Pilgrim Notes
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Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Emeric Sala, Pilgrim Notes, bahai-library.com.
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Pilgrim Notes

Emeric Sala

1938?

The object of my visit to the Holy Land was to meet Shoghi Effendi. I did not
meet him. I met instead the Guardian of the Baha'i Faith. Shoghi Effendi,
the man, sacrificed himself long ago for this Faith which is to unite all
humanity. There is perhaps no man living who has given so much of self. He
has given everything to God. He has no will of his own. Yet whatever he wills
becomes an accomplished fact. He has no desire of his own. Yet as soon as he
expresses a wish, the followers of this Faith voluntarily strive to fulfill.
He is the first Guardian of the Baha'i Faith and establishes the precedent
for a new type of leadership. He commands the unconditional, spontaneous
obedience of a world-wide community without need of coercion. His guidance is
based on the same Faith upon which our loyalty rests. His authority and our
obedience guarantee the unity of the World Order of Baha'u'llah.

For five evenings I had the Guardian's undivided attention. To hear him speak,
to watch his method, to follow his answers and to feel his power is one of the
most unique experiences of our time. One feels that his faith is the Faith of
God and that his will is the Will of God. There is nothing personal about him.
He expects us also to forget ourselves.

As my notes are not the exact words of the Guardian, they cannot be quoted as
such. I will only try to express his views as far as I can understand them.
They are approximations, and should not be taken as authoritative.

My first few questions related to the Guardianship. His chief function is to
guard the unity of the Baha'i Faith. Interpretation of the writings is
vested in him as a means to that end. The Guardian has the sole right to
determine what is subject to interpretation and what is subject to legislation.
He can change his own verdict should he find it necessary. Future Guardians
will re-interpret the writings as at present interpreted in the writings of
Shoghi Effendi, even the Dispensation will be re-written. Each Guardian is
guided as to the exigencies of the time and circumstances. In that sense their
interpretation is limited to the understanding of the people he is speaking to.
The Guardian is not all-knowing or perfect, yet we know he receives sufficient
guidance to interpret what is required. Translation of the writings is also
interpretation.

The Administrative Order of the Baha'i Cause rests upon two pillars: the
Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice. Upon both are conferred
unerring guidance. The local and National houses are not infallible although
they command the same authority within their respective jurisdiction.

The years 1957 and 1963 referred to in the teachings indicate the beginning of
the lesser peace, or the political unity of the nations of the world. The Most
Great Peace with the universal recognition of Baha'u'llah will not occur in
this century - 20th century.

Abdu'l-Baha's statement regarding voluntary sharing of wealth, quoting 1/3
and in another instance 2/5 is only indicative of the future trend. Similarly
every reference to profit-sharing should be taken only as examples. The
International House of Justice will legislate on all these matters. There is
no system of Baha'i economics. We have only general principles. The system
will be developed as the need arises.

We cannot compare, much less identify the Baha'i Commonwealth of the future
with any of the existing or known systems of government. The assumption that
the Baha'i plan is reformed capitalism is incorrect even though we do uphold
private property. For so do the socialists and to a lesser degree the
communists. The difference between socialism and capitalism does not rest upon
the issue of property, but on the question of the ownership and control of
the means of production. Baha'u'llah does not answer this directly therefore
it will be settled by the International House of Justice. In the meantime we
cannot and should not lean to the right or to the left.

My observation of a tendency towards stereotyped thinking amongst the American
Baha'is was confirmed by the Guardian. This however is temporary. Free and
original thinking should be encouraged. Each Baha'i group should develop its
own peculiar distinctions and through this diversity of characteristics, the
whole Baha'i world will be enriched. The present censorship of Baha'i
writers is also a temporary measure. Freedom of speech and thought will be
maintained in the Baha'i World Order. Freedom does not mean license however.

We may pray to God direct, if we have the right conception of God. We may pray
to Baha'u'llah, Abdu'l-Baha, Shoghi Effendi, or any other person in the
other world, or in this world who is close to us if our conception is the right
one. Praying is like asking. If we ask long enough, earnestly for the right
thing, we will get an answer.

Dr. Esselmont's book has been translated into 33 languages, Hidden Words into
14, the Book of Assurance into 12 and Some Answered Questions into 4 languages.
Question: If individuals withdraw, the Cause remains. What if groups do?

Answer: In the future whole National Assemblies might withdraw, but the
unity of the Cause will remain unimpaired.

Question: Were there Manifestations before the Ice Age?

Answer: If there were men, there were Manifestations. Future scientists
will determine.

Question: Can we pray to God direct?
" " " " Baha'u'llah direct?
" " " " Abdu'l-Baha "
" " " " Shoghi Effendi "
" " " " anyone "?

Answer: Yes, if we have the right conception of each of these. We may pray
to anyone in this world or in the next if we have the right
conception.

Question: The Baha'i system is a political institution?

Answer: Yes but we do not stress this at present.

Question: Is the fear of God a good thing to believe in?

Answer: Yes. The fear and love of God are the same: we should fear His
Justice, love His Mercy. Fear alone is not enough.

Question: There is a tendency with the friends to curtail free thought. Any
subject not touched upon or developed by the Guardian is thought of
quite often as non-essential or even contrary to the teachings.
Should not free thinking be encouraged?

Answer: Yes. Free and original thinking should be encouraged.

Question: Other Baha'is might be inspired to think of something before the
Guardian thought of it?

Answer: Yes. (The Guardian will receive inspiration according to the needs
of the Baha'i World.)
Question: You are the Guardian of the Cause. I am the guardian of my own
life.

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do you always see the wisdom of your own decisions?

Answer: Not necessarily - he does not always see the wisdom of his own
decisions. Even Abdu'l-Baha's interpretations appeared contrary
his reason (Shoghi Effendi's) sometimes.

Question: Your interpretation is not every aspect of the truth?

Answer: No it is not.

Question: What you say is only relatively true?

Answer: Yes but we must accept the aspect given for the time.

Question: Is it better to have guidance than inspiration?

Answer: Yes. Inspiration may come from the ego while guidance comes only to
those who are free from self.

The Baha'i Faith was founded on two orders and two Prophets.

1- Baha'u'llah, a Prophet.

2- Bab, a Prophet.

3- Abdu'l-Baha, an order.

4- Administrative Order, which has two pillars: these two are
absolutely indispensable to each other.

Regarding Abdu'l-Baha's statements. He was not a lawyer. He did not speak
as one. His writings need to be codified and classified. Form of the writings
need not be perfect but the substance must be. The Master's form was not
perfect.

To have faith and to retain it one must nourish it constantly as the sap
nourishes the tree in order that it will not dry out - by prayer, meditation,
study, observation and conscious activity (service).

Greenland will become green, the climate will change.
The Administration is sufficiently perfected for the present. We in the West
are tempted to continue making laws and regulations. We must restrain this and
concentrate on teaching. Teaching is now the most important thing.

Outside ornamentation of the Temple is a necessity: interior is a luxury. The
latter should be left for the next Baha'i century for completion.

Centenial gatherings may be held in the Temple. Reading of prayers and
meditations revealed by the other great Prophets should be encouraged in the
Temple.

Most striking difference between the Papacy and the Guardianship is that the
former has both the power of interpretation and legislation while the latter
has only the power of interpretation.

Muhammadan Dispensation brought Patriotism.

There is nothing in the teachings about the control of the means of production.
The future will decide.

Threefold unity upheld by the Baha'i Cause:

unity of the Prophets,

unity of mankind,

unity of God.

Regarding immaculate conception: the Master and Baha'u'llah both confirmed
this. It is true but do not stress it.

Regarding kissing Abdu'l-Baha's clothing, dress of the greatest Holy Leaf,
do not encourage but do not forbid. Leave to the individual.

Horace Holley in Green Acre referred to words attributed to the Master
"Communism should have been stamped out the moment it appeared." It does not
seem to be authentic - Shoghi Effendi said he did not know exactly.

Question: In spirit are all the Guardians the same?

Answer: Yes, all are under the same power of unerring guidance.

Question: Is revelation interpretation?

Answer: Yes: Guardians' differ from the Prophets' interpretation. The
latter receive Theirs from God direct, the former derive
theirs through the Prophets.
Question: Is perfect justice impossible?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Does this mean that the International House of Justice will not give
perfect justice?

Answer: They will have the unerring guidance of God.

Question: Between the two camps of right and left which will win?

Answer: Neither.

Question: Did you ever say or write anything in the capacity of Guardian,
realizing afterwards that it was a mistake?

Answer: Not in the interpretation of the teachings.

Question: Does infallibility mean perfection?

Answer: No. (At a later date Shoghi Effendi said the future Guardians may
not all be saints but that that will not deter them from receiving
the unerring guidance of God. I did not mean that Shoghi Effendi
implied that he was a saint.)

Baha'u'llah stated that drinking should be forbidden for 800 years. (It may
be longer than that number of years.) He was very definite in His statements
regarding this.

When or if the Guardian comes to America, he does not know. It depends upon
the friends. If he feels the urge from them.

To teach Faith, a story, an episode, an act may be sufficient.

Canadians should be proud of Miss Marion Jack. Her work should be increasingly
appreciated.

A child should be restrained, a youth curbed, the old supported.

Question: Faith without reason is superstition?

Answer: Yes, but the faith which supercedes reason is not superstition.

Non-attendance at Unity Feasts does not disqualify voting rights or memberships
in the Baha'i community.

In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity. It is the right of the
Guardian or the Universal House of Justice to decide which is which.

The period of engagement is 90 days. If marriage does not take place within
that time, the engagement must be annulled. This law is enforced in the East
only.

Faith should make us obey spontaneously.

There is nothing in the writings about birth control.

There is nothing about lotteries in the teachings, though gambling is
forbidden. (While Emeric was in Haifa a letter was received by the Guardian
from a Persian Baha'i regarding lotteries. The Guardian did not seem to
regard it as gambling for as far as Emeric remembers the Guardian said that it
was not mentioned in the writings. He said the Universal House of Justice
would determine that question.)

The Guardian does not wait for inspiration. He works and while working it
comes in a continuous flow.

He does not know at present when or where the War will come. (The Guardian
does not speculate about the future. He has no curiosity.)

Guardians will always be chosen from the family of Baha'u'llah. The Afnans
will have no special privileges.

The Guardian confirmed these thoughts of Emeric's.

"Moses brought the law; Christ brought love; Baha'u'llah brought justice the
combination of those two forces. Justice can only be expressed by groups and
Baha'u'llah has created such groups."

19 equals unity, 19 years make a cycle, 19 cycles make 361 years, a great
cycle.

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-- Pilgrim Notes (Used by permission of the curator)