Area : CONSCIOUSNESS
Date : Oct 24 '95, 23:18
From : Zaynab, 1:161/19
To   : All
Subj : Answers Within


                        Address by 'Abdu'l-Baha

                     At the Friends' Meeting House
                    St. Martin's Lane, London, W.C.

                      Sunday, January 12th, 1913


     About one thousand years ago a society was formed in Persia
called the Society of the Friends, who gathered together for silent
communion with the Almighty.

     They divided Divine philosophy into two parts: one kind is that
of which the knowledge can be acquired through lectures and study in
schools and colleges.  The second kind of philosophy was that of the
Illuminati, or followers of the inner light.  The schools of this
philosophy were held in silence.  Meditating, and turning their faces
to the Source of Light, from that central Light the mysteries of the
Kingdom were reflected in the hearts of these people.  All the Divine
problems were solved by this power of illumination.

     This Society of Friends increased greatly in Persia, and up to
the present time their societies exist.  Many books and epistles were
written by their leaders.  When they assemble in their meeting-house
they sit silently and contemplate; their leader opens with a certain
proposition, and says to the assembly 'You must meditate on this
problem'.  Then, freeing their minds from everything else, they sit
and reflect, and before long the answer is revealed to them.  Many
abstruse divine questions are solved by this illumination.

     Some of the great questions unfolding from the rays of the Sun of
Reality upon the mind of man are: the problem of the reality of the
spirit of man; of the birth of the spirit; of its birth from this
world into the world of God; the question of the inner life of the
spirit and of its fate after its ascension from the body.

     They also meditate upon the scientific questions of the day, and
these are likewise solved.

     These people, who are called 'Followers of the inner light',
attain to a superlative degree of power, and are entirely freed from
blind dogmas and imitations.  Men rely on the statements of these
people: by themselves -- within themselves -- they solve all
mysteries.

     If they find a solution with the assistance of the inner light,
they accept it, and afterwards they declare it: otherwise they would
consider it a matter of blind imitation.  They go so far as to reflect
upon the essential manifestation of the Deity in this world.  All the
divine and scientific questions are solved by them through the power
of the spirit.

     Baha'u'llah says there is a sign (from God) in every phenomenon:
the sign of the intellect is contemplation and the sign of
contemplation is silence, because it is impossible for a man to do two
things at one time -- he cannot both speak and meditate.

     It is an axiomatic fact that while you meditate you are speaking
with your own spirit.  In that state of mind you put certain questions
to your spirit and the spirit answers: the light breaks forth and the
reality is revealed.

     You cannot apply the name 'man' to any being void of this faculty
of meditation; without it he would be a mere animal, lower than the
beasts.

     Through the faculty of meditation man attains to eternal life;
through it he receives the breath of the Holy Spirit -- the bestowal
of the Spirit is given in reflection and meditation.

     The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened during
meditation; through it affairs of which man knew nothing are unfolded
before his view.  Through it he receives Divine inspiration, through
it he receives heavenly food.

     Meditation is the key for opening the doors of mysteries.  In
that state man abstracts himself: in that state man withdraws himself
from all outside objects; in that subjective mood he is immersed in
the ocean of spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-
themselves.  To illustrate this, think of man as endowed with two
kinds of sight; when the power of insight is being used the outward
power of vision does not see.

     This faculty of meditation frees man from the animal nature,
discerns the reality of things, puts man in touch with God.

     This faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the sciences
and arts.  Through the meditative faculty inventions are made
possible, colossal undertakings are carried out; through it
governments can run smoothly.  Through this faculty man enters into
the very Kingdom of God.

     Nevertheless some thoughts are useless to man; they are like
waves moving in the sea without result.  But if the faculty of
meditation is bathed in the inner light and characterized with divine
attributes, the results will be confirmed.

     The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror; if you put it
before earthly objects it will reflect them.  Therefore if the spirit
of man is contemplating earthly subjects he will be informed of these.

     But if you turn the mirror of your spirits heavenwards, the
heavenly constellations and the rays of the Sun of Reality will be
reflected in your hearts, and the virtues of the Kingdom will be
obtained.

     Therefore let us keep this faculty rightly directed -- turning it
to the heavenly Sun and not to earthly objects -- so that we may
discover the secrets of the Kingdom, and comprehend the allegories of
the Bible and the mysteries of the spirit.

     May we indeed become mirrors reflecting the heavenly realities,
and may we become so pure as to reflect the stars of heaven.


                             _Paris Talks_
        _Addresses given by 'Abdu'l-Baha in Paris in 1911-1912_
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                    27 Rutland Gate, London SW7 1PD
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   National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United Kingdom

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