Paragraph 163

These same people, though wrapt in all these veils of limitation, and despite the restraint of such observances, as soon as they drank the immortal draft of faith, from the cup of certitude, at the hand of the Manifestation of the All-Glorious, were so transformed that they would renounce for His sake their kindred, their substance, their lives, their beliefs, yea, all else save God! So overpowering was their yearning for God, so uplifting their transports of ecstatic delight, that the world and all that is therein faded before their eyes into nothingness. Have not this people exemplified the mysteries of “rebirth” and “return”? Hath it not been witnessed that these same people, ere they were endued with the new and wondrous grace of God, sought through innumerable devices to ensure the protection of their lives against destruction? Would not a thorn fill them with terror, and the sight of a fox put them to flight? But once having been honored with God’s supreme distinction, and having been vouchsafed His bountiful grace, they would, if they were able, have freely offered up ten thousand lives in His path! Nay, their blessed souls, contemptuous of the cage of their bodies, would yearn for deliverance. A single warrior of that host would face and fight a multitude! And yet, how could they, but for the transformation wrought in their lives, be capable of manifesting such deeds which are contrary to the ways of men and incompatible with their worldly desires?

This is the third of thirty paragraphs in which Baha'u'llah elucidates the first of the twofold stations of the Manifestations of God, that of "pure abstraction and essential unity". Here He is beginning to show us how it also applies to the companions of the Manifestation.

"These same people"? Who, precisely, are "these same people"?  They seem to be the "chosen ones" from the previous paragraph. They are the ones who "believed in Him and acknowledged His faith" and were "endowed with the grace of a new life".

One of the greatest examples of this transformation described later in this paragraph, is Mulla Husayn. The uncle of the Bab, to whom this book was written, was no doubt familiar with him and his story. It is even possible they had met, but we've never run across anything confirming that.

By all accounts, Mulla Husayn was your physically average theology student. He was generally regarded as weak of body. We kind of imagine him as your typical nerdy wimp. But what he lacked in physical prowess he more than made up for in spiritual strength.

This puts his later actions into an even greater light. The fortitude and heroism he demonstrated even before the events at the fort of the Shrine of Shaykh Tabarsi are impressive enough. Everything during his march to that fort, and after, are nothing short of miraculous.

And although he is truly a shining example of this transformation, he is but one of tens of thousands of examples from that era. Of course, there is a lot more to be said about Mulla Husayn, and Baha'u'llah will mention him in paragraph 248.

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The next question is what are those "veils of limitation"?

From the previous paragraph, it is those "limitations of tradition", which brings us back to His description of the clouds from paragraphs 74 - 88. When discussing the clouds that come between the people and their Lord, He says, "These 'clouds' signify, in one sense, the annulment of laws, the abrogation of former Dispensations, the repeal of rituals and customs current amongst men, the exalting of the illiterate faithful above the learned opposers of the Faith." Back in those paragraphs, He talks about what those veils look like. Here He talks more about the effect these veils have, and how it impacts the growth of the new Faith.

Step by step He guides us. Rather than overwhelming us, He shows us one step and allows us to take the time to understand it. Then, much later in the book He shows us the next step. In this way He allows us to have our very natural reactions and let those same reactions subside before moving us on to the  next step.

Now He shows us the effect of piercing those veils upon the believers in the new Revelation.

* * * * *

The next question we run across is at the very end of this passage. "And yet, how could they, but for the transformation wrought in their lives, be capable of manifesting such deeds which are contrary to the ways of men and incompatible with their worldly desires?"

Here the question is rhetorical, but He Himself will respond to it over the next few paragraphs. Nevertheless, we feel that when He asks a question like this, it is actually useful to take the time to ponder it. We need to feel free, and even encouraged, to try and answer the question for ourselves, and then feel the uplifting inspiration from the Most Mighty Pen as He offers us His own thoughts on it.

To help guide us, though, we found this other quote written around the same time, helpful.

O Son of Light!
Forget all save Me and commune with My spirit. This is of the essence of My command, therefore turn unto it.