"The death of self is needed here, not rhetoric: Be nothing, then, and walk upon the waves."

"The death of self is needed here, not rhetoric: Be nothing, then, and walk upon the waves. 8

 Likewise is it written, “And be ye not like those who forget God, and whom He hath therefore caused to forget their own selves. These are the wicked doers.” 9"

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, p. 52



 8. The Mathnaví. 
 9. Qur’án 59:19.

“Read thy Book: There needeth none but thyself to make out an account against thee this day.”

"This station hath many signs, unnumbered proofs. Hence it is said: “Hereafter We will show them Our signs in the regions of the earth, and in themselves, until it become manifest unto them that it is the truth,” 5 and that there is no God save Him.

One must, then, read the book of his own self, rather than some treatise on rhetoric. Wherefore He hath said, 6
“Read thy Book: There needeth none but thyself to make out an account against thee this day.”

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, p. 51

 5. Qur’án 41:53. 
 6. Qur’án 17:15.

"If a man could know what lieth hid in this one verse, it would suffice him..."

"On this plane, the traveler meeteth with many a trial and reverse. Now is he lifted up to heaven, now is he cast into the depths. As it hath been said: “Now Thou drawest me to the summit of glory, again Thou castest me into the lowest abyss.” The mystery treasured in this plane is divulged in the following holy verse from the Súrih of THE CAVE: 3

 “And thou mightest have seen the sun when it arose, pass on the right of their cave, and when it set, leave them on the left, while they were in its spacious chamber. This is one of the signs of God. Guided indeed is he whom God guideth; but for him whom He misleadeth, thou shalt by no means find a patron.”

If a man could know what lieth hid in this one verse, it would suffice him. Wherefore, in praise of such as these, He hath said: “Men whom neither merchandise nor traffic beguile from the remembrance of God….” 4"

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, p. 53

 3. Qur’án 18:16. This is a reference to the station of complete faith. The companions of the Cave are identified with early Christian martyrs. 
 4. Qur’án 24:37.

“Leave thyself behind, and then approach Me.”

"If the loving seekers wish to live within the precincts of the Attracting One (Majdhúb), 1 no soul may dwell on this Kingly Throne save the beauty of love. This realm is not to be pictured in words.

Love shunneth this world and that world too,
In him are lunacies seventy-and-two.
The minstrel of love harpeth this lay:
Servitude enslaveth, kingship doth betray. 2

This plane requireth pure affection and the bright stream of fellowship. In telling of these companions of the Cave He saith: “They speak not till He hath spoken; and they do His bidding.” 3

On this plane, neither the reign of reason is sufficient nor the authority of self. Hence, one of the Prophets of God hath asked: “O my Lord, how shall we reach unto Thee?” And the answer came,
“Leave thyself behind, and then approach Me.”"

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, pp. 54-55


 1. That attribute of God which draws all creatures to Him. 
 2. The Mathnaví. 
 3. Qur’án 21:27

“O My Servant! Obey Me and I shall make thee like unto Myself..."

"Astonishment here is highly prized, and utter poverty essential. Wherefore hath it been said, “Poverty is My pride.” 18 And again: “God hath a people beneath the dome of glory, whom He hideth in the clothing of radiant poverty.” 19

These are they who see with His eyes, hear with His ears, as it is written in the well-known tradition. Concerning this realm, there is many a tradition and many a verse, of broad or special relevancy, but two of these will suffice to serve as a light for men of mind and heart. The first is His statement:
“O My Servant! Obey Me and I shall make thee like unto Myself. I say ‘Be,’ and it is, and thou shalt say ‘Be,’ and it shall be.” And the second: “O Son of Adam! Seek fellowship with none until thou hast found Me, and whenever thou shalt long for Me, thou shalt find Me close to thee.”"

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys And the Four Valleys, pp. 62-63



 18. Muḥammad. 
 19. Hadíth.

"He Who hath ever been the Desire of every perceiving heart, the Object of the adoration of all that are in heaven and on earth, and the Cynosure of the former and the latter generations—is now come!"

"O Temple of Divine Revelation! Sound the trumpet in My Name! O Temple of Divine mysteries! Raise the clarion call of Thy Lord, the Unconditioned, the Unconstrained! O Maid of Heaven! Step forth from the chambers of paradise and announce unto the people of the world: By the righteousness of God! He Who is the Best-Beloved of the worlds—He Who hath ever been the Desire of every perceiving heart, the Object of the adoration of all that are in heaven and on earth, and the Cynosure of the former and the latter generations—is now come!"

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, p. 54

Mt. Sinai

"Say: This is the Day whereon God’s most great favour hath been made manifest. "

" ... Well is it with them who hearken unto the Voice of God, and turn their faces towards His throne to behold a most holy and blessed Vision. For whoso cherisheth in his heart the love of anyone beside Me, be it to the extent of a grain of mustard seed, shall be unable to gain admittance into My Kingdom. To this beareth witness that which adorneth the preamble of the Book of Existence, could ye but perceive it. Say: This is the Day whereon God’s most great favour hath been made manifest. The voice of all who are in the heavens above and on the earth below proclaimeth My Name, and singeth forth My praises, could ye but hear it!"

-Bahá'u'lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts, pp. 53-54