Independent investigation: seeing, reasoning, and seeking together

When man attaineth the age of maturity, he must investigate and, putting his trust in God and sanctified from love and hate, reflect upon that whereunto the people adhere. He must hear with his own ears and see with his own eyes, for if he looketh through the eyes of another, he will be deprived of beholding the effulgent rays of the Sun of Divine Knowledge.

O Hussein in Sad, He is the Mighty! It hath been known to that honored one that the purpose of creation hath ever been and shall ever be the knowledge of God, and this knowledge dependeth upon the recognition of His servants who perceive the Truth through their own vision and heart and nature, for imitation sufficeth not, whether in acceptance or rejection.

It is incumbent upon every soul to distinguish truth from falsehood for themselves.

The essence of all that We have revealed for thee is Justice, is for man to free himself from idle fancy and imitation, discern with the eye of oneness His glorious handiwork, and look into all things with a searching eye.

O My brother, consider these matters in the spirit of enquiry, not in blind imitation. A true wayfarer will not be deterred by the impediment of words, nor daunted by the sway of insinuations.

God has given man the eye of investigation by which he may see and recognize truth. He has endowed man with ears that he may hear the message of reality and conferred upon him the gift of reason by which he may discover things for himself. This is his endowment and equipment for the investigation of reality. Man is not intended to see through the eyes of another, hear through another's ears nor comprehend with another's brain. Each human creature has individual endowment, power and responsibility in the creative plan of God. Therefore, depend upon your own reason and judgment and adhere to the outcome of your own investigation; otherwise, you will be utterly submerged in the sea of ignorance and deprived of all the bounties of God.

O ye two blessed souls! Your letters were received. They showed that ye have investigated the truth and have been freed from imitations and superstitions, that ye observe with your own eyes and not with those of others, hearken with your own ears and not with the ears of others, and discover mysteries with the help of your own consciences and not with those of others. For the imitator saith that such a man hath seen, such a man hath heard, and such a conscience hath discovered; in other words he dependeth upon the sight, the hearing and the conscience of others and hath no will of his own.

Therefore it is incumbent upon him to examine for himself what he has heard from the ancients and not be content with what he sees from his fathers. If he does not do this, he has squandered God's bounty which was bestowed upon him.

Another new principle revealed by Bahá’u’lláh is the injunction to investigate truth—that is to say, no man should blindly follow his ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears and investigate the truth himself in order that he may follow the truth instead of blind acquiescence and imitation of ancestral beliefs.

O Friend! In the Bayan We directed everyone in this Most Great Revelation to see with his own eyes and hear with his own ears.

Behold the sun with your own eyes - thus have you been commanded in all the Tablets, if you be of those who know. Were you to behold it through the eyes of others, by My life, you would never recognize it - this is a certain truth.

O Mihdi! He Who is the Beloved of the world, the Guide, speaketh thus: Today all are commanded to behold with their own eyes; hearing and seeing from others sufficeth not, except for such souls as have freed themselves from their vain imaginings and have cleaved to the lights of justice and fairness.

Every soul must, in this day, ponder upon that which hath been revealed, and investigate with his own understanding and discernment, lest he be deprived of the effulgent rays of the Sun of Truth.

The person of insight and knowledge speaketh not through imitation but rather through investigation which surrounds him.

The friends of God must always try to know the why and the wherefore of every problem. God has given them the reason, the intellectual faculties;- so that they may search, investigate, and not accept anything blindly or on mere assertion. They must constitute themselves as a community of truth-seekers, truth-lovers and truth-spreaders.

Imitation in religion is not allowable. We must find the 'Why' and the 'Wherefore' for ourselves.

God has given us rational minds for this purpose, to penetrate all things, to find truth. If one renounce reason, what remains? The sacred texts? How can we understand God's commands and to what use can we put them without the balance of reason?

Consider what it is that singles man out from among created beings, and makes of him a creature apart. Is it not his reasoning power, his intelligence? Shall he not make use of these in his study of religion? I say unto you: weigh carefully in the balance of reason and science everything that is presented to you as religion.

Therefore man must be free of all conceptions and ancestral traditions. Everything must be weighed on the scale of science and reason, for religion and reason are one and can never be separate.

God has created man and endowed him with the power of reason whereby he may arrive at valid conclusions. Therefore, man must endeavor in all things to investigate the fundamental reality. If he does not independently investigate, he has failed to utilize the talent God has bestowed upon him.

… First, man must independently investigate reality, for the disagreements and dissensions which afflict and affect humanity primarily proceed from imitations of ancestral beliefs and adherences to hereditary forms of worship. These imitations are accidental and without sanction in the Holy Books. They are the outcomes of human interpretations and teachings which have arisen, gradually obscuring the real light of divine meaning and causing men to differ and dissent.

Forms must be set aside and renounced; reality must be sought. We must discover for ourselves where and what reality is. In religious beliefs nations and peoples today are imitators of ancestors and forefathers. If a man's father was a Christian, he himself is a Christian; a Buddhist is the son of a Buddhist, a Zoroastrian of a Zoroastrian. A gentile or an idolator follows the religious footsteps of his father and ancestry. This is absolute imitation. The requirement in this day is that man must independently and impartially investigate every form of reality.

In the Manifestation of the Holy Divine Manifestations, these hearts are purified from outward effects. Every soul with the eye of insight wishes to gain understanding in the mysteries of divine and material matters. This is how hearts begin to flow. But if a person limits their thoughts to what scholars have said and written, it is of no benefit. These must be set aside and matters investigated experimentally from their foundation; one must search for truth, then new matters will become evident and clear.

The rule, then, which we should adopt in our investigations, is this: In determining every question we should refer it to these four standards, and a conclusion which is supported by the verdict of all we should accept; any other we should regard as uncertain.

They - in addition to many others - taught: 'Doubt in all things divine and human is praiseworthy and commendable, for doubt will awaken the thirst for knowledge, the instinct to know, the hunger for faith!'

Unless a man give his whole thought to a subject, he cannot comprehend it fully. He must give his mind to the thing, be free, and then he will understand it.

One's sphere of knowledge should be expansive, and in all conditions one should seek awareness. The more one drinks, the thirstier one becomes - not that with one sip one should display self-sufficiency.

The first matter with which souls are charged is the investigation and search into the realities of things. It is incumbent upon man to be a seeker after the discovery of every truth, so that he may penetrate every mystery and make easy every difficulty.

What a vast difference exists between those people who are endowed with intelligence and understanding, and those who are devoid of these spiritual graces! The former are the angels of the world of humanity and the bright rays of Truth. Without prejudice and pre-conceived ideas they investigate every subject presented to them.

In this day man must investigate reality impartially and without prejudice in order to reach the true knowledge and conclusions.

Now observe with penetrating vision, with a pure heart, and with complete fairness, and reflect, that the truth may become clear to you and the path of God which hath appeared in truth may become manifest, and that you may find yourself possessed of clear certainty.

Verily I say, this is the Day in which mankind can behold the Face, and hear the Voice, of the Promised One. The Call of God hath been raised, and the light of His countenance hath been lifted up upon men. It behooveth every man to blot out the trace of every idle word from the tablet of his heart, and to gaze, with an open and unbiased mind, on the signs of His Revelation, the proofs of His Mission, and the tokens of His glory.

Whosoever desireth to attain unto the recognition of the Lord of this Day must needs detach himself from all that he hath seen and heard, and must, with an eye sanctified from the film of vain imaginings, observe within the very Essence of Truth, and ponder upon His signs.

And thou, rend asunder the veils of idle fancy and blind imitation, and be possessed of spiritual insight. Pay no heed to the people, for they are caught in the grip of creation and are weak in their essence.

If a man would succeed in his search after truth, he must, in the first place, shut his eyes to all the traditional superstitions of the past.

Yesterday we mentioned that the first thing necessary for man is the investigation of truth, and in investigating truth one must forget whatever one has heard and inherited from ancestors or acquired from others' thoughts, and must consider all religions on earth equally, having neither attachment to one nor aversion to another, so that one can distinguish which religion accords with truth.

If thou wishest a discerning eye and seekest for a hearing ear, set thou aside that which thou hast heard from fathers and ancestors, for such things are imitation--and then seek for the truth with the utmost attention until the divine confirmation may reach thee and the matter may be properly disclosed unto thee.

Second is the independent investigation of truth - all traditions must be abandoned and truth sought.

Among them is the independent investigation of truth, which demolishes the foundation of blind imitation.

Thus all are captive to traditions, following the traditions of their forefathers. But Baha'u'llah declared that imitation is not permitted - there must be investigation of truth.

No man should follow blindly his ancestors and forefathers. Nay, each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own ears, and investigate truth in order that he may find the Truth; whereas the religion of forefathers and ancestors is based upon blind imitation - man should investigate the truth.

The first teaching of Baha'u'llah is the investigation of reality. Man must seek reality himself, forsaking imitations and adherence to mere hereditary forms.

First among the great principles revealed by Him is that of the investigation of reality. The meaning is that every individual member of humankind is exhorted and commanded to set aside superstitious beliefs, traditions and blind imitation of ancestral forms in religion and investigate reality for himself.

The first teaching of Baha'u'llah is the duty incumbent upon all to investigate reality. What does it mean to investigate reality? It means that man must forget all hearsay and examine truth himself, for he does not know whether statements he hears are in accordance with reality or not. Wherever he finds truth or reality, he must hold to it, forsaking, discarding all else; for outside of reality there is naught but superstition and imagination.

The teachings say first to investigate reality,- to forget hearsay. For he does not know who does not investigate he must examine truth and hold to the truth found. Outside of reality there is only superstition.

The giving up of belief in traditional imitations, but unbiased investigation of truth is ever to be pursued.

The fundamental principles (grondbeginselen) of this universal religion are:

1- Independent investigation of the truth, which means that one has to refrain from blindly imitating others.

First, to investigate reality or truth.

Question: Will you state the tenets of your faith?

Answer: First, investigate reality. Man must leave imitation and seek reality.

Question. - Can 'Abdu'l-Baha suggest any lines on which it could best be worked out?

Answer. - Search for truth. Seek the realities in all religions. Put aside all superstitions. Many of us do not realize the Reality of all Religions.

Man must be thirsty for water. He must be seeking the pure water, not the fountain; and he must know that the same salubrious water may gush from different sources. One must be a lover of the fruit, not of the tree. From whatever tree this fruit may come we must like it. The nightingale loves the flower, in whatever garden it may blossom. There are many who have loved the jar, not the wine; they should love the wine in any jar whatsoever.

Therefore one must search after truth, become enraptured and enthralled with any sanctified soul in whom one finds it, and become wholly attracted to the outpouring grace of God. Like a moth one must be a lover of the light in whatever lamp it may shine, and like a nightingale one must be enamoured of the rose in whatever bower it may bloom.

Therefore, this supposition, these blind imitations, are contrary to reality or truth. Hence, it is our duty to ever investigate reality, no matter what words or which lips utter that reality. We must investigate reality in whatsoever Book we may find it unrolled. We must investigate reality in the persons of whomsoever it may be revealed.

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.

Likewise, when you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them. All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto. Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one.

Let no one assert and insist upon his own mere opinion; nay, rather, let each investigate reality with the greatest love and fellowship.

Our aim should be to promulgate reality, not our own opinions. We should strive to promote the truth regardless of what our opinions may be. In this way the divine confirmations will surround us.

I offer thanks to God for the privilege of being present in an assemblage which is commemorating Him, whose members have no thought or intention save His good pleasure and the unbiased investigation of reality. I praise God for this meeting of human souls free from the bondage of imitations and prejudice, willing to examine reasonably and accept that which is found to be true.

Let us thank God who has drawn us together this evening. It gives me great joy, for I see that you are seekers after truth. You are not held in bondage by the chains of prejudice, and your greatest longing is to know the truth.

… Man must cut himself free from all prejudice and from the result of his own imagination, so that he may be able to search for truth unhindered. Truth is one in all religions, and by means of it the unity of the world can be realized.

Among the fundamental principles of the divine religion is the search after truth. When all mankind seek after truth, since truth is one, it will unite all the sects of the world. Truth is knowledge; the foundation of divine religions is knowledge. Knowledge creates unity of hearts. Truth is fellowship between people. Truth is the abandonment of prejudice. Truth is to see all humanity as servants of God. Truth is to know all nations of the world as servants of one God. Truth is to see all things alive through one divine bounty.

First, it is incumbent upon all mankind to investigate truth. If such investigation be made, all should agree and be united, for truth or reality is not multiple; it is not divisible.

Second, Baha'u'llah's teaching is the independent investigation of reality, for when religions investigate reality, they become united, as reality is one and does not accept multiplicity. Conversely, as traditions differ, so long as they follow traditions, they remain in conflict and strife.

If we investigate the religions to discover the principles underlying their foundations, we will find they agree; for the fundamental reality of them is one and not multiple. By this means the religionists of the world will reach their point of unity and reconciliation.

Firstly: He lays stress on the search for Truth. This is most important, because the people are too easily led by tradition. It is because of this that they are often antagonistic to each other, and dispute with one another.

But the manifesting of Truth discovers the darkness and becomes the cause of Oneness of faith and belief: because Truth cannot be two! That is not possible.

The first principle Baha'u'llah urged was the independent investigation of truth. "Each individual," he said, "is following the faith of his ancestors who themselves are lost in the maze of tradition. Reality is steeped in dogmas and doctrines. If each investigate for himself, he will find that Reality is one; does not admit of multiplicity; is not divisible. All will find the same foundation and all will be at peace."

We both (Theosophists and Bahais) have abandoned all dogmas in our earnest search for truth. But look at the tribes and nations of the world--why are they seething with contention? Because they are not seeking truth. Truth is one. It admits of absolutely no division and accepts neither limitations nor boundaries.

If the nations and peoples of today would abandon imitation and investigate reality, all would become united, for imitation differs but reality and the foundation of divine religions is one.

Therefore a person must see things through his own eyes and not through the eyes of others and investigate the truth of the matters by himself and not rely on the words of others. Every group has its own claim, and each nation has its own proclivities. If people would consider matters with equity and investigate the veracity of things by themselves, then no discord would remain, and all would embrace one another in unity and oneness.

Therefore, man must see everything with his own eyes and not through the eyes of others. He must investigate reality for himself so he may properly understand the true state of things. Otherwise there are differing statements. Every people in the world has its own opinion, every nation its own purpose. If people were fair and would investigate reality, differences would vanish and all would become united and agreed.

Second, that truth or reality must be investigated; for reality is one, and by investigating it all will find love and unity.

There must needs be an investigation of the Realities, for only through the Reality will results be obtained; because thoughts are various, and imitations are so various. Therefore, we must investigate Reality, discovering what Reality is.

In Green-Acre you must concentrate all your thoughts around the one all-important fact - the investigation of Reality. You must expend all your thoughts on this thing - so that the union of opinions and expressions may be obtained.

The hope is that this gathering will investigate truth and cast aside all traditions in order to discover the reality of divine religions, and that the religion which today is the cause of the life of the world, the luminosity of this century, and the cause of the unity of the human world, will become evident with utmost clarity - so that the foundation of differences may be demolished and all religions may find harmony and gather at a single point.

Among these teachings was the independent investigation of reality so that the world of humanity may be saved from the darkness of imitation and attain to the truth; may tear off and cast away this ragged and outgrown garment of a thousand years ago and may put on the robe woven in the utmost purity and holiness in the loom of reality.

There have issued, from His mighty Pen, various teachings for the prevention of war, and these have been scattered far and wide.

The first is the independent investigation of truth; for blind imitation of the past will stunt the mind. But once every soul inquireth into truth, society will be freed from the darkness of continually repeating the past.

The first principle of Baha'u'llah is independent investigation for truth, that is, all the nations of the world have to investigate after truth independently and turn their eyes from the rotten blind imitations of the past ages entirely. Truth is one when it is independently investigated, it does not accept division. Therefore the independent investigation for truth will lead to the oneness of the world of humanity.

From among these teachings is the investigation of Truth, that prejudices must be totally eliminated and the lamp of Truth be instead enkindled.

Praise be to God, thou art confirmed in service to the Kingdom, art promulgating divine teachings, art raising the call of the oneness of mankind, art detaching the souls from ignorant racial prejudices and prejudices of thought and kind, art summoning them to the investigation of truth, art showing forth unto them the light of guidance and art offering them the chalice of the wine of the love of God.

My hope is that you will rid and purify yourselves of imitations so that your thoughts and minds will be broadened and elevated, that you will be seekers of the truth, the lovers of the servants of God and the cause of the oneness of humanity.

That which is befitting and conducive to the salvation, prosperity and reformation of the world and its peoples is but one thing: that the servants should observe and hearken with their own eyes and ears.

Among the teachings of Baha'u'llah is the independent investigation of reality; and among them is the oneness of mankind, for all creation are the sheep of God and He is the kind Shepherd.

The teachings of Baha'u'llah are the light of this age and the spirit of this century. Expound each of them at every gathering.

The first is investigation of truth,

The second, the oneness of mankind,

The third, universal peace,

The fourth, conformity between science and divine revelation,

The fifth, abandonment of racial, religious, worldly and political prejudices, prejudices which destroy the foundation of mankind.

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First is the independent investigation of truth, second is the oneness of humanity, third is that religion must be the cause of love and fellowship - if it is not the cause of love and fellowship it has no purpose, fourth is that religion must accord with science, fifth that religious prejudice, sectarian prejudice, racial prejudice and national prejudice destroy the foundation of humanity - all people are God's sheep and of one race and the earth is one homeland, sixth that one must be free of all imitations and hold fast to the foundation of divine religions, seventh is unity of language - one language must be chosen or newly invented that will be universal so that misunderstandings between religions and races and nations will disappear, and likewise the equality of men and women, and likewise the spread of sciences and knowledge, and likewise the union of women and men among all religions and nations, and likewise justice and equity, and likewise political unity and so forth.

At such a time as this Baha'u'llah proclaimed the first principle of His mission and teaching -- the oneness of the world of humanity. His second announcement was the investigation of reality; the third was the oneness of the foundations of the divine religions.

We do not oppose the religion of anyone. We act in accordance with the Gospel. But we must also act in accordance with the teachings of Baha'u'llah. They are--the oneness of the world of humanity, independent investigation of truth, abandonment of prejudice, universal peace, etc. You must act in accordance with these teachings.

Briefly, Baha'u'llah endured forty years of vicissitudes, ordeals and hardships for the purpose of spreading His teachings, which may be mentioned as follows:

The first teaching is that man should investigate reality, for reality is contrary to dogmatic interpretations and imitations of ancestral forms of belief to which all nations and peoples adhere so tenaciously. These blind imitations are contrary to the fundamental basis of the divine religions, for the divine religions in their central and essential teaching are based upon unity, love and peace, whereas these variations and imitations have ever been productive of warfare, sedition and strife.

As to the teachings of Baha'u'llah, they are, first, the investigation of truth. The fundamental principle of all the Prophets is Truth. Truth is one. Abraham was the promulgator of truth; Moses was the servant of truth; Christ laid down the cornerstone of truth; Muhammad was the propagator of truth; the Bab was the herald of truth; and Baha'u'llah was the light of truth.

They must awaken the peoples and nations of the world and free them from dogmas and imitations. They must pass beyond the world of names and fix their gaze on realities and inner meanings.

The people, therefore, must be set completely free from their old patterns of thought, that all their attention may be focused upon these new principles, for these are the light of this time and the very spirit of this age.

Therefore, all these traditions must be set aside.

These conflicting traditions must be set aside and the truth must be sought, for truth cannot remain hidden. Investigate for yourselves.

"Baha'u'llah exhorts men to free their minds from the superstitions of the past and to seek independently for truth putting aside all dogmas. Religions are one. Let us banish creeds that the reality may become unveiled.

When a person of insight enters the path of spiritual wayfaring, after purifying and sanctifying the soul from all that God loveth not, multiple paths appear and he traverses them. This is why they have said "The paths to God are as numerous as the breaths of created things." However, if through God's grace the eye is blessed with the light of truth, it will be observed that the Truth is one, the Path is one, and the Cause is one.

How foolish are those who murmur against the premature birth of His light. O ye who are inly blind! Whether too soon or too late, the evidences of His effulgent glory are now actually manifest. It behooveth you to ascertain whether or not such a light hath appeared.

Say: O people! By God, I speak not from idle fancy, but rather the Spirit speaks within my breast - this is my proof, if you be of the fair-minded.

… Say: O people! Do not as did the people of the Furqan, and place not the reins of your recognition in anyone's hands.

We pass over all that hath appeared in this Revelation; read but a single Tablet from among the wondrous Tablets, and likewise the writings of others, and judge for yourselves. Should anyone arise with fairness, he will undoubtedly, after hearing the divine verses, instantly turn toward the realm of oneness.

If thou wishest to discover the mysteries of the divine Kingdom, move beyond the world of imitation, observe with thine own eyes, hear with thine own ears, and carefully consider the Cause of Christ and likewise the Cause of the Blessed Beauty.

Leave behind whatsoever you have heard and listened to in the past, and meditate upon that which is manifest today, that perchance you may drink and give others to drink of the choice wine of steadfastness, which is more precious than all the known and mentioned rivers.

Look to the matter of religion: whatever agrees with the Book and the Practice of God, accept it with certainty and act upon it. When any new matter arises, present it to just and unworldly persons - if they confirm it, then accept it; if not, then do not.

Whosoever desires to know the history of this Cause and its tenets must come to us and not go to those who are predisposed and biased. For if the seeker goes for gaining information to the latter people he will surely deprive himself of the real facts.

Praise be to God that in every Society thou didst investigate the Reality and at last thou didst attain to the Center of Reality. Those societies were like so many stages on the road but the Kingdom of Baha'u'llah was the final goal and the object of the heart and the soul.

O seeker of truth! Your letter was received. Praise be to God, your eye of understanding has become seeing, and you have gained spiritual hearing. You have searched and attained to the truth and discovered the heavenly mysteries.

O two servants of the Kingdom! Your letter arrived and was clear proof that, praise be to God, you have been freed from the darkness of vain imaginings and have reached the center of truth. You have been delivered from antiquated traditions that tell tales of ancient times, and you are investigating reality.

O spiritual friends! Today the most confirmed and successful matter in the world of existence is the matter of teaching and the investigation of truth. Praise be to God, you have arranged an assembly and sought the good pleasure of the All-Knowing Lord. Assuredly you will be confirmed and successful. And upon you be the Most Glorious Glory!

Now, as long as you are interested in the Movement, and interested seriously, and you are investigating reality, you are the lover of reality, there is no doubt that you will attain.

At the time of each Manifestation of God the people were heedless and ignorant of the truth except for a few who investigated and understood the divine words. The same is true today. So thank God that you have been endowed with capacity and desire to investigate the truth.

They were awake and vigilant, enamored with truth and attracted to mysteries. During their lifetime they never rested nor relaxed, they investigated truth and strove to discover the mysteries of existence.

The Blessed Beauty often remarked: 'There are four qualities which I love to see manifested in people: first, enthusiasm and courage; second, a face wreathed in smiles and a radiant countenance; third, that they see all things with their own eyes and not through the eyes of others; fourth, the ability to carry a task, once begun, through to its end.'

In America it is different, people are more spiritual, they seek the knowledge of God, they hail the truth no matter from what quarter it comes. If they learn that there is a house in China [the] architecture of which is a marvel, they like to know all about it. In brief, they are a nation of independent investigators.

But with the Americans it is different. They may be proud of their civilization, because they have made the desert blossom like unto the rose, but they are not satisfied with it, they are seeking after new solutions of old and modern problems, they are thirsty for salubrious water, they are hungry for the bread of life, they are investigating the reality of everything. Their hearts are open, their minds receptive and in discussion never overbearing.

Praise be to God that he confirmed me to come here to see you, for I had the greatest longing to see the friends in America, to see those souls who are joyous because of the glad tidings of God, who are attracted by the fragrances of God, who are rescued from traditional imitations of the past, who are freed from superannuated dogmas, who ever investigate reality, who desire only to do the will of God, who are endowed with seeing eyes and hearing ears, and whose hearts are sensitive like the hearts of little children, perfectly pure and holy.

They are seekers and desire to investigate reality.

I beseech God that with every passing day thou shalt increase the purity of thy heart, the joy within thy spirit, the luminous character of thy vision and the intensity of thy fervour in seeking for the truth.

Therefore, O my God, I beseech Thee by Thy Most Great Name and Thy Most Ancient, Most Perfect Word to purify the hearts of Thy loved ones from the veils of fancy and imitation, that they may know Thee with their own eyes and behold Thy beauty with their own sight.

How often a person, having inclined his ears to the holy verses, would bow down in humility and would embrace the Truth, while his leader would not do so. Thus every individual must bear his own responsibility, rather than someone else bearing it for him.... in every Dispensation a number of souls enter the fire by reason of their following in the footsteps of others.

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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.

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For Baha'is, the most fundamental of human rights is the right of each individual to investigate reality for himself or herself, and to benefit from the results of this exploration. That such a right exists is to us self-evident from the fact that the human consciousness is endowed with the intellectual, moral, spiritual, and aesthetic capacities needed to undertake such an effort.

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The activity most intimately linked to the consciousness that distinguishes human nature is the individual's exploration of reality for himself or herself. The freedom to investigate the purpose of existence and to develop the endowments of human nature that make it achievable requires protection. Human beings must be free to know. That such freedom is often abused and such abuse grossly encouraged by features of contemporary society does not detract in any degree from the validity of the impulse itself.

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As you well understand, not only the right but also the responsibility of each believer to explore truth for himself or herself are fundamental to the Baha'i teachings. This principle is an integral feature of the coming of age of humankind, inseparable from the social transformation to which Baha'u'llah is calling the peoples of the world. It is as relevant to specifically scholarly activity as it is to the rest of spiritual and intellectual life. Every human being is ultimately responsible to God for the use which he or she makes of these possibilities; conscience is never to be coerced, whether by other individuals or institutions.

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...when you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them. All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto. Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one. Do not allow difference of opinion, or diversity of thought to separate you from your fellow-men, or to be the cause of dispute, hatred and strife in your hearts. Rather, search diligently for the truth and make all men your friends.

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