Bahá'u'lláh and the New EraEsslemont, J. E. (John Ebenezer)
Religion
Bahá'u'lláh and the New Era
Esslemont, J. E. (John Ebenezer)
Bahai Faith; Bahá'u'lláh, 1817-1892
Having in His earlier years of hardship shown how to glorify God in a
state of poverty and ignominy, Bahá’u’lláh in His later years at Bahjí
showed how to glorify God in a state of honor and affluence. The offering
of hundreds of thousands of devoted followers placed at His disposal large
funds which He was called upon to administer. Although His life at Bahjí
has been described as truly regal, in the highest sense of the word, yet
it must not be imagined that it was characterized by material splendor or
extravagance. The Blessed Perfection and His family lived in very simple
and modest fashion, and expenditure on selfish luxury was a think unknown
in that household. Near His home the believers prepared a beautiful garden
called Ridván, in which He often spent many consecutive days or even
weeks, sleeping at night in a little cottage in the garden. Occasionally
He went further afield. He made several visits to Akká and Haifa, and on
more than one occasion pitched His tent on Mount Carmel, as He had
predicted when imprisoned in the barracks at Akká. The time of Bahá’u’lláh
was spent for the most part in prayer and meditation, in writing the
Sacred Books, revealing Tablets, and in spiritual education of the
friends. In order to give Him entire freedom for this great work,
‘Abdu’l-Bahá undertook the arrangement of all other affairs, even meeting
the Mullás, poets, and members of the Government. All of these were
delighted and happy through meeting ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, and entirely satisfied
with His explanation and talks, and although they had not met Bahá’u’lláh
Himself, they became full of friendly feeling towards Him, through their
acquaintanceship with His son, for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s attitude caused them to
understand the station of His father.
The distinguished orientalist, the late Professor Edward G. Browne, of the
University of Cambridge, visited Bahá’u’lláh at Bahjí in the year 1890,
and recorded his impressions as follows:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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