Deepen3

BOOK 2 Deepening Themes SECTION 3:

Baha'u'llah

Short account of the life of Baha'u'llah :

Baha'u'llah was born on 12 November 1817 in Tihran, the capital city of Persia. From childhood He showed extraordinary qualities, and His behavior convinced His parents that He was destined for greatness. Baha'u'llah's father, a distinguished minister in the court of the king, had immense love for his Son. One night he dreamt that Baha'u'llah was swimming in a limitless ocean, His body shining and illuminating the vast sea. Around His head radiated His long jet-black hair, floating in all directions. A multitude of fish gathered around Him, each holding on to one hair. Great as was the number of fish, not a single hair was detached from Baha'u'llah's head. Free and unrestrained. He moved above the waters and they all followed Him. Baha'u'llah's father asked a man renowned for his wisdom to explain the dream. He was told that the limitless ocean was the world of being. Alone and single-handed, Baha'u'llah would achieve sovereignty over it. The multitude of fish represented the turmoil which He would arouse among the peoples of the world. He would have the unfailing protection of the Almighty, and nothing would harm Him.

By the time Baha'u'llah was fourteen, He was famous in the court of the king for His wisdom and learning. He was twenty-two years old when His father died and the government offered Him the same high position. But Baha'u'llah had no intention of spending His time in the management of worldly affairs. He left behind the court and its ministers to follow the path set for Him by the Almighty. He spent His time helping the oppressed, the sick and the poor, and soon He became known as a champion of the cause of justice.

At the age of twenty-seven, Baha'u'llah received, through a special messenger, some of the Writings of the Bab Who was proclaiming the nearness of the Day of God, the Day when a new Manifestation of God would bring to the world the peace, unity and justice long-awaited by humanity. Baha'u'llah immediately accepted the Message of the Bab and became one of His most enthusiastic followers. But alas, those who ruled over the people of Persia, blinded by their own selfish desires, set out to persecute the followers of the Bab with great savagery. Baha'u'llah, despite being known for His nobility, was not spared. A little over eight years after the Bab's Declaration, and two years after the Bab Himself had been martyred, He was thrown into a dark dungeon called the Black Pit. The chains put around His neck were so heavy that He could not lift His head. Here Baha'u'llah spent four terrible months of severe hardship. Yet it was in this same dungeon that the Spirit of God filled His soul and revealed to Him that He was the Promised One of all ages. From this dark prison, the Sun of Baha'u'llah rose illuminating the entire creation.

After four months in the Black Pit, Baha'u'llah was stripped of all His possessions and He and His family were sent into exile. In the bitter cold of winter, they traveled along the western mountains of Persia towards Baghdad, then a city in the Ottoman Empire and today the capital of 'Iraq. Words cannot describe their sufferings as they walked hundreds of miles on snow and ice-covered ground on their way to that fate ladened city.

The fame of Baha'u'llah soon spread throughout Baghdad and other cities of the region, and more and more people came to the door of this exiled Prisoner to receive His blessings. But there were a few who became jealous of His fame. Among them was Baha'u'llah's own half-brother Mirza Yahya, who was living under His loving care. Mirza Yahya opposed Baha'u'llah thinking that the Babis, who at the time showed him great respect, would accept him as their leader. Little did he know that by turning against the Manifestation of God, he would bring about his own downfall. For when a Divine Manifestation appears, only those who live in servitude to Him can
hope for true greatness. Even His closest relatives cannot forget that He stands apart from all other human beings and has a station which no one else can share.

Mirza Yahya plotting caused disunity among the followers of the Bab and brought great sadness to Baha'u'llah. One night, without telling anyone, He left His home and went to the mountains of Kurdistan. There He lived a secluded life engaged in prayer and meditation. He stayed in a small cave and subsisted on the simplest of foods. No one knew His origin and no one knew His name. But, then, gradually the people of the region began to speak of the "Nameless One", a great Saint who had knowledge bestowed upon Him by God. When the news of this Holy Personage reached Baha'u'llah's oldest Son, 'Abdu'1-Baha, He immediately recognized the signs of His beloved Father. Letters were sent with a special messenger entreating Baha'u'llah to return to Baghdad. This He accepted, bringing to an end a period of painful separation that had lasted two years.

During Baha'u'llah's absence, the conditions of the Bab community had declined rapidly. Baha'u'llah set out to fill the persecuted and confused followers of the Bab with a new spirit. Although He had not yet announced His own great Station, the power and wisdom of His words began to win the loyalty of an increasing number of Babis and the admiration of people of every walk of life. But the fanatical Muslim clergy and His jealous brother Mirza Yahya could not bear to see the tremendous influence Baha'u'llah had on such a large number of souls. They complained and complained to the authorities until the government of Persia joined hands with some of the officials of the Ottoman Empire to remove Baha'u'llah farther away from His homeland, this time to the city of Constantinople.

April of 1863 was a month of great sadness for the population of Baghdad. The One Whom they had grown to love was leaving their city, heading for what to them was an unknown destination. A few days before His departure, Baha'u'llah moved to a garden on the outskirts of the city, raised His tent and for twelve days received the stream of visitors who came to say farewell. The followers of the Bab came to this garden with heavy hearts; some would accompany Baha'u'llah on this next stage of His exile, but many would have to stay behind and be deprived of close association with Him. But God had not willed that this occasion would be one of sadness. The doors of His infinite bounty were opened wide, and Baha'u'llah proclaimed to those around Him that He was the One foretold by the Bab—He Whom God would make manifest. Sadness gave way to boundless joy; hearts were uplifted and souls were enkindled with the fire of His love. For centuries to come, these twelve days, from 21 April to 2 May, will be celebrated by Baha'is everywhere as the Festival of Ridvan, the anniversary of the Declaration of Baha'u'llah of His world-embracing Mission.

Constantinople was the seat of the Ottoman Empire. Here again, Baha'u'llah's great wisdom and personal charm began to attract an increasing number of people. "He must not stay in Constantinople any longer," murmured the fanatical Muslim clergy who convinced the authorities to exile Him to the town of Adrianople. In Adrianople, Baha'u'llah wrote Tablets to the kings and the rulers of the world calling them to abandon the ways of oppression and dedicate themselves to the welfare of their people. Then, His enemies conceived a most cruel punishment. He and His family would be exiled to 'Akka, which at the time was the worst penal colony in the entire empire. Surely He would perish in the harsh conditions of that prison-city, thought the feeble-minded men who imagined they could stop what God Himself had set in motion.

The hardships Baha'u'llah suffered in 'Akka are too many to recount. At the beginning He was imprisoned alone in a cell where even His children were not permitted to see Him. He lacked every means of comfort and was surrounded by enemies day and night. But the conditions of imprisonment gradually changed. The inhabitants of
'Akka and its government became convinced of the innocence of the small band of Baha'is who had been exiled to their city. Once again, people were attracted by the wisdom and love of this extraordinary Personage, even though the majority did not understand His great Station. After some years the doors of the prison-city were opened to Baha'u'llah and His followers. He Himself was finally allowed to live in relatively more comfortable surroundings in what we know today as the Mansion of Bahji. There He passed away in May of 1892 at the height of His majesty and glory.

Baha'u'llah raised the banner of universal peace and brotherhood, and revealed the Word of God. Although His enemies combined their forces against Him, He was victorious over them as God had promised Him when under chains in prison in Tihran. During His own lifetime. His Message revived the hearts of thousands of people and many gave their lives in His Path. And today. His Teachings continue to spread throughout the world. Nothing can prevent Him from achieving His ultimate goal, which is to unify humankind in one universal Cause, in one common Faith.

1)
The above account of the life of Baha'u'llah is a relatively long passage. Before moving on to the exercises below, you should read the passage several times, paragraph by paragraph, in your group and ask one another questions until you learn the content well and can present it in your own words.

2)
During your life as a Baha'i, you will tell the story of Baha'u'llah to many audiences, sometimes briefly and sometimes in great detail. It will be important, then, for the most significant events of His life to be firmly engraved on your mind. In the space below, write down the sequence of the major events in His life based on the above account. Of course, the list you make will only be an initial one. As your knowledge of the history of the Faith grows, you will constantly be adding many important facts to your list:

3)
When you share a theme such as the Covenant or the life of Baha'u'llah with newly enrolled believers, you should not expect them to remember every single detail. But, as mentioned in the preceding section, there are always certain ideas that are essential to the understanding of the theme, which you should try to emphasize. What are some of the essential ideas contained in the above presentation of Baha'u'llah's life?

4)
That Baha'u'llah endured great suffering out of His love for humanity is one of the ideas which, as Baha'is, we all have to remember and reflect upon. But when we speak on this subject, we should make sure that we do not present Him as a helpless victim of His enemies. He willingly chose the path of exile and imprisonment; He accepted to be bound in chains in order to free humanity. The story of His life,
although filled with accounts of great suffering, is in its essence one of triumph. Based on your present knowledge of Baha'u'llah's life, can you prepare, with the help of your tutor, a short talk on His sufferings and victories?

5)
One of the most essential qualities you need in carrying out this act of service is humility. The foundation of all humility is humility before God. From it springs humility before His creatures. At no time is the attitude of humility more important than when one speaks of God and His Manifestations. You should reflect on the following quotation and make every effort to memorize it:
"They who are the beloved of God, in whatever place they gather and whomsoever they may meet, must evince, in their attitude towards God, and in the manner of their celebration of His praise and glory, such humility and submissiveness that every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their devotion. The conversation carried by these holy souls should be informed with such power that these same atoms of dust will be thrilled by its influence.
They should conduct themselves in such manner that the earth upon which they tread may never be allowed to address to them such words as these: 'I am to be preferred above you. For witness, how patient I am in bearing the burden which the husbandman layeth upon me. I am the instrument that continually imparteth unto all beings the blessings with which He Who is the Source of all grace hath entrusted me. Notwithstanding the honor conferred upon me, and the unnumbered evidences of my wealth—a wealth that supplieth the needs of all creation—behold the measure of my humility, witness with what absolute submissiveness I allow myself to be trodden beneath the feet of men...."

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BOOK 2 Deepening Themes SECTION 3: Baha'u'llah
Short account of the life of Baha'u'llah : Baha'u'llah was born on 12 November 1817 in Tihran, the capital city of Persia. From childhood He showed extraordinary qualities, and His behavior convinced His parents that He was destined for greatness. Baha'u'llah's father, a distinguished minister in the court of the king, had immense love for his Son. One night he dreamt that Baha'u'llah was swimming in a limitless ocean, His body shining and illuminating the vast sea. Around His head radiated His long jet-black hair, floating in all directions. A multitude of fish gathered around Him, each holding on to one hair. Great as was the number of fish, not a single hair was detached from Baha'u'llah's head. Free and unrestrained. He moved above the waters and they all followed Him. Baha'u'llah's father asked a man renowned for his wisdom to explain the dream. He was told that the limitless ocean was the world of being. Alone and single-handed, Baha'u'llah would achieve sovereignty over it. The multitude of fish represented the turmoil which He would arouse among the peoples of the world. He would have the unfailing protection of the Almighty, and nothing would harm Him. By the time Baha'u'llah was fourteen, He was famous in the court of the king for His wisdom and learning. He was twenty-two years old when His father died and the government offered Him the same high position. But Baha'u'llah had no intention of spending His time in the management of worldly affairs. He left behind the court and its ministers to follow the path set for Him by the Almighty. He spent His time helping the oppressed, the sick and the poor, and soon He became known as a champion of the cause of justice. At the age of twenty-seven, Baha'u'llah received, through a special messenger, some of the Writings of the Bab Who was proclaiming the nearness of the Day of God, the Day when a new Manifestation of God would bring to the world the peace, unity and justice long-awaited by humanity. Baha'u'llah immediately accepted the Message of the Bab and became one of His most enthusiastic followers. But alas, those who ruled over the people of Persia, blinded by their own selfish desires, set out to persecute the followers of the Bab with great savagery. Baha'u'llah, despite being known for His nobility, was not spared. A little over eight years after the Bab's Declaration, and two years after the Bab Himself had been martyred, He was thrown into a dark dungeon called the Black Pit. The chains put around His neck were so heavy that He could not lift His head. Here Baha'u'llah spent four terrible months of severe hardship. Yet it was in this same dungeon that the Spirit of God filled His soul and revealed to Him that He was the Promised One of all ages. From this dark prison, the Sun of Baha'u'llah rose illuminating the entire creation. After four months in the Black Pit, Baha'u'llah was stripped of all His possessions and He and His family were sent into exile. In the bitter cold of winter, they traveled along the western mountains of Persia towards Baghdad, then a city in the Ottoman Empire and today the capital of 'Iraq. Words cannot describe their sufferings as they walked hundreds of miles on snow and ice-covered ground on their way to that fate ladened city. The fame of Baha'u'llah soon spread throughout Baghdad and other cities of the region, and more and more people came to the door of this exiled Prisoner to receive His blessings. But there were a few who became jealous of His fame. Among them was Baha'u'llah's own half-brother Mirza Yahya, who was living under His loving care. Mirza Yahya opposed Baha'u'llah thinking that the Babis, who at the time showed him great respect, would accept him as their leader. Little did he know that by turning against the Manifestation of God, he would bring about his own downfall. For when a Divine Manifestation appears, only those who live in servitude to Him can hope for true greatness. Even His closest relatives cannot forget that He stands apart from all other human beings and has a station which no one else can share. Mirza Yahya plotting caused disunity among the followers of the Bab and brought great sadness to Baha'u'llah. One night, without telling anyone, He left His home and went to the mountains of Kurdistan. There He lived a secluded life engaged in prayer and meditation. He stayed in a small cave and subsisted on the simplest of foods. No one knew His origin and no one knew His name. But, then, gradually the people of the region began to speak of the "Nameless One", a great Saint who had knowledge bestowed upon Him by God. When the news of this Holy Personage reached Baha'u'llah's oldest Son, 'Abdu'1-Baha, He immediately recognized the signs of His beloved Father. Letters were sent with a special messenger entreating Baha'u'llah to return to Baghdad. This He accepted, bringing to an end a period of painful separation that had lasted two years. During Baha'u'llah's absence, the conditions of the Bab community had declined rapidly. Baha'u'llah set out to fill the persecuted and confused followers of the Bab with a new spirit. Although He had not yet announced His own great Station, the power and wisdom of His words began to win the loyalty of an increasing number of Babis and the admiration of people of every walk of life. But the fanatical Muslim clergy and His jealous brother Mirza Yahya could not bear to see the tremendous influence Baha'u'llah had on such a large number of souls. They complained and complained to the authorities until the government of Persia joined hands with some of the officials of the Ottoman Empire to remove Baha'u'llah farther away from His homeland, this time to the city of Constantinople. April of 1863 was a month of great sadness for the population of Baghdad. The One Whom they had grown to love was leaving their city, heading for what to them was an unknown destination. A few days before His departure, Baha'u'llah moved to a garden on the outskirts of the city, raised His tent and for twelve days received the stream of visitors who came to say farewell. The followers of the Bab came to this garden with heavy hearts; some would accompany Baha'u'llah on this next stage of His exile, but many would have to stay behind and be deprived of close association with Him. But God had not willed that this occasion would be one of sadness. The doors of His infinite bounty were opened wide, and Baha'u'llah proclaimed to those around Him that He was the One foretold by the Bab—He Whom God would make manifest. Sadness gave way to boundless joy; hearts were uplifted and souls were enkindled with the fire of His love. For centuries to come, these twelve days, from 21 April to 2 May, will be celebrated by Baha'is everywhere as the Festival of Ridvan, the anniversary of the Declaration of Baha'u'llah of His world-embracing Mission. Constantinople was the seat of the Ottoman Empire. Here again, Baha'u'llah's great wisdom and personal charm began to attract an increasing number of people. "He must not stay in Constantinople any longer," murmured the fanatical Muslim clergy who convinced the authorities to exile Him to the town of Adrianople. In Adrianople, Baha'u'llah wrote Tablets to the kings and the rulers of the world calling them to abandon the ways of oppression and dedicate themselves to the welfare of their people. Then, His enemies conceived a most cruel punishment. He and His family would be exiled to 'Akka, which at the time was the worst penal colony in the entire empire. Surely He would perish in the harsh conditions of that prison-city, thought the feeble-minded men who imagined they could stop what God Himself had set in motion. The hardships Baha'u'llah suffered in 'Akka are too many to recount. At the beginning He was imprisoned alone in a cell where even His children were not permitted to see Him. He lacked every means of comfort and was surrounded by enemies day and night. But the conditions of imprisonment gradually changed. The inhabitants of 'Akka and its government became convinced of the innocence of the small band of Baha'is who had been exiled to their city. Once again, people were attracted by the wisdom and love of this extraordinary Personage, even though the majority did not understand His great Station. After some years the doors of the prison-city were opened to Baha'u'llah and His followers. He Himself was finally allowed to live in relatively more comfortable surroundings in what we know today as the Mansion of Bahji. There He passed away in May of 1892 at the height of His majesty and glory. Baha'u'llah raised the banner of universal peace and brotherhood, and revealed the Word of God. Although His enemies combined their forces against Him, He was victorious over them as God had promised Him when under chains in prison in Tihran. During His own lifetime. His Message revived the hearts of thousands of people and many gave their lives in His Path. And today. His Teachings continue to spread throughout the world. Nothing can prevent Him from achieving His ultimate goal, which is to unify humankind in one universal Cause, in one common Faith.
1)	The above account of the life of Baha'u'llah is a relatively long passage. Before moving on to the exercises below, you should read the passage several times, paragraph by paragraph, in your group and ask one another questions until you learn the content well and can present it in your own words.
2)	During your life as a Baha'i, you will tell the story of Baha'u'llah to many audiences, sometimes briefly and sometimes in great detail. It will be important, then, for the most significant events of His life to be firmly engraved on your mind. In the space below, write down the sequence of the major events in His life based on the above account. Of course, the list you make will only be an initial one. As your knowledge of the history of the Faith grows, you will constantly be adding many important facts to your list:
3)	When you share a theme such as the Covenant or the life of Baha'u'llah with newly enrolled believers, you should not expect them to remember every single detail. But, as mentioned in the preceding section, there are always certain ideas that are essential to the understanding of the theme, which you should try to emphasize. What are some of the essential ideas contained in the above presentation of Baha'u'llah's life?
4)	That Baha'u'llah endured great suffering out of His love for humanity is one of the ideas which, as Baha'is, we all have to remember and reflect upon. But when we speak on this subject, we should make sure that we do not present Him as a helpless victim of His enemies. He willingly chose the path of exile and imprisonment; He accepted to be bound in chains in order to free humanity. The story of His life, although filled with accounts of great suffering, is in its essence one of triumph. Based on your present knowledge of Baha'u'llah's life, can you prepare, with the help of your tutor, a short talk on His sufferings and victories?
5)	One of the most essential qualities you need in carrying out this act of service is humility. The foundation of all humility is humility before God. From it springs humility before His creatures. At no time is the attitude of humility more important than when one speaks of God and His Manifestations. You should reflect on the following quotation and make every effort to memorize it: "They who are the beloved of God, in whatever place they gather and whomsoever they may meet, must evince, in their attitude towards God, and in the manner of their celebration of His praise and glory, such humility and submissiveness that every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their devotion. The conversation carried by these holy souls should be informed with such power that these same atoms of dust will be thrilled by its influence. They should conduct themselves in such manner that the earth upon which they tread may never be allowed to address to them such words as these: 'I am to be preferred above you. For witness, how patient I am in bearing the burden which the husbandman layeth upon me. I am the instrument that continually imparteth unto all beings the blessings with which He Who is the Source of all grace hath entrusted me. Notwithstanding the honor conferred upon me, and the unnumbered evidences of my wealth—a wealth that supplieth the needs of all creation—behold the measure of my humility, witness with what absolute submissiveness I allow myself to be trodden beneath the feet of men...."



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