A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
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THE COLLECTIVE CENTER OF THE KINGDOM |
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In the contingent world there are many collective centers which
are conducive to association and unity between the children of
men. For example, patriotism is a collective center; nationalism
is a collective center; identity of interests is a collective center;
political alliance is a collective center; the union of ideals is a
collective center, and the prosperity of the world of humanity is
dependent upon the organization and promotion of the collective
centers. Nevertheless, all the above institutions are in reality, the
matter and not the substance, accidental and not eternal—temporary
and not everlasting. With the appearance of great revolutions
and upheavals, all these collective centers are swept away.
But the Collective Center of the Kingdom, embodying the Institutes
and Divine Teachings, is the eternal Collective Center. It
establishes relationship between the East and the West, organizes
the oneness of the world of humanity, and destroys the foundation
of differences. It overcomes and includes all the other collective
centers. Like unto the ray of the sun, it dispels entirely the darkness,
encompassing all the regions, bestows ideal life, and causes
the effulgence of divine illumination. Through the breaths of
the Holy Spirit it performs miracles; the Orient and the Occident
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embrace each other, the North and South become intimates and
associates; conflicting and contending opinions disappear; antagonistic
aims are brushed aside, the law of the struggle for existence
is abrogated, and the canopy of the oneness of the world of humanity
is raised on the apex of the globe, casting its shade over
all the races of men. Consequently, the real Collective Center is
the body of the divine teachings, which include all the degrees
and embrace all the universal relations and necessary laws of
humanity.
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Consider! The people of the East and the West were in the utmost
strangeness. Now to what a high degree they are acquainted
with each other and united together! How far are the inhabitants
of Írán from the remotest countries of America! And now observe
how great has been the influence of the heavenly power, for
the distance of thousands of miles has become identical with one
step! How various nations that have had no relations or similarity
with each other are now united and agreed through this divine
potency! Indeed to God belongs power in the past and in the
future! And verily God is powerful over all things!
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Consider! When the rain, the heat, the sun and the gentle
zephyrs cooperate with each other, what beautiful gardens are
produced! How the various kinds of hyacinths, flowers, trees and
plants associate with each other and are conducive to the adornment
and charm of one another! Hence the oneness of the bounty
of the sun, the oneness of rain and the oneness of the breeze have
so overcome all other considerations, that the variety of hues,
fragrances and tastes have increased the adornment, the attraction
and sweetness of the whole. In a similar manner, when the divine
Collective Center and the outpouring of the Sun of Reality and
the breaths of the Holy Spirit are brought together, the variety
of races and the differences existing between countries will become
the cause of the embellishment, decoration and elegance of
the world of humanity.
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Therefore, the believers of God throughout all the Republics of
America, through the divine power, must become the cause of the
promotion of heavenly teachings and the establishment of the
oneness of humanity. Every one of the important souls must arise,
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blowing over all parts of America the breath of life conferring
upon the people a new spirit, baptizing them with the fire of the
love of God, the water of life, and the breaths of the Holy Spirit—so that the second birth may become realized. For it is written
in the Gospel: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the spirit is spirit.”
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Therefore, O ye believers of God in the United States and
Canada! Select ye important personages, or that they by themselves,
becoming severed from rest and composure of the world,
may arise and travel throughout Alaska, the Republic of Mexico,
and south of Mexico, in the Central American Republics, such as
Guatemala, Honduras, Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama
and Belize; and through the great South American Republics, such
as Argentine, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, French Guiana, Dutch
Guiana, British Guiana, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and
Chile; also in the group of the West Indies Islands such as Cuba,
Haiti, Porto Rico, Jamaica and Santo Domingo, and the group of
Islands of the Lesser Antilles, the Islands of Bahama and the Islands
of Bermuda; likewise to the Islands of the east, west and south of
South America, such as Trinidad, Falkland Islands, Galapago
Islands, Juan Fernandez and Tobago. Visit ye especially the city
of Bahia, on the eastern shore of Brazil. Because in the past years
this city was christened with the name, Bahia, there is no doubt
that it has been through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
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Consequently, the believers of God must display the utmost
effort, upraise the divine melody throughout those regions, promulgate
the heavenly teachings and waft over all, the spirit of
eternal life; so that those Republics may become so illumined with
the splendors and the effulgences of the Sun of Reality that they
may become the objects of the praise and commendation of all
other countries. Likewise, ye must give great attention to the
Republic of Panama, for in that point the Occident and the Orient
find each other united through the Panama Canal, and it is also
situated between the two great oceans. That place will become
very important in the future. The Teachings once established
there, they will unite the East and the West, the North and the
South.
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Consider how the religions of God served the world of humanity!
How the religion of Torah became conducive to the glory and
honor and progress of the Israelitish nation! How the breaths of
the Holy Spirit of His Holiness Christ created affinity and unity
between divergent communities and quarreling families! How the
sacred power of His Holiness Muḥammad became the means of
uniting and harmonizing the contentious tribes and the different
clans of Peninsular Arabia—to such an extent that one thousand
tribes were welded into one tribe, strife and discord was done
away with, all of them unitedly and with one accord strove in
advancing the cause of culture and civilization, and thus were
freed from the lowest degree of degradation, soaring toward the
height of everlasting glory! Is it possible to find a greater Collective
Center in the phenomenal world than this? In comparison
to this Divine Collective Center, the national collective center,
the patriotic collective center, the political collective center, and
the cultural and intellectual collective center are like child’s play!
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Now strive ye that the Collective Center of the sacred religions,
for the inculcation of which all the Prophets were manifested and
which is no other than the spirit of the Divine Teachings,—be
spread in all parts of America—so that each one of you may shine
forth from the horizon of Reality like unto the morning star,
divine illumination may overcome the darkness of nature, and
the world of humanity may become enlightened. This is the most
great work! Should ye become confirmed therein, this world will
become another world, the surface of the earth will become the
delectable Paradise, and eternal Institutions be founded.
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O God! O God! Thou seest my weakness, lowliness and humility
amongst Thy creatures; nevertheless I have trusted on Thee
and have arisen in the promotion of Thy Teachings amongst Thy
strong servants, relying on Thy power and might!
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O Lord! Should the breaths of the Holy Spirit confirm the
weakest of creatures, he shall attain to the highest station of greatness
and shall possess anything he desireth. Indeed Thou hast assisted
Thy servants in the past, and they were the weakest of Thy
creatures, the lowliest of Thy servants and the most insignificant
of those who lived upon the earth; but through Thy sanction and
potency they took precedence over the most glorious of Thy people
and the most noble of Thy mankind. Whereas formerly they
were as moths, they became royal falcons and whereas before they
were as bubbles they became seas. Through Thy bestowal, Thy
mercy and Thy most great favor, they became stars shining in
the horizon of guidance, birds singing in the rose garden of immortality,
lions roaring in the forest of knowledge and wisdom,
and whales swimming in the oceans of life.
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