... 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.
That seeker should also regard backbiting as grievous error,
and keep himself aloof from its dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the
light of the heart, and extinguisheth the life of the soul. He should be
content with little, and be freed from all inordinate desire. He should
treasure the companionship of those that have renounced the world, and regard
avoidance of boastful and worldly people a precious benefit. At the dawn of
every day he should commune with God, and with all his soul persevere in the
quest of his Beloved. He should consume every wayward thought with the flame of
His loving mention, and, with the swiftness of lightning, pass by all else save
Him. He should succour the dispossessed, and never withhold his favour from the
destitute. He should show kindness to animals, how much more unto his
fellow-man, to him who is endowed with the power of utterance. He should not
hesitate to offer up his life for his Beloved, nor allow the censure of the
people to turn him away from the Truth. He should not wish for others that
which he doth not wish for himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfil.
With all his heart should the seeker avoid fellowship with evil doers, and pray
for the remission of their sins. He should forgive the sinful, and never
despise his low estate, for none knoweth what his own end shall be. How often
hath a sinner, at the hour of death, attained to the essence of faith, and,
quaffing the immortal draught, hath taken his flight unto the celestial
Concourse. And how often hath a devout believer, at the hour of his soul's
ascension, been so changed as to fall into the nethermost fire. Our purpose in
revealing these convincing and weighty utterances is to impress upon the seeker
that he should regard all else beside God as transient, and count all things
save Him, Who is the Object of all adoration, as utter nothingness.
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’)