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The Bahá’í Spirit |
From His place of confinement in distant ‘Akká, Bahá’u’lláh
stirred His native land of Persia to its depths; and not only
Persia; He stirred and is stirring the world. The spirit that animated
Him and His followers was unfailingly gentle, courteous
and patient, yet it was a force of astonishing vitality and
transcendent power. It achieved the seemingly impossible. It
changed human nature. Men who yielded to its influence became
new creatures. They were filled with a love, a faith, and
enthusiasm, compared with which earthly joys and sorrows
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were but as dust in the balance. They were ready to face lifelong
suffering or violent death with perfect equanimity, nay,
with radiant joy, in the strength of fearless dependence on
God.
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Most wonderful of all, their hearts were so brimming over
with the joy of a new life as to leave no room for thoughts of
bitterness or vindictiveness against their oppressors. They entirely
abandoned the use of violence in self-defense, and instead
of bemoaning their fate, they considered themselves the
most fortunate of men in being privileged to receive this new
and glorious Revelation and to spend their lives or shed their
blood testifying to its truth. Well might their hearts sing
with joy, for they believed that God, the Supreme, the Eternal,
the Beloved, had spoken to them through human lips, had
called them to be His servants and friends, had come to establish His Kingdom
upon earth and to bring the priceless boon of
Peace to a warworn, strife-stricken world.
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Such was the faith inspired by Bahá’u’lláh. He announced
His own mission, as the Báb had foretold that He would, and,
thanks to the devoted labors of His great Forerunner, there
were thousands ready to acclaim His Advent—thousands who
had shaken off superstitions and prejudices, and were waiting
with pure hearts and open minds for the Manifestation of
God’s Promised Glory. Poverty and chains, sordid circumstances
and outward ignominy could not hide from them the
Spiritual Glory of their Lord—nay, these dark earthly surroundings
only served to enhance the brilliance of His real
Splendor.
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