Who was `Abdu'l-Bahá, and why did He come to the West?


Sunday, May 26, 2013

May 23, 1913 Deflecting His own birthday . . .

Earl Redman writes: 
       
 The next day was the celebration of the Declaration of the Báb. Many people arrived, however, with flowers to celebrate the Master’s birthday. He told them that it was inappropriate to celebrate His birthday on a day of much greater import – the Declaration by the Báb of His Mission to Mullá Husayn.           
_______

(Sorry this post is late. . . . Focused on the film.  I will post my own reflections from last year's blog post, below.  AP)


Even though the following occurred on the evening of May 23, since we now customarily celebrate the Declaration of the Báb on the night of the 22nd, I will post this reflection today.
Mahmúd chronicles the story of the birthday of 'Abdu'l-Bahá on May 23, 1912 as follows:
[After His talk at Clark University] "He returned to Boston in the automobile especially provided for Him by the chancellor. The Master went directly to the home of Mrs Alice Breed. As that evening was the commemoration of the Declaration of the Báb as well as the birthday of `Abdu'l-Bahá, the Bahá'ís, with the utmost happiness and joy, had arranged a magnificent feast. When `Abdu'l-Bahá arrived, He rested for awhile and then joined the gathering of the friends, illuminating the meeting with His presence. With joyful and shining faces, all eyes were directed towards the Master. The freshness and verdure of that gathering was like a flower garden and was proof that the Tree of the Cause of God has been firmly rooted in American soil and that it has produced leaves and blossoms of the utmost beauty. The Master spoke briefly about the greenery of the surrounding countryside, the magnificence of the city of Boston, as well as the university. He then gave an account of the life of the Báb that gladdened the hearts and cheered the souls.
     Tea, drinks and sweets were served in another room. Mrs Breed brought before the Master a birthday cake with 68 candles, representing His age. At her request, He lit the first candle and then each of the friends in turn lit a candle, each person like a moth burning with the fire of love. When the cake was cut, each guest took a slice as a sacred relic. Mrs Breed, indeed, lit the candle of servitude and steadfastness that evening and, in doing so, became the recipient of bounty from `Abdu'l-Bahá's presence."

Rob Stockman in his forthcoming book about `Abdu’l-Bahá in America describes Alice Breed as one of the most active Bahá’ís in the Boston area. (She was also the mother of Florence Breed, who married Ali Kuli Khan.) In Rob's words, Alice "had baked a birthday cake for `Abdu’l-Bahá, complete with American, Persian, and English flags and sixty-eight candles, and had invited over a hundred guests. Since `Abdu’l-Bahá was born on the same day that the Báb inaugurated His mission in Iran, and the Declaration of the Báb was a Bahá’í holy day, some years earlier `Abdu’l-Bahá had instructed the Bahá’ís not to celebrate His birthday. He had even expressed His objection explicitly to Alice’s son in law. According to Marzieh Gail, Breed’s granddaughter, “He did not stay for the festivities. . . . In His address He spoke only of the Báb’s Declaration on this day, saying not a word about Himself. Afterward, Alice persuaded Him to step into the dining room and at least see the festive table and the cake, and take a little refreshment. He sat in the large, brocaded ‘grandfather’ chair but soon left.” [Arches of the Years, 89] Mahmúd adds that `Abdu’l-Bahá lit the first candle on His cake and asked everyone else to take turns lighting the others.”

The BOSTON HERALD noted: "It was the wish of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to have a flag of every country on the cake, as he is universal, and considers every country his own, but there was not room for all."
ah, the Mystery of God!  To be born on the very day and time of the Declaration of the Báb has a significance we cannot grasp. Then, for us to have a yearning to celebrate `Abdu’l-Bahá's birthday (can you imagine being in His midst on this day?) but to be discouraged by His own objections . . . 

It seems this story has a lesson for us. Can you imagine the excitement of Alice Breed as she prepares for the feast, the cake, the flags, the candles. . . . And then for the Guest of honor to feel disquieted (we can assume) about the attention and the focus upon His birthday--and then to excuse Himself.  It makes me wonder if Alice wrote her memoirs and mentioned this incident.  Or what `Abdu’l-Bahá might have told Mahmud or others afterwards. 

Of course we now have the Day of the Covenant to celebrate His life (in November, near the Ascension of `Abdu’l-Bahá) but again, the focus is not on His birthday but on his role within the Cause--as Center of the Covenant.  While we are eager to celebrate Him, He downplays His person, with humility. 

Isn't it curious that out of 11 Baha'i holy days, only 9 are days on which Baha'is should suspend work? The other two--those related to `Abdu’l-Bahá--are not in that same category. 

In 1912 many, no doubt, wanted to laud `Abdu’l-Bahá as a prophet figure, but He was always reminding His hearers of His servitude.  Thus, He would want us to remember the Bab's life and station on this evening and tomorrow, even when we were / are caught up in `Abdu’l-Bahá's presence.  

Like Alice, I would have probably been one of those to commit a faux pas and gone overboard with a desire to celebrate Him--only to realize later the significance of His instructions. . . . Would you?

Oh, the lessons.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

May 22, 1913

Earl Redman writes: 

Rashíd Páshá and the Persian Minister paid the Master another visit. On 22 May He Himself visited a member of the Persian aristocracy, who was overwhelmed, bowing and kissing the Master’s hand. This man, very important in other circles, related a story about how he had lost his hostility toward the Bahá’í Faith. He found himself one day sitting next to a woman in London and was intrigued by her inexpensive but beautiful ring. When he asked about it, the woman replied that since he was a Persian, surely he could read the name of Bahá’u’lláh inscribed on the stone. At that, he felt very ashamed, but then quite elated when he realized that here was evidence of Persia’s influence in London. At that moment, he realized that he no longer harboured any hostility toward the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh.[ii]
    

[i] Balyuzi, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 391.
[ii] ibid. p. 394.
[iii] Star of the West (The Bahá’í Magazine), vol. 16, no. 5 (August, 1925), p. 528.
[iv] ibid. p. 395.

Monday, May 6, 2013

May, 1913 Back in Paris


Earl Redman writes: 

 During His final visit to Paris, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stayed at the Hotel Baltimore. His travels had greatly weakened Him and He was sometimes unable to attend meetings in the homes of the Bahá’ís. Still, He entertained visitors in His hotel room. During a luncheon, He could not sit at the table for long and had to retire to His room. On another day, tired though He was, He called Siyyid Asadu’lláh and, with a laugh in His voice, told him to fear God and get Him a cup of coffee. At one point He said, The Blessed Perfection has trained me to shoulder the burdens of others, not to put mine on others’ shoulders’.[i]
________

It might be a different world if we all could do this! 

ah, if only there were more details about these days!  Who will tackle Mahmúd's translation, vol. 2 of his diary?   We NEED it! 

           

May 1, 1913 Stuttgart

Earl Redman writes: 


By 1 May  ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was finally well enough to travel to Paris. Before leaving, He met the Stuttgart Bahá’ís in groups at His hotel. On one memorable occasion, He was looking out of his hotel window when he saw a regiment of soldiers marching by. He said:

They are ready to fight for their fatherland. How barbarous it seems to send men who do not even know each other, to the battlefield in order to shoot each other down. The Bahai Grand Army consists of the invisible angels of the Supreme Concourse. Our swords are the words of love and life. Our armaments are the invisible armaments of Heaven. We are fighting against the forces of darkness. O my soldiers, my beloved soldiers! Forward! Forward! Have no fear of defeat; do not have failing hearts. Our supreme commander is Baha’o’llah. From the heights of glory he is directing this dramatic engagement. He commands us! Rush forward! Rush forward! Show the strength of your arms. Ye shall scatter the forces of ignorance. Your war confers life; their war brings death. Your war is the cause of the illumination of all mankind. Your war means victory upon victory. Their war is defeat upon defeat. Their war is the origin of destruction. There are no dangers before you. Push forward! Fire! Fire! . . .[i]

Just over a year later the conflagration of war would engulf the whole of Europe.


[i] Star of the West, vol. VII, no. 16 (31 December 1916), p. 157; a slightly different version is in Star of the West, vol. IV, no. 4 (17 May 1913), p. 72.

April 30, 1913 At Kaiser Wilhelm II's hunting lodge

It appears as if I am a bit behind. Who can keep up with 'Abdu'l-Bahá?  Actually, we've been staying up day & night working on a review copy of the film. Finally, it is done.  Still, audio post production and final visual refinements await.  Will our journey ever be finished? 

Earl Redman writes: 

On 30 April Consul Schwarz had arranged for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá to meet the Kaiser, Wilhelm II, at his hunting lodge near Tübingen. When they arrived, however, the king was not there. In the visitor’s book at the lodge, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá wrote: ‘The royal palace is not occupied, because I can not see the face of the king. The green meadow looks cut down because it is not adorned with the glorious figure of the queen’.[i]


[i] Gollmer, Mein Herz is bei euch