tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6575129844804463427.post3254535972822024661..comments2023-09-02T06:47:03.422-07:00Comments on Pilgrim's Notes: Divine Simplicity: Remembering the last Hand of the Cause of God, Dr. 'Ali-Muhammad VarqaJ.A. McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01306797382150261125noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6575129844804463427.post-69956112738401052462008-06-26T01:01:00.000-07:002008-06-26T01:01:00.000-07:00Dear Jack,This is such a wonderful blog -- I hope ...Dear Jack,<BR/><BR/>This is such a wonderful blog -- I hope that you will continue to update it. I first connected with my future wife over your book Dimensions in Spirituality (so i am especially grateful for your work) and wonder if perhaps you can use this blog as a way to share your thoughts and insights about the Cause of God. (btw, I also appreciated reading your posting about dissidents last year...)<BR/> <BR/>Very warmest regards,<BR/>BrianBrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06362948233510514193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6575129844804463427.post-72895062149885073422007-11-13T10:29:00.000-08:002007-11-13T10:29:00.000-08:00Excellent tribute to Dr. 'Ali-Muhammad Varqa. I wa...Excellent tribute to Dr. 'Ali-Muhammad Varqa. I was struck by your conundrum and anguish at being berated by the Guardian's widow and Hand of the Cause of God ‘Amatu’l-Bahá Rúhíyyih Khánum.<BR/><BR/>It reminds me of the story of a believer in Baghdad, Iraq, (I believe) who deliberately defied Baha'u'llah's express dictate that the believers exercise dignity in their comportment and to not prostrate themselves before Himself. After being chastised for doing so, in front of a distinguished prince, no less, the Believer rejoiced in his act of piety and utter devotion and submission.<BR/><BR/>But we are like children before a great and beloved figure. We recoil at our beloved one's correcting our behaviour. <BR/><BR/>I found that the following two stories insightful in this regard:<BR/><BR/>"During this time, one day I received a letter from one of<BR/>the handmaidens of God[1]... This letter, composed in<BR/>verse, and laudatory in its tone, was addressed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá<BR/>in the form of a supplication to the holy presence of<BR/>God. I handed the poem to the Master as He was coming<BR/>down the steps of the house in front of the sea. I thought it 408 <BR/>was the right moment to give it to Him. He had hardly read<BR/>one or two lines when He suddenly turned His face towards<BR/>me and with the utmost sadness and a deep sense of grief<BR/>said: 'Now even you hand me letters such as this! Don't you<BR/>know the measure of pain and sorrow which overtakes me<BR/>when I hear people addressing me with such exalted titles?<BR/>Even you have not recognized me! If you have not<BR/>appreciated this, then what can be expected of others?...<BR/>Don't you see all that I do day and night, and everything I<BR/>write in my letters... I swear by Almighty God that I<BR/>consider myself lowlier than each and every one of the loved<BR/>ones of the Blessed Beauty. This is my firm conviction...<BR/>Tell me if I am wrong. This is my greatest wish. I don't even<BR/>wish to make this claim, because I dislike every claim. He<BR/>then turned towards the Qiblih and said, 'O Blessed Beauty,<BR/>grant me this station'...<BR/>[1 Bahá'u'lláh often designated the male believers as 'servants of God' and the female as 'handmaidens of God'. (A.T.)]<BR/><BR/>"'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke angrily in this vein with such vigour<BR/>that my heart almost stopped. I had a sensation of choking,<BR/>my whole body became numb. Truly, I felt that life was<BR/>going out of me. Not only was the power of speech taken<BR/>from me, but energy for breathing seemed to have gone also<BR/>I wished the earth would open and swallow me up so that I<BR/>might never again see my Lord so grief-stricken as this.<BR/>Truly for a moment I was not present in this world. Only<BR/>when the Master resumed His walking down the stairs, the<BR/>sound of His shoes jolted me. I quickly followed Him. I<BR/>heard Him say: 'I told the Covenant-breakers that the more<BR/>they hurt me, the more will the believers exalt my station to<BR/>the point of exaggeration...'<BR/><BR/>"Now that the blame was removed from the believers and<BR/>placed on the Covenant-breakers, I somewhat regained<BR/>consciousness and a little life. I listened carefully to His<BR/>words, but my thoughts were elsewhere. I now understood<BR/>that it was the iniquities and transgressions perpetrated by<BR/>these ruthless Covenant-breakers which had produced a<BR/>strong reaction among the believers who could not control<BR/>their feelings and sentiments.<BR/><BR/>"This bitter experience of mine was ended now. The<BR/>Master was pacing up and down the hall and speaking more 409 <BR/>about the machinations of the Covenant-breakers. But I<BR/>was not in a position to think properly or meditate deeply. I<BR/>was very perturbed that I had brought such grief upon the<BR/>Master, and I did not know what to do. Then I heard Him<BR/>say: 'This is in no way the fault of the friends. They say these<BR/>things because of their steadfastness, their love and devotion<BR/>...' Again my thoughts were directed to His words. Then I<BR/>heard Him say to me: 'You are very dear to Me, etc...'[1]<BR/>From these utterances I realized that it was always the<BR/>Master's way never ever to allow a soul to be hurt. And now<BR/>this was a time for giving me comfort and encouragement.<BR/>The pressure in my heart was now released. All the anguish<BR/>pent up in me was gone. I burst into tears which flowed in<BR/>great profusion upon my cheeks and I listened more<BR/>carefully. I heard His utterances as He showered His<BR/>bounties upon me in such heartwarming and affectionate<BR/>terms that they went far beyond the normal limits of<BR/>encouragement. So much loving kindness and favour He<BR/>bestowed upon me that when I considered my limited<BR/>capacity and worth, I could not bear to hear Him; therefore<BR/>I never allowed those words to enter into my memory.<BR/>Nevertheless, I was filled with such an indescribable joy and<BR/>ecstasy that I wished the doors of heaven would open and I<BR/>could ascend to the Kingdom on high.<BR/>[1 It is obvious that through his modesty and humility Dr Yunis Khan does not wish to reveal all the praise and encouragement which the Master had showered upon him.]<BR/><BR/>"When He dismissed me from His presence I went<BR/>towards the Pilgrim House in such a state of intoxication<BR/>and excitement that I walked all around the streets of 'Akká<BR/>not knowing where I was going!<BR/><BR/>"And now, my dear reader, you can see how a bitter<BR/>experience turned into a sweet one, and how it all ended.<BR/>The earth did not open up to swallow me, neither did the<BR/>heavens open to let me go up! And, so I can write down the<BR/>stories o those days and in memory of His radiant<BR/>countenance may say to you: 'Allah'u'Abha!'"[1](6)<BR/>[1 Literally: God is most glorious.] 410 <BR/><BR/> (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 3, p. 409)<BR/><BR/>"Again 'Abdu'l-Bahá turned to ascend and I made to<BR/>follow; but for the third time He paused and, turning, as it<BR/>seemed, the full light of His spirit upon me, He said again,<BR/>but this time in what seemed like a voice of thunder, with<BR/>literally flashing eyes and emphatically raised hand: that I<BR/>should remember His words that This is a Day for very<BR/>great things -- VERY GREAT THINGS. These last three<BR/>words rang out like a trumpet call. The long, deserted city<BR/>block seemed to echo them. I was overwhelmed. I seemed to<BR/>dwindle, almost to shrivel, where I stood, as that beautifully<BR/>dominant figure, that commanding and appealing voice,<BR/>surrounded me like a sea, and blotted out for the moment, at<BR/>least, all the petty world and my petty self with it. Who and<BR/>what was I to be summoned to accomplish great things, very<BR/>great things? I did not even know what things were great in<BR/>this world awry with misbegotten emphases.<BR/><BR/> (Adib Taherzadeh, The Revelation of Baha'u'llah v 3, p. 340)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for you insights, Jack.<BR/><BR/>Jono from PorcupineAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com