,
a worm stuck its head from a crevice in the tree
to offer some advice: Youre wasting your energy.
There isnt a single apple up there. The snail kept
up his slow climb. There will be when I get there,
he said.
93One God, Many Faiths
94Among the most beloved and blessed attributes in
the sight of God is patience. Those who endure the
unpleasant with resignation will receive the
choicest gifts:
Say, this earthly life shall come to an end, and
everyone shall expire and return unto my Lord
God Who will reward with the choicest gifts the
deeds of those who endure with patience. Verily
thy God assigneth the measure of all created
things as He willeth, by virtue of His behest; and
those who conform to the good-pleasure of your
Lord, they are indeed among the blissful.245
The Báb
95We all know we can never get out of this world
alive. And yet we live as if we will. Life is a
journey; we must consistently set goals and move
on. What matters is not where we started but how
far we have traveled. Our life is like a taxi ride.
Whether we go anywhere or not, the meter keeps
ticking. Sooner or later our earthly ride hits a dead
end. And the ticking taxi has no reverse gears.
O CHILDREN OF NEGLIGENCE!
Set not your affections on mortal sovereignty and
rejoice not therein. Ye are even as the unwary
bird that with full confidence warbleth upon the
bough; till of a sudden the fowler Death throws
it upon the dust, and the melody, the form and
the color are gone, leaving not a trace. Wherefore
take heed, O bondslaves of desire! 246 Baháulláh
All sacred Scriptures encourage us to take advan-
tage of the opportunities we have in this life to
96197 One Garden, Many Flowers
97advance spiritually. While here, on our journey
towards God, we can advance in one instant as
much as a thousand years. This will never again
be possible. The most critical feature of this world
among all the worlds of God is this: It sets the
pace for everything that follows throughout all
eternity. We are asked a thousand times and more
to seize the moment before it is gone forever:
Seize your chance…inasmuch as a fleeting moment
in this Day excelleth centuries of a bygone age…
Neither sun nor moon hath witnessed a day such
as this.247 Baháulláh
Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant, for
the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your
God before he brings the darkness, before your
feet stumble on the darkening hills. You hope for
light but he will turn it to thick darkness and
change it to deep gloom. Jeremiah 13:15-16
This is My counsel unto thee and unto the beloved
of God. Whosoever wisheth, let him turn there-
unto; whosoever wisheth, let him turn away. God,
verily, is independent of him and of that which
he may see and witness.248 Baháulláh
This is what the Sovereign Lord says. Whoever
will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse
let him refuse. Ezekiel 3:27
O MOVING FORM OF DUST !
I desire communion with thee, but thou wouldst
put no trust in Me…At all times I am near unto
thee, but thou art ever far from Me. Imperishable
glory I have chosen for thee, yet boundless
98One God, Many Faiths
99shame thou hast chosen for thyself. While there
is yet time, return, and lose not thy chance.249
Baháulláh
This day I call heaven and earth as witness…that
I have set before you life and death…Now choose
life…the Lord is your life… Deuteronomy 3:19-20
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let
him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is
athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17
This world is a theater, where each of us presents
a concert. All the days of our lives should be
devoted to tuning our instruments and practicing so
that we can offer our heavenly Beloved the sweetest
melody. The state of the soul upon its departure is
our final melody. Once that moment has passed, we
will not have any chance of returning for a second
concert.
As long as it is day, we must do the work of him
who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can
work. Christ (John 9:4)
The earth is not our permanent home. We must enjoy
this life and live it to its fullest but remain detached.
Nothing is ours. We dont even own ourselves:
Every living soul belongs to Me. Ezekiel 18:4
As the Baháí burial ring reads:
We are Gods and to Him shall we return.250
This world is a ladder, not a lazy chair. It was not
made for resting, but for reaching spiritual perfec-
tion. This planet is a place of learning and growing,
not of lying idle. Even if we own the whole world,
100199 One Garden, Many Flowers
101we must let go in the end. An old woman was hos-
pitalized for a long time. She longed to be released
from the hospital and to return home. Her wish was
finally fulfilled, but not the way she expected. One
day both her doctor and priest came to see her at
the same time. She thought that this was the day
of her release. The priest told her, I have good
news for you. You are such a wonderful person that
your home is heaven. Her doctor said, I have a
bit of bad news, you will make the trip this Friday!
Here is a piece of poetry from a small book titled
A Messenger of Joy, about the afterlife:
O my beloved friends! Gather blossoms of joy
while you may. Hang your troubles upon the
trees, and cast your cares to the wind.
Banish the night with your love, wake the dawn
with your praise.
Sing and dance and be merry, but know there are
other songs to sing.
Live, but do not cling to your lives. Own, but do
not be attached to your possessions.
Cherish your pearls and rubies, let them dazzle
your eyes, but know they are not yours. They
belong to earth.
Celebrate life, but be ready to depart the moment
the banquet ends.
When life bids you farewell, and death greets
you, embrace her with open arms.251
Heaven is our great hope and our everlasting home.
Some years ago a beautiful young actress was
killed by a stalker in California. I saw the mother
of the actress testify in the court. I heard her make
102One God, Many Faiths
103this statement, I wish Id believed in heaven. Then
I would know that I have a beautiful daughter in
heaven. But I dont believe. And this creates this
absence. There is a vacuum for heaven in every
heart. Unless that vacuum is filled, life remains empty.
Although we know our Creator will reward us for
good deeds, that should not be the reason for doing
good. Dependency on rewards is a sign of immatu-
rity. Children sometimes eat their dinner in the hope
of getting a dessert. A mature person eats dinner
for sheer enjoyment and health. To a spiritually
advanced person, a good deed is its own reward.
Anyone who is in harmony with God lives in heaven
on earth.
Those souls that, in this day, enter the divine
kingdom and attain everlasting life, although
materially dwelling on earth, yet in reality soar
in the realm of heaven. Their bodies may linger
on earth but their spirits travel in the immensity
of space.252 Abdul-Bahá
One way we can predict our spiritual position here-
after, as permanent residents in heaven, is to see
how we have related to God and His creatures here
as passing residents of the earth. Our Creator
observes a simple rule of justice: He will treat us
the way we treat Him and His creation. For instance,
if we forgive others, He will forgive us; if we love
Him, He will love us; if we are for Him, He will
be for us; if we ignore His presence in His latest
Manifestation or Messenger, He will ignore us; if
we feel ashamed of the One He sends to save us,
He will be ashamed of us:
104201 One Garden, Many Flowers
105Whoever is ashamed of Me and My words…of
him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when
He comes in the glory of His Father [Glory of
God]. Christ (Mark 8:38)
106God will verily do unto them that which they
themselves are doing, and will forget them even
as they have ignored His Presence in His day.
Such is His decree unto those that have denied
Him, and such will it be unto them that have
rejected His signs.253 Baháulláh
107By using this simple standard of mutual treatment
here as citizens of the earthly kingdom, we can
almost predict the state of our souls hereafter as
citizens of the heavenly Kingdom.
Our Creator teaches us that this world is only a
theater in which we choose the roles we prefer to
play. To live in a physical world, we need and are
given a physical form to carry us around. But the
things that really matter are all invisible, spiritual.
For the sake of observing the principle of diversity,
the physical gifts are not equally distributed. But
the spiritual gifts are put within the reach of every
human being. No one is spiritually handicapped.
No one can excuse himself by saying, My father
hated me, so I hated everybody else! We are
creatures of our cultures, but the masters of our souls.
In Gods sight, what matters is what is possible.
When we sincerely make an effort, when we listen
and act without resorting to self-deception and
excuses, His love enfolds us like a rainbow, His
grace lifts us to the heavens on high.
108One God, Many Faiths
109Belief in the afterlife and a constant awareness of
our mortality elevates our perspective more than
anything else. This is how one professor transforms
his students perspective:
The death of a loved one, a severe illness, a
financial setback, or extreme adversity can cause
us to stand back, look at our lives, and ask our-
selves some hard questions: Whats really
important? Why am I doing what Im doing?…
Assume you only have this one semester to live,
I tell my students, and that during this semester
you are to stay in school as a good student.
Visualize how you would spend your semester.
Things are suddenly placed in a different perspec-
tive. Values quickly surface that before werent
even recognized.
I have also asked students to live with that
expanded perspective for a week and keep a
diary of their experiences.
The results are very revealing. They start writing
to parents to tell them how much they love and
appreciate them. They reconcile with a brother,
a sister, or a friend where the relationship has
deteriorated.
The dominant, central theme of their activities,
the underlying principle, is love. The futility of bad-
mouthing, bad thinking, put-downs, and accusation
becomes very evident when they think in terms
of having only a short time to live. Principles and
values become more evident to everybody…
When people seriously undertake to identify what
really matters most to them in their lives, what
they really want to be and to do, they become
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111very reverent. They start to think in larger terms
than today and tomorrow.
Here is a prayer from the Baháí sacred Writings
for the departed:
He is God, exalted is He, the Lord of loving-
kindness and bounty!…
O my God! Thou seest me detached from all
save Thee, holding fast unto Thee and turning
unto the ocean of Thy bounty, to the heaven of
Thy favor, to the Daystar of Thy grace…
O my Lord! I myself and all created things bear
witness unto Thy might, and I pray Thee not to
turn away from Thyself this spirit that hath
ascended unto Thee, unto Thy heavenly place,
Thine exalted Paradise and Thy retreats of near-
ness, O Thou who art the Lord of all men!
Grant, then, O my God, that Thy servant may
consort with Thy chosen ones, Thy saints and
Thy Messengers in heavenly places that the pen
cannot tell nor the tongue recount.
O My Lord, the poor one hath verily hastened
unto the Kingdom of Thy wealth, the stranger
unto his home within Thy precincts, he that is
sore athirst to the heavenly river of Thy bounty.
Deprive him not, O Lord, from his share of the
banquet of Thy grace and from the favor of Thy
bounty. Thou art in truth the Almighty, the
Gracious, the All-Bountiful.
O my God, Thy Trust hath been returned unto
Thee. It behooveth Thy grace and Thy bounty
that have compassed Thy dominions on earth and
112One God, Many Faiths
113in heaven, to vouchsafe unto Thy newly welcomed
one Thy gifts and Thy bestowals, and the fruits
of the tree of Thy grace! Powerful art Thou to
do as Thou willest, there is none other God but
Thee, the Gracious, the Most Bountiful, the
Compassionate, the Bestower, the Pardoner, the
Precious, the All-Knowing.
I testify, O my Lord, that Thou hast enjoined
upon men to honor their guest, and he that hath
ascended unto Thee hath verily reached Thee and
attained Thy Presence. Deal with him then accord-
ing to Thy grace and bounty! By Thy glory, I
know of a certainty that Thou wilt not withhold
Thyself from that which Thou hast commanded
Thy servants, nor wilt Thou deprive him that
hath clung to the cord of Thy bounty and hath
ascended to the Dayspring of Thy wealth.
There is none other God but Thee, the One, the
Single, the Powerful, the Omniscient, the Boun-
tiful.255 Baháulláh
114A Mission Statement
Many authors encourage their readers to write a
mission statement. The purpose of this project is
to keep us focused and on track. The statement
should be typed or printed attractively and be read
every day. The reason for going through all this
trouble is this: The world carries us forward like a
mighty river with full force. It is so demanding, it
takes every bit of energy we can muster just to
stay afloat, just to cope with daily demands. The
mission statement is like a tiny island in the midst
of this fast-flowing river on which we can land for
115205 One Garden, Many Flowers
116just a few moments every day to remind ourselves
of the vast ocean at the end of the river.
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once boarded a
train in Washington, then promptly lost his ticket.
The conductor recognized him and said, Never
mind, Mr. Justice. When you find your ticket, I am
certain you will mail it in. Mr. Conductor, replied
Holmes, the question is not where is my ticket,
but where am I supposed to be going?
According to author Stephen Covey, a mission
statement accomplishes these purposes:
It presents you with a circle of significance, a
clear lens through which you can see the world.
It serves as a personal constitution, as a standard
by which you measure everything else in your
life, as an expression of your vision and values.
It gives you a sense of clarity, commitment, and
freedom.
It forces you to think through your priorities
deeply, carefully, and to align your behavior
with your beliefs. Other people begin to sense
that youre not being driven by everything that
happens to you. You have a sense of mission
about what youre trying to do and you are excited
about it.
It is never too late to learn and to start a new life.
Student: I want to become a doctor.
Counselor: Why dont you?
Student: It takes seven years. I will be an old man.
Counselor: How old will you be in seven years if
you dont go to school?
117One God, Many Faiths
118It is possible to learn as late as the hour of death:
How often hath a sinner attained, at the hour of
death, to the essence of faith, and, quaffing the
immortal draught, hath taken his flight unto the
Concourse on high! 257 Baháulláh
It is also possible to unlearn at the hour of death:
And how often hath a devout believer, at the
hour of his souls ascension, been so changed as
to fall into the nethermost fire! 258 Baháulláh
Please take a few minutes to write a few lines or
paragraphs below about what you want to accom-
plish most in the years and decades that are still
yours. What is your most urgent purpose? What plans
do you have to prepare yourself for your heavenly
home? What specific steps will you take before
your earthly journey is over?