(Bahá’u’lláh, Kitab-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book), 1290-05-15 [1873-Jul-11] -- BH00001)
Study and deepening: from the page into a life
study; deepening
Editorial introduction
Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, Bahá’u’lláh says, that you may discover the pearls hidden in its depths; and blessed, He adds, is the one who reads and then ponders. Deepening begins in that second verb. It is the return to familiar words with the patience of a pupil who learns by persisting, and it refuses to be satisfied with words when the spiritual meaning is what matters. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá sends inquirers to particular books, the Íqán, the Hidden Words, and urges wider learning in science, philosophy and the scriptures of other faiths, while Shoghi Effendi insists that study anchor itself in the actual words of Bahá’u’lláh and the Master yet leave freedom to explain how they bear on a life. Confucius warned that learning without thought is lost and thought without learning perilous [1], a reciprocity echoed here. Study also corrects: further reading exposes earlier errors, and the community becomes the laboratory in which principles are tested by action. The path continues into the daily reading of the Sacred Writings, the practice of contemplation, the call to acquire knowledge, and the discipline of rational argument.
Selected passages
Blessed is he who readeth the verses of God and pondereth upon the pearls of his Lord's knowledge that lie concealed therein, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290-05 [1873-Jun] -- BH04482)
O thou who art seeking after Knowledge! Immerse thyself in the ocean of the explanation of the Beauty of the Merciful, so that thou mayest gather the pearls.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB11282)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Kinney home on 1912-Dec-03 -- ABU0523)
Knowledge is love. Study, listen to exhortations, think, try to understand the wisdom and greatness of God. The soil must be fertilized before the seed can be sown.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB11557)
When a pupil enters the school first, he will not understand a thing at all, but when he persists in his studies, he will learn his first lessons. Even so it is with the Kingdom of God. When a person enters, when he concentrates his thought and is steadfast, he will learn good lessons, very good lessons indeed.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mr King from Seattle, spoken on 1912-Oct-24 -- ABU2795)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1905-Apr-07, to Rosa V Winterburn -- AB00740)
The book of Ighan revealed by Baha'u'llah in Bagdad and translated in America is one of the most fundamental Baha'i works. Then the hidden Words, likewise Tajalleyat, Eshragat, Tarazat etc, also the books of Mirza Abul Fazl. All these works will explain to you the full meaning and importance of this revelation. When you return to America you can easily get these books and study them very carefully. Then you will be fully informed with the principles of the Baha'i Cause.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mrs A. Burks, spoken on 1914-Apr-14 -- ABU2171)
Thou shouldst gather, as much as possible, the Persian Tablets that have been sent down from the heaven of the Divine Will and read them, for in all of them are revealed mighty utterances and sovereign declarations which shall be the cause of the steadfastness of souls.
(Bahá’u’lláh, ca. 1289-1290?, to Musa known as Diya -- BH00737)
Sacred Books have been sent down from the heaven of God's Will - request them from the loved ones and study them, that ye may become aware of the greatness of this Cause and arise to exalt the Word of God.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1292-06-03 [1875-Jul-7], to Mulla Diniyar -- BH04036)
Read the Tablets of Baha'u'llah. Study the hidden words. Then thou wilt become spiritual, illumined, godlike, divine.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Rue St. Didier 30 in Paris, 1913-Jan-29 -- ABU1787)
They must always read the holy books, so that they may be familiar with their contents...
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Feb-12 in Haifa -- ABU0791)
It is the religious duty of every Baha'i to read and comprehend the meanings of the old and new Testaments.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Mar-07 -- ABU3243)
Yet I lived there for two years with the utmost happiness. Up to that period I had not had time to read the Koran from first to last but then I had ample time and used to read this holy book with fervour and enthusiasm. Going over the incidents and events of the lives of former prophets and finding how parallel they were with that of Baha'u'llah, I was consoled and encouraged.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1913-Jul-03 in Port Said -- ABU1242)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1909-Oct-24, to Aqa Siyyid Rida et al -- AB01840)
When you, who are the believers of God gather together in a meeting, let all your conversation be about the Cause, review the proofs that uphold it, bring forth the evidence that reinforces it and investigate the arguments that demonstrate it.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the friends, spoken on 1915-Mar-09 -- ABU0638)
This will cause the friends to gain proficiency in the teachings, glad-tidings and answering doubts, and to progress in degrees of knowledge and understanding.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Jan-22, to Mustafa Rumi -- AB03380)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1911-Nov-28 in Paris -- ABU1175)
We must endeavor to gain heavenly enlightenment, to understand the mysteries of the holy books, to become the cause of guidance to others and to illumine hearts.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a Jewish lady, spoken en route to Salt Lake City on 1912-Oct-26 -- ABU2465)
You are to explain to them or read to them the Ishrakat, Tarazat, Tajalleyat, the Words of Paradise, and Tablet of the World. You have to make them learn by heart some of these verses.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Mr and Mrs Hannen, spoken on 1909-Feb-26 -- ABU2419)
Those souls who are in that assembly before their entrance therein must be adorned with utmost purity, turn their faces toward the Kingdom of ABHa and enter with infinite humility and meekness, and when someone reads Tablets they must be silent and attentive. Should anyone desire to speak, he must do it with the utmost courtesy and with perfect eloquence and fluency by the consent and permission of the people of the assembly.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB07821)
The friends in every land should gather together with wisdom and utterance in meetings and assemblies to read the verses of God, for the verses kindle the fire of love and ignite its flame. However, they must observe wisdom in all conditions, and gatherings of five to nine persons are sufficient. The locations must also be varied, for if they are held in one place, the heedless will become aware and cause commotion.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1303-01-04 ? [1885-Oct-13], to Mulla Mahmud et al -- BH00443)
They must either teach or open their tongue in propounding arguments, either commune or supplicate and pray to God, either read Tablets or give out advices and exhortations.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- AB09121)
Every conversation, when it goes on too long, brings weariness to a person except conversation about the Divine Cause, conversation about the Exalted One [the Bab], about the Blessed Beauty [Baha'u'llah], about the beginning of this Cause, about the details of this Cause, about the proofs of this Cause, about the glad tidings of this Cause, about the events of the martyrs - how much joy these bring to a person.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1915-Jul-23 in Haifa -- ABU2443)
Take thou the Book with a strength from Us, then read it unto those multitudes whom the affairs of the world have not kept back from the Ancient of Days, and whom the hosts of those who were heedless of this mighty Cause have not frightened.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1299-05-29 [1882-Apr-18] -- BH06233)
You should remind all the loved ones of the divine counsels that have been revealed in the Sacred Books in this Most Great Revelation, that all may be adorned with the ornament of His favor and become the cause of remembrance among the peoples of the world.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1293? [1875-1876] -- BH09972)
O Hurmuz! We hope that in the divine school you will be engaged, like Hermes, in learning the meanings of realities.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1893-Jan-22, to Hurmuz -- AB11513)
His honor Mirza Ali-Muhammad returned with a firm covenant and strong testament and faith and pledge that he would in no way deviate from your good pleasure, and would be occupied day and night with learning the lesson of teaching and studying the French language.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906-Dec-22, to Mulla Ali Akbar Shahmirzadi Ayadi -- AB11630)
I hope that good character will confirm noble descent, and you will keep bright the lamp of that martyr to the Blessed Beauty, and strive utmost in acquiring sciences and arts, and be engaged day and night in teaching the Cause in all ways.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Oct-25, to Hand of the Cause Ali Muhammad Ibn Asdaq -- AB02124)
Finish thy studies in sciences and then turn thy face unto God, asking from Him help and protection under all conditions.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1902-Nov-14, to Charles Mason Remey -- AB04940)
You must become fully informed with these Teachings. It is good to be thoroughly informed with science or arts or literature.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to two Baha'is, spoken at Rue Lauriston 97 on 1913-Mar-30 -- ABU2741)
There are many people in Persia who are illiterate, but who are able to guide wise and learned men. Knowledge and sciences are like water gathered from pools and cisterns for the irrigation of the soil; the confirmations of God are like rainfalls and showers. Why should one gather water from pools when the pure water is obtainable?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to George Winterburn et al, spoken around 1904-Feb-06 -- ABU2176)
Thou must strive day by day so that the Fire of the Love of God may burn brighter and brighter upon the censer of thy heart; day by day thy servitude at the Threshold of Abha become more pronounced, day by day thy attachment to the Kingdom of God become stronger. If thou dost this, then all thy studies will be crowned with success; otherwise they will bring thee no eternal results.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to a Persian student, spoken on 1914-Jun-24 -- ABU2980)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken at Dreyfus home in Paris, 1911-Nov-15 -- ABU1814)
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to the Baha'is at Krug home in New York, 1912-Jul-15 -- ABU0579)
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
If you read the utterances of Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha with selflessness and care and concentrate upon them, you will discover truths unknown to you before and will obtain an insight into the problems that have baffled the great thinkers of the world.
COC#430 (30 Jan. 1925 from Shoghi Effendi)
To deepen in the Cause means to read the writings of Baha'u'llah and the Master so thoroughly as to be able to give it to others in its pure form.... There is no limit to the study of the Cause. The more we read the writings the more truths we can find in them and the more we will see that our previous notions were erroneous.
LG#1914, Ruhi6.1.26 (25 Aug. 1926 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
Surely the ideal way of teaching is to prove our points by constant reference to the actual words of Baha'u'llah and the Master. … This, however, does not mean that our freedom of expression is limited. We can always find new ways of approach to that truth or explain how they influence our life and condition. The more deep our studies the more we can understand the significance of the teachings. In the Cause we cannot divorce the letter from the spirit of the words. As Baha'u'llah says we should take the outward significance and superimpose upon it the inner. Either without the other is wrong and defective.
COC#461, Ruhi6.1.26 (16 Feb. 1932 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
It is hoped that all the Baha'i students will follow the noble example you have set before them and will, henceforth, be led to investigate and analyse the principles of the Faith and to correlate them with the modern aspects of philosophy and science. Every intelligent and thoughtful young Baha'i should always approach the Cause in this way, for therein lies the very essence of the principle of independent investigation of truth.
(6 Aug. 1933 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, in the compilation on Scholarship, extract #50)
In connection with the question as to whether Baha'is should be familiar with the different sciences and branches of study, Shoghi Effendi wishes me to inform you that both Baha'u'llah and 'Abdu'l-Baha have given a very high position to men of culture and knowledge and Baha'u'llah says in one of His Tablets that respect shown to such people is incumbent upon all Baha'is. Furthermore there is no doubt that familiarity with different branches of study widens one's point of view and we can then understand and realize the significance of the Baha'i Movement and its principles much more.
(14 December 1924 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
The Guardian hopes that along with whatever other studies you take up, you will continually study the teachings and endeavour to acquire a profound knowledge of them. The importance of young Baha'is becoming thoroughly steeped in every branch of the teachings cannot be overemphasized, as they have great teaching tasks ahead of them to accomplish.
COC#2274 (22 Jan. 1944 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
Every hand which setteth down His Words with true faith shall be filled by God, both in this world and in the next, with things that are highly prized; and every breast which committeth His Words to memory, God shall cause, if it were that of a believer, to be filled with His love; and every heart which cherisheth the love of His Words ... that heart will become the object of the glances of divine favour and on the Day of Resurrection will be highly praised by God.
SWB.099, Ruhi7.2.25
Regarding your question concerning a deep and profound study of the teachings: of course the Baha'is can and should meditate upon the significances of the writings, and endeavour to grasp their meaning to the utmost.... However certain things are, by their very nature, a mystery to us, at least in our present stage of development. … The Guardian feels that, while there is no harm in speculation on these abstract matters, one should not attach too much importance to them. Science itself is far from having resolved the question of the nature of matter, and we cannot, in this physical world, grasp the spiritual one more than in a very fragmentary and inadequate manner.
LG#700 (1st paragraph), LG#702 (last para.) (19 Jan. 1942 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
To strive to obtain a more adequate understanding of the significance of Baha'u'llah's stupendous Revelation must, it is my unalterable conviction, remain the first obligation and the object of the constant endeavor of each one of its loyal adherents. An exact and thorough comprehension of so vast a system, so sublime a revelation, so sacred a trust, is for obvious reasons beyond the reach and ken of our finite minds. We can, however, and it is our bounden duty to seek to derive fresh inspiration and added sustenance as we labor for the propagation of His Faith through a clearer apprehension of the truths it enshrines and the principles on which it is based.
WOB.100
What is Baha'u'llah's purpose for the human race? For what ends did He submit to the appalling cruelties and indignities heaped upon Him? What does He mean by "a new race of men"? What are the profound changes which He will bring about? The answers are to be found in the Sacred Writings of our Faith and in their interpretation by 'Abdu'l-Baha and our beloved Guardian. Let the friends immerse themselves in this ocean, let them organize regular study classes for its constant consideration, and, as reinforcement to their effort, let them remember conscientiously the requirements of daily prayer and reading of the Word of God enjoined upon all Baha'is by Baha'u'llah.
Ridvan.1967, M63-86 42.24
...a firmer grasp of the essential verities of the Faith; a more profound study of its history and a deeper understanding of the genesis, the significance, the workings, and the present status and achievements of its embryonic World Order and of the Covenant to which it owes its birth and vitality -- these remain the rock-bottom requirements which alone can guarantee the opening, and hasten the advent, of that blissful era which every British Baha'i heart so eagerly anticipates, and the glories of which can, at present, be but dimly discerned.
COC#448, UD.385 (30 Aug. 1957)
A profound study of the Faith which they have espoused, its history, its spiritual as well as administrative principles; a thorough understanding of the Covenant of Baha'u'llah and of the Will of 'Abdu'l-Baha, a deeper realization of the implications of the claims advanced by the Founders of the Faith; strict adherence to the laws and principles which they have established; a greater dedication to the fundamentals and verities enshrined in their teachings -- these constitute, I feel convinced, the urgent need of the members of this rapidly expanding community. For upon this spiritual foundation must depend the solidity of the institutions which they are now so painstakingly erecting.
(Messages to the Antipodes, p. 263-264, 30 Dec. 1948 from Shoghi Effendi)
...Peace of mind is gained by the centering of the spiritual consciousness on the Prophet of God; therefore you should study the spiritual Teachings, and receive the Water of Life from the Holy Utterances. Then by translating these high ideals into action, your entire character will be changed, and your mind will not only find peace, but your entire being will find joy and enthusiasm.
LG#381 (15 Oct. 1952 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
The Baha'i community life provides you with an indispensable laboratory, where you can translate into living and constructive action the principles which you imbibe from the Teachings. By becoming a real part of that living organism you can catch the real spirit which runs throughout the Baha'i Teachings. To study the principles, and to try to live according to them, are, therefore, the two essential mediums through which you can ensure the development and progress of your inner spiritual life and of your outer existence as well.
COC#2259 (2 Nov. 1933 on behalf of Shoghi Effendi)
Continue exploring
For thought and discussion
Questions to carry forward
- What habits help a familiar passage yield a fresh understanding?
- How do reading, reflection, memory, prayer, and conversation contribute differently to learning?
- What does the Analects’ pairing of learning and thought illuminate about these counsels?
- How can wider study of science, philosophy, and other scriptures enrich understanding while keeping an author’s own words in view?
- What might show that further study has corrected one of our earlier assumptions?
- How could a group connect its next period of study with action and reflection in community life?