...The Guardian would suggest that you study very
carefully the statements of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in connection with the question of
visions, dreams, etc., as ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has very fully explained this delicate
subject. You will find references to this in “Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era,”
'Some Answered Questions' and the Books of Tablets. The Guardian likewise has
commented on this matter.
Briefly, there is no question that visions
occasionally do come to individuals, which are true and have significance. On
the other hand, this comes to an individual through the grace of God, and not
through the exercise of any of the human faculties. It is not a thing which a
person should try to develop. When a person endeavours to develop faculties so
that they might enjoy visions, dreams etc., actually what they are doing is
weakening certain of their spiritual capacities; and thus under such
circumstances, dreams and visions have no reality, and ultimately lead to the
destruction of the character of the person.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a message dated May 6, 1952
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi; compilation: ‘Spiritualism, Reincarnation
and Related Subjects’, included in compilation: Baha’i Institutions’, 1973)
