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Paris Talks
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Pages 172-176
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ADDRESS BY `ABDU'L-BAHÁ AT THE FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE, ST MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C.
Sunday, January 12th, 1913
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About one thousand years ago a society was
formed in Persia called the Society of the Friends,
who gathered together for silent communion with the
Almighty.
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They divided Divine philosophy into two parts:
one kind is that of which the knowledge can be acquired
through lectures and study in schools and
colleges. The second kind of philosophy was that of the
Illuminati, or followers of the inner light. The schools
of this philosophy were held in silence. Meditating, and
turning their faces to the Source of Light, from that
central Light the mysteries of the Kingdom were reflected
in the hearts of these people. All the Divine
problems were solved by this power of illumination.
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This Society of Friends increased greatly in Persia,
and up to the present time their societies exist. Many
books and epistles were written by their leaders. When
they assemble in their meeting-house they sit silently
and contemplate; their leader opens with a certain
proposition, and says to the assembly `You must meditate
on this problem'. Then, freeing their minds from
everything else, they sit and reflect, and before long the
answer is revealed to them. Many abstruse divine
questions are solved by this illumination.
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Some of the great questions unfolding from the
rays of the Sun of Reality upon the mind of man are:
the problem of the reality of the spirit of man; of the
birth of the spirit; of its birth from this world into
the world of God; the question of the inner life of the
spirit and of its fate after its ascension from the body.
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They also meditate upon the scientific questions of
the day, and these are likewise solved.
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These people, who are called `Followers of the inner
light', attain to a superlative degree of power, and are
entirely freed from blind dogmas and imitations. Men
rely on the statements of these people: by themselves--
within themselves--they solve all mysteries.
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If they find a solution with the assistance of the
inner light, they accept it, and afterwards they declare
it: otherwise they would consider it a matter of blind
imitation. They go so far as to reflect upon the essential
nature of the Divinity, of the Divine revelation, of the
manifestation of the Deity in this world. All the divine
and scientific questions are solved by them through the
power of the spirit.
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Bahá'u'lláh says there is a sign (from God) in every
phenomenon: the sign of the intellect is contemplation
and the sign of contemplation is silence, because it is
impossible for a man to do two things at one time--he
cannot both speak and meditate.
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It is an axiomatic fact that while you meditate you
are speaking with your own spirit. In that state of
mind you put certain questions to your spirit and the
spirit answers: the light breaks forth and the reality is
revealed.
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You cannot apply the name `man' to any being void
of this faculty of meditation; without it he would be
a mere animal, lower than the beasts.
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Through the faculty of meditation man attains to
eternal life; through it he receives the breath of the
Holy Spirit--the bestowal of the Spirit is given in
reflection and meditation.
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The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened
during meditation; through it affairs of which man
knew nothing are unfolded before his view. Through
it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he receives
heavenly food.
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Meditation is the key for opening the doors of
mysteries. In that state man abstracts himself: in that
state man withdraws himself from all outside objects;
in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of
spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of things-in-themselves.
To illustrate this, think of man as endowed
with two kinds of sight; when the power of insight is
being used the outward power of vision does not see.
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This faculty of meditation frees man from the animal
nature, discerns the reality of things, puts man in
touch with God.
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This faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the
sciences and arts. Through the meditative faculty
inventions are made possible, colossal undertakings are
carried out; through it governments can run smoothly.
Through this faculty man enters into the very Kingdom
of God.
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Nevertheless some thoughts are useless to man; they
are like waves moving in the sea without result. But
if the faculty of meditation is bathed in the inner light
and characterized with divine attributes, the results
will be confirmed.
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The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror; if you
put it before earthly objects it will reflect them. Therefore
if the spirit of man is contemplating earthly
subjects he will be informed of these.
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But if you turn the mirror of your spirits heavenwards,
the heavenly constellations and the rays of the
Sun of Reality will be reflected in your hearts, and the
virtues of the Kingdom will be obtained.
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Therefore let us keep this faculty rightly directed--
turning it to the heavenly Sun and not to earthly
objects--so that we may discover the secrets of the
Kingdom, and comprehend the allegories of the Bible
and the mysteries of the spirit.
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May we indeed become mirrors reflecting the
heavenly realities, and may we become so pure as to
reflect the stars of heaven.
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