A channel for the spirit: humility, speech, and service

being a channel for the Holy Spirit in teaching the Cause

31 selections · 31 reading entries · Current subject view ↗

Editorial introduction

Be a channel for bounty, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes, and then raises the stakes: become bounty yourself. The teacher he describes is a reed through which the Holy Spirit may flow, a heart emptied of self that can start a fire in a cold one, a bird at dawn exhilarated by its own song. Attraction, zeal and severance from mortal things come first; eloquence and talent, he observes, have sometimes accomplished nothing while the tongue-tied prospered, because the real capital of a teacher is divine power rather than skill. The humility this asks is exacting. Preparation, courage in speaking and the willingness to act remain ours; another person’s response does not. Paul drew the same line when he called himself and Apollos servants who plant and water while God alone gives the growth ^[1]. A single soul may go forth and find legions behind it, provided the will is submissive and the speaker says what is cast into the heart. The way leads on to the Holy Spirit itself, to becoming a source of living waters, to the state of enkindlement, and to the confirmations promised to those who arise.

Selected passages

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Be a channel for bounty, nay rather become yourself true bounty.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1900 or < -- AB05265)

However, when the tongue of the teacher is engaged in teaching, he will naturally himself be stimulated, will become a magnet attracting the divine aid and bounty of the Kingdom, and will be like unto the bird at the hour of dawn, which itself becometh exhilarated by its own singing, its warbling and its melody....

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Haji Mirza Haydar Ali Isfahani -- AB10259)

The available source contains an omission or incomplete wording; sentence boundaries need review.

Guidance is due to the Power of the Holy Spirit. He who wishes to become a teacher, must first instill in his own heart the attributes thus mentioned, namely: attraction, zeal and severance from attachments to mortal things. Then will he be astounded by the forthcoming results.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Charles and Mariam Haney spoken in Feb. 1909 -- ABU1137)

If he be entirely detached and emptied of self he will be enabled to start in a cold heart a great fire.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Isabel Fraser, spoken on 1913-Sep-24 -- ABU1652)

Shouldst thou become entirely attached to the Kingdom of ABHA, thou shalt find the Holy Spirit always thy companion and shalt behold the spiritual confirmations uninterrupted.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-May-12, to Margaret B Peeke -- AB03622)

Truth (the highest truth) is unattainable except through the favor of the Holy Spirit.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- ABU3624)

Each one of you should strive with all your heart to become a manifestor of God's inspiration.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1912-Oct-19 in Los Angeles -- ABU1485)

Therefore my advice to you is: Become ye ignited with that Flame, be ye enkindled with that Fire! Never let the light of your spirit die out, protect it from the gales of the stormy nights, shield it from the raging tempest of the outside world and guard it from the turbulent hurricane of the wintry season.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken on 1915-Mar-10 -- ABU0990)

But it is essential that you should be enkindled by the breath of the Holy Spirit and with full firmness and perseverance you should enkindle the fire of the love of God in the heart, and with no more power over thy own will, you should unconsciously cry out and proclaim the appearance of the Kingdom of God, so that these troubled hearts may become free and conflicting thoughts may disappear and the candle of guidance may illumine them all.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Oct-05, to Elizabeth W Cowles -- AB07598)

Whosoever is filled with the love of Baha and forgets all things - the Holy Spirit breathes into his mouth and the spirit of life into his heart, the lights of verses shine from his face, words scatter like strings of pearls from his mouth, and he heals ills and sickness by the touch of his hand.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Jun-21, to Charles Greenleaf -- AB02456)

He who is filled with the love of the Glory (of God) and forgets all things, the Holy Spirit will be heard from his lips and the spirit of life will fill his heart, the light of the sign will shine forth from his face, the words will issue from his mouth in strands of pearls, and all sickness and disease will be healed by the laying on of his hands.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB11119)

Thus like unto Holy Spirit itself thou mayest give life to the dead and quicken the bodies of human kind, like the breezes of paradise thou mayest render this world a garden of Ridvan.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Bibi Rawhani -- AB04089)

Indeed thou wilt see the teachings of God spread in those regions by the breath of the Holy Spirit, and thou wilt discover the fragrances of the paradise of the Kingdom.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909 or < -- AB05980)

O maid-servant of God! Verily, thy Lord hath breathed the spirit of argument into thy mouth. Speak thou in the most wonderful explanation and meditate not at the time of advancing proofs, evidences and signs, and speak thou that which the Spirit inspireth thee.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903-Jan-27, to Margaret B Peeke -- AB01860)

Rest ye assured that the Breathes of the Holy Spirit shall inspire you with the power of speech. Consequently loosen your tongues and speak in every meeting with undaunted courage.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913-Sep ca. -- AB10294)

A sincere worker in the Cause of God is always assisted by the Divine Spirit when such questions arise. The Truth will flow through you if you stand in the right attitude toward the Truth.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Julia Grundy spoken around Jan. 1905 -- ABU3090)

You are the conquerors, because the power of the Holy Spirit is your assistant. Above and over physical forces, phenomenal forces, the Holy Spirit itself shall aid you.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1912-May-10 in Washington -- ABU3099)

In Tiberias the missionaries have built a modern hospital and pharmacy. The doctor has been serving there for 32 years. At least every year 1000 Jews enter the hospital and go out healed, but none of them becomes really Christian. The doctor used to tell me I am at my wits end in thinking out the reason of the success of the Baha'is in the propagation of their teachings. Without any means at their hands they succeed to make these Jews Baha'is but with all these hospitals and schools and charity we don't seem to succeed. Why is this?
I told him Think for one moment over this singular fact. The Jews who became Christians in the apostolic and after apostolic age were not attracted to the Christian doctrine by hospitals etc. On the contrary, they were beaten, persecuted and killed. Notwithstanding these things they accepted Christ. Why was this? Because those early teachers possessed the "heavenly power". With that power they were enabled to carry the gospel into distant lands.
Now in this day the Baha'is are teaching the people with the same divine Power. They are baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit, have forgotten ego and are soaring toward the Kingdom of sanctity. The most efficient capital of the Baha'i teacher is the divine power. Through that alone he can conquer the cities of the hearts.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken at Rue Lauriston 97 on 1913-Jun-07 -- ABU1592)

They went to America and were good speakers and had many talents. They knew English well. Nevertheless, they accomplished nothing, while we sent those who were dumb and the work progressed.
… Now, wherever any of the friends of God may go, the hosts of divine confirmation will reach them. This is why Christ said to His disciples, "I am with you." Rest assured that the Holy Spirit will confirm you, and when you speak, do not think - say whatever is cast into your hearts.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-Jul-14 in Haifa -- ABU1973)

Previous to Abdul-Baha's recent decision to journey to the Pacific Coast, and during his return visit to New York City, in answer to a question from one of the friends, he gave the impression that he would not go west again and would depart in one month for the Orient. When it was remarked that this would disappoint a great many people [we quote the letter received by us], "he replied that he had talked on every subject, from the scientific as well as psychological basis and that he breathed on the souls and spirits of all the Bahais in such a way that had it been upon bone, it would have taken on flesh (meaning, as I understood it, that he had given really life-giving spirit) and that if their souls were not on fire now, verily they were dead—just as a tree which is not green and does not show forth any signs of life though the most nourishing life-giving rains are pouring down upon it, and the fresh spring breezes flowing down upon it.
In all this he seemed to say that he had done all that he could do and now it lay upon those whom he had blessed to do the rest. If they were not awakened after all this, then, verily, they were as dead and dried up."

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken ca. Nov. 1912, related third-hand -- ABU2294)

The teacher, when teaching, must be himself fully enkindled, so that his utterance, like unto a flame of fire, may exert influence and consume the veil of self and passion.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913-Jul-25, to Jamshid Khudadad Hakim -- AB04273)

You are the angels of Abha; guide the people. You are the rays of the Sun of Reality; bestow upon them light. You are the trees of the orchard of God; produce loving fruits, You are the water of eternal life; allay the thirst of mankind.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Jul-19 in Haifa -- ABU2236)

Further quotations · supplied wording and references

It is the Holy Spirit which quickens the souls, not the teacher. The teacher is the reed; the Holy Spirit is the Water of Life passing through the reed.

(9 Jul. 1955 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)