But, 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,"[1] he shall enjoy the blessing
conferred by the words: "In Our ways shall We assuredly guide
him."[2]
[1 Qur'án 29:69.]
[2
Ibid.]
Only when the lamp of
search, of earnest striving, of longing desire, of passionate devotion, of
fervid love, of rapture, and ecstasy, is kindled within the seeker's heart, and
the breeze of His loving-kindness is wafted upon his soul, will the darkness of
error be dispelled, the mists of doubts and misgivings be dissipated, and the
lights of knowledge and certitude envelop his being. At that hour will the
mystic Herald, bearing the joyful tidings of the Spirit, shine forth from the
City of
(Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 195)