Paris Talks First published 1912 as
Talks by Abdul Baha Given in Paris
by The Unity Press,
East Sheen, Surrey
This twelfth edition
© 1995 The Bahá'í Publishing Trust
27 Rutland Gate
London SW7 1PD

Cased ISBN 1-870989-57-0
Paperback ISBN 1-870989-61-9

Printed by The Cromwell Press,
Broughton Gifford, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8PH

The first edition of Paris Talks, published by Unity 'Abdu'l-Bahá given in Paris from October-December 1911. In the second edition, published in 1915, additional material was added in the form of three talks and a Tablet recorded during 'Abdu'l-Bahá's visit to England in 1912-13. These supplementary materials have since been included in all subsequent editions, and are now popularly associated with the book. In this latest edition, consideration was given to the treatment of this supplementary section and it was decided to retain the material but in the form of a new 'Part Three' of the text, previously published in two parts. The talks have also been numbered for the first time, and, in line with proposals agreed at an International Conference of Bahá'í Publishers in 1992, have been indexed by paragraph number to facilitate referencing and translation.
While in France, 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke in Persian, which was then translated into French. Paris Talks is a collection of original notes made by four visitors from Great Britain, Lady Sarah Louisa Blomfield, her two daughters, Mary Esther Blomfield and Rose Ellinor Cecilia Blomfield, and Beatrice Marion Platt. These notes were then translated and published in English, at 'Abdu'l-Bahá's suggestion. Despite the misgivings of the four translators, the fruit of their combined efforts, Paris Talks, has proved to be one of the most popular and widely used Bahá'í books, and has been published in many languages. As is to be expected with any composite work, there is some variation in style between the talks, but for reasons of historical authenticity, only

a few necessary changes have been made, with the approval of the Universal House of Justice.
Since 1912, there have been a total of eleven editions and many reprints and, for a time, the talks were also published in the United States under the title The Wisdom of 'Abdu'l-Bahá. In this twelfth edition, we gratefully acknowledge our thanks to the Assemblée Spirituelle Nationale des Bahá'ís de France, for providing photographs of some of the locations visited by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His visits to Paris. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was to visit Paris on a further two occasions, thereby endowing that already beautiful city with a priceless spiritual heritage.

INTRODUCTION

In the West, the early part of the twentieth century was a period of great change, of contrasting hopes and expectations. Many people were engaged in a spiritual search which led them into such diverse areas as spiritualism, healing, theosophy and occultism, or attracted them to revivalist and new charismatic sects within mainstream religion. Coupled with this was a rise in social consciousness, which found expression in the labour movement, socialism and the beginnings of the welfare state. At the same time, there was a growing awareness of the instability of the international political system and fear that local skirmishes could escalate into much wider conflicts. Traditional beliefs were challenged by a rise in secularism and the emergence of a new powerful middle class, whose new-found wealth was based upon the markets and raw materials provided by the colonial conquests of the nineteenth century.
It was into such a world that 'Abdu'l-Bahá stepped in 1911. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was the son of Bahá'u'lláh, Founder of the Bahá'í Faith. Condemned, from the age of nine, to a life of imprisonment and exile at the hands of the despotic Ottoman Empire, 'Abdu'l-Bahá was eventually released from prison as an old man. Despite suffering poor health from years of deprivation, 'Abdu'l-Bahá undertook a series of momentous journeys to proclaim the new gospel revealed by His Father. He visited Paris for nine weeks, from 3 October until 2 December 1911, as part of a journey which took Him to several European countries and to North America.
Throughout His travels 'Abdu'l-Bahá attracted large audiences of people from all walks of life eager to hear His words. Despite having received no formal education,

'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke easily with the leaders of thought, government and church who sought His counsel, and was equally at home with the humble workman, the forgotten poor or political radical. His reputation as a saintly figure endowed with innate wisdom quickly grew, and was widely reported in the press.
Unaccustomed to western ways and ideas, 'Abdu'l-Bahá was nevertheless able to transcend the barrriers of culture and tradition and address the most vital concerns of His many different audiences. As He travelled in Europe and North America He shared a vision, based on a unique understanding of His Father's teachings, of a new social order which would satisfy the deepest longings for a just, peaceful and harmonious world. He predicted a future which, if certain trends were nurtured and attitudes fostered, would exceed our highest expectations. At the same time, He foresaw the direction that other developments would take if not checked, and gave clear advice and admonitions on how to prevent such a fate. He instinctively responded to those who longed for deeper counsel, sharing with them a full measure of His compassionate and unconditional love, renewing in them a spirit of hope and faith. With patience, humour and profound sympathy, He offered pearls of wisdom on the nature of happiness and spiritual progress, while highlighting the link between personal transformation and the establishment of a more equitable and benign society.
'Abdu'l-Bahá's talks in Paris can be seen as a distillation of some of Bahá'u'lláh's most important teachings across a whole spectrum of issues. In the area of social reform, 'Abdu'l-Bahá addressed such subjects as the rights of women, racism, xenophobia and unbridled nationalism, the abolition of war, and the basis of collective security and peace between nations. His

concern for the downtrodden and oppressed, and the obscene disparities between rich and poor, was demonstrated through countless personal acts of kindness and sacrifice, and His many statements on human rights and responsibilities challenged the social conventions of the time.
His spiritual themes include answers to age-old questions; what is the nature of God, of the soul, of love? How can one acquire spiritual qualities? He discussed many subjects of particular interest to Christians, including biblical prophecy, and showed how religious truth is progressively revealed to humanity by God through intermediaries such as Christ and Bahá'u'lláh.
'Abdu'l-Bahá's vision was of a world reconciled to its oneness, universal in its outlook and united in all its glorious diversity. In the early 1900s however, throughout Europe, people were dazzled by imperial pageantry, swept up by triumphant nationalism, and entranced by the wonders of new scientific and technological achievements. While its leaders vied to build their infernal engines of war, few paid heed to the clarion call for peace raised by an elderly prisoner from a backwater of a disintegrating Turkish empire. Europe was on the edge of disaster and 'Abdu'l-Bahá knew it, but it has taken the collective suffering of two world wars, followed by the global disintegration of political, social and religious systems, to reveal the true significance of His words.
Almost a century later, the Paris talks of 'Abdu'l-Bahá still have important contributions to make to our current thinking. They provide us with new, more appropriate ways of looking at our world, free of prejudice, liberated from the paralysing contradictions of the past, seeing all people as members of the same human

family. They illuminate the potential for good in human nature, showing all religions as part of a chain of guidance from God stretching from the past into the far distant future, viewing religion as a source of unity rather than division, seeing that personal salvation is intimately linked to the salvation of the whole world through the establishment of a new social order. 'Abdu'l-Bahá's advice is not only spiritually uplifting but practical and well suited to people more concerned, perhaps, with the 'how' rather than the 'why'. He provides strategies that enable people to work together in unity – strategies springing directly from the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh – and shows how to apply and translate those spiritual teachings into daily action.
His emphasis on the need to discover religious and spiritual truth for oneself, rather than to rely on the ideas of others, is of vital importance to one's sense of self and integrity, so much sought after today. Perhaps, most importantly of all, 'Abdu'l-Bahá did not simply preach virtue, but demonstrated and lived it. As we look ahead to the critical fortunes of our small planet we find in the example of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, not only a new ethos, a new morality for all the world, but also a true model for the way we can live our lives: therein lies the abiding power of His teachings. Paris Talks, the first publication of 'Abdu'l-Bahá's talks given in the West, will thus remain of enduring value. That 'Abdu'l-Bahá's guidance has not yet been universally implemented, is perhaps more reason to read His words and consider their implications for our future.

INDEX

References to the words of'Abdu'l-Bahá are indexed by talk number, followed by paragraph number.

Aaron, 33.21 'Abdu'l-Bahá, 53.15 imprisonment, 10.2, 10.5-10, 35.14 principles, 59.8 'Abdu'l-Hamíd, 10.6 Abraham, 4.2, 13.4, 27.7, 53.17 actions (deeds), 1.8-15, 2.5-7, 9.2, 14.2, 14.5, 18.4, 26.1-9, 49.6 Adam, 40.12, 45.11, 56.1 adversity, 35.8 affection, 24.8, 32.4, 34.1 'Alí, 40.18 Anas, 33.4 angels, 18.5, 53.9 animal kingdom, 2.1-2, 3.6, 3.8, 5.8-9, 6.1, 9.17, 23.2-3, 23.6, 28.6, 29.27, 31.2-3, 34.1, 36.3, 36.9, 39.20-1, 42.9, 50.4, 54.10 Arabs, 13.9-12, 27.8 Aristotle, 3.3, 51.5 arts, 23.5, 26.6, 28.7, 54.15, 55.1 attraction, law of, 29.12, 31.3, 42.5-7 Avicenna, 3.3 Báb, 4.2, 25.1-2, 27.9, 29.34 Badí', 25.10-12 Bahá'í Faith ('the Bahá'í Cause'; 'the cause'; 'the Cause of God'; 'the Cause of the Glory of God'; 'this great and glorious Cause'; 'the Revelation'), 10.8, 24.2, 25.14, 33.10, 33.19, 52.1 Bahá'ís ('followers of the Light'; 'friends of God, 1.6, 4.8, 24.2, 26.5-8, 30.10 Bahá'u'lláh ('the Blessed Perfection'), 4.2, 8.7, 25.1-21, 29.34, 33.9-10, 39.5, 49.17, 53.17, 53.19-20, 59.5, 59.8 principles, 4.8, 24.4, 40.7-36, 41.1, 42.1-2, 44.1-2, 46.1, 50.1, 50.14, 52.1-2 teachings, 1.7, 13.1-2, 13.20, 15.12, 19.8, 27.10, 28.12, 30.10, 33.25, 36.10, 40.6, 42.11-12, 49.12, 50.15, 51.1, 52.1, 52.3, 54.8 Writings, 53.19; quotations, 5.4, 12.3, 12.7, 45.3, 59.8 baptism, 27.1-5, 53.10 Bible, 16.1, 18.6, 54.19 birth, new, spiritual, 8.7, 29.40 books (words, writings), holy, sacred, etc, 1.10, 5.5, 9.2, 18.6-7, 22.10, 26.2, 26.6, 34.1, 40.12, 56.1 Buddha, 41.9 Buddhists, 41.3-4 Burning Bush, 22.7 Caiaphas, 14.7, 33.4 calumny, 33.8-25 Christ, 4.2, 7.5, 8.4-5, 11.11, 12.3-6, 13.10-19, 14.5, 16.1-7, 17.13, 18.4, 19.7, 21.3, 27.1-4, 27.8, 29.16, 33.4, 33.14, 33.22-3, 38.1-8, 39.3, 41.9, 44.12, 45.7, 53.7, 53.17 apostles, disciples, 14.5, 18.4, 33.14, 38.7-9, 39.3, 51.5-6, 51.12, 52.6, 57.2 words, 5.4, 5.16, 11.10, 12.3, 13.14, 15.2, 27.1, 28.21, 49.12, 52.6 Christianity, 7.3-5, 8.4 Christians, 7.4-6, 13.8, 13.19-20, 41.3-4 and Muslims, 13.8, 13.20, civilization, 11.11 material, 4.7, 5.22, 19.4, 34.3-5 mental, 4.7 spiritual, 8.9, 31.10 true, 4.4-8, 7.3-4 contemplation, 54.3, 54.8 conventionality, 1.8, 15.7 country, love of, 9.3, 9.7 crafts, 55.1 creation: aim of, 29.18 kingdoms, 11.2, 50.2, 55.2 higher, superior, 5.9, 6.1; lower, inferior, 5.7–9, 11.3, new, 8.8 customs, 6.3, 34.6 David, 16.4 death, 3.3-5 life after, 20.11-13, 29.6-8, 49.6 detachment, 24.10, 28.19 diversity, 15.3-12 Dreyfus, Hippolyte, 10.4 East, 1.8, 4.1-6, 8.3-4, 22.1, 23.1-2, 23.8, 27.10, 28.4-5, 28.18, 33.4, 34.9, 50.12-13 education, 50.5, 51.11, 56.1 Elijah, 51.5 enlightenment, 8.3, 11.12 equality, 16.4, 40.12, 46.5-9 before God, 42.3, 45.11, 50.5, 50.10 before the law, 40.25-6, 47.2-6 of the sexes, 50.1-15, 59.5-8 equalization of means of existence, 40.22-4, 46.2-13 Esperanto, 48.6, 48.10 Europe, 34.5, 38.9, 50.12 Monarchs, 25.9 evil, 18.3, 56.1 Ezekiel, 51.5 family, love of, 9.3 fear, 49.1-8 foreigners, 1.1-8 freedom, 9.17-19, 10.9, 11.6. 35.7, 39.14 friendship, 1.7-9, 6.11, 58.9 future, 21.6 God, 1.1, 1.15, 1.17, 3.8, 4.8, 5.2-21, 5.24, 6.9, 6.12-13, 7.4, 7.7, 8.2, 8.7, 8.9, 9.17, 9.1, 9.21, 9.22-3, 9.26, 10.1, 10.3, 10.7, 10.9, 11.1, 11.10, 12.3-6, 12.10, 13.2, 13.4-6, 13.10-12, 13.19, 14.1, 14.3, 14.5, 14.7-8, 14.11, 15.1-2, 15.5, 15.12, 16.1-2, 16.8-10, 17.3-13, 18.2-6, 19.11-12, 20.1, 21.1, 21.5-6, 22.9-10, 23.3, 23.6, 24.9-10, 24.12, 26.4, 26.7, 26.9, 27.4-11, 28.1, 28.20, 28.22, 29.38, 30.3, 30.8, 30.10, 31.6, 32.2, 32.5, 32.7, 32.12, 32.14-15, 33.1, 33.6, 33.8, 33.18, 33.21, 33.24, 34.1, 34.6-9, 35.7, 35.13-16, 36.2-3, 36.8, 37.3, 37.5, 37.7, 39.7-13, 41.5, 42.2-3, 42.9, 44.20, 45.4-5, 45.7, 45.11, 45.18-20, 46.12-13, 49.11-12, 50.10, 51.5, 53.10-11, 53.12, 55.1 attributes, 2.3, 3.1-4, 3.3, 3.8-9, 4.5, 4.7, 5.5-6, 5.9, 5.11, 5.15, 5.13, 5.23, 6.9-10, 6.13, 8.8-9, 9.21, 9.25-6, 10.7, 10.10, 11.4, 12.9, 13.2, 13.10, 14.1, 15.12, 16.9, 16.10, 17.1, 17.9, 17.14, 19.2, 19.12, 20.2, 20.12, 20.15, 21.5, 22.11, 23.3, 28.21, 31.6, 31.8, 34.7-9, 35.7, 35.9-10, 35.13, 35.15, 36.9, 37.7, 38.12, 39.7, 39.9-11, 39.24, 40.11-12, 44.4, 44.20, 45.11, 49.14, 49.17-18, 50.14, 51.14-15, 53.2-3, 53.4, 53.18 titles, 3.3, 5.7, 5.9-11, 5.15, 5.17, 5.19, 5.21, 5.26, 6.12-13, 8.8, 9.26, 13.2, 14.8, 15.1-2, 16.9, 17.1, 17.3, 17.6-7, 17.9, 17.12, 18.7, 28.19, 28.22, 32.14, 34.7-8, 35.13, 36.10, 39.7, 39.13, 40.14, 42.11, 44.20, 45.11, 45.14, 45.19, 49.8, 54.1 goodness, 1.11-12, 1.14, 18.3, 35.15 grief, 14.8, 35.3 guidance, 28.4 happiness, 4.6, 14.8, 20.9, 23.7, 34.7-8, 34.10, 57.2-8 harmony, 4.5, 10.3, 15.6, 34.9, 37.4 hatred, 9.1, 9.7, 9.9-11, 32.9-12 healing, 3.1-3, 39.15-17 Heaven, 9.21, 11.13, 12.3, 12.6, 12.9, 16.6, 53.9 holiness, 18.4, 26.6 Holy Spirit, 4.7, 5.24, 6.12, 8.7, 9.14, 9.18, 12.9, 13.10, 13.16, 17.6-13, 18.6, 19.4, 19.7, 19.12, 21.3, 25.18, 27.1, 28.1, 28.7-9, 29.17, 31.6, 31.9, 33.23, 34.9, 35.15, 39.13, 39.20, 51.1-16, 52.5, 53.4, 53.20, 54.11, 58.4, 58.10 honour, 21.6 hope, 49.1-5 human race ('family of mankind'; 'human kingdom'; 'humanity'; 'mankind'; 'men'; 'people'; 'peoples'; 'sons of humanity'; 'world of humanity'), 1.9, 4.6, 5.2, 7.7, 8.8, 9.4, 10.3, 11.12, 31.1, 31.6, 32.4, 32.12, 33.6, 34.9, 35.6, diversity, 15.5-11 peace, 32.4, 32.12 unity (brotherhood, solidarity, etc), 4.9, 5.2, 6.12, 9.23, 11.12, 13.1, 16.4, 32.3, 34.9-10, 39.26, 40.8-14, 40.41, 42.2-12, 45.11-15, 49.17, 50.15, 53.15, 55.1, 58.7 humility, 33.25, 45.8 ideals, 1.10, 2.6, 4.6, 11.13, 32.8 ideas, material, 9.26 spiritual, 4.3 idol worship, 13.8, 13.12, 41.5, 44.20 ignorance, 39.15 imperfections, 18.1-2, 39.16 individuality, 20.10, 28.2 injustice, 16.4, 49.16 Isaac, 27.7 Isaiah, 51.5 Israel, prophets of, 13.12, 16.2, 22.6, 39.2, 51.5 Jacob, 13.4, 27.7 Jeremiah, 51.5 Jews, 13.3-7, 13.19, 16.1-6, 33.4, 41.3-4 Job, 14.5 John the Evangelist, 17.13 Joseph, 13.4, 27.7 joy, 8.1, 35.1-3, 35.6, 35.11-13, 36.11, 57.3 Judah, prophets of, 51.5 Judas Iscariot, 45.7 justice, 1.16, 2.6, 18.4, 37.6, 37.9, 49.14-17 kindness, 1.4, 1.7, 9.1, 15.7, 24.8 Kingdom, eternal, spiritual, 8.3, 10.9, 10.11, 12.9, 18.4, 21.1, 26.6, 30.2, 32.4, 32.13, 35.7-8, 35.12, 36.2-3, 45.21, 49.7-8, 53.10-11, 54.2, 54.17-19, 56.1, 58.5 of Abhá, 53.23 of Bahá'u'lláh, 25.16, 53.3 of Glory, 4.9, 28.23, 51.12 of God, 6.12, 12.3, 13.17, 15.12, 19.12, 22.10, 28.21, 30.6, 32.7, 38.1, 53.8, 54.15; on earth, 11.13, 34.6 of Heaven, 12.9, 23.3, 31.8, 35.15, 36.10, 38.12; on earth, 7.5 Kitáb-i-Aqdas, 48.2 knowledge, 4.3, 11.13, 17.10, 23.4, 29.9-10, 35.13 Krishna, 9.1 language, universal, 48.2-10 life, eternal, everlasting, immortal, 14.7, 15.12, 17.11, 27.2-4, 27.6, 28.8, 35.13, 35.15, 36.10, 38.1, 38.5, 54.11, 58.4 in the world to come, 20.1 new, 8.8 spiritual, 17.7, 19.6, 54.13 love, 1.13, 6.7-8, 7.4, 9.1-15, 11.10, 30.4, 32.4, 39.19, 42.5, 45.13, 53.13, 58.1 Divine, 9.20, 21.2 Lycurgus, 46.8 man: and animals, 2.1-2, 3.8, 5.8, 6.1, 9.17, 23.2-3, 23.6, 28.6, 31.2-3, 31.6, 31.9, 34.1, 36.3, 36.9, 39.20-1, 42.10, 54.10, 54.14 and God, 5.4-21, 5.24, 8.2, 8.8, 9.17, 11.1, 15.5, 17.3-13, 23.3, 23.6, 39.19 and nature, 9.17-19, 11.5-9, 39.20-4, 56.1 body, 12.10, 19.2-3, 20.1-15, 28.6, 29.2, 29.5-6, 31.1-4, 31.6-7, 34.6 ego, 57.4, faculties, physical, 5.7, 5.14; spiritual, 29.41 heart, 5.4, 5.6, 5.21, 5.24, 6.7, 6.9, 6.12, 7.4, 12.8, 13.1, 16.8, 18.5, 19.12, 21.2-3, 22.11, 24.12, 26.9, 27.11, 28.2, 30.5, 31.6, 31.9, 32.3-4, 34.6-8, 35.7, 36.2-3, 37.5, 52.4, 57.4 imagination, 5.6-10 immortality, 29.29-31 instinct, natural, 8.2; spiritual, 29.8 mind (intellect, intelligence, understanding), 4.8, 5.5-8, 5.15, 5.18-20, 6.11, 9.18, 11.1-13, 12.2, 16.8, 17.3, 17.10, 18.4, 22.3-5, 23.3, 29.5, 29.10, 29.29, 30.4, 31.3-6, 33.15, 34.1, 35.2, 35.13, 36.10, 37.7, 39.26, 40.17, 44.14, 44.18-23, 54.3, 57.1 powers, bodily, earthly, 29.2, 3.5; spiritual, 3.7, 9.20, 39.20 reality, 2.1, 23.7, 28.6 soul, 5.11-12, 7.1, 8.7, 9.26, 17.7, 19.3, 20.2, 20.4, 20.12-14, 20.4, 20.6-10, 20.15, 21.1, 22.11, 27.4, 28.1-2, 28.6-7, 28.13-17, 29.4-8, 29.13-15, 29.23-29, 30.7, 31.1, 31.3, 31.5-9, 34.6, 34.8, 36.2, 36.10 spirit, 9.20, 10.6, 10.11, 12.16, 16.5, 18.4, 20.3-6, 20.8, 20.11, 21.1, 22.10, 23.2, 23.7, 28.2, 29.1, 29.8-11, 29.15-17, 31.1, 29.31-39, 31.4-8, 35.10, 37.7, 54.4, 54.7, 54.9, 54.17-18, 55.2, 57.1, 57.4 superior to other kingdoms of creation, 2.2, 3.6, 5.8, 5.12-14, 6.1-2, 11.2-9, 29.20, 31.5-6, 44.18 two natures, 18.2-4, 19.2-4, 31.6-9 will, 9.18, 11.9 Manifestation of God, ('Divine Beings'; 'Divine Manifestations of the Truth'; 'Heaven-Sent Teachers'; 'Masters'; 'Messengers'; 'the Perfect Man'; 'Prophets'; 'Prophets of God'; 'Spiritual Philosophers'; 'Spiritual Teachers'; 'the Sun of Truth'; Teachers'), 2.6-7, 4.1-2, 5.15-17, 7.1, 7.4, 7.6-7, 8.7, 9.1, 12.8, 13.11, 13.17, 14.11, 15.2, 16.10, 17.7, 17.11, 18.6, 19.6, 23.2, 28.18, 29.31, 33.1, 34.6, 34.9, 37.5, 38.7, 39.5-6, 39.18, 40.14, 44.10, 51.2-12, 53.16, 56.1 Mary, 12.4, 13.10, 16.6 materialism, materiality, 2.2, 9.5, 9.13, 29.3, 32.7, 35.4, 35.12, 36.10, 39.5, 39.19-20 materialists, 29.24-38 meditation, 54.2, 54.8-17 meetings, 5.1-3, 24.2, 24.11, 32.5 material, 21.1 spiritual, 21.1-4, 32.1, 36.2 mercy, 28.19, 37.7, 39.13 mineral kingdom, 5.7, 20.14, 27.2, 29.4 Moses, 4.2, 13.4, 13.10-12, 13.16, 13.19, 16.4, 16.6, 22.7, 27.7, 33.3, 33.21, 39.1, 41.9, 44.12, 53.17 mothers, 50.8-9 Muhammad, 4.2, 13.9-12, 13.17, 22.8, 27.8, 29.33, 33.5, 39.4, 53.17 Muslims ('people of Islám'), 13.8-12, 13.16, 41.4 and Christians, 13.8, 13.20 mysteries, 16.9, 35.2, 54.6, 54.13 Násiri'd-Dín Sháh, 25.10-17 nations, 4.6, 7.3, 7.7, 13.2, 15.5, 34.9-10, 39.17 nature, 9.19, 11.9, 15.2, 19.2. 29.2, 39.20, 42.9, 50.5 laws, 3.6, 9.17-19, 11.5-6, 17.2, 23.4, 39.21 New Jerusalem, 28.3-4, 28.19 Old Testament: quotations, 5.4, 46.10 opinion, diversity, 15.9 opposition, 36.4, 52.5 oppression, 1.16, 2.6, 24.2, 26.7 pain, 35.1 Paris, 5.1, 5.22-3, 9.16, 10.5, 18.1, 20.1, 21.1, 24.3, 28.5, 53.1, 53.4, 53.8-9 Paul, 45.7 peace, 6.9, 16.4, 39.9, 40.27-8, 48.2 Most Great, 34.6 perfection, 1.11, 14.9, 18.4, 19.3, 29.4, 31.8, 36.3, 50.10, 55.2 Persia, 4.2, 24.2, 28.4, 34.9, 39.5, 49.13, 54.1-3 Peter, 13.14, 14.7, 17.13, 51.6 Pharaoh, 13.5, 33.3, 33.21 Pharisees, 16.4, 33.4, 33.22 philosophers, 2.6, 51.4, 51.8 philosopy, Divine, 54.2 Plato, 51.5 Pliny, 51.5 politics, 9.3, 9.10, 45.19 and religion, 40.29-31, 49.8-13 poverty, 46.3-4, 46.10-13 prayer, 24.9, 26.7, 29.6, 35.9, 37.7, 39.25, 55.1 prejudice, 5.2, 12.8, 40.8-9, 40.19-21, 41.7-8, 45.1-3 political, 45.15 racial, 45.11-15 religious, 13.2-20, 45.4-10 progress, material, 7.2, 19.5-6, 21.1, 23.5, 28.5, 31.9, 34.4-6, 39.20, 40.35 spiritual, 5.22, 19.5-6, 28.5, 29.9, 29.36, 31.6, 34.6 progressive revelation, 39.2-6 prosperity, 24.2, 28.5 purity, 1.16, 12.9, 18.1, 20.12 Qur'án, 18.6 quotations, 5.4, 13.10, 22.8, 29.38 race, races, 9.8-9, 16.6, 32.3 religion, 29.6, 33.8, 39.20, 39.26, 40.7, 40.13-18, 41.3-11, 42.1 and civilization, 7.3 and morality, 7.3-4 and politics, 40.29-31, 49.8-13 and science, 40.15-18, 44.1-26 dogma, 5.19, 41.3, 44.14-15, 54.6 essence of all, 27.6 doctors, leaders, Mullas, priests, teachers, 13.2, 13.15, 25.1-3, 27.1, 39.17 misrepresentation, 13.2 ritual, 39.13, 44.14 two main parts, 44.7–13 unity, 39.7, 39.15 war amongst, 13.8 sacrifice, 14.5, 57.3 sadness, 30.4, 35.2 saints, 2.2, 18.1-4, 18.7 salvation, 27.1, 36.10 savagery, 6.6, 34.1 science, 4.3, 11.3, 11.13, 23.4, 24.1, 26.6, 28.7, 29.14, 41.9, 54.5, 54.15, 55.1 and religion, 40.15-18, 44.1-26 Scribes, 16.4, 33.4 scriptures, 16.5, 16.8 sects, 16.6 selflessness, 7.4, 32.4 senses, 5.7-8, 28.14, 31.3 service, 1.8, 9.3, 9.11, 21.1, 24.6, 26.6, 55.1 sickness, material, of the body, 3.1-3, 19.3, 35.9 spiritual, of the soul, 3.1–2 sin, 8.7, 20.8, 32.6, 29.6, 32.13, 56.1 sincerity, 6.12, 14.5 slander, 33.10-20 slavery, 6.3, 13.11, 34.8 Society of Friends, 54.1-7 Socrates, 51.5 sorrow, 14.2, 35.3, 35.8, 35.13 spirituality, 4.8, 23.1, 24.1, 28.1, 34.4, 34.6, 35.15, 39.5, 39.26, 40.14, 52.4, 53.5 stagnation, 29.11 steadfastness, 33.25 suffering, 14.2-5, 35.4, 57.1-2 superstition, 34.9, 41.2-3, 41.6, 41.8, 44.2-3, 44.14-15, 44.19 Supreme Tribunal, 40.28, 48.1 teachings (divine, holy, sacred), 5.24, 27.6, 28.4, 33.6, 34.6, 45.18 Theosophical Society, 40.1, 40.41 thought, 1.9, 2.1-7, 6.7-11, 17.10, 40.30 Tihrán, 24.2 tolerance, 34.2, 37.7 tomb, 6.2-3 trials, 14.1-7, 35.4-6 truth, 5.24, 7.2, 15.8, 28.1, 32.4, 33.10-13, 36.10, 39.3-5, 39.14, 40.2-9, 40.37, 41.1-11, 42.1, 44.26 tyranny, 46.11 understanding, spiritual, 7.2, 37.7 unity, 5.25, 9.15, 9.21, 15.12, 24.11, 28.2, 32.8, 39.6, 41.7 of spirits, 58.7 Universal House of Justice, 59.8 vegetable kingdom, 15.4-5, 50.3 virtues, 2.6, 14.10, 17.11, 18.5, 20.8, 28.17, 36.5-6, 36.9, 39.6, 39.13, 50.10, 55.2 war, 6.1-10, 9.1, 11.10, 32.9-12, 34.1-7, 37.2-5, 39.25, 40.28, 45.15-18, 48.1, 59.6 wealth, 46.4, 46.10-13 West, 1.8, 4.3-7, 8.3-7, 22.1, 23.1, 23.8, 27.10, 28.5 women, 13.11, 40.32-3, 50.5-15, 59.5-8 world, material, 3.7, 15.2-3, 17.2, 18.4-5, 20.14, 21.1, 23.3, 28.9, 28.11, 29.9-10, 31.10, 33.2, 35.1-7, 35.10, 36.2, 42.8, 56.1, 58.4 spiritual, 20.1, 21.1, 28.11, 35.3, 35.6-7, 36.3, 42.8 worship, 55.1 Zacharias, 13.10 Zoroastrians, 41.3, 41.5