... O my brother, when a true seeker determineth to take the
step of search in the path leading to the knowledge of the Ancient of Days, he
must, before all else, cleanse and purify his heart, which is the seat of the
revelation of the inner mysteries of God, from the obscuring dust of all
acquired knowledge, and the allusions of the embodiments of satanic fancy. He
must purge his breast, which is the sanctuary of the abiding love of the
Beloved, of every defilement, and sanctify his soul from all that pertaineth to
water and clay, from all shadowy and ephemeral attachments. He must so cleanse
his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein, lest that
love blindly incline him to error, or that hate repel him away from the truth.
Even as thou dost witness in this day how most of the people, because of such
love and hate, are bereft of the immortal Face, have strayed far from the
Embodiments of the divine mysteries, and, shepherdless, are roaming through the
wilderness of oblivion and error. That seeker must at all times put his trust
in God, must renounce the peoples of the earth, detach himself from the world
of dust, and cleave unto Him Who is the Lord of Lords. He must never seek to
exalt himself above any one, must wash away from the tablet of his heart every
trace of pride and vainglory, must cling unto patience and resignation, observe
silence, and refrain from idle talk. For the tongue is a smouldering fire, and
excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the
fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former
lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endure a century.
These are among the attributes of the exalted, and
constitute the hall-mark of the spiritually-minded. They have already been
mentioned in connection with the requirements of the wayfarers that tread the
Path of Positive Knowledge. When the detached wayfarer and sincere seeker hath
fulfilled these essential conditions, then and only then can he be called a
true seeker. Whensoever he hath fulfilled the conditions implied in the verse:
"Whoso maketh efforts for Us,"[Qur'án 29:69] he shall enjoy the
blessing conferred by the words: "In Our ways shall We assuredly guide
him."[Qur'án 29:69]
- Baha'u'llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)
- Baha'u'llah (‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’)