The divine Educator: bringing hidden capacities into life

Through the Teachings of this Daystar of Truth every man will advance and develop until he attaineth the station at which he can manifest all the potential forces with which his inmost true self hath been endowed. It is for this very purpose that in every age and dispensation the Prophets of God and His chosen Ones have appeared amongst men, and have evinced such power as is born of God and such might as only the Eternal can reveal.

Men at all times and under all conditions stand in need of one to exhort them, guide them and to instruct and teach them. Therefore He hath sent forth His Messengers, His Prophets and chosen ones that they might acquaint the people with the divine purpose underlying the revelation of Books and the raising up of Messengers, and that every- one may become aware of the trust of God which is latent in the reality of every soul.

O true companions! All humankind are as children in a school, and the Dawning-Points of Light, the Sources of divine revelation, are the teachers, wondrous and without peer. In the school of realities they educate these sons and daughters, according to teachings from God, and foster them in the bosom of grace, so that they may develop along every line, show forth the excellent gifts and blessings of the Lord, and combine human perfections; that they may advance in all aspects of human endeavor, whether outward or inward, hidden or visible, material or spiritual, until they make of this mortal world a widespread mirror, to reflect that other world which dieth not.

O ye friends of God! Because, in this most momentous of ages, the Sun of Truth hath risen at the highest point of the spring equinox, and cast its rays on every clime, it shall kindle such tremulous excitement, it shall release such vibrations in the world of being, it shall stimulate such growth and development, it shall stream out with such a glory of light, and clouds of grace shall pour down such plentiful waters, and fields and plains shall teem with such a galaxy of sweet-smelling plants and blooms, that this lowly earth will become the Abha Kingdom, and this nether world the world above. Then will this fleck of dust be as the vast circle of the skies, this human place the palace-court of God, this spot of clay the dayspring of the endless favors of the Lord of Lords.

Wherefore, O loved ones of God! Make ye a mighty effort till you yourselves betoken this advancement and all these confirmations, and become focal centers of God’s blessings, daysprings of the light of His unity, promoters of the gifts and graces of civilized life. Be ye in that land vanguards of the perfections of humankind; carry forward the various branches of knowledge, be active and progressive in the field of inventions and the arts. Endeavor to rectify the conduct of men, and seek to excel the whole world in moral character. While the children are yet in their infancy feed them from the breast of heavenly grace, foster them in the cradle of all excellence, rear them in the embrace of bounty. Give them the advantage of every useful kind of knowledge. Let them share in every new and rare and wondrous craft and art. Bring them up to work and strive, and accustom them to hardship. Teach them to dedicate their lives to matters of great import, and inspire them to undertake studies that will benefit mankind.

Resolve all matters, both small and great, through consultation. Do not undertake any important matter without consultation. Think of one another, assist in each other's affairs, share in each other's sorrows. Leave none of the nation's people in need. Help one another so that all may unitedly and harmoniously become as one body. In gatherings of remembrance and places of worship, seek confirmation for the government. Pray for the throne of sovereignty. Serve His Majesty the just King with perfect sincerity, for until now not even the slightest harm has come to this community from His Majesty; rather he has provided protection and preservation. You must, according to the decisive text, be well-wishers with heart and soul.

'Abdu'l-Baha 'Abbas

O my God, my God! These are servants who have entered beneath the shade of the tree of Thy mercy and sought refuge in the cave of Thy divine unity. They have nursed from the breast of Thy Lordship and dwelt in the vicinity of Thy training. O Lord! Assist them from all directions, open unto them the doors of success and deliverance, grant them the fruits of prosperity and life, adorn their outward beings with the gifts of divinity and illuminate their inner realities with the lights of mercy. Make them progress in all conditions and ascend to the highest degrees of happiness, O Thou Living and Self-Subsisting One, until their hearts become centers of divine inspirations, their souls sources of heavenly evidences, their spirits gladdened by the glad-tidings of divine unity, their bodies adorned with human qualities, their minds penetrating in discovering the realities of created things and the hidden properties of existing things. Make them signs of Thy gifts, evidences of Thy favors, manifestations of Thy traces and the dawning-places of Thy lights. Verily Thou art the Generous, the Merciful, the Giving, the Kind. And glory be upon the loved ones of God.

Our meaning is that the universal Educator must be at once a material, a human and a spiritual educator, and, soaring above the world of nature, must be possessed of another power, so that He may assume the station of a divine teacher. Were He not to wield such a celestial power, He would not be able to educate, for He would be imperfect Himself. How then could He foster perfection? If He were ignorant, how could He make others wise? If He were unjust, how could He make others just? If He were earthly, how could He make others heavenly?

It is that the portionless should gain their share of the boundless sea, and the ignorant drink their fill from the living fount of knowledge; that those who thirst for blood should forsake their savagery, and those who are barbed of claw should turn gentle and forbearing, and those who love war should seek instead for true conciliation; it is that the brutal, their talons razor-sharp, should enjoy the benefits of lasting peace; that the foul should learn that there is a realm of purity, and the tainted find their way to the rivers of holiness.

Unless these divine bestowals be revealed from the inner self of humankind, the bounty of the Manifestation will prove barren, and the dazzling rays of the Sun of Truth will have no effect whatever.

As to those souls who are born into this life as ethereal and radiant entities and yet, on account of their handicaps and trials, are deprived of great and real advantages, and leave the world without having lived to the full -- certainly this is a cause for grieving. This is the reason why the universal Manifestations of God unveil Their countenances to man, and endure every calamity and sore affliction, and lay down Their lives as a ransom; it is to make these very people, the ready ones, the ones who have capacity, to become dawning points of light, and to bestow upon them the life that fadeth never.

Therefore man needs a teacher by whom his spiritual powers may be developed-that his lamp may be lighted. For this is the coming of the Messengers of God: that man may be educated, that his latent perfections may be brought forth and made manifest, that his spiritual and heavenly estate may be realised.

All the Prophets and Chosen Ones have been commanded by God, exalted be His glory, to water the trees of human existence from the Euphrates of refinement and wisdom, that there might appear from all that which God has deposited within them.

Should he come under the shadow of the true Educator and be rightly trained, he becomes the gem of gems, the light of lights, and the spirit of spirits; he becomes the focal centre of divine blessings, the wellspring of spiritual attributes, the dawning-place of heavenly lights, and the recipient of divine inspirations. Should he, however, be deprived of this education, he becomes the embodiment of satanic attributes, the epitome of animal vices, and the source of all that is oppressive and dark.

This is the wisdom of the appearance of the Prophets: to educate humanity, that this lump of coal may become a diamond and this barren tree may be grafted and yield fruit of the utmost sweetness and delicacy.

The divine prophets, the wise ones and philosophers of the world have always considered education to be the most important matter and greatest concern for the world of creation, so that the jungle may become a garden and the thornfield a rose garden and flowering park, so that hidden jewels in potentiality may come into manifestation and the realities of truths may adorn the world of existence.

A true cultivator changes this forest and jungle into a garden, training its trees to bring forth fruit and causing flowers to grow in place of thorns and thistles. The holy Manifestations are the ideal Gardeners of human souls, the divine Cultivators of human hearts. The world of existence is but a jungle of disorder and confusion, a state of nature producing nothing but fruitless, useless trees. The ideal Gardeners train these wild, uncultivated human trees, cause them to become fruitful, water and cultivate them day by day so that they adorn the world of existence and continue to flourish in the utmost beauty.

O saplings of the divine garden! The hand of training of the True Educator hath ever been and shall continue to be engaged in training whatsoever hath grown in the paradise of God.

Human beings are like suckling babes; they must be nourished from the breast of knowledge and understanding and be cradled at the bosom of the Compassionate Educator.

So, also, with children, unless they have some one to rear them and care for them and cultivate their minds, they would become like wild animals.

Everything in the world must have something or someone to care for it to enable it to live and grow. As the children need a teacher, so also, the souls need a Master. Who are these Masters who train the souls in spiritual knowledge?

They are the Prophets, who teach in the school of GOD, and they are the greatest and highest of all teachers and instructors.

The inhabitants of the world are like unto the children. The suckling babes must be nurtured properly so that they may attain to the age of adolescence.

Darkness has surrounded the regions of the world. They must become illumined with this Light of the Kingdom.

In any case, people are observed to be like children - education is needed, and an educator is needed.

They are like unto mere children, and our Lord is the Educator of the world.

Mankind is in the utmost imperfection. It is in need of education.

All mankind may be considered as pupils or children who are in need of a divine Educator, a real Teacher. The essential requirement and qualification of Prophethood is the training and guidance of the people.

The purpose of the prophetic mission is none other than the education and guidance of the people.

The purpose of the appearance of the Manifestations of God is the training of the people. That is the only result of Their mission, the real outcome.

The significance and essential purpose underlying these words is to reveal and demonstrate unto the pure in heart and the sanctified in spirit that they Who are the Luminaries of truth and the Mirrors reflecting the light of divine Unity, in whatever age and cycle they are sent down from their invisible habitations of ancient glory unto this world, to educate the souls of men and endue with grace all created things, are invariably endowed with an all-compelling power, and invested with invincible sovereignty.

We stated before that the Manifestations of God have three stations: first, the material reality, which pertains to the human body; second, the individual reality, that is, the rational soul; and third, the heavenly manifestation, which consists in the divine perfections and is the source of the life of the world, the education of the souls, the guidance of the people, and the enlightenment of all creation.

He is the Quickener of existence and the Educator of the seen and the unseen.

Verily Thou art the Guardian of the world and the Educator of the nations.

The mission of the Prophets, the revelation of the Holy Books, the manifestation of the heavenly Teachers and the purpose of divine philosophy all center in the training of the human realities so that they may become clear and pure as mirrors and reflect the light and love of the Sun of Reality.

Just as this phenomenal sun is the educator of the contingent beings, likewise the Sun of Reality is the Educator of the Ideal principles of life.

And those rays are the delightful religion and precious teachings of that Educator of all created things.

The purpose of this is to show that the holy Manifestations of God, the divine Prophets, are the first Teachers of the human race. They are universal Educators, and the fundamental principles they have laid down are the causes and factors of the advancement of nations.

God sends Prophets for the education of the people and the progress of mankind. Each such Manifestation of God has raised humanity. They serve the whole world by the bounty of God. The sure proof that they are the Manifestations of God is in the education and progress of the people.

All the Prophets of God, including Jesus Christ, appeared in the world for the education of humanity, to develop immature souls into maturity, to transform the ignorant of mankind into the knowing, thereby establishing love and unity through divine education and training.

… The Prophets come into the world to guide and educate humanity so that the animal nature of man may disappear and the divinity of his powers become awakened.

The third kind of education is that of the spirit. Through the breaths of the Holy Spirit man is uplifted into the world of moralities and illumined by the lights of divine bestowals. The moral world is only attained through the effulgence of the Sun of Reality and the quickening life of the divine spirit. … For this reason the holy, divine Manifestations are the first Teachers and Educators of humanity; Their traces are the highest evidences, and Their spiritual tuition is universal in its application to the world of mankind.

It is therefore evident that mankind requires a universal divine educator who can gather the diverse peoples under the shadow of one Word, cause contending nations to drink from a single fountain, transform enmity and hatred into love and fellowship, and convert strife and conflict into peace and tranquility. Thus did the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon Him) unite the warring, hostile, and savage tribes of the Arabian desert and bring them together under the pavilion of unity. As a result, those desert Arabs achieved tremendous progress, raised the banner of perfection in both spiritual and material realms, and attained everlasting glory. Likewise, Christ (peace be upon Him) gathered together the antagonistic, hostile, and warring peoples of Greece, Rome, Syria, Chaldea, and Assyria who were filled with the utmost hatred and enmity, uniting them at one fountain and establishing complete harmony among them.

Thus it is clear and evident that mankind needs a universal educator and teacher, and these are the holy Manifestations of God.

They were the most ignorant of peoples and became the most learned. By virtue of that which He established, they so progressed as to be singled out among all nations, and their fame spread to every land, to such a degree that when the inhabitants of neighbouring lands wanted to praise someone they would say, "Surely he must be an Israelite!" Moses established laws and ordinances that conferred new life upon the people of Israel and led them to attain the highest degree of civilization at that time.

The Divine Manifestations are first and foremost teachers and promoters of truth. … Moses was a divine teacher. He taught the divine verses, educated the Israelite people, delivered them from ignorance and abasement, and brought them to the highest degree of glory. He made them proficient in sciences and arts and prepared for them a complete civilization.

The Messengers of God are the principal and the first teachers. Whenever this world becomes dark, and divided in its opinions and indifferent, God will send one of His Holy Messengers.

Moses was the teacher of God; He gave the teachings of holiness and educated the Israelites. He raised up the people from their degradation and caused them to be highly honoured. He taught them Sciences and Arts, trained them in civilization and increased their human virtues.

Thus in his own generation Christ was the Supreme Master and all the rest of mankind were taught in His Divine schools.

"By the Father we mean the Educator. Just as the Father is tender to his children, likewise, the instructor teaches them. The function of the Father and the Educator is the same. The father gives the material life, the Educator gives the mental and the spiritual life. Therefore when we say Baha'u'llah is the Father, we mean he is an Educator - an spiritual Educator - or in other words, he is the Manifestation of divine attributes.

When the gloom of contention was spread over the Orient; when the nations of the East were steeped in enmity and hatred; when its religious sects shunned one another, denouncing one another as impure, and the people were ever engaged in war and the shedding of blood, Baha'u'llah appeared as the sun from the horizon of the East and summoned all to fellowship and harmony. He devoted Himself to their education and upliftment.

After this Wronged One repaired to Iraq, at all times was He engaged in the education of souls. The tongue spoke, the pen flowed, and gesture and sign were employed. In some instances, We illumined and moved creation through speech. At other times We were occupied in assisting the Cause of God through the pen. And occasionally We imparted the water of knowledge through the glance of Our eye and brow.

They have sustained all their trials so that they may guide and educate people.

He bore all these ordeals and catastrophes and difficulties in order that, in the world of humanity, a selflessness might become apparent.

In order that the Most Great Peace might become a reality in the world of humanity.

In order that waiting souls might become manifest as the very angels of Heaven.

In order that Heavenly miracles might become perfected among men.

In order that the faith of humanity might become adequate.

In order that the priceless, precious bestowal of God in the human temple, the Mind of humanity, might develop to its fullest capacity.

The Prophets and Messengers of God have been sent down for the sole purpose of guiding mankind to the straight Path of Truth. The purpose underlying Their revelation hath been to educate all men, that they may, at the hour of death, ascend, in the utmost purity and sanctity and with absolute detachment, to the throne of the Most High. The light which these souls radiate is responsible for the progress of the world and the advancement of its peoples. They are like unto leaven which leaveneth the world of being, and constitute the animating force through which the arts and wonders of the world are made manifest.

For what purpose did God send Moses? For what object did Christ appear? What was the mission of His Holiness Mohamad? Why did His Holiness the Bab step forth upon the arena of the world? For what cause did His Holiness Baha'u'llah manifest Himself? The answer is: The appearance of all these divine men is for no other reason save the education of the world of humanity. … Through this education the drop may become a sea, the atom find the importance of the sun, the extinguished lamp become the brilliant star and the wild tree a fruitful one.

Some philosophers, who were among the divine philosophers, were capable of causing fellowship to exist among a certain number of people, although the fellowship was outward and temporary; but they were unable to establish universal education, but the Holy Divine Manifestations of God accomplished universal education. They united the East and the West. They improved the morals of man. They changed the thoughts of man. They transformed the conduct of man.

Where is the universal Reformer? For the dispelling of these darknesses there must needs be a Light. Now investigate day and night so that you may discover the source of this Light! It is well-known that the powers of philosophy and politics are unable to unite various nations and communities. Search then, for this source of illumination. Wherever you find there are the signs of Fire, turn your face toward it without hesitation. Be thou an admirer of reality and give no heed to superficialities. Love thou the Kernel and not the shell.

The heart of man is a garden. The real garden is in order, well planted, watered and cultivated. This is not so with the jungle. The jungle gives no evidence of cultivation. Where there is no gardener disorder prevails. Wild growth produces nothing.

… But the supreme education is Divine Teaching. Through it the most ignorant become wise and the lowest are elevated to the loftiest heights.

… One day's education under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is better than ten years material training in the universities of the world.

Baha'u'llah has said two steps are necessary for human development;--Material and Divine Education.

Training has a great effect, a profound influence.

All the Prophets were sent for the purpose of education. In brief, education is the cause of life, education is the cause of salvation, education is the cause of exalted stations.

If you want to educate a person you must strive for many years, exhorte him, advise him and train him with much difficulty. This is one kind of teaching the souls through the inculcation of moral lessons by slow degrees. The other way is through the guidance of God and the descent of the Holy Spirit. When a person is taught through the love of God there will come over him a radical change and his moral life will be transformed instantaneously and his conduct and manners will become spiritual.

Thou didst speak and thread pearls, and praise be to God, thou didst sweep the house of the heart clean of the straws and twigs of heedlessness and forgetfulness, and in the school of love, from the Divine Teacher, thou didst learn the lesson of affection.

Therefore you must not rest or be still day or night, engage in acquiring divine knowledge, and in the school of truth learn lessons from the teacher of love so that you may become the cause of consolation to these yearning ones.

He, in truth, is the Comforter and the Consoler, the true Educator and spiritual Master.

The prophets are sent to refresh the dead body of the world, to render the dumb, eloquent, to give peace to the troubled, to make illumined the indifferent and to set free from the material world all beings who are its captives. Leave a child to himself and he becomes ill-mannered and thoughtless. He must be shown the path, so that he may become acquainted with the world of the soul - the world of divine gifts.

God sent His Prophets into the world to teach and enlighten man, to explain to him the mystery of the Power of the Holy Spirit, to enable him to reflect the light, and so in his turn, to be the source of guidance to others.

Thus it is clear and evident that They are the first educators - They are universal educators, general educators, educators of the human world. And whoever engages in the education of children following Their teachings has followed the Prophets and holy ones of God.

Since you were an integral part of him, God willing, through divine assistance and grace, you will nurse his offspring at the breast of the love of God, give them to drink from the fountainhead of the knowledge of God, and nurture them in the cradle of care, so that these two branches may manifest the perfections of their root, and may truly be the progeny of his heart and soul rather than mere children of water and clay.

I beseech God that in this school on Sundays you may acquire heavenly knowledge and receive divine moral education. Day by day may you progress until each one becomes a peerless sapling in the divine garden, full of leaves and blossoms and fruits.

May they proffer the wine of guidance and exhilarate them that yearn after the Realm of Glory. May they open the doors of the school of the spirit and be instructed by the heavenly Teacher in the mysteries of the love of God.

O ye friends of 'Abdu'l-Baha! The reality of the Kingdom, which hath become manifest in this holy age at the center of all possibilities, is in truth a divine school, and the Educator of this heavenly school is the Blessed Beauty - may my spirit be a sacrifice for His loved ones.

I beseech God that He may train you in the school of the Kingdom and assist you through the grace of the Divine Realm.

God willing, thou wilt become worthy. I am educating thee so that thou mayest become worthy.

I beseech God to make him the sign of divine guidance amongst men, and to guide by him the people to the snow-white, straight and luminous path and to the innermost truth of the luminous Faith, and to unify by him the word of the people, and save them from blame, that he may lead them towards the path of true felicity and success, and edify them with divine education and the attributes of the Muhammadan revelation, and make them heirs of eternal glory.

What, then, is the mission of the divine Prophets? Their mission is the education and advancement of the world of humanity. They are the real Teachers and Educators, the universal Instructors of mankind.

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The Manifestations of God, on the other hand, affirm that differences are demonstrably and indisputably innate, and that 'We have caused some of you to excel others' is a proven and inescapable fact. It is certain that human beings are, by their very nature, different one from the other.... the disparity among individuals is due to differences of degree which are innate. But the Manifestations also consider that training and education demonstrably exert a tremendous influence.... Thus is it certain that education exerteth an influence, and for this reason the Manifestations of God, the Well-Springs of His mercy, are raised up in the world, that through the breaths of holiness They may educate the human race, and make of the suckling child a strong and valiant man.

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We don't believe man has always had the form of man, but rather that from the outset he was going to evolve into the human form and species and not be a haphazard branch of the ape family. You see our whole approach to each matter is based on the belief that God sends us divinely inspired Educators. What they tell us is fundamentally true; what science tells us today is true, tomorrow may be entirely changed to better explain a new set of facts.

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The Manifestation of God (and, to a lesser degree, 'Abdu'l-Baha and Shoghi Effendi,) has to convey tremendous concepts covering the whole field of human life and activity to people whose present knowledge and degree of understanding are far below His. He must use the limited medium of human language against the limited and often erroneous background of His audience's traditional knowledge and current understanding to raise them to a wholly new level of awareness and behaviour. It is a human tendency, against which the Manifestation warns us, to measure His statements against the inaccurate standard of the acquired knowledge of mankind. We tend to take them and place them within one or other of the existing categories of human philosophy or science while, in reality, they transcend these and will, if properly understood, open new and vast horizons to our understanding.

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