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Before you begin studying the passages presented in this unit, it is
necessary to pause and reflect briefly on the station 'Abdu'1-Baha
occupies in Baha'u'llah's Dispensation. On other occasions in your
studies, of course, you will read in detail about His life and receive
a greater and greater share of the wisdom His words impart.
'Abdu'1-Baha is a most unique Figure in human history, and no previous
religion has been blessed with such a Personage. That Baha'u'llah
should have left the Baja's community after His passing under the
shelter of 'Abdu'1-Baha. the Most Great Branch, is a bounty that words
cannot describe. Not only did Baha'u'llah give humanity His most
sublime Revelation, but He also gave it His own Son, through Whose
knowledge and wisdom, He said, humanity would be illumined. It is
difficult to get even a glimpse of the greatness of this Cause without
being aware of 'Abdu'l-Baha's unique station.
First, 'Abdu'1-Baha is the Center of Baha'u'llah's Covenant. The power
of this Covenant holds the Baja's community together and protects it
from the attacks of enemies, from division and disintegration. It is
the power of this Covenant that ensures final victory.
Fundamentally, the Covenant Baha'u'llah has made with His followers
requires that we all direct our hearts towards a Center and be
entirely loyal to it. 'Abdu'1-Baha is that Center, and according to
His Will and Testament, after Him, Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the
Faith, is the Center to which all should turn. Today, the Center of
the Faith is the Universal House of Justice, which has been
established in accordance with the explicit command of Baha'u'llah and
the clear instructions given by 'Abdu'1-Baha and the Guardian.
Second, 'Abdu'1-Baha is the unerring Interpreter of Baha'u'llah's
Word. So vast is the Revelation of Baha'u'llah, so profound the
meanings enshrined in every one of His utterances, that He deemed it
necessary to leave behind an interpreter Whom He Himself would
inspire. Thus for generations to come, humanity will be able to
understand Baha'u'llah's Teachings by studying the interpretations of
'Abdu'1-Bah^ in His numerous Tablets and in the authenticated
transcripts of His talks. The Guardian is the Interpreter of
Baha'u'llah's Teachings after 'Abdu'1-Baha; with him the task of
interpretation was complete, and no one has the authority to interpret
Baha'u'llah's Words for the remainder of His Dispensation.
Again, we should be aware that, by leaving behind an interpreter
appointed by Himself, Baha'u'llah has bestowed upon the Baha'f
community a most great bounty. In the past, every religion has been
afflicted with divisions into many sects for the lack of an
authoritative source to which the believers could turn when they
disagreed on the meaning of passages from their Holy Books. But in
this Dispensation, when there is uncertainty about the meaning of a
statement of Baha'u'llah, everyone turns to the interpretations of
'Abdu'1- Baha and the Guardian. If uncertainty remains, one can turn
to the Universal House of Justice for clarification. No room is left,
then, for conflict over the meaning of the Teachings and the unity of
the Faith is protected.
Third, 'Abdu'1-Baha is the perfect Exemplar of His Father's Teachings.
Although we can never hope to reach such a degree of perfection, we
should always have Him before our eyes and strive to follow His
example. When you read in the Writings about love, turn to
'Abdu'1-Baha and you will see the very essence of love and kindness.
When you read about purity, justice, rectitude, joy and generosity,
turn to Him, think of His life, and you will see how He manifested
these qualities in the utmost perfection.
The mark of 'Abdu'l-Baha's life is, of course, His servitude. You know
that the name '"Abdu'1-Baha" means the servant of Baha, and is the
title 'Abdu'1-Baha preferred to all the titles the believers wished to
attribute to Him. The following words of 'Abdu'1-Baha are the
expression of His ardent desire to serve, and if you memorize them,
they will always be a guide to you as you walk your own path of
service:
"My name is 'Abdu'1-Baha. My
qualification is 'Abdu'1-Baha. My reality is 'Abdu'1-Baha. My praise
is 'Abdu'1-Baha. Thralldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious
and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual
religion ... No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I,
nor will ever have, except 'Abdu'1-Baha. This is my longing. This is
my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting
glory."
As mentioned in the preceding section, the passages you will study in
this unit are not exact quotations of 'Abdu'1-Bahd but are based on
His many talks and Tablets. As you gain experience in teaching the
Cause, you will want to fill your mind with 'Abdu'l-Baha's words and
learn the way He explained ideas. You will undoubtedly wish to
memorize entire passages from His talks and Tablets. We hope that this
unit will help you embark on that endeavor.
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January 18, 2004