Paragraph 215

These are among the attributes of the exalted, and constitute the hallmark of the spiritually minded. They have already been mentioned in connection with the requirements of the wayfarers that tread the Path of Positive Knowledge. When the detached wayfarer and sincere seeker hath fulfilled these essential conditions, then and only then can he be called a true seeker. Whensoever he hath fulfilled the conditions implied in the verse: “Whoso maketh efforts for Us,” he shall enjoy the blessing conferred by the words: “In Our ways shall We assuredly guide him.”

The first of these seven paragraphs on the true seeker talked about our perspective, our internal state of being. The second addressed our actions. This one acts a bridge between ourselves and God. When we fulfill the conditions outlined in the previous two paragraphs we can be considered a true seeker. We will have made that effort. Our reward? God will "assuredly guide" us.

He begins this paragraph by referring to the previous, stating that the conditions mentioned in them are the "hallmark of the spiritually minded". A hallmark is an indication of purity, usually found in jewelry. It's that little stamp that says something is 24k gold, or 18k, or sterling silver. Similarly, we can look at the actions of the individual to see if they bear the "hallmark" of someone who is spiritual.

Do they engage in backbiting? Are they mean to animals? Are they boastful? These are some of the questions we can ask. If the answer is "yes" to any of them, then can we consider them spiritual?

Remember that "certain man" from a few paragraphs ago? Remember how he was boastful? Is that the sort of person we want to turn to for spiritual advice?

Another aspect of this is the reminder, yet again, that this is a path. Specifically, this is the "Path of Positive Knowledge", that knowledge that is irrefutable. This phrase, the "Path of Positive Knowledge" comes from the Arabic. Without going too much into it, in Arabic it is "ilm", that type of knowledge that is unquestionable. This is as opposed to"erfan" which is a more earthly knowledge. Erfan would be the type of knowledge you gain from studying Bach, and the mathematics behind his works, and the various styles of composition. Ilm comes from hearing his music and knowing it is beautiful. This is the type of knowledge that this Path leads us to.

Of course, if it's a path, then we are the "wayfarer", the "seeker" on this path.

Throughout the Writings we find these two terms many times, and oftentimes they seem interchangeable. But what do they mean? A wayfarer is someone who has set out on a journey with a specific goal in mind, while a seeker is someone who is looking for something, but are unsure where to find it.

In this paragraph, the wayfarer is qualified as being detached. They have a goal in mind, but are open to finding something else. A great example here would be the uncle of the Bab who set out to find the Promised One, but was searching for that imaginary Sovereign as described by the general populace of his day. By this point in the book, he has likely changed his goal to that more realistic Sovereign as described by the Manifestations of the past. This is why detachment is so important. If he clung to his initial thoughts about the Promised One, he never would have discovered the truth about his Nephew.

He is also a seeker, searching for God, but that is a goal to which we can never reach. We will continually find clues, and perhaps get nearer and nearer to a good understanding of God, but never really achieve it.

He concludes this paragraph with a very interesting quote from the Qur'an. "Whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our ways shall We assuredly guide him.” Let's picture this.

Imagine you are walking in the woods, trying to find someone's home. You've stumbled off the path, and are kind of lost. You have an idea of where you're going, but maybe you're not sure. Along comes a guide, a guide you were promised would meet you in the woods to lead you to your destination. You were told that they would be wearing a green jacket, and his jacket is green. Then they begin to lead you off to the left. Someone else had told you earlier that you needed to go to the right, and you trust them. Do you follow this new guide? Or do you follow this other person's advice? The latter has no idea where you are, while the former is right there. He sort of fits the description you were given of the guide, but maybe his jacket isn't the same shade of green you imagined. Perhaps he just looks different than what you had in your mind. What do you do?

This is where we are. The guide we are expecting is not quite how we imagined.

"Trust in God" is the advice given a few paragraphs earlier. Trust your guide. He knows where you are, and where you need to be. Knowing both of these pieces of information, he can tell you how to get to your destination.

That quote says that God will "assuredly guide" us, but it is up to us to follow that guidance.