>>Perhaps to some degree, but does that rank an administrator three or four levels >>above a martyr?>>
I don't understand rank. But then, I conclude that is because I don't know how to accurately judge human beings, even myself. My mind and powers are incapable of grasping the greatness of the accomplished human being; that's a job for the Manifestation. I don't understand this, for example: "...verily, in this day, to the soul who is the cause of guidance to another soul the recompense of a martyr in the way of God will be assuredly recorded by the pen of the Cause for his deed. This is from the Bounty of God unto thee." (From a Tablet of `Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i Scriptures p. 204, Lights of Guidance, 2nd edition, p. 585) That is, I don't understand why God in His bounty chooses to give the act of teaching the reward of a martyr. I don't understand why Baha'u'llah says that God will give the reward of a hundred martyrs to the person who chants the Tablet of Ahmad. I assume that it is because it is promulgating the fulfillment of the Covenant of the Bab, but I don't know. Baha'u'llah gives the station of martyrdom to a pioneer: "Bahá'u'lláh Himself testifies: 'They that have forsaken their country in the path of God and subsequently ascended unto His presence, such souls shall be blessed by the Concourse on High and their names recorded by the Pen of Glory among such as have laid down their lives as martyrs in the path of God, the Help in Peril, the Self Subsistent.'" (Compilation, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 41) In fulfillment of this, the Guardian bestowed the rank of martyr on Ella Bailey who forsook her home and pioneered at an advanced age. (Dawn of a New Day p. 224) The Guardian's secretary wrote on his behalf: "Every day has certain needs. In those early days the Cause needed Martyrs, and people who would stand all sorts of torture and persecution in expressing their faith and spreading the message sent by God. Those days are, however, gone. The Cause at present does not need martyrs who would die for the faith, but servants who desire to teach and establish the Cause throughout the world. To live to teach in the present day is like being martyred in those early days. It is the spirit that moves us that counts, not the act through which that spirit expresses itself; and that spirit is to serve the Cause of God with our heart and soul." (From a letter dated 3 August 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, quoted in "Bahá'í News", 68, (Nov 1932), p. 3; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol II, p. 5) That living for the Cause -- through whatever deeds -- can have a higher station than martyrdom is reflected in the Hidden Words itself: "O SON OF MAN! Write all that We have revealed unto thee with the ink of light upon the tablet of thy spirit. Should this not be in thy power, then make thine ink of the essence of thy heart. If this thou canst not do, then write with that crimson ink that hath been shed in My path. Sweeter indeed is this to Me than all else, that its light may endure for ever." (Arabic Hidden Words 71) Someone wrote to Shoghi Effendi asking about the stations that are higher than martyrdom mentioned in this Hidden Word, and the Guardian wrote in his own handwriting: "The intent is total fulfilment of, and complete adherence to, the divine ordinances and exhortations." (Compilation on the Hidden Words http://bahai-library.com/?file=compilation_hidden_words_bwc.html ) Though I cannot see far enough to understand such relative rankings, to me, all of these stations are so much higher than my present state, that I'd happily settle for any of them. Brent __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web - http://list.jccc.net/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.net/bahai-st http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist (public) http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] (public)
