Comments:
• In this powerful paragraph, the Manifestation of God brings our attention to the Entities of the “Holy Spirit” and the “Most Great Spirit”, Their interaction, and the relation between the “nature” of the Person in Whom the Most Great Spirit has appeared, the “verses of God”, and the Most Great Spirit Itself. Incredible subjects, way beyond us mortal “confined” beings to understand! In attempting to gain some insights (partial and imperfect, however) from this powerful paragraph, let’s first start by briefly reviewing the overall concept of “Holy Spirit” as it is referred to in the previous Dispensations, and then turn to the Baha’i Writings for updated illumination, and then explore references containing the Entity of the “Most Great Spirit”. This is indeed a very humbling undertaking! We’ll begin by examining the use of the phrase “Holy Spirit” in the New Testament and the Qur’an – the two latest Dispensations before the coming of the Bab and Baha’u’llah.
• A search for the word “Holy Spirit” in the New Testament shows that it is used in four locations: Luke 11: 11-13; 1 Thessalonians 4: 7-8; Ephesians 1:13-14; and Ephesians 4: 30-32. They are summarized below:
o The one in the Gospel of Luke puts it in the context of a son asking his father for various things: “how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” -- [so one could ask to receive the Holy Spirit.]
o In St. Paul’s letter to Thessalonians, he refers to Holy Spirit in terms of the relation of man to God, where it states that: “He therefore that despiseth [holiness], despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”
o And, in a letter to the Ephesians (its authorship traditionally accredited to Paul but more recently Christian scholars question whether it was actually written by him), the “Holy Spirit” is linked to one’s belief: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”; and to God Himself: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
• Our investigation further reveals that the word “Holy Spirit” is synonymous with “Holy Ghost”. In Old English the word “gast”, means “spirit”. A search on the words Holy Ghost results in significantly more occurrences. For the sake of brevity only those found in the Gospel of Luke will be summarized here:
o Concerning the relationship between the Manifestation of God and His Source of inspiration: “For he[Jesus] shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.” (Luke 1:15) And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. (Luke 4:1-2)
o The circumstance pertaining to the conception and birth of Jesus: “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1: 34-35)
o Incidents in which the Holy Ghost guides various individuals: “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. (King James Bible, Luke) And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord Christ.” (Luke 2:25-26) And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (Luke 12:11-12)
o The difference in baptism performed by Christ compared to that performed by John the Baptist: “And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. (Luke 3:15-16)
o The moment when Jesus received His Divine Mission from God: “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:21-22)
o Concerning those who may show extreme disrespect towards the Divine Authority of the Manifestation of God: “Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.” (Luke 12:8-10)
• Now, let’s explore the occurrences of the phrase “Holy Spirit” in the Qur’an. We discover three references. Searching for the phrase “Holy Ghost” does not provide any additional references:
o “Moreover, to Moses gave we ‘the Book,’ and we raised up apostles after him; and to Jesus, son of Mary, gave we clear proofs of his mission, and strengthened him by the Holy Spirit. So oft then as an apostle cometh to you with that which your souls desire not, swell ye with pride, and treat some as impostors, and slay others? (Sura 2 - The Cow, translated by Rodwell)
o Some of the apostles we have endowed more highly than others: Those to whom God hath spoken, He hath raised to the loftiest grade, and to Jesus the Son of Mary we gave manifest signs, and we strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. And if God had pleased, they who came after them would not have wrangled, after the clear signs had reached them. But into disputes they fell: some of them believed, and some were infidels; yet if God had pleased, they would not have thus wrangled: but God doth what he will. (Sura 2 - The Cow, translated by Rodwell)
o When He [God] shall say: O Jesus! Son of Mary! call to mind my favour upon thee and upon thy mother, when I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit, that thou shouldest speak to men alike in the cradle, and when grown up; - (Sura 5 - The Table, translated by Rodwell)
• In reviewing the different contexts in which the entity of “Holy Spirit” (or Holy Ghost) is used in the above references, from both the New Testament and the Qur’an, helps one get a “feel” for its role on this plane of existence. Here is an attempt to summarize them – once again keeping in mind our inability as human being to properly appreciate the subject matter:
o The source of the Holy Spirit is linked to the “Heavenly Father”.
o The Holy Spirit imbues, inspires and strengthens the Manifestation of God – even while still a child.
o The Holy Spirit interacts with this physical world in ways that we, human beings, at times ascribe to miracles –- for example, Mary, a virgin, giving birth to Jesus.
o The Holy Spirit facilitates and guides people to the recognition of a new Manifestation of God and assists them with their faith and steadfastness in His love.
• Next, let’s search for the phrase “Holy Spirit” in the Baha’i Writings. We discover that there are numerous references to it in the Writings of Abdu’l-Bahá. There are also a handful of references in the Writings of Baha’u’llah and in the letters of the beloved Guardian. We also notice that in addition to the entity of the “Holy Spirit”, there are some references to the “Most Holy Spirit” as well as to the “Most Great Spirit” – the latter we came across in the current paragraph we are reflecting on.
• The reference to the “Most Holy Spirit” is found in a letter from the beloved Guardian to the Baha’is of the United States and Canada, dated April 11, 1949. It’s in reference to the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar in Chicago:
“Then and only then will this holy edifice, symbol and harbinger of a world civilization as yet unborn, and the embodiment of the sacrifice of a multitude of the upholders of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh, release the full measure of the regenerative power with which it has been endowed, shed in all its plenitude the glory of the Most Holy Spirit dwelling within it, and vindicate, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the truth of every single promise recorded by the pen of 'Abdu'l-Bahá pertaining to its destiny. “ (Shoghi Effendi, Citadel of Faith, p. 68)
Astonishing! Isn’t it?
• Baha’u’llah’s references to the “Holy Spirit” – only those translated into English -- are included in books such as: ‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf ‘, ‘Gems of Divine Mysteries’, ‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah’; ‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’, ‘The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah’, ‘The Seven Valleys’, ‘The Persian Hidden Words’, and ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’. Let’s make an attempt, albeit “partial and imperfect”, to summarize them. Below is a humble attempt at grouping various contexts in which the Entity of Holy Spirit is used in some of the Writings of Baha’u’llah:
o Concerning the Mission of Jesus Christ, His station & the subsequent treatment He received
o Announcing the Appearance and the Mission of Baha’u’llah
o The relationship between Baha’u’llah and Jesus
o With respect to the magnitude and extent of Baha’u’llah’s suffering
o The Source of inspiration and Guidance for the Manifestation of God
o The immensity of the Revelations of the Bab and Baha’u’llah
o With respect to the inspiration and assistance that people receive to recognize the latest Manifestation of God, to follow steadfastly His Teachings and help others to recognize Him
o Concerning the effect and impact of a disbeliever’s behavior
The various paragraphs from which the above points and groupings were made are included at the end of the general comments associated with Paragraph 1.50.
• Below is another inadequate attempt to articulate various contexts in which the phrase “Holy Spirit” is used in the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá – those in the ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’. The various paragraphs from which the quotes are extracted are included below under References.
o We are called upon to “revive and renew” ourselves “from moment to moment” “with the breaths of the Holy Spirit”.(1)
o The “breathings of the Holy Spirit and the mighty inflow of the Word of God” is the “power” that will spiritually transform “the peoples of the earth”. (2)
o The Master call on us to “become a physician of the spirit who, with the breaths of the Holy Spirit, healeth all manner of sickness in this famed and glorious age.” (3)
o We each need to become spiritually transformed to a point that we will “hear the cry of the Lord of the Kingdom, and behold the confirmations of the Holy Spirit coming to him.” (4)
o Through His latest Manifestation, God “hast breathed over the friends in the West the sweet fragrance of the Holy Spirit.” (5)
o Our “elected representatives” need to be “well supported by the Holy Spirit” (6)
o We are assured by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that “the consummate power of the Divine Reality” will “breathe into” us “the bounties of the Holy Spirit” in this New Age. (7)
o Referring to certain spiritual conditions that Spiritual Assembly members need to “endeavour to fulfil” individually and collectively, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá promises that “Should they endeavour to fulfil these conditions the Grace of the Holy Spirit shall be vouchsafed unto them, and that assembly shall become the centre of the Divine blessings, the hosts of Divine confirmation shall come to their aid, and they shall day by day receive a new effusion of Spirit” (8)
o The “breathings of the Holy Spirit” could “be wafted” over those believers participating in a 19-day Feast. (9)
o In encouraging the believers to hold special gatherings, “with the utmost purity and consecration”, where they would “read and recite the Holy Writings of the Blessed Beauty”, they “will inhale the fragrant breathings of the Holy Spirit.” (10)
o We each will “receive a share” of the “breathings of the Holy Spirit” that will “blow gently over” us when we “engage” in gatherings “in glorifying God, and … speak with one another of the mysteries of God”. (11)
o New believers are “baptized with the Water of Life, with the fire of the love of God and with the Holy Spirit.” (12)
o We are called upon by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to “fix … [our] gaze on the consummate bounty, the divine bestowal and the power of the Holy Spirit -- the power that converteth the drop into a sea and the star into a sun.” (13)
o ‘Abdu’l-Bahá asks God in a prayer to “resuscitate” us “through the breath of Thy Holy Spirit.” (14)
o Parents are called upon to participate in the process of “quickening … [their children] with the fragrances of the Holy Spirit, so that they will attain the age of maturity as true servants of the world of humanity and as bright candles in the assemblage of mankind.” (15)
o Any activity such as a “Sunday school for the children in which the Tablets and Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh are read, and the Word of God is recited for the children” “may grow and be quickened with the breaths of the Holy Spirit”, with perseverance by the friends. (16)
o The human spirit, though it “possesseth wondrous powers” “should be reinforced by the Holy Spirit.” (17)
o Concerning any “spiritual influence on this world of dust”: “Outside the bounty of the Holy Spirit, whatsoever thou hearest as to the effect of trances, or the mediums' trumpets, conveying the singing voices of the dead, is imagination pure and simple. As to the bounty of the Holy Spirit, however, relate whatsoever thou wilt -- it cannot be overstated” (18)
o The power of the Holy Spirit healeth both physical and spiritual ailments.” (19)
o Abdu’l-Bahá refers to a future time when the Cause is fully established in the world and “the Holy Spirit” will be “breathing upon all those regions” (20)
o The “power of heaven” is the “the dominion of the Holy Spirit” (21)
o ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains that once the Baha’i teacher is “enabled” by the Lord to “attain” a certain “condition”, -- as delineated by the Master – the Lord will “inspire” him “with words of truth, and will cause … [him] to speak through the breathings of the Holy Spirit.” (22)
o The “breaths of the Holy Spirit have blown upon” those who recognize the Manifestation of God for their time. (23)
o When teaching the “inner meanings of the Torah”, we are called upon to “turn …[our] face toward the Kingdom of God, ask for the bestowals of the Holy Spirit”, and then speak, as we receive “the confirmations of the Spirit”. (24)
o ‘Abdu’l-Bahá advises a doctor that when he attends to a patient to “turn thy face toward the Lord of the heavenly Kingdom, ask the Holy Spirit to come to thine aid, then heal thou the sickness.” (25)
o The “bounties” that a believer could receive from Baha’u’llah would help her/him to “daily advance in the Kingdom”, “become a heavenly angel”, and be “confirmed by the breaths of the Holy Spirit”. (26)
o A Spiritual Assembly could become “favoured and invigorated by the breathings of the Holy Spirit”. (27)
o In our process of growth and development we should reach a point where we see ourselves being “sustained by the Holy Spirit” (28)
o ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has assured us that “the breathings of the Holy Spirit” will assist us when attempting to speak about the Faith, provided we “turn first to Bahá'u'lláh, and ask for the confirmations of the Holy Spirit”. (29)
o We are assured by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá that if ”the breaths of the Holy Spirit” are “breathed into ..[our] .. hearts”, we will become so spiritually transformed that:
our “tongues will disclose the mysteries, and set forth and expound the inner meanings of the Holy Books”;
we “will become physicians, and will, through the potent medicine of the heavenly Teachings, heal the long-standing diseases that afflict the body of this world”;
we “will make the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dead to come alive”; and that
we “will awaken those who are sound asleep”. (30)
o Referring to various previous Manifestations of God and Their impact on humanity, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains that “the rise of Jesus breathed the breaths of the Holy Spirit into the world.” (31)
o ‘Abdu’l-Bahá explains that just as “the body gets its life from the spirit …. the world of mankind is in need of the breaths of the Holy Spirit. Without the spirit the world of mankind is lifeless, and without this light the world of mankind is in utter darkness.” (32)
• Having read and reflected on the various contexts in which the exalted theme of “Holy Spirit” is used in some of the Writings of the Faith and in certain passages of the New Testament and the Qur’an, let’s now do some exploration and contemplation on the exalted theme of the “Most Great Spirit”.
• As you recall in comments associated with Paragraph 1.6, we shared some insights concerning Baha’u’llah’s amazing experience with the “Maiden” – the personification of the “Most Great Spirit”. This is how the Guardian describes and links it to such experiences by previous Manifestations of God:
Wrapped in its stygian gloom, breathing its fetid air, numbed by its humid and icy atmosphere, His feet in stocks, His neck weighed down by a mighty chain, surrounded by criminals and miscreants of the worst order, oppressed by the consciousness of the terrible blot that had stained the fair name of His beloved Faith, painfully aware of the dire distress that had overtaken its champions, and of the grave dangers that faced the remnant of its followers -- at so critical an hour and under such appalling circumstances the "Most Great Spirit," as designated by Himself, and symbolized in the Zoroastrian, the Mosaic, the Christian, and Muhammadan Dispensations by the Sacred Fire, the Burning Bush, the Dove and the Angel Gabriel respectively, descended upon, and revealed itself, personated by a "Maiden," to the agonized soul of Bahá'u'lláh. (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 100)
In this remarkable passage from the Guardian we learn that the “Most Great Spirit” had “personated by a "Maiden," to the agonized soul of Bahá'u'lláh”, and had in previous Dispensation taken the appearance of “the Sacred Fire, the Burning Bush, the Dove and the Angel Gabriel”. This means that the Source that conveyed the Call of God to His Chosen Manifestation has all along been the “Most Great Spirit”. Perhaps the fact that this Source is now proclaimed by Baha’u’llah as the “Most Great Spirit”, compared to Its former Name, namely the “Holy Spirit”, is one more indication of the tremendously powerful Message that Baha’u’llah has been entrusted to bring to humanity. Amazing, isn’t it!
• A review of those passages from the Writings of the Faith that contain references to the Most Great Spirit will help us get a better understanding for It -- albeit “partial and imperfect”. Please consult the respective passages below under References. From them we can identify the following broad themes:
o The Most Great Spirit is the Source of inspiration to the believers;
o The Manifestation of God voices the utterances of the Most Great Spirit;
o It is referred to as the Promised One of Hindus
o It appeared to Baha’u’llah as a “Maiden”
o The amazing gathering of the Most Great Spirit, the Holy Spirit, Gabriel, and the Spirit of Glory
• In his book, ‘The Covenant of Baha'u'llah’, Adib Taherzadeh shares some insights about the themes that we’ve been exploring:
Although God in His Essence is inaccessible to His Prophets, He reveals Himself to Them through the instrumentality of His Kingdom of Revelation, or His Most Great Spirit. It is this 'Most Great Spirit of God' which is referred to by the Prophets of Israel as the Heavenly Father Whom Christ described as the Source of His Revelation. Bahá'u'lláh states in the Suriy-i-Haykal:
“The Holy Spirit Itself hath been generated through the agency of a single letter revealed by this Most Great Spirit, if ye be of them that comprehend."
The Holy Spirit is usually associated with the Manifestations of God. It is the Holy Spirit which has animated them all, and the Holy Spirit itself has been generated through the instrumentality of the 'Most Great Spirit', also referred to as the 'Primal Will'. Through it all creation has come into being and all Revelations have been sent down. This 'Most Great Spirit', which has existed from eternity and will continue to exist till eternity, had never been manifested to man directly. It had been the 'Hidden Mystery' and the 'Treasured Symbol' until the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh. For the first time on this planet, this 'Most Great Spirit of God', which was the revealer of all past Dispensations, manifested itself directly through Bahá'u'lláh. Therefore, every word that He uttered and every action He took originated not from His human personality, but were all manifestations of that Great Spirit. It is for this reason that any reference to Bahá'u'lláh is not a reference to a human being, but rather to the 'Most Great Spirit of God' which was manifested through Him. On the other hand, His human temple was so integrated with the forces of His Revelation that one cannot discard His human side altogether. The human and the spiritual were so thoroughly interwoven as to enable Him to communicate His great Revelation to mankind. (Adib Taherzadeh, The Covenant of Baha'u'llah, p. 38)
As we explored earlier the contents of Paragraph 1.7, we became aware that all Manifestations of God are representations of one Entity -- the Primal Will of God. In Paragraph 1.50 we received further insights concerning this Entity and Its interaction with humanity through the Manifestation of God. By reflecting on those passages from the Writings that we reviewed together (please see them listed below under References) we became more appreciative of our incredible privilege to hear directly from the Primal Will of God, also referred to as the Most Great Spirit, through Baha’u’llah! This is something that has never happened before, reflecting the amazing stage that humanity has reached in its ongoing process of growth and development. What a privilege to be a Baha’i!
• One last insight that we gain from Paragraph 1.50 is the remarkable way in which Baha’u’llah refers to His own human temple as “that innate and untaught nature” which in “its essence” was “called into being by the verses of God” through the medium of the Primal Will of God. As was explained in comments associated with earlier paragraphs when we remind ourselves that it is the Primal Will of God, the Most Great Spirit, that is speaking throughout this Tablet, it makes it very touching to hear how Baha’u’llah acknowledges the fact that His human temple (this “nature”) “prideth itself” in the way in which it has become intimately related to “Our transcendent Truth” – the Most Great Spirit of God, which has now manifested Itself directly through Bahá'u'lláh.
• The Paragraph ends with yet another amazing realization on our part that everything that has been called into being, at least on this domain of existence, has come into being through the “potency of My word” – the word of the Most Great Spirit, the Primal Will of God, the Source of all His Manifestations! A lot to reflect on! A lot to be grateful for!
References
I. Paragraphs from the Writings of Baha’u’llah containing the phrase “Holy Spirit”
o With respect to the Mission of Jesus Christ, His station & the subsequent treatment He received:
o “We, in truth, have sent Him Whom We aided with the Holy Spirit (Jesus Christ) that He may announce unto you this Light that hath shone forth from the horizon of the will of your Lord, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious …” (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 47)
o And yet, when I came unto them [“the stars of the heaven of knowledge”] in My glory, they turned aside. They, indeed, are of the fallen. This is, truly, that which the Spirit of God (Jesus Christ) hath announced, when He came with truth unto you, He with Whom the Jewish doctors disputed, till at last they perpetrated what hath made the Holy Spirit to lament, and the tears of them that have near access to God to flow. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 48)
o O King! The stars of the heaven of knowledge have fallen, they who seek to establish the truth of My Cause through the things they possess, and who make mention of God in My Name. And yet, when I came unto them in My glory, they turned aside. They, indeed, are of the fallen. This is, truly, that which the Spirit of God hath announced, when He came with truth unto you, He with Whom the Jewish doctors disputed, till at last they perpetrated what hath made the Holy Spirit to lament, and the tears of them that have near access to God to flow. Consider how a Pharisee who had worshipped God for seventy years repudiated the Son when He appeared, whereas one who had committed adultery gained admittance into the Kingdom. Thus doth the Pen admonish thee as bidden by the Eternal King, that thou mayest be apprised of what came to pass aforetime and be reckoned in this day among them that truly believe. (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 69)
o “The other station is the station of distinction, and pertaineth to the world of creation, and to the limitations thereof. In this respect, each Manifestation of God hath a distinct individuality, a definitely prescribed mission, a predestined revelation, and specially designated limitations. Each one of them is known by a different name, is characterized by a special attribute, fulfils a definite mission, and is entrusted with a particular Revelation. Even as He saith: "Some of the Apostles We have caused to excel the others. To some God hath spoken, some He hath raised and exalted. And to Jesus, Son of Mary, We gave manifest signs, and We strengthened Him with the Holy Spirit." (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 52)
o With respect to announcing the Appearance and the Mission of Baha’u’llah:
o “The voice of the Burning Bush is raised in the midmost heart of the world, and the Holy Spirit calleth aloud among the nations: 'Lo, the Desired One is come with manifest dominion!'” (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 48)
o The breezes of the Most Merciful have passed over all created things; happy the man that hath discovered their fragrance, and set himself towards them with a sound heart. Attire thy temple with the ornament of My Name, and thy tongue with remembrance of Me, and thine heart with love for Me, the Almighty, the Most High. We have desired for thee naught except that which is better for thee than what thou dost possess and all the treasures of the earth. Thy Lord, verily, is knowing, informed of all. Arise, in My Name, amongst My servants, and say: "O ye peoples of the earth! Turn yourselves towards Him Who hath turned towards you. He, verily, is the Face of God amongst you, and His Testimony and His Guide unto you. He hath come to you with signs which none can produce." The voice of the Burning Bush is raised in the midmost heart of the world, and the Holy Spirit calleth aloud among the nations: "Lo, the Desired One is come with manifest dominion!" (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 69)
o With respect to the relationship between Baha’u’llah and Jesus:
o “Give ear, O King, unto the Voice that calleth from the Fire which burneth in this verdant Tree, on this Sinai which hath been raised above the hallowed and snow-white Spot, beyond the Everlasting City; "Verily, there is none other God but Me, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Merciful!" We, in truth, have sent Him Whom We aided with the Holy Spirit that He may announce unto you this Light that hath shone forth from the horizon of the Will of your Lord, the Most Exalted, the All-Glorious, and Whose signs have been revealed in the West. Set your faces towards Him on this Day which God hath exalted above all other days, and whereon the All-Merciful hath shed the splendour of His effulgent glory upon all who are in heaven and all who are on earth. Arise thou to serve God and help His Cause. He, verily, will assist thee with the hosts of the seen and unseen, and will set thee king over all that whereon the sun riseth. Thy Lord, in truth, is the All-Powerful, the Almighty (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 68)
o With respect to the magnitude and extent of Baha’u’llah’s suffering:
o “Alas, alas, for the things which have befallen Me! By God! There befell Me at the hands of him whom I have nurtured (Mirza Yahya), by day and by night, what hath caused the Holy Spirit, and the dwellers of the Tabernacle of the Grandeur of God, the Lord of this wondrous Day, to lament.” (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 156)
o Alas, alas, for that which befell Him Who was the Manifestation of the Self of God, and for that which He and His loved ones were made to suffer! The people inflicted upon them what no soul hath ever inflicted upon another, and what no infidel hath wrought against a believer or suffered at his hand. Alas, alas! That immortal Being sat upon the darksome dust, the Holy Spirit lamented in the retreats of glory, the pillars of the Throne crumbled in the exalted dominion, the joy of the world was changed into sorrow in the crimson land, and the voice of the Nightingale was silenced in the golden realm. Woe betide them for what their hands have wrought and for what they have committed! (Baha'u'llah, Gems of Divine Mysteries, p. 21)
o O Concourse of bishops! Ye are the stars of the heaven of My knowledge. My mercy desireth not that ye should fall upon the earth. My justice, however, declareth: 'This is that which the Son (Jesus) hath decreed.' And whatsoever hath proceeded out of His blameless, His truth-speaking, trustworthy mouth, can never be altered. The bells, verily, peal out My Name, and lament over Me, but My spirit rejoiceth with evident gladness. The body of the Loved One yearneth for the cross, and His head is eager for the spear, in the path of the All-Merciful. The ascendancy of the oppressor can in no wise deter Him from His purpose... The stars of the heaven of knowledge have fallen, they that adduce the proofs they possess in order to demonstrate the truth of My Cause, and who make mention of God in My name. When I came unto them, in My majesty, however, they turned aside from Me. They, verily, are of the fallen. This is what the Spirit (Jesus) prophesied when He came with the truth, and the Jewish doctors cavilled at Him, until they committed what made the Holy Spirit to lament, and the eyes of such as enjoy near access to God to weep. (Baha'u'llah, The Proclamation of Baha'u'llah, p. 93)
o And if a nightingale [refering to Bahá'u'lláh's own Manifestation] soar upward from the clay of self and dwell in the rose bower of the heart, and in Arabian melodies and sweet Iranian songs recount the mysteries of God -- a single word of which quickeneth to fresh, new life the bodies of the dead, and bestoweth the Holy Spirit upon the moldering bones of this existence -- thou wilt behold a thousand claws of envy, a myriad beaks of rancor hunting after Him and with all their power intent upon His death. (Baha'u'llah, The Seven Valleys, p. 19)
o The people of the Qur'án have risen against Us, and tormented Us with such a torment that the Holy Spirit lamented, and the thunder roared out, and the clouds wept over Us. Among the faithless is he who hath imagined that calamities can deter Baha from fulfilling that which God, the Creator of all things, hath purposed. Say: Nay, by Him Who causeth the rain to fall! Nothing whatsoever can withhold Him from the remembrance of His Lord. (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 59)
o With respect to the Source of inspiration and Guidance for the Manifestation of God:
o “Methinks that I hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit calling from behind Me saying: Vary Thou Thy theme, and alter Thy tone, lest the heart of him who hath fixed his gaze upon Thy face be saddened. Say: I have through the grace of God and His might besought the help of no one in the past, neither will I seek the help of any one in the future. He it is Who aided Me, through the power of truth, during the days of My banishment in Iraq. He it is Who overshadowed Me with His protection at a time when the kindreds of the earth were contending with Me. He it is Who enabled Me to depart out of the city, clothed with such majesty as none, except the denier and the malicious, can fail to admit. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 37)
o “Thus Jesus, Son of Mary, whilst seated one day and speaking in the strain of the Holy Spirit, uttered words such as these: "O people! My food is the grass of the field, wherewith I satisfy my hunger. My bed is the dust, my lamp in the night the light of the moon, and my steed my own feet. Behold, who on earth is richer than I?" By the righteousness of God! Thousands of treasures circle round this poverty, and a myriad kingdoms of glory yearn for such abasement! Shouldst thou attain to a drop of the ocean of the inner meaning of these words, thou wouldst surely forsake the world and all that is therein, and, as the Phoenix wouldst consume thyself in the flames of the undying Fire. (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 130)
o With respect to the immensity of the Revelations of the Bab and Baha’u’llah:
o “At this hour, so liberal is the outpouring of Its [“the sweet savours of God”] grace that the holy Spirit itself is envious! It hath imparted to the drop the waves of the sea, and endowed the mote with the splendour of the sun. So great are the overflowings of Its bounty that the foulest beetle hath sought the perfume of the musk, and the bat the light of the sun. It hath quickened the dead with the breath of life, and caused them to speed out of the sepulchres of their mortal bodies. It hath established the ignorant upon the seats of learning, and elevated the oppressor to the throne of justice.” (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 59)
o With respect to the inspiration and assistance that people receive in order to recognize the latest Manifestation of God, to follow steadfastly His Teachings and to help others to recognize Him:
o “Such things have come to pass in the days of every Manifestation of God. Even as Jesus said: "Ye must be born again."[ John 3:7] Again He saith: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."[ John 3:5-6] The purport of these words is that whosoever in every dispensation is born of the Spirit and is quickened by the breath of the Manifestation of Holiness, he verily is of those that have attained unto "life" and "resurrection" and have entered into the "paradise" of the love of God. And whosoever is not of them, is condemned to "death" and "deprivation," to the "fire" of unbelief, and to the "wrath" of God. In all the scriptures, the books and chronicles, the sentence of death, of fire, of blindness, of want of understanding and hearing, hath been pronounced against those whose lips have tasted not the ethereal cup of true knowledge, and whose hearts have been deprived of the grace of the holy Spirit in their day. . Even as it hath been previously recorded: "Hearts have they with which they understand not."[ Qur'án 7:178] (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 118)
o O SON OF MY HANDMAID! Wouldst thou seek the grace of the Holy Spirit, enter into fellowship with the righteous, for he hath drunk the cup of eternal life at the hands of the immortal Cup-bearer and even as the true morn doth quicken and illumine the hearts of the dead. (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)
o Say: We have ordained that our Cause be taught through the power of utterance. Beware lest ye dispute idly with anyone. Whoso ariseth wholly for the sake of his Lord to teach His Cause, the Holy Spirit shall strengthen him and inspire him with that which will illumine the heart of the world, how much more the hearts of those who seek Him. O people of Baha! Subdue the citadels of men's hearts with the swords of wisdom and of utterance. They that dispute, as prompted by their desires, are indeed wrapped in a palpable veil. Say: The sword of wisdom is hotter than summer heat, and sharper than blades of steel, if ye do but understand. Draw it forth in My name and through the power of My might, and conquer then with it the cities of the hearts of them that have secluded themselves in the stronghold of their corrupt desires. Thus biddeth you the Pen of the All-Glorious, whilst seated beneath the swords of the wayward. (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 78)
o With respect to the effect and impact of a disbeliever’s behavior:
o “A voice exclaimed: "Woe betide thee, O disbeliever in the Day of Resurrection! This is the nethermost fire, and its flames have been made to blaze for thee. Thou didst forsake all righteous deeds in thy vain and futile life, and now thou hast none to shield thee from God. Thou art indeed he who caused all hearts to be consumed and the Holy Spirit to lament." (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 180)
II. Paragraphs from the 'Selections of the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha' containing the phrase “Holy Spirit”
(1) The beloved of the Lord must stand fixed as the mountains, firm as impregnable walls. Unmoved must they remain by even the direst adversities, ungrieved by the worst of disasters. Let them cling to the hem of Almighty God, and put their faith in the Beauty of the Most High; let them lean on the unfailing help that cometh from the Ancient Kingdom, and depend on the care and protection of the generous Lord. Let them at all times refresh and restore themselves with the dews of heavenly grace, and with the breaths of the Holy Spirit revive and renew themselves from moment to moment. Let them rise up to serve their Lord, and do all in their power to scatter His breathings of holiness far and wide.(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 9)
(2) And this is clear: a power above and beyond the powers of nature must needs be brought to bear, to change this black darkness into light, and these hatreds and resentments, grudges and spites, these endless wrangles and wars, into fellowship and love amongst all the peoples of the earth. This power is none other than the breathings of the Holy Spirit and the mighty inflow of the Word of God. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 53)
(3) In cycles gone by, each one of the Manifestations of God hath had His own rank in the world of existence, and each hath represented a stage in the development of humanity. But the Manifestation of the Most Great Name -- may my life be a sacrifice for His loved ones -- was an expression of the coming of age, the maturing of man's inmost reality in this world of being. For the sun is the source and well-spring of light and heat, the focal point of splendours, and it compriseth all the perfections that are made manifest by the other stars which have dawned upon the world. Make thou an effort that thou mayest take thy place under the sun and receive an abundant share of its dazzling light. In truth do I tell thee, once thou hast attained this station, thou shalt behold the saints bowing down their heads in all humility before Him. Haste thou to life before death cometh; haste thou to the spring season before autumn draweth in; and before illness striketh, haste thou to healing -- that thou mayest become a physician of the spirit who, with the breaths of the Holy Spirit, healeth all manner of sickness in this famed and glorious age. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 56)
(4) Thou hast described thyself as a student in the school of spiritual progress. Fortunate art thou! If these schools of progress lead to the university of heaven, then branches of knowledge will be developed whereby humanity will look upon the tablet of existence as a scroll endlessly unfolding; and all created things will be seen upon that scroll as letters and words. Then will the different planes of meaning be learned, and then within every atom of the universe will be witnessed the signs of the oneness of God. Then will man hear the cry of the Lord of the Kingdom, and behold the confirmations of the Holy Spirit coming to succour him. Then will he feel such bliss, such ecstasy, that the wide world with its vastness will no longer contain him, and he will set out for the Kingdom of God, and hurry along to the realm of the spirit. For once a bird hath grown its wings, it remaineth on the ground no more, but soareth upward into high heaven -- except for those birds that are tied by the leg, or those whose wings are broken, or mired down. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 57)
(5) O Thou Provider! Thou hast breathed over the friends in the West the sweet fragrance of the Holy Spirit, and with the light of divine guidance Thou hast lit up the western sky. Thou hast made those who were once remote to draw near unto Thyself; Thou hast turned strangers into loving friends; Thou hast awakened those who slept; Thou hast made the heedless mindful. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 74)
(6) Now must those elected representatives arise to serve with spirituality and joy, with purity of intent, with strong attraction to the fragrances of the Almighty, and well supported by the Holy Spirit. Let them raise up the banner of guidance, and as soldiers of the Company on high, let them exalt God's Word, spread abroad His sweet savours, educate the souls of men, and promote the Most Great Peace. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 77)
(7) By the life of Baha! Verily will the consummate power of the Divine Reality breathe into you the bounties of the Holy Spirit, and aid you to perform an exploit whose like the eye of creation hath never looked upon. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 85)
(8) In short, whatsoever thing is arranged in harmony and with love and purity of motive, its result is light, and should the least trace of estrangement prevail the result shall be darkness upon darkness.... If this be so regarded, that assembly shall be of God, but otherwise it shall lead to coolness and alienation that proceed from the Evil One.... Should they endeavour to fulfil these conditions the Grace of the Holy Spirit shall be vouchsafed unto them, and that assembly shall become the centre of the Divine blessings, the hosts of Divine confirmation shall come to their aid, and they shall day by day receive a new effusion of Spirit. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 88)
(9) Thy letter hath been received. Thou didst write of the Nineteen Day festivity, and this rejoiced my heart. These gatherings cause the divine table to descend from heaven, and draw down the confirmations of the All-Merciful. My hope is that the breathings of the Holy Spirit will be wafted over them, and that each one present shall, in great assemblies, with an eloquent tongue and a heart flooded with the love of God, set himself to acclaiming the rise of the Sun of Truth, the dawn of the Day-Star that lighteth all the world. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 91)
(10) It befitteth the friends to hold a gathering, a meeting, where they shall glorify God and fix their hearts upon Him, and read and recite the Holy Writings of the Blessed Beauty -- may my soul be the ransom of His lovers! The lights of the All-Glorious Realm, the rays of the Supreme Horizon, will be cast upon such bright assemblages, for these are none other than the Mashriqu'l-Adhkars, the Dawning-Points of God's Remembrance, which must, at the direction of the Most Exalted Pen, be established in every hamlet and city... These spiritual gatherings must be held with the utmost purity and consecration, so that from the site itself, and its earth and the air about it, one will inhale the fragrant breathings of the Holy Spirit. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 93)
(11) Whensoever a company of people shall gather in a meeting place, shall engage in glorifying God, and shall speak with one another of the mysteries of God, beyond any doubt the breathings of the Holy Spirit will blow gently over them, and each shall receive a share thereof. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 94)
(12) Today, all the peoples of the world are indulging in self-interest and exert the utmost effort and endeavour to promote their own material interests. They are worshipping themselves and not the divine reality, nor the world of mankind. They seek diligently their own benefit and not the common weal. This is because they are captives of the world of nature and unaware of the divine teachings, of the bounty of the Kingdom and of the Sun of Truth. But ye, praise be to God, are at present especially favoured with this bounty, have become of the chosen, have been informed of the heavenly instructions, have gained admittance into the Kingdom of God, have become the recipients of unbounded blessings and have been baptized with the Water of Life, with the fire of the love of God and with the Holy Spirit. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 103)
(13) Day and night I entreat and supplicate to the Kingdom of God and beg for you infinite assistance and confirmation. Do not take into consideration your own aptitudes and capacities, but fix your gaze on the consummate bounty, the divine bestowal and the power of the Holy Spirit -- the power that converteth the drop into a sea and the star into a sun. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 104)
(14) O Divine Providence! This assemblage is composed of Thy friends who are attracted to Thy beauty and are set ablaze by the fire of Thy love. Turn these souls into heavenly angels, resuscitate them through the breath of Thy Holy Spirit, grant them eloquent tongues and resolute hearts, bestow upon them heavenly power and merciful susceptibilities, cause them to become the promulgators of the oneness of mankind and the cause of love and concord in the world of humanity, so that the perilous darkness of ignorant prejudice may vanish through the light of the Sun of Truth, this dreary world may become illumined, this material realm may absorb the rays of the world of spirit, these different colours may merge into one colour and the melody of praise may rise to the kingdom of Thy sanctity. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 105)
(15) I supplicate God that thou mayest become a kind parent to orphaned children, quickening them with the fragrances of the Holy Spirit, so that they will attain the age of maturity as true servants of the world of humanity and as bright candles in the assemblage of mankind. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 138)
(16) The Sunday school for the children in which the Tablets and Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh are read, and the Word of God is recited for the children is indeed a blessed thing. Thou must certainly continue this organized activity without cessation, and attach importance to it, so that day by day it may grow and be quickened with the breaths of the Holy Spirit. If this activity is well organized, rest thou assured that it will yield great results. Firmness and steadfastness, however, are necessary, otherwise it will continue for some time, but later be gradually forgotten. Perseverance is an essential condition. In every project firmness and steadfastness will undoubtedly lead to good results; otherwise it will exist for some days, and then be discontinued. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 143)
(17) O bondswoman of God! The human spirit possesseth wondrous powers, but it should be reinforced by the Holy Spirit. What thou hearest other than this is pure imagination. If, however, it be assisted by the bounty of the Holy Spirit, then will its strength be a thing to marvel at. Then will that human spirit uncover realities, and unravel mysteries. Turn thy heart fully to the Holy Spirit, and invite others to do the same; then shall ye witness wonderful results. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 160)
(18) O handmaid of God! The stars in the sky do not exert any spiritual influence on this world of dust; but all the members and parts of the universe are very strongly linked together in that limitless space, and this connection produceth a reciprocity of material effects. Outside the bounty of the Holy Spirit, whatsoever thou hearest as to the effect of trances, or the mediums' trumpets, conveying the singing voices of the dead, is imagination pure and simple. As to the bounty of the Holy Spirit, however, relate whatsoever thou wilt -- it cannot be overstated; believe, therefore, whatsoever thou hearest of this. But the persons referred to, the trumpet-people, are entirely shut out from this bounty and receive no portion thereof; their way is an illusion. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 160)
(19) O handmaid of God! The power of the Holy Spirit healeth both physical and spiritual ailments. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 162)
(20) Convey thou unto the handmaids of the Merciful the message that when a test turneth violent they must stand unmoved, and faithful to their love for Baha. In winter come the storms, and the great winds blow, but then will follow spring in all its beauty, adorning hill and plain with perfumed plants and red anemones, fair to see. Then will the birds trill out upon the branches their songs of joy, and sermonize in lilting tones from the pulpits of the trees. Erelong shall ye bear witness that the lights are streaming forth, the banners of the realm above are waving, the sweet scents of the All-Merciful are wafted abroad, the hosts of the Kingdom are marching down, the angels of heaven are rushing forward, and the Holy Spirit is breathing upon all those regions. On that day thou shalt behold the waverers, men and women alike, frustrated of their hopes and in manifest loss. This is decreed by the Lord, the Revealer of Verses. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 163)
(21) Know thou that all the powers combined have not the power to establish universal peace, nor to withstand the overmastering dominion, at every time and season, of these endless wars. Erelong, however, shall the power of heaven, the dominion of the Holy Spirit, hoist on the high summits the banners of love and peace, and there above the castles of majesty and might shall those banners wave in the rushing winds that blow out of the tender mercy of God. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 174)
(22) As to the fundamentals of teaching the Faith: know thou that delivering the Message can be accomplished only through goodly deeds and spiritual attributes, an utterance that is crystal clear and the happiness reflected from the face of that one who is expounding the Teachings. It is essential that the deeds of the teacher should attest the truth of his words. Such is the state of whoso doth spread abroad the sweet savours of God and the quality of him who is sincere in his faith.
Once the Lord hath enabled thee to attain this condition, be thou assured that He will inspire thee with words of truth, and will cause thee to speak through the breathings of the Holy Spirit (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 174)
(23) Then let you engage in the praise of Bahá'u'lláh, for it is through His grace and succour that ye have become sons and daughters of the Kingdom; it is thanks to Him that ye are now songsters in the meadows of truth, and have soared upward to the heights of the glory that abideth forever. Ye have found your place in the world that dieth not; the breaths of the Holy Spirit have blown upon you; ye have taken on another life, ye have gained access to the Threshold of God. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 176)
(24) I ask of God that with His assistance and strong support thou mayest teach the inner meanings of the Torah with eloquence, understanding, vigour and skill. Turn thy face toward the Kingdom of God, ask for the bestowals of the Holy Spirit, speak, and the confirmations of the Spirit will come. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 179)
(25) O thou loyal servant of God and thou spiritual healer of man! Whensoever thou dost attend a patient, turn thy face toward the Lord of the heavenly Kingdom, ask the Holy Spirit to come to thine aid, then heal thou the sickness. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 181)
(26) In brief, my hope is that from the bounties of Bahá'u'lláh, thou mayest daily advance in the Kingdom, that thou mayest become a heavenly angel, confirmed by the breaths of the Holy Spirit, and mayest erect a structure that shall eternally remain firm and unshakeable.... (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 198)
(27) That Assembly resteth in the sheltering shade of the Lord of all bounties, and it is my hope that, as beseemeth that body, it will be favoured and invigorated by the breathings of the Holy Spirit, and that day by day ye will love God in ever greater measure, and become more tightly bound to the Beauty that abideth forever, to Him Who is the Light of the world. For love of God and spiritual attraction do cleanse and purify the human heart and dress and adorn it with the spotless garment of holiness; and once the heart is entirely attached to the Lord, and bound over to the Blessed Perfection, then will the grace of God be revealed. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 202)
(28) As for you, O ye lovers of God, make firm your steps in His Cause, with such resolve that ye shall not be shaken though the direst of calamities assail the world. By nothing, under no conditions, be ye perturbed. Be ye anchored fast as the high mountains, be stars that dawn over the horizon of life, be bright lamps in the gatherings of unity, be souls humble and lowly in the presence of the friends, be innocent in heart. Be ye symbols of guidance and lights of godliness, severed from the world, clinging to the handhold that is sure and strong, spreading abroad the spirit of life, riding the Ark of salvation. Be ye daysprings of generosity, dawning-points of the mysteries of existence, sites where inspiration alighteth, rising-places of splendours, souls that are sustained by the Holy Spirit, enamoured of the Lord, detached from all save Him, holy above the characteristics of humankind, clothed in the attributes of the angels of heaven, that ye may win for yourselves the highest bestowal of all, in this new time, this wondrous age. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 242)
(29) Rest assured that the breathings of the Holy Spirit will loosen thy tongue. Speak, therefore; speak out with great courage at every meeting. When thou art about to begin thine address, turn first to Bahá'u'lláh, and ask for the confirmations of the Holy Spirit, then open thy lips and say whatever is suggested to thy heart; this, however, with the utmost courage, dignity and conviction. It is my hope that from day to day your gatherings will grow and flourish, and that those who are seeking after truth will hearken therein to reasoned arguments and conclusive proofs. I am with you heart and soul at every meeting; be sure of this. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 269)
(30) It is my hope that the breaths of the Holy Spirit will so be breathed into your hearts that your tongues will disclose the mysteries, and set forth and expound the inner meanings of the Holy Books; that the friends will become physicians, and will, through the potent medicine of the heavenly Teachings, heal the long-standing diseases that afflict the body of this world; that they will make the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dead to come alive; that they will awaken those who are sound asleep.
(31) Abraham's migration from His native land caused the bountiful gifts of the All-Glorious to be made manifest, and the setting of Canaan's brightest star unfolded to the eyes the radiance of Joseph. The flight of Moses, the Prophet of Sinai, revealed the Flame of the Lord's burning Fire, and the rise of Jesus breathed the breaths of the Holy Spirit into the world. The departure of Muhammad, the Beloved of God, from the city of His birth was the cause of the exaltation of God's Holy Word, and the banishment of the Sacred Beauty led to the diffusion of the light of His divine Revelation throughout all regions. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 280)
(32) And among the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh is that although material civilization is one of the means for the progress of the world of mankind, yet until it becomes combined with Divine civilization, the desired result, which is the felicity of mankind, will not be attained. Consider! These battleships that reduce a city to ruins within the space of an hour are the result of material civilization; likewise the Krupp guns, the Mauser rifles, dynamite, submarines, torpedo boats, armed aircraft and bombers -- all these weapons of war are the malignant fruits of material civilization. Had material civilization been combined with Divine civilization, these fiery weapons would never have been invented. Nay, rather, human energy would have been wholly devoted to useful inventions and would have been concentrated on praiseworthy discoveries. Material civilization is like a lamp-glass. Divine civilization is the lamp itself and the glass without the light is dark. Material civilization is like the body. No matter how infinitely graceful, elegant and beautiful it may be, it is dead. Divine civilization is like the spirit, and the body gets its life from the spirit, otherwise it becomes a corpse. It has thus been made evident that the world of mankind is in need of the breaths of the Holy Spirit. Without the spirit the world of mankind is lifeless, and without this light the world of mankind is in utter darkness. For the world of nature is an animal world. Until man is born again from the world of nature, that is to say, becomes detached from the world of nature, he is essentially an animal, and it is the teachings of God which convert this animal into a human soul. (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 302)
III. Paragraphs from the Baha'i Writings containing the phrase "Most Great Spirit"
• Source of Inspiration to the believers:
o “Let thine ear be attentive, O Nabil-i-A'zam ….Wherefore, be thankful to God, for having strengthened thee to aid His Cause, for having made the flowers of knowledge and understanding to spring forth in the garden of thine heart. Thus hath His grace encompassed thee, and encompassed the whole of creation. Beware, lest thou allow anything whatsoever to grieve thee. Rid thyself of all attachment to the vain allusions of men, and cast behind thy back the idle and subtle disputations of them that are veiled from God. Proclaim, then, that which the Most Great Spirit will inspire thee to utter in the service of the Cause of thy Lord, that thou mayest stir up the souls of all men and incline their hearts unto this most blessed and all-glorious Court.... “(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 303)
o Let them [believers] "proclaim that which the Most Great Spirit will inspire them to utter in the service of the Cause of their Lord." Let them "beware lest they contend with anyone, nay strive to make him aware of the truth with kindly manner and most convincing exhortation." Let them "wholly for the sake of God proclaim His Message, and with that same spirit accept whatever response their words may evoke in their hearers." Let them not, for one moment, forget that the "Faithful Spirit shall strengthen them through its power," and that "a company of His chosen angels shall go forth with them, as bidden by Him Who is the Almighty, the All-Wise." Let them ever bear in mind "how great is the blessedness that awaiteth them that have attained the honor of serving the Almighty," and remember that "such a service is indeed the prince of all goodly deeds, and the ornament of every goodly act." (Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 59)
• The Manifestation of God voices the utterances of the Most Great Spirit:
o “I have no will but Thy will, O my Lord, and cherish no desire except Thy desire. From my pen floweth only the summons which Thine own exalted pen hath voiced, and my tongue uttereth naught save what the Most Great Spirit hath itself proclaimed in the kingdom of Thine eternity. I am stirred by nothing else except the winds of Thy will, and breathe no word except the words which, by Thy leave and Thine inspiration, I am led to pronounce.” (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 108)
• It is referred to as the Promised One of Hindus:
o “To Him [Baha’u’llah] the Bhagavad-Gita of the Hindus had referred as the "Most Great Spirit," the "Tenth Avatar," the "Immaculate Manifestation of Krishna." (Shoghi Effendi, ‘God Passes By’, pp. 94-95)
• It appeared to Baha’u’llah as a “Maiden”:
o “In His Suratu'l-Haykal (the Surih of the Temple) He thus describes those breathless moments when the Maiden, symbolizing the "Most Great Spirit" proclaimed His mission to the entire creation ...” (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 101)
• The amazing gathering of the Most Great Spirit, the Holy Spirit, Gabriel, and the Spirit of Glory:
o “In His Epistle to Násiri'd-Dín Sháh, His royal adversary, revealed at the height of the proclamation of His Message, occur these passages which shed further light on the Divine origin of His mission: "O King! I was but a man like others, asleep upon My couch, when lo, the breezes of the All-Glorious were wafted over Me, and taught Me the knowledge of all that hath been. This thing is not from Me, but from One Who is Almighty and All-Knowing. And he bade Me lift up My voice between earth and heaven, and for this there befell Me what hath caused the tears of every man of understanding to flow.... This is but a leaf which the winds of the will of Thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Praised, have stirred.... His all-compelling summons hath reached Me, and caused Me to speak His praise amidst all people. I was indeed as one dead when His behest was uttered. The hand of the will of Thy Lord, the Compassionate, the Merciful, transformed Me." "By My Life!" He asserts in another Tablet, "Not of Mine own volition have I revealed Myself, but God, of His own choosing, hath manifested Me." And again: "Whenever I chose to hold My peace and be still, lo, the Voice of the Holy Spirit, standing on My right hand, aroused Me, and the Most Great Spirit appeared before My face, and Gabriel overshadowed Me, and the Spirit of Glory stirred within My bosom, bidding Me arise and break My silence." (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By, p. 102)
