July 5, 1912 A chain of many links . . .

New York: Divine Knowledge; Racial Unity; Names bestowed; Interconnection of Creation; Heat; Museum Visit 

*Mahmud writes: “A number of people met `Abdu'l-Bahá in the morning. He spoke to them about divine knowledge and the spiritual stations which lead to eternal life -- the ultimate goal of human existence. A black youth was there, to whom the Master gave the name `Mubárak' [`happy'], and to a black woman He gave the name `Khush Ghadam' [a person who brings good fortune, welcome news, good omen]. He spoke to them about the importance of harmony between the white and black races of America and described the various meetings attended by both blacks and whites and the talks given at them which dealt with this question.

     Mrs Kaufman asked about the influence of heavenly bodies on the affairs of humanity. `Abdu'l-Bahá replied:

     The words of the astrologers are for the most part doubtful and unreliable. But the whole of creation is interrelated like the different parts of the human body which have a complete affinity from the toenail to the hair on the head. Every part is perfectly connected with the other. Similarly, the whole of creation forms a chain composed, as it were, of many links connected with each other. It is therefore obvious that they all greatly influence each other and are part of organized, regular cycles.

     He was then asked about the connection between the soul and the body. He replied, `It has the same connection as the sun has with the mirror. Death consists of the severance of this connection.'

     `Some say that your prayers and promises for us have come true and are being completely fulfilled.'

     `I always pray with complete self-effacement and humbly implore confirmations from the Kingdom of Abhá.'

     `Do you feel the excessive heat? Does it affect your health?'

     `I am so absorbed that I feel neither the heat nor the cold. It is all the same to me.'

     Today the Master was occupied in revealing Tablets for the Eastern friends. Notwithstanding the heavy pressure of work, He does not delay His answers to important questions.

     There was a large crowd in the evening to whom He spoke about the various kingdoms of creation and the virtues of the world of existence. After the meeting several seekers visited the Master in His room. He answered their questions regarding the stations of divinity and the journey in the path of knowledge and servitude. Everyone was pleased and delighted and joined us in offering praise and glory to God.”

*It is not clear what day these events occurred on. Mahmud's accounts have been one day off in the previous section of his diary. [AP]

Wouldn’t you love to be known as a person who brings “good fortune, welcome news, good omen”? For that matter, wouldn’t you love to have been given a name by Abdu’l-Baha? One wonders if he/she perfectly matched the name OR if he/she grew into the name, after He bestowed it.

On the subject of the interconnection of creation, several friends have been impressed with the film, “I Am.” Apparently, this is one of its central messages. How I wish that we could convey this idea more easily through art and film!

Mahmud dates the following entry July 5:  "Some Tablets were revealed for friends in California, consoling them because of their separation from Him since He was not traveling to that state at the present time. Most of the friends on the West Coast of America had not yet had the honor to see Him. When they learned of His intention, they were saddened and sent telegrams begging Him to visit their state.

National Museum of American History

Today, at the invitation of Juliet Thompson, `Abdu'l-Bahá went to a museum near His house. [National History Museum.] On the first floor there were statues, figures of animals and a collection of relics of early American civilization. On observing these objects, `Abdu'l-Bahá said, `From these things it appears that America had a great civilization in ancient times.'

In the evening, He spoke to a large number of friends and seekers at His home about detachment from physical desires and the attainment of everlasting life. Everyone was delighted."

Juliet has a much more descriptive entry about the museum visit. But she says it occurred on July 9.  Here's the essence of her description, in my words: 

On July 9 Abdu’l-Baha asked Juliet Thompson to take him to the Museum of Natural History, where He seemed more interested in talking outside to an elderly museum guard than in seeing the museum’s artifacts. When the man asked if He wanted to see more of the museum, Abdu’l-Baha said He was tired of this world and more interested in things of the spiritual world. The old man responded with a preference for the material world, as it is something known. "But you do not lose it when you have attained the spiritual world,” said Abdu’l-Baha. “When you go upstairs in a house, you don't leave the house. The lower floor is under you."

"Oh I see!" cried the guard, his whole face lighting up. 

Juliet asks: "Why had the Master visited a Museum of Natural History in the hottest hour of a blistering July day? Had He instead visited a soul whose need was crying out to Him, to open an old man's eyes so that he might see to climb the stairs, to take away the dread of death?"

I find this story quite interesting. Apparently Juliet went back to the museum the next week, and the man no longer worked there. Her thought was that he had passed on. . . .