In these days there are many who thirst but very few who serve as cupbearers.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-Mar-29, to Member of Teaching Class -- AB03372)
Few receptive souls: patience, grace, and the work of seeking
scarcity of receptive souls
Editorial introduction
Many are thirsty, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá observes, but very few serve as cupbearers. The remark turns an old complaint on its head: the shortage that grieves him most is not of listeners but of those willing to carry the cup, and the cry for teachers rises from every direction. He is candid that true recognition is rare, that learned men have passed by what children of the Kingdom received, that believers are scarcer than red sulphur and steadfast love rarer still. What keeps this from curdling into self-importance is his insistence that guidance is a grace and not a reward: many are called, and the few who are chosen have nothing to boast of. Fewness, moreover, has a strange power; a handful of believers in the days of Christ overcame multitudes, and the few violets of a Baghdad courtyard were dearer than a field of them. Mark’s parable of seed on the path, among stones, in thorns and on good ground [1] asks the same questions about reception and eventual fruit. Those who left under tests later returned, so no one’s response is fixed. The road runs on to the saying that many are called but few are chosen, to the receptivity of the hearer, and to the methods of teaching.
Selected passages
In any case, from all directions rises the cry "Where is the teacher? Where is the teacher?" Yet teachers are very few. For this reason 'Abdu'l-Baha's heart is in the utmost grief and pain.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1919-Sep-07, to Ali-Akbar Rawhani Muhibulsultan -- AB11811)
O ye who are attracted to the Beauty of Truth! Christ - may my soul be a sacrifice unto Him - hath said in the Gospel: "Many are called but few are chosen." This meaneth that while many are invited to the Faith, few are those who attain to the grace of guidance and the succour of divine favour, for the gift of guidance is purely an outpouring of grace and bounty, not dependent on capacity and worthiness.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1910-Jun-18, to Rida Khan (Urumi) et al -- AB12229)
But there are always some who enter and, becoming intoxicated with the splendor of what they behold, remain for life to tend the garden.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá -- ABU3048)
Praise be to God that through His preceding mercy, His all-encompassing grace, and His all-pervading favors, thou hast attained recognition of the Dawning-Place of God's verses and the Dayspring of divine revelation. How many among the learned remained deprived of this supreme gift, while thou hast attained unto it!
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1305-01-25 [1887-Oct-13], to Wife of Mirza Abdullah -- BH05712)
Reflect upon this: What a bounty and what a favor it is that the sages of the world and the wise among mankind are incompetent of comprehension, yet the little children of the Kingdom have attained the Truth, dwell and abide under the shadow of the Tree of Life and are assisted by the everlasting and eternal gift!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1906 ca., to Lillie Bidler -- AB06033)
The bats do not perceive the light of the sun and the beetles cannot enjoy the fragrances of a rose-garden.
Consider that the horizons of the world were enlightened through the light of the Beauty of His Holiness Christ; yet all the people were asleep, blind and sightless, except a few whose eyes were opened and perceived the lights.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1904 ca., to May Simpkins -- AB04791)
Though but few persons accepted and were converted in the Day of each one of the Manifestations, yet these few surpassed and overcame great multitudes. During the time of Christ only a few souls believed in Him, but they were so powerful in spirit that none of the learned men among the Israelites could resist and stand against them, and afterward their light illumined the world, their call was raised abroad, their stars twinkled in heaven, their diadem became resplendent, and they are shining with great brilliancy.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Roy Wilhelm et al, spoken during a meal on 1907-Apr-23 -- ABU1569)
Although the friends in that land are few and the heedless many, yet this fewness is better than that abundance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1907-Apr-09, to Spiritual Assembly of Miyanij -- AB01554)
As long as a thing is rare and scarce, it seems more attractive and has greater value. In Bagdad there were few violets in our home and they were indescribably dear and attractive to our sight. But here none look at these violets and they are lost among so many flowers. As the quantity of a thing increases, its value decreases. And so it is in the beginning of the days of Holy Manifestations; because the souls are so few, they are counted as the essences of existence in the estimation of God.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on 1914-Feb-20 -- ABU1807)
In those days the tests were so great that out of three hundred and fifty believers only a handful remained but later on they returned.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to the Master's entourage, spoken at Rue St. Didier 30 on 1913-Mar-04 -- ABU1948)
How many a servant hath heard the call and turned away therefrom, and how many a servant hath heard and was attracted by the verses of his Lord.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1296 ? [1878-1879], to Muhammad Fath-i-Azam -- BH08037)
Today is the day when the reality of the Divine Book hath appeared and speaketh forth in the temple of manifestation, calling all who dwell on earth at all times unto the horizon of the All-Merciful. Yet few are they who hear.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1297-11-12 [1880-Oct-16], to Muhammad Ali Milani (son of Haji Ahmad) -- BH06922)
Today the true Beneficent One is manifest, and the sea of bounty is surging, and the effulgences of the Sun of generosity are visible and evident, yet none attained except a few among the men and women servants.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1303-05 [1886-Feb], to Amatullah Khanum -- BH07478)
The spiritual feast hath been sent down, and yet none seeketh after it save whom God willeth.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1302-10-22 [1885-Aug-4], to Ghulam-Ali son of Dhabih -- BH07404)
The fragrances of the roses of inner meanings were diffused and the waters of knowledge were flowing, yet few were the seekers.
(Bahá’u’lláh -- BH06988)
Today there are seekers for all things except the pearls of wisdom and utterance that have appeared from the treasury of the Most Exalted Pen. These remain without seeker or buyer.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1305 ? [1887-1888], to Abbas -- BH10707)
Yet I find none possessed of hearing to hearken unto them and turn towards them and draw nigh through them, save a few numbered souls.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier -- BH06570)
Souls are many who in the years gone by have listened to the glad-tidings, but up to this time they have remained veiled, deprived and unmoved.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Dec-16, to Henrietta C Wagner -- AB06597)
But what benefit is there when those who would taste of it are few, and those who would drink of it fewer still?
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1911 ca., to Mirza Haji Aqa -- AB09852)
The kingdom of the tongue was created specifically for the mention of the Best-Beloved of the worlds, yet only a few have attained thereunto. All eyes were created for the purpose of beholding the Dawning-Place of the divine Manifestation, yet only a small number have been honored therewith.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1296 ? [1878-1879], to Shams-i-Jahan Attar -- BH06918)
Yet the people have not accepted this most great gift from God, exalted be His glory, save for a few, as is evident.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1299-09 [1882-Jul], to Habibullah Khi Alif (brother of Ali Qabl-i-Akbar) -- BH05032)
Yet when the Sun of Revelation dawned from the horizon of the world, and the Speaker of Sinai spoke forth, all were found to be veiled save a few.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1299-09 [1882-Jul], to Aqa Siyyid Mahmud Baqiruf -- BH07264)
O thou who didst utter the word "yea" on the Day of Meeting! A hundred thousand souls pondered for years about the mystery of "Am I not?" and the Day of the Particles, [Q7:172] about existence and the reality of the Purpose. … Yet when the Sun of Divine Unity dawned from the horizon of Oneness, and the Divine Call was raised, and the cry of "Am I not?" reached the ears of all contingent beings, they all became dumb and were gathered together deaf and mute.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1894 ca., to Muhammad Ali Kashani -- AB05310)
For the covenant of "Am I not your Lord?" was well known and universal, and yet all forgot it, save for a handful of souls more scarce than the philosopher's stone.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Darvish (Madinih) et al -- AB06228)
However, as pure and receptive ears are rare, therefore but few souls have attained and turned towards the Most Exalted Horizon.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1300-11 [1883-Sep], to Ruqiyyih daughter of the martyr -- BH06997)
Discerning, conscious souls, who comprehend the Reality of the Divine teachings are few in every age...
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words to Marie Watson et al around Aug. 1921 -- ABU1473)
Nevertheless, when the veils were rent asunder, and the clouds were lifted, and the Countenance of the Intended One appeared and was made manifest from the horizon of the heaven of revelation, all arose in opposition and protest, though all were expectant. This is why He formerly said that true believers are rarer than red sulphur.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1296 ? [1878-1879], to Jinab-i-Mim Shin -- BH03331)
The believer in God has always been and will continue to be rarer than red sulfur.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier, to Ustad Ahmad Najjar -- BH06404)
By your life, in this age those who are steadfast in love are rarer than the greatest elixir.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1921-Apr-29, to As-Shaykh Muhi-id-Din At-Tirablusi -- AB04532)
Do ye feel secure against God's Self, the Most High, finding in truth a place of return? God hath made manifest thy signs to the peoples of earth and heaven, all together through the Gate. None believe in God and His signs in truth save a few of the foremost believers among the people of the Gate. Most people have been decreed by the All-Merciful's leave to be among those who join partners with their True Lord. None believe in God and His pure Remembrance save very few of the earliest ones.
(The Báb, Qayyumu'l-Asma' (Commentary on the Surah of Joseph), 1260-05 [1844-May] -- BB00002)
Continue exploring
- many are called but few are chosen
- methods of teaching the Cause
- regarding the receptivity of the hearer in teaching the Cause
Consider the warning against assuming we can judge the extent of another person’s receptivity.
For thought and discussion
Questions to carry forward
- How does the opening image of too few cupbearers change the way we understand apparent scarcity?
- What might the description of guidance as grace imply for how believers regard themselves and those who do not share their faith?
- How does the parable of the sower illuminate differences between an initial response and lasting fruitfulness?
- What can small beginnings accomplish that a simple count of adherents would fail to reveal?
- How can the report of people later returning encourage patience and caution about treating receptivity as a fixed personal trait?