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"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."
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"The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."
By 'Abdu'l-Bahá · 1908 · Bahá'í Publishing Trust
'Abdu'l-Bahá's ministry (1892–1921) · public domain
Table-talks recorded by Laura Clifford Barney during pilgrimage.
About 'Abdu'l-Bahá
Eldest son of Bahá'u'lláh and, by His Father's explicit Covenant, the appointed Centre of the Faith and authoritative interpreter of His Writings. Travelled to Egypt, Europe, and North America between 1911 and 1913, founding the Western Bahá'í community.
1844–1921 · Centre of the Covenant
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“they did not dare to push the matter further.”
“Many of the 'ulamá, public men and others”
“they differed greatly, and their opinions were contradictory.”
“I have given to you my tired moments.”
“Nature is that condition, that reality, which in appearance”
Memorials of the Faithful
Primary Source'Abdu'l-Bahá · 1915
The Promulgation of Universal Peace
Primary Source'Abdu'l-Bahá · 1922
Paris Talks
Primary Source'Abdu'l-Bahá · 1912
Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Abbas
Primary Source'Abdu'l-Bahá · 1909
Bahá'í World Faith
Primary Source'Abdu'l-Bahá · 1943
A Traveler's Narrative
Primary Source'Abdu'l-Bahá · 1886
'Abdu'l-Bahá in London
Primary Source'Abdu'l-Bahá · 1912
Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
Primary Source'Abdu'l-Bahá
The divines gathered at Káẓimayn sent an envoy to Bahá'u'lláh in Baghdád to ask for a miracle. He agreed, on condition that they choose one miracle together and put their promise in writing. They let the matter drop.
In Some Answered Questions, 'Abdu'l-Bahá notes that all Shíráz knew the Báb had studied in no school, yet as a young merchant He confounded the learned clergy of Persia, and He calls this the greatest proof that the Báb was a perfect Educator.
Between 1904 and 1906 Laura Clifford Barney put her questions to 'Abdu'l-Bahá in 'Akká, often at the lunch table. His answers were taken down in Persian, and He corrected the text twice in His own hand before it was published in 1908.
During her long visits to 'Akká between 1904 and 1906, Laura Clifford Barney put her questions to 'Abdu'l-Bahá at His table. His answers became Some Answered Questions, which includes His talk on the four ways people seek to understand the truth.
Between 1904 and 1906 Laura Clifford Barney made several long visits to 'Akká and put her questions to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, often at the lunch table. His replies, written down and corrected by Him, became Some Answered Questions.
In the opening chapter of *Some Answered Questions*, 'Abdu'l-Bahá defines nature as the composition and decomposition of all things and shows that nature, though governed by one universal law, has neither will nor intelligence.
Nature is that condition, that reality, which in appearance consists in life and death, or, in other words, in the composition and decomposition of all things.
Today, at table, let us speak for a little of proofs.
In the beginning of the eleventh chapter of the Revelation of St.
In Isaiah, chapter 11, verses 1 to 10, it is said: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and…
We have before explained that what is most frequently meant by the Holy City, the Jerusalem of God, which is mentioned in the Holy Book, is the Law of God.
In this material world time has cycles; places change through alternating seasons, and for souls there are progress, retrogression and education.
The honor and exaltation of every existing being depends upon causes and circumstances.
A subject that is essential for the comprehension of the questions that we have mentioned, and of others of which we are about to speak, so that the essence of the problems may be understood, is this: that human knowledge is of two kinds.
Question.—How was Christ born of the Holy Spirit? Answer.—In regard to this question, theologians and materialists disagree.
A great man is a great man, whether born of a human father or not.
Question.—It is said in the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 3, verses 13, 14, 15: “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade Him, saying, I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest…
One of the proofs and demonstrations of the existence of God is the fact that man did not create himself: nay, his creator and designer is another than himself.
Question.—Is the ablution of baptism useful and necessary, or is it useless and unnecessary?
Question.—The Christ said: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof and not die.”
'Abdu'l-Bahá affirms that the Manifestations of God are the sources of miracles, yet teaches that outward wonders prove nothing to those who were not present, and that the miracles of the Holy Books carry an inner meaning.
Question.—It is recorded that miracles were performed by Christ.
Question.—What is the meaning of Christ’s resurrection after three days?
Question.—What is the manner, and what is the meaning, of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, as described in the Gospel?
Question.—What is the Holy Spirit?
In a group of chapters of *Some Answered Questions*, 'Abdu'l-Bahá takes up the theory that man is descended from the animal, and teaches that although humanity's form developed gradually, like an embryo in the womb, man was from the beginning a distinct species, with mind and spirit present though hidden.
It is said in the Holy Books that Christ will come again, and that His coming depends upon the fulfillment of certain signs: when He comes, it will be with these signs.
Question.—What is the meaning of the Trinity, of the Three Persons in One?
“And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine own self, with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was.”
Question.—In verse 22 of chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians it is written: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
In *Some Answered Questions*, 'Abdu'l-Bahá argues that the mineral, vegetable, animal and human worlds all need an educator, and that humanity needs a Universal Educator, at once its material, human and spiritual educator, whose power is divine.
When we consider existence, we see that the mineral, vegetable, animal and human worlds are all in need of an educator.
Question.—What is the truth of the story of Adam, and His eating of the fruit of the tree?
Question.—“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be…
Question.—In the Gospel Christ said: “Many are called, but few are chosen,” and in the Qur’án it is written: “He will confer particular mercy on whom He pleaseth.”
Question.—Will you explain the subject of Return? Answer.—Bahá’u’lláh has explained this question fully and clearly in the Íqán.
Question.—In the Gospel of St. Matthew it is said: “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church.”
Question.—If God has knowledge of an action which will be performed by someone, and it has been written on the Tablet of Fate, is it possible to resist it?
Know that, speaking generally, there are five divisions of the spirit.
Question.—What connection has the Reality of Divinity with the Lordly Rising-places and the Divine Dawning-points?
Know that the Holy Manifestations, though They have the degrees of endless perfections, yet, speaking generally, have only three stations.
We said that the Manifestations have three planes.
One of those Who possessed this power and was assisted by it was Abraham.
Question.—One of the powers possessed by the Divine Manifestations is knowledge.
Question.—What is the real explanation of the cycles which occur in the world of existence?
Question.—What is the degree of the power and the perfections of the Thrones of Reality, the Manifestations of God, and what is the limit of Their influence?
Question.—How many kinds of Prophets are there? Answer.—Universally, the Prophets are of two kinds. One are the independent Prophets Who are followed; the other kind are not independent and are themselves followers.
Question.—In the Holy Books there are some addresses of reproach and rebuke directed to the Prophets.
It is said in the holy verse: “There is no partner for Him Who is the Dayspring of Revelation136 in His Most Great Infallibility. He is, in truth, the exponent of ‘God doeth whatsoever He willeth’ in the kingdom of creation. Indeed the…
In *Some Answered Questions*, 'Abdu'l-Bahá comments on the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, with its Branch out of the stem of Jesse and its peaceable kingdom of the wolf and the lamb, and applies its verses to Bahá'u'lláh and His cycle.
Moses was for a long time a shepherd in the wilderness. Regarded outwardly, He was a Man brought up in a tyrannical household, and was known among men as One Who had committed a murder and become a shepherd.
Question.—In the Bible it is said that God breathed the spirit into the body of man.
Question.—Of what degree is the perception of the human world, and what are its limitations?
Afterward Christ came, saying, “I am born of the Holy Spirit.”
Having shown that the spirit of man exists, we must prove its immortality.
Yesterday we were occupied in discussing the immortality of the spirit.
Question.—It is said in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas “...whoso is deprived thereof, hath gone astray, though he be the author of every righteous deed.”
Question.—After the body is put aside and the spirit has obtained freedom, in what way will the rational soul exist?
You question about eternal life and the entrance into the Kingdom.
Question.—Is the predestination which is mentioned in the Holy Books a decreed thing?
Question.—Have the stars of the heavens any influence upon the human soul, or have they not?
Now we come to Muḥammad.
Question.—Is man a free agent in all his actions, or is he compelled and constrained?
In a series of chapters of *Some Answered Questions*, 'Abdu'l-Bahá offers rational proofs that the human spirit survives the death of the body, and teaches that, because the perfections of humanity are endless, the soul can continue to progress after leaving this world.
Question.—Some people believe that they achieve spiritual discoveries—that is to say, that they converse with spirits.
Question.—Some people heal the sick by spiritual means—that is to say, without medicine.
Yesterday at table we spoke of curative treatment and spiritual healing, which consists in treating maladies through the spiritual powers.
The true explanation of this subject is very difficult. Know that beings are of two kinds: material and spiritual, those perceptible to the senses and those intellectual.
Know that there are two kinds of torment: subtile and gross.
Know that to do justice is to give to everyone according to his deserts.
Question.—Should a criminal be punished, or forgiven and his crime overlooked?
Certain sophists think that existence is an illusion, that each being is an absolute illusion which has no existence—in other words, that the existence of beings is like a mirage, or like the reflection of an image in water or in a mirror …
As for the Báb—may my soul be His sacrifice!—at a youthful age, that is to say, when He had reached the twenty-fifth year of His blessed life, He stood forth to proclaim His Cause.
Question.—How many kinds of preexistence and of phenomena are there?
Question.—What is the truth of the question of reincarnation, which is believed by some people?
Question.—How do the Theosophists and the Súfís understand the question of pantheism?
There are only four accepted methods of comprehension—that is to say, the realities of things are understood by these four methods.
Question.—Those who are blessed with good actions and universal benevolence, who have praiseworthy characteristics, who act with love and kindness toward all creatures, who care for the poor …
Question.—What is the condition of children who die before attaining the age of discretion or before the appointed time of birth?
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