power; influence of a single soul in teaching the Cause
Editorial introduction
One fragrant flower can perfume a whole rose garden, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá writes, and one star of guidance can lead a hundred thousand caravans. He holds that the guidance of a single soul outweighs the sovereignty of a kingdom, because life passes from the first guide to another, and from that one to another still, until a multitude has been quickened. Five grains of wheat touched by heavenly blessing outweigh a thousand tons of tares; a deed done for God may give life to many. What makes such influence possible is not eloquence but sincerity, detachment and the confirmations of the Spirit, so that a person may teach, as He once told a friend named Juliet, with the heart rather than the tongue. In the Gospel of John a woman’s word draws her neighbours to Jesus until they believe because they have heard him for themselves [1]. The thread runs on toward the power of faith and of the spirit, the methods of teaching, and the reassurance that small numbers are no measure of what a sincere life can awaken.
O 'Ali-Akbar! A single deed performed for God's sake may give life to many, and remembrance in the path of God is the water of life for the bodies of the chosen ones of God - that is, those souls who are firmly attached to Him and are detached and free from all else.
Whosoever succeeds in teaching another soul becomes the cause of that soul's life, and that one in turn becomes the cause of another's life. This chain continues until ultimately that first soul has become the cause of life for a multitude.
Consider what mighty effects result from the guidance of a single soul!
Wonder not that one without refuge or shelter may, through God's grace, become a refuge and shelter, and that one without position or status may, through the Lord's bounty, become the founder of the house of peace.
One pure soul can enlighten a world and one fragrant flower can perfume a rose garden. One star of guidance can lead a hundred thousand caravans and one eternal tree can cast its shade over a hundred thousand righteous ones.
Now in that city bereft (of spiritual bounties), one must act with wisdom and awaken the heedless through Baha'i deeds, for deeds have more influence than words. How often has it happened that a single deed from a blessed soul caused a tribe to be guided.
The nostrils were perfumed and the heart was gladdened that, praise be to God, that steadfast and firm one became the cause of illumination of two other souls, guiding them to the fountain of life, so that each may become a fruitful tree in the divine garden, casting shade and extending branches and leaves unto the Kingdom of God.
The power of the faith of the first guide will be transmitted, find continuation and become manifest in the lives of other believers, until one sanctified soul will become the cause of the quickening a hundred thousand souls. Consider how important this is, for the guidance of one soul is greater than the sovereignty of a kingdom.
The bounties of God have so empowered the friends in this divine Dispensation that they can awaken the capacities and guide mankind to the way of salvation by these means.
We beseech God to make him like rain clouds for the soil of His knowledge, that ears of recognition may spring forth therefrom for the followers of all religions.
I swear by the pearls of the divine ocean of wisdom that a single accepted soul is mightier and greater than all the peoples of the world, for all were created to recognize this most holy and sublime Day, and in all the scriptures the appearance of this mighty Cause was promised; yet they are seen to be deprived and debarred therefrom.
Should He so will, He could through a single soul subdue the entire world. Observe the sun, which is but one of His signs: through divine confirmations it alone hath conquered the whole world. When such a sign in the horizons is thus observed, this same is proof that He is able, in the realm of the souls of His loved ones, to raise up one soul with such power, might and ascendancy as to subdue all the kingdoms of the earth.
If a soul becomes confirmed with these hidden favors, a single horseman can charge against the world's ranks, for the confirmations of the Abha Kingdom and the aid and protection of the Ancient Beauty arrive successively, as you have experienced.
One soul has the effect of an army and one horseman the effect of countless cavalry.
Today whomsoever calls the people to the Divine Kingdom, the cohorts of heaven shall make him victorious.
Consider thou how one spark sets on fire a great forest. Therefore, there is great hope, and the favor and grace of the Almighty is limitless.
With utmost joy and delight I have taken up the pen to write this letter, so that you may increase in enthusiasm and excitement, and become firmly established in attraction and enkindlement, and like a burning ember and fiery spark, set ablaze the hearts of the handmaidens of the All-Merciful, that each may become a lamp of lights and a niche of light upon light.
I shall never forget it, and I cherish the hope that, through the grace of Baha'u'llah, thou shalt be so enkindled in London with the heat of the love of God as to set aflame all who meet thee.
Rejoice at this address which I hope from God will have a great effect on thy heart and spirit and accordingly become the banner of the Supreme Concourse in that distant and extensive spot through which certain nations and tribes would be directed with bright faces, rejoiced hearts and speaking tongues uttering the praise of God.
You became the cause of life for countless souls and the source of happiness and glad-tidings for a mighty throng.
It is evident that, through your efforts, the inhabitants of those regions are now inhaling the fragrances of Musk from the Garden of the Kingdom.
Praise be to God! immense results and great effects have been produced by forwarding [recent] Tablets to that country (America).
Consider how the blessed souls in former times, with but a breath, ultimately made the world fragrant with the merciful breath, and it still continues. And if they uttered a word, a thousand books and scrolls became its interpretation and explanation.
Simon Peter, that is, the great Peter of Jesus Christ, was a mere fisherman, and Salman the Persian was but a vendor. Simon enchanted the world, and Salman made multitudes become manifestations of the signs of the All-Merciful.
Convey my longing and love to thy dear husband, and say: In this world, from the days of Christ down to the present time, although a hundred thousand kings have been seated upon the throne of earthly dominion, all have passed away and are no more. But the precious servants of Christ, although they were outwardly lowly, their blessed faces will shine brightly from the horizon of eternal might for evermore....
Through this service, lowly individuals like Simon and Peter attained the zenith of eternal glory, even though at first no one paid them any attention. But in the end kings and monarchs became humble at the mention of their names.
In existence there is a sign which We have, in most of the Tablets, designated as ``the Most Great Elixir". Should this sign be present in any soul, all his movements and stillnesses shall prove efficacious and potent in the world. Consider Jesus: though the Jews put Him to death, that martyrdom seemed in their eyes of such little consequence that no mention thereof was made in their books. Yet because that aformentioned sign was present in the being of Christ, He remained not buried beneath the earth; and thou beholdest what a commotion it stirred throughout the world.
But the life and teachings of a single human wonder transforms the whole world.
There are many instances in history that often through the instrumentality of one soul - no matter how poor and simple - a whole nation has been saved, godly ideas were promoted, celestial thoughts born and stupendous progress made possible.
One day in Germany, as I was walking down a street, I saw a girl who was half the size of Fujita (Fujita was a Japanese servant who had a very small frame and was very short in stature). I saw several tall men following this girl. I was very surprised and stopped in the street. I asked her what was happening and who these people were who were following her. She said, "These are my children." I said, "How could you, being so small, have given birth to such big children?" She said, "I taught them the Faith."
"Tell Juliet," began Abdul-Baha at once, "that she teaches well." … "I have met many people who have been affected by you, Juliet. You are not eloquent, you are not fluent, but your heart teaches. You speak with an emotion, a feeling which makes people ask, 'What is this that she has?' Then they inquire!
He said: "There will always be some. Only a special number will have this attainment. As Christ said, 'Many are called, but few are chosen.' It will always be so. The transformation depends upon divine bounty. The mineral progresses in its own world. But from the mineral to the vegetable it progressed only by divine bounty. Also transformation from the vegetable to the animal is God's plan. Of itself the transformation cannot take place. In the realm of men transformation is possible only through another person."
Do ye not look upon your own capacities. Rest ye assured in the bounties of the Blessed Perfection. He shall change the drop into an ocean and the moth into an eagle. He changes the stone into the precious ruby and the scintilla into the world-illuminating sun.
One bright, glowing torch is better than a thousand extinct ones and one alive, spiritual soul will become the cause of the awakening of the inhabitants of a city.
Through the power of God it is possible for one Bahai to guide one whole nation. Such spiritual victories are dependent upon the breaths and bestowals of the Holy Spirit.
It is well known, that when once a blessed soul of any nation steps into the religion of God, it is capable of saving the whole community from the darkness of the world, from materialism and animalism.
"There are three Islands in the Indian Ocean, situated in the equatorial line. The climate is very hot, but they have a population of about 20 millions. Formerly they were idolaters, sun and star worshipers. During the ninth Century of Hegira, a blessed soul arrived there, single and alone, but his intention was in and for God. He continued to teach the simple, democratic principles of Islam, but he was subjected to persecution, cruelty and ignominy. With deep-felt serenity, he suffered all for the sake of his conviction. Through his indefatigable activity, all the people of those three Islands embraced the religion of Islam. He was so self-sacrificing that he did not care to leave behind even his name. when he accomplished his work, he retired from the field, and all his traces were lost….
The Islands of java, Sumatra and another one which are situated in the Indian ocean in the equator contain about 20 millions of inhabitants. These people were converted from idolatry into Mohamadan religion by one single person. Just think of his attraction and of accomplishing such a mighty task! When he finished his work he left the islands for an unknown destination and after that no one heard anything about him. Even his name is not known. Not it is evident that that one single person was a greater man than a million of the present day Ulemas. For he worked for God and not for fame or name or wealth.
How often it hath happened that one blessed soul hath proved to become the cause of guidance unto a continent.
If the friends of God arise as they should and reach such a state that each becomes a manifestation of "Make my occupation a constant occupation and my state in Your service an eternal state" and becomes completely effaced and annihilated in the Cause of God, it will not be long before they transform all peoples, even if in each city only two sincere believers are found who have completely forgotten themselves, this would suffice.
Today honor and victory are destined for that soul who has freed himself from every thought and is engaged in the exaltation of the Word of God and the diffusion of the Fragrances of God.
Do not let the opportunity slip away. Consider it a bounty. Forget every other thought and move forward with all your strength like a lion, so it may be seen how the power of the Kingdom provides confirmation.
In the city of Qum, due to excessive persecution by the enemies, the friends have been scattered. Now you must be the cause of some souls being guided to the light of guidance.
Surely souls will arise who will strive with all their power to spread the Word of God, but our desire is that if we are not counted among those souls, we may at least be associated with them.
Although this gathering is small, yet in future it will develop greatly.
A seed was sown in the countries of America. The souls were moved to great motion and excitement.
From America, I await the appearance of a few people. Soon they will appear. And then you will behold unprecedented victories for the Cause.
If five or six people are found in Japan, it will progress very quickly.
If a number of Persian teachers who are endowed with eloquent tongues knew the English language and travelled to those parts they could attract many souls to the Cause. For example if Mirza Abul Fazl knew English his influence in the West would have been a hundredfold.
Let me see what you can do. Let me see what the friends of God in these states will do. Will they arise with a superhuman energy and spread the lights if the Sun of Reality in all those great cities, towns, villages and hamlets?
Today if you teach one person it is as though you have resurrected a dead soul into life. It is as though you have changed the black stone into diamond. It is as though you have transmuted metal into gold, Satan into angel, animal into man.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
Close association and loving service affects the hearts; and when the heart is affected, the the spirit can enter. It is the Holy Spirit that quickens, and the Friends must become channels for its diffusion.
The role of the individual is of unique importance in the work of the Cause. … The individual alone can exercise those capacities which include the ability to take initiative, to seize opportunities, to form friendships, to interact personally with others, to build relationships, to win the cooperation of others in common service to the Faith and society, and to convert into action the decisions made by consultative bodies.
The International Teaching Centre has concluded that the Baha'i institutions in ... seem to have been placing too much reliance on large, expensive projects, involving a great deal of successful public relations and proclamation. These are, in their own way, very useful activities, but it must be realized that they cannot be expected to produce large numbers of new believers. The key to the conversion of people to the Faith is the action of the individual Baha'i conveying the spark of faith to individual seekers, answering their questions and deepening their understanding of the teachings.
We have no priests, therefore the service once rendered by priests to their religions is the service every single Baha'i is expected to render individually to his religion. He must be the one who enlightens new souls, confirms them, heals the wounded and the weary upon the road of life, and gives them to quaff from the chalice of everlasting life the knowledge of the Manifestation of God in His Day.
Just one mature soul, with spiritual understanding and a profound knowledge of the Faith, can set a whole country ablaze -- so great is the power of the Cause to work through a pure and selfless channel.
It is better to have one Baha'i who understands the Teachings and is wholeheartedly convinced of their truth, than a number of Baha'is, who are not well aware of the Cause, and deep-rooted in the Covenant.
The Teaching of the Faith is dependent on the individual and his effort. When the individual arises with enthusiasm, with full dedication and consecration, and allows nothing to deter him; then results will be achieved....
"Be not concerned," He admonishes them, "with the smallness of your numbers, neither be oppressed by the multitude of an unbelieving world... Exert yourselves; your mission is unspeakably glorious. Should success crown your enterprise, America will assuredly evolve into a center from which waves of spiritual power will emanate, and the throne of the Kingdom of God will, in the plenitude of its majesty and glory, be firmly established."
For thought and discussion