The Báb

Of all the tributes which Bahá’u’lláh’s unerring pen has chosen to pay to the memory of the Báb, His “Best-Beloved,” the most memorable and touching is this brief, yet eloquent passage which so greatly enhances the value of the concluding passages of that same epistle. “Amidst them all,” He writes, referring to the afflictive trials and dangers besetting Him in the city of Baghdád, “We stand life in hand wholly resigned to His Will, that perchance through God’s loving kindness and grace, this revealed and manifest Letter (Bahá’u’lláh) may lay down His life as a sacrifice in the path of the Primal Point, the most exalted Word (the Báb). By Him, at Whose bidding the Spirit hath spoken, but for this yearning of Our soul, We would not, for one moment, have tarried any longer in this city.”
 
 “I am the Primal Point,” the Báb thus addresses Muhammad Sháh from the prison-fortress of Máh-Kú, “from which have been generated all created things… I am the Countenance of God Whose splendor can never be obscured, the light of God whose radiance can never fade… All the keys of heaven God hath chosen to place on My right hand, and all the keys of hell on My left… I am one of the sustaining pillars of the Primal Word of God. Whosoever hath recognized Me, hath known all that is true and right, and hath attained all that is good and seemly… The substance wherewith God hath created Me is not the clay out of which others have been formed. He hath conferred upon Me that which the worldly-wise can never comprehend, nor the faithful discover.” “Should a tiny ant,” the Báb, wishing to stress the limitless potentialities latent in His Dispensation, characteristicall affirms, “desire in this day to be possessed of such power as to be able to unravel the abstrusest and most bewildering passages of the Qur’án, its wish will no doubt be fulfilled, inasmuch as the mystery of eternal might vibrates within the innermost being of all created things.” “If so helpless a creature,” is ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s comment on so startling an affirmation, “can be endowed with so subtle a capacity, how much more efficacious must be the power released through the liberal effusions of the grace of Bahá’u’lláh!”

پیام مرکز جهانی بهائی 24 اردیبهشت 1390

۱۷ شهرالجمال ۱۶۸
۲۴ اردیبهشت ۱۳۹۰
پیروان جان‌فشان جمال قدم در کشور مقدّس ایران ملاحظه فرمایند
دوستان عزیز و محبوب،
سوّمین سالگرد مسجونیّت اعضای هیئت سابق یاران یادآور شرایط دردناکی می‌باشد که جامعۀ بهائی ایران هم‌چنان با آن رو به رو است. ادامۀ این وضع اسف‌بار ایجاب می‌کند که فرزندان راستین این سرزمین در بارۀ علل بنیادین این ظلم و پی‌آمدهای گستردۀ آن در آیندۀ مملکتی که زمانی پرچم‌دار حقوق انسان بوده است به تفکّر و تعمّق پردازند.
امروز بر هر ناظر بی‌طرفی روشن است که هفت نفر اعضای هیئت سابق یاران مصداق بارز زندانیان وجدان هستند. بازتاب مکرّر نام این هفت نفر در رسانه‌های جهان نمادی از اعتراض ملل عالم به ظلم و ستمی است که بهائیان ایران از خرد و کلان و پیر و جوان صرفاً به خاطر معتقدات دینی و باورهای وجدانی خود در معرض آن قرار دارند: کودکانی که در مدارس پیوسته از طرف اولیای مدرسه مورد اهانت و تحقیر قرار می‌گیرند و در نهایت مظلومیّت مجبور به دفاع از شرافت انسانی خود می‌شوند و پدران و مادران آنان باید در کمال دل‌شکستگی این اعمال غیر انسانی را برای فرزندان خود به نحوی توجیه نمایند که بذر کینه و نفرت در قلوب پاک آنان کاشته نشود؛ جوانانی که از تحصیلات عالیه محروم گشته‌اند و والدین‌شان که خود از استخدام و شغل و حرفه ممنوع و با مشکلات شدید اقتصادی رو به رو هستند باید در عین حال درد عدم استطاعت مالی برای برآوردن نیازهای فرزندان دل‌بند خود را نیز تحمّل نمایند؛ افرادی که بدون کوچک‌ترین خطا و بر خلاف تمام موازین قانونی بازداشت شده و با خشونت مورد بازجویی قرار گرفته در موحش‌ترین زندان‌ها به بند کشیده می‌شوند و از حقوق حقّۀ زندانیان نیز محرومند؛ خانواده‌هایی که در معاشرت با همسایگان و دوستان خود باید محتاط باشند زیرا ماٴمورین امنیّتی مردم را به شدّت از معاشرت با بهائیان بر حذر می‌دارند؛ فرد فرد اعضای جامعۀ بهائی که به علّت تبلیغات منفی و نشر اکاذیب و توهین به مقدّسات آنان از طرف مسئولین امور، پیوسته احساس ناامنی می‌نمایند؛ و احبّای عزیزی که در شهرها و روستاها در سراسر ایران شاهد تخریب و آتش زدن خانه، مزرعه و محلّ کسب و کار خویش و حتّی هتک حرمت و ویرانی قبور عزیزان از دست ‌رفتۀ خود هستند و تظلّم و دادخواهی آنان نیز به جایی نمی‌رسد.
البتّه بهائیان تنها شهروندانی نیستند که در عین بی‌گناهی از حقوق حقّۀ خود محروم شده و مورد انواع بی‌عدالتی قرار گرفته‌اند. بسیاری دیگر از مردان و زنان آزاده و شریف آن مرز و بوم نیز برای دفاع از آزادی و حقوق انسانی و نهایتاً پیشرفت و آبادانی کشور خود، متحمّل مشقّات فراوان گردیده با شهامتی قابل ستایش در مقابل شدیدترین مظالم ایستادگی نموده تسلیم تعصّبات جاهلیّه و خرافات مبتذله نشده‌اند.
استقامت سازندۀ شما و نتایج آن از انظار ناظران هوشیار پنهان نیست. ملاحظه فرمایید که چگونه از یک طرف در طیّ سه سال گذشته، جامعۀ بهائی اگرچه از موهبت هدایات هیئت‌های یاران و خادمین خود محروم بوده ولی به مدد تاٴییدات آسمانی و همّت یکایک شما عزیزان به تمشیت امور خود ادامه داده و ابعاد ابتکارات شخصی و نتایج مشاورات گروهی‌اش گسترشی شایان یافته است. هر یک از شما در هر فضا و هر مکان، چه در فسحت ایوان و چه در سلول‌های تنگ و تاریک زندان، چون شمع برافروختۀ ید قدرت رحمان بر همگان نور امید و پرتو عشق و محبّت ‌افشانده‌اید. اتّحاد جامعه و هم‌بستگی اعضای آن و قابلیّت رسیدگی به نیازهای یکدیگر به مراتب بیشتر شده، روابط اجتماعی اعضای آن با آشنایان و همکاران گسترده‌تر و محکم‌تر گشته، پویایی جامعه در راه خدمت به دیگران افزون گردیده و خیل مشتاقان به سوی حریم قدس جانان مستمرّاً در حرکت بوده است. فداکاری‌های بی‌شمار شما عزیزان اثرات عمیقی نیز در بیداری وجدان مردمان شریف آن سرزمین داشته است. در همین مدّت به برکت جان‌فشانی‌های شما، قابلیّت جامعۀ بهائی در سراسر عالم برای کمک به ازدیاد توان‌مندی مردم جهت تعیین مسیر پیشرفت معنوی، اجتماعی و مادّی خود، به نحو چشم‌گیری افزایش یافته و توجّه عموم به ویژه جوانان به مطالعۀ حقایق این آیین نازنین بیش از پیش جلب شده و تمایل آنان برای مشارکت در مشروع عظیمی که بهائیان به آن اشتغال دارند فزونی گرفته است.
از سوی دیگر، کذب اتّهامات وارده از طرف متعصّبین بر بهائیان در پیشگاه وجدان مردم ایران و جهان به اثبات رسیده، آرزوی دشمنان دیرینه برای تضعیف جامعۀ اسم اعظم در آن سرزمین بر باد رفته و اقوال و ادّعاهای دروغین مسئولین امور در نزد خاصّ و عام بی‌اعتبار شده است. در عین حال تضییقات وارده به دیگر شهروندان نیز گسترش یافته است. سنّت شوم زورگویی و ستم‌پیشگی چنان بر آن سرزمین حاکم گردیده که هیچ‌ یک از ایرانیان از گزند آن در امان نیست. به نظر می‌رسد که اولیای امور از این حقیقت غافلند که به شهادت تاریخ، ظلم و ستم هرگز بقای هیچ نظامی را تضمین ننموده است. ملاحظه فرمایید که چگونه نظریّات و خواسته‌های افراد نادیده گرفته می‌شود و حقوق انسانی آنان همواره پایمال می‌گردد، گویی آنچه در نزد اولیای امور از کمترین اولویّت برخوردار است رفاه، آسایش، ترقّی و سعادت تودۀ مردم است. نتیجۀ دردناک این فجایع بر همگان روشن است. حضرت بهاءالله فرزند ارجمند ایران‌زمین در الواح مهیمن خود به حکم‌رانان جهان توصیه می‌فرمایند که مظهر عدل و انصاف باشند، به قدرت و لشکر و خزائن خود اطمینان نکنند و دست خود را از ظلم کوتاه نمایند. به آنان هشدار می‌دهند که مردمان سرمایه و ذخایر اصلی هر سرزمین هستند، مبادا امور آنان را به دست سارقین بسپارند. از اولیای امور می‌خواهند که آنچه را برای خود می‌پسندند برای مردم نیز اختیار نمایند، از غرور بپرهیزند، از صرف ذخایر مملکت در راه مقاصد شخصی و تحمیل سختی و مشقّت بر مردم اجتناب نمایند و از آه و نالۀ مظلومان بهراسند. هیکل مبارک تأکید می‌فرمایند که اگر چنین کنند دیگر صرف مبالغ هنگفت برای انباشتن اسلحه لزومی نخواهد داشت، آزادی و صلح و آشتی مستقرّ خواهد شد و مُلک و ملّت آسایش خواهد یافت.
آرزوی اهل بهاء به فرمودۀ حضرت عبدالبهاء آن است که "...ایران سبب حیات جاودان جهان گردد و علم صلح عمومی و امان و روحانیّت محضه در قطب امکان برافرازد...." این بینش روحانی است که به شما نیرو می‌بخشد تا به رغم همۀ مشقّات و تضییقاتی که پیوسته بر شما وارد می‌شود هم‌چنان مشتاق خدمت به این آب و خاک بمانید. پس کما کان به حکمت‌های بالغه و وعود حتمیّۀ الهیّه ناظر باشید، با اطمینان کامل به آینده بنگرید و هم‌چون گذشته زندگی خود را وقف خدمت به نوع انسان نمایید: به انجام وظایف روحانی فردی خود قائم باشید، گفتمان‌های هدف‌مند خود را در فضاهای موجود با جدّیّت دنبال کنید و در فعّالیّت‌های اجتماعی و امور عامّ المنفعه تا حدّ امکان مشارکت نمایید. در راهی که برای زندگی خود انتخاب کرده‌اید با شادی و سرور گام بردارید و مطمئن باشید که در تحمّل شداید و بلایا شریک مولای توانای خود هستید.
به یاد فرد فرد شما عزیزان در اعتاب مقدّسۀ علیا دست به دعا برمی‌داریم و این بیان مبارک حضرت عبد‌البهاء را به یاد می‌آوریم که می‌فرمایند:
...یاران ایران از جان و روان عزیزترند زیرا در سبیل الهی امتحانات شدیده دیده‌اند صدمات عظیمه تحمّل کرده‌اند خانه و کاشانه به تالان و تاراج داده‌اند هدف تیر ملامت گشته‌اند و آماج سنگ شماتت شده‌اند جان و روان فدا نموده‌اند و از بوتهٴ افتتان و آزمایش مانند ذهب خالص با روی شکفته بیرون آمده‌اند. لهذا در نزد عبدالبهاء از جان عزیزترند و در نزد ملأ اعلی معزّز و محترم. لهذا به هر یک که رسی آن جان پاک را در آغوش گیر و از طرف من ببوی و ببوس. اگر چنین نمایی مذاق این مشتاق حلاوت بی‌منتها یابد و سبب سرور کلّی گردد...
[امضا: بیت العدل اعظم]

ای ظالمان ارض از ظلم دست خود را کوتاه نمایید ...

....عالم در هیجان است و سیل خروشان تحوّلات با سرعت و قوّتی بی‌سابقه در جریان. نظم و ترتیب دیرینۀ عالم دست‌خوش تزلزل گشته و دگرگونی‌های شگرفی که در روابط بشری در همۀ سطوح رخ داده تجدید نظری بنیادین در کلّیّۀ جنبه‌های حیات انسانی را طلب می‌کند. کشور ایران البتّه از این مقتضیات زمان برکنار نیست. ملاحظه فرمایید که با چه عزم جزمی مردم آن سرزمین در بنای جامعه‌ای پیشرفته و سربلند می‌کوشند و در این راه از تحمّل هیچ عذابی دریغ ندارند. موسم نوروز و تازگی طبیعت فرصت مناسبی برای تجدید قوای روحانی و بازنگری امور وجدانی و معنوی فراهم می‌سازد. شایسته است که در این بهار دل‌انگیز که نمادی از بهار روحانی است در مکالمات هدف‌مند خود با همسایگان، دوستان، آشنایان، همکاران و هم‌فکران، در مورد آنچه موجب توان‌مندی انسان برای کمک به رفاه مادّی و معنوی دیگران می‌شود به تبادل افکار پردازید و در چگونگی بنای اجتماعی که در آن استعداد‌های هر فرد بدون توجّه به پیشینۀ قومی، مذهبی، جنسی و یا طبقاتی شکوفا می‌شود، تاٴمّل فرمایید.  به اتّفاق در بارۀ هدف واقعی عالم هستی و زندگی دنیوی تفکّر و تعمّق نمایید، زیبایی و کارآیی جامعه‌ای مبتنی بر اصل وحدت در کثرت را در نظر گیرید و در مورد شرافت ذاتی انسان که او را قادر می‌سازد تا سعادت خود را در سعادت دیگران ببیند به بحث و گفتگو مشغول شوید.
 
ظالمان را به خداوند واگذارید و این بیان مبارک را به خاطر آورید که می‌فرمایند: "ای ظالمان ارض از ظلم دست خود را کوتاه نمایید که قسم یاد نموده‌ام از ظلم احدی نگذرم." ورای مصائبی که شما را از هر جهت احاطه نموده بنگرید و به بینش شکوهمند این امر اعظم که اصلاح عالم و سعادت امم است ناظر باشید. با تأسّی به حیات هیاکل مقدّسۀ امر الله و نیاکان روحانی خود و بر طبق مثل بارزی که خود در طیّ سی سال گذشته به جهانیان ارائه داده‌اید در شداید صبور و بردبار بمانید، به فداکاری‌های الهام‌بخش خود ادامه دهید و سهم خود را در بنای جهان و ایرانی متّحد، آباد و آزاد بیش از پیش ادا نمایید.
در اعتاب مقدّسۀ علیا به یاد فرد فرد شما عزیزان هستیم.
[امضا: بیت العدل اعظم]

Ponder a while.



Ponder a while. What is it that prompted, in every Dispensation, the peoples of the earth to shun the Manifestation of the All-Merciful? What could have impelled them to turn away from Him and to challenge His authority? Were men to meditate on these words which have flowed from the Pen of the Divine Ordainer, they would, one and all, hasten to embrace the truth of this God-given, and ever-enduring Revelation, and would testify to that which He Himself hath solemnly affirmed. It is the veil of idle imaginations which, in the days of the Manifestations of the Unity of God and the Day Springs of His everlasting glory, hath intervened, and will continue to intervene, between them and the rest of mankind. For in those days, He Who is the Eternal Truth manifesteth Himself in conformity with that which He Himself hath purposed, and not according to the desires and expectations of men. Even as He hath revealed: “So oft, then, as an Apostle cometh to you with that which your souls desire not, do ye swell with pride, and treat some as impostors, and slay others.”
 
Consider the Dispensation of Jesus Christ. Behold, how all the learned men of that generation, though eagerly anticipating the coming of the Promised One, have nevertheless denied Him. Both Annas, the most learned among the divines of His day, and Caiaphas, the high priest, denounced Him and pronounced the sentence of His death.

 Bahá’u’lláh

Only those with spiritual eyes .....

He Who is the Day Spring of Truth is, no doubt, fully capable of rescuing from such remoteness wayward souls and of causing them to draw nigh unto His court and attain His Presence. “If God had pleased He had surely made all men one people.” His purpose, however, is to enable the pure in spirit and the detached in heart to ascend, by virtue of their own innate powers, unto the shores of the Most Great Ocean, that thereby they who seek the Beauty of the All-Glorious may be distinguished and separated from the wayward and perverse. Thus hath it been ordained by the all-glorious and resplendent Pen…. 

That the Manifestations of Divine justice, the Day Springs of heavenly grace, have when they appeared amongst men always been destitute of all earthly dominion and shorn of the means of worldly ascendancy, should be attributed to this same principle of separation and distinction which animateth the Divine Purpose. Were the Eternal Essence to manifest all that is latent within Him, were He to shine in the plentitude of His glory, none would be found to question His power or repudiate His truth. Nay, all created things would be so dazzled and thunderstruck by the evidences of His light as to be reduced to utter nothingness. How, then, can the godly be differentiated under such circumstances from the froward? 

Bahá’u’lláh

Some inspirational statements within my academic career


Conwy Gardens, Wales 2001 (thekingpin68)

Update

I have reposted this article for May (May 1). It was originally published April 25, but I have added more statements in May. As I have noted presently on my other blog, thekingpin68, I am going to try to write one post per month per blog (thekingpin68 and satire and theology) and I will attempt to place more than one section/article in each post. So two posts per month overall, with always the possibility of more.

I am not personally interested in a 'Twitter' like short blog approach with several monthly posts. Although I admit some have success with it.

Thank you to you loyal readers including the anonymous ones. Commenters, followers and links also appreciated of course. Cheers.

Big D, has stated I should put a post together with inspirational statements from my nearly twenty years of academic education.

These will be paraphrased since I do not walk around with a note pad, recorder, or personal assistant. The dates will also be estimated.

Columbia Bible College 1991-1995: Professor J

'I don't have time to read fiction because there is too much non-fiction for me to read.'

I have largely had to live by this as with my four degrees I have spent a lot time studying Biblical Studies, Theology, and Philosophy of Religion as well as dabbling in Statistics, Social Research, Psychology and Science, and there has not been much time to read fiction.

That is if I wanted to have any kind of social life outside of reading.

Which I do.

Columbia Bible College 1991-1995: Professor J


'Looking through both tears of despair and tears of joy, one cannot see the truth very clearly'.

Profound.

I doubt this is true in every case. I tend to think that at times with increased emotions the brain becomes more active and thoughts can become more clear as long as one remains controlled.

I can grant, however, that with intense out of control emotions leading to tears, yes, objectivity will very likely be impaired.

Trinity Western University/Canadian Baptist Seminary 1997-1998: Theology Professor R


'When I am asked to speak at a funeral and I am not reasonably sure if the deceased knew the Lord, I state that the Lord is a perfect and just judge'.

I think that is a good approach.

Trinity Western University/Canadian Baptist Seminary 1997-1998: Theology Professor R


'There is no point having you students write term papers because at your level you have nothing significant to add'.

I was fine with this comment. I was looking at this pragmatically. I was inspired by the pragmatism. We were taking Theology I and Theology II at a Masters level together at nights over several hours for a few weeks. I certainly did not want to add term papers to that agenda! The Professor was not liked by all but I still like and respect him and my marks were high and I learned a fair amount.

I never sold-out my Christian faith and philosophy academically, but I have always been very pragmatic when it comes to academics as well. I discuss this in my e-book.

The University of Manchester 1999-2000: Advisor and Professor P


'I have never met an animal like you.'

This unfortunately makes me think of the poppy song called 'You're a strange animal'.

This statement was in the context of this 'tutor' wanting me to change my views in regard to the problem of evil, theodicy and the nature of God in order for me stay within the theology and religion department. I was soon forced to leave and he did not want me there in the first place. The person that had accepted me was away on the Continent for a year.

I was soon inspired to succeed at Wales.

Wales University 2000: Advisor and Professor W

Via a phone conversation...

'The only advice I will give you concerning women is to date someone that will attend the same church as you'.

This I think is vitally very good advice which I will always follow.

Wales University 2000: Advisor and Professor W

'Liberals have taken advantage of conservatives in the British academic system for 40 years and I am sick of it'.

True enough and I experienced this, but I was inspired with God's help to work hard and succeed anyway within they system by the rules without compromising my worldview.

I managed to meet Theologian John R.W. Stott very briefly after he spoke at a church in Manchester. I explained to him that I was working on a PhD on the problem of evil. He said to me...

John Stott 2001: Speaker

'You are a very brave man'.

Turns out with all I went through he was correct.

The other day at church I bought one of his books. I was advised not to cite him in my PhD as he was not considered academic enough at Wales. At the very end of the book 'Basic Christianity' Stott explains that a Christian should follow Christ wholly and unreservedly in service. Stott (1958)(2009: 156). I will not claim that for myself in a perfect sense, but I will state that I did serve the Lord in a sacrificial sense in the UK and in my academic career.

Also at church the other day, I bought a book from Arthur W. Pink, a theologian I cited in my PhD. The book I bought is 'The Attributes of God'. He states:

Arthur W. Pink 1975: Theologian and Author


'Here is an encouragement to prayer. There is no cause for fearing that the petitions of the righteous will not be heard, or that their sighs and tears shall escape the notice of God, since he knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. Pink (1975)(2009: 23).

The Lord hears the prayers of his people, and answers within his will. I can have that peace, as can others in trusting in the Lord. This does not guarantee happiness in regard to an issue that is being prayed on, but at least there can be peace that the Lord has heard the prayer.

John 14:6 (New American Standard Bible)

6Jesus said to him, "I am (A)the way, and (B)the truth, and (C)the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

This has always been important theologically and philosophically for me. Certainly Christianity does not have all truth, and other many other worldviews and religions have truth, but if Christianity is essentially true the claims Christ made on this point are essential.

David J. Ellis describes Christ as the vital link between the heavenly and earthly realms. There is no salvation apart from his teaching and Jesus as a person cannot be separated from what he does. Ellis (1986: 1254).

I will add that having studied various worldviews at secular Universities I reason the Christian worldview is the most true.

ELLIS, DAVID, J. (1986) 'John', in The International Bible Commentary, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.

PINK, ARTHUR, W. (1975)(2009) The Attributes of God, Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapids.

STOTT, JOHN, R.W. (1958)(2009) Basic Christianity, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids.

I may add some more statements to this post as they come to mind.

Trinity Western University/Canadian Baptist Seminary 1998-1999: Biblical Studies Professor from South Africa

'Class (Closs) when writing an exam do your best and do God's best'.

This professor was nice enough to introduce to me to the department at Manchester. Too bad it did not work out...

Columbia Bible College 1991-1995: Professor K

'If you use a better grade of paper you are more likely to receive an outright 'A' in my course'.

Yes this was the case. I was using the standard academic grade paper but I went out and purchased higher grade paper for my printer just for my World Religions and World History courses with this Professor. In his defence, and I wrote him this by email this year, his technical preparations foreshadowed some of types technical things expected of my theses writing in Britain several years later.

John Calvin 1543: Theologian

'All things are subject to his power, and so there is no created thing which does not, either of its own accord or under coercion, obey his will. Accordingly everything that happens happens of necessity, as he had ordained. Satan too and all the wicked are submissive to his authority, so that they cannot move beyond what he has commanded, for they are constrained by his hand as though by a bride or a halter, so that by now he restrains them, since it pleases him to do so, and now he drives them on and guides them to execute his judgements.' Calvin (1543)(1996: 39).

In my MPhil and PhD theses I take the compatibilistic position that significantly free thoughts and actions that one would be held morally accountable for by God would not be forced or coerced. Human sin, in a sense, is not forced or coerced upon a person by God or any outside force.

Therefore, human sin can be traced to human corruption (Romans 1-6) and sinful thoughts and a limited free will leading to sinful choices, all within the will of God.

So, these would be appear to be the thoughts and more clearly actions of 'its own accord' Calvin was discussing.

Further, I admitted in my Doctorate that not all human actions were significantly free if forced/coerced and that not all human actions were morally significant if same.

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.


How can I not be inspired by Chuck?


Conwy Overview, Wales 2001 (thekingpin68)


My 'Estate': May 18, 2011 at a prayer time (thekingpin68)

Festival of Ridván

In a Tablet  Bahá'u'lláh extols the glories of the Festival of Ridván and describes its significance in these terms:

Verily, We have caused every soul to expire by virtue of Our irresistible and all-subduing sovereignty. We have, then, called into being a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men. I am, verily, the All-Bountiful, the Ancient of Days.
In one of His prayers revealed in Adrianople, Bahá'u'lláh refers to this new creation in these words:
How great is Thy power! How exalted Thy sovereignty! How lofty Thy might! How excellent Thy majesty! How supreme is Thy grandeur--a grandeur which He Who is Thy Manifestation hath made known and wherewith Thou hast invested Him as a sign of Thy generosity and bountiful favour. I bear witness, O my God, that through Him Thy most resplendent signs have been uncovered, and Thy mercy hath encompassed the entire creation. But for Him, how could the Celestial Dove have uttered its songs or the Heavenly Nightingale, according to the decree of God, have warbled its melody? I testify that no sooner had the First Word proceeded, through the potency of Thy will and purpose, out of His mouth, and the First Call gone forth from His lips than the whole creation was revolutionized, and all that are in the heavens and all that are on earth were stirred to the depths. Through that Word the realities of all created things were shaken, were divided, separated, scattered, combined and reunited, disclosing, in both the contingent world and the heavenly kingdom, entities of a new creation, and revealing, in the unseen realms, the signs and tokens of Thy unity and oneness.

Bahá'u'lláh's Departure from the Garden of Ridván

A memorable account of Bahá'u'lláh's departure has been given by Shoghi Effendi, Guardian of the Faith:

The departure of Bahá'u'lláh from the Garden of Ridván, at noon, on the 14th of Dhi'l-Qa'dih 1279 A.H. (May 3, 1863), witnessed scenes of tumultuous enthusiasm no less spectacular, and even more touching, than those which greeted Him when leaving His Most Great House in Baghdád. 'The great tumult,' wrote an eye-witness, 'associated in our minds with the Day of Gathering, the Day of Judgment, we beheld on that occasion. Believers and unbelievers alike sobbed and lamented. The chiefs and notables who had congregated were struck with wonder. Emotions were stirred to such depths as no tongue can describe, nor could any observer escape their contagion.' Mounted on His steed, a red roan stallion of the finest breed, the best His lovers could purchase for Him, and leaving behind Him a bowing multitude of fervent admirers, He rode forth on the first stage of a journey that was to carry Him to the city of Constantinople. 'Numerous were the heads,' Nabíl himself a witness of that memorable scene, recounts, 'which, on every side, bowed to the dust at the feet of His horse, and kissed its hoofs, and countless were those who pressed forward to embrace His stirrups.' 'How great the number of those embodiments of fidelity,' testifies a fellow-traveller, 'who, casting themselves before that charger preferred death to separation from their Beloved! Methinks, that blessed steed trod upon the bodies of those pure-hearted souls.' 'He (God) it was,' Bahá'u'lláh Himself declares, 'Who enabled Me to depart out of the city (Baghdád), clothed with such majesty as none, except the denier and the malicious, can fail to acknowledge.