Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York (16 November 1912)

16 November 1912 2

Talk at 309 West Seventy-eighth Street, New York

Notes by Edna McKinney

Wherever the mention of &Baha'u'llah rises up, that is the paradise of &Abha. Wherever purified, severed and illumined souls are found, that is the paradise of &Baha. &Tihran is the paradise of &Baha'u'llah, for souls are found there you cannot call human; they are angels. In reality, the &Baha'i friends in that city are of the heavenly host. Whenever I think of them, I become happy.

The Blessed Perfection suffered innumerable ordeals and calamities, but during His lifetime He trained in all regions many souls who were peerless. The purpose of the appearance of the Manifestations of God is the training of the people. That is the only result of Their mission, the real outcome. The outcome of the whole life of Jesus was the training of eleven disciples and two women. Why did He suffer troubles, ordeals and calamities? For the training of these few followers. That was the result of His life. The product of the life of Christ was not the churches but the illumined souls of those who believed in Him. Afterward, they spread His teachings.

It is my hope that you all may become the product of the life of &Baha'u'llah and the outcomes of His heavenly training. When the people ask you, "What has &Baha'u'llah accomplished?" say to them, "He has created these; He has trained us."