Know thou of a truth that the seeker
must, at the beginning of his quest for God, enter the Garden of Search. In
this journey it behoveth the wayfarer to detach himself from all save God and
to close his eyes to all that is in the heavens and on the earth. There must
not linger in his heart either the hate or the love of any soul, to the extent
that they would hinder him from attaining the habitation of the celestial
Beauty. He must sanctify his soul from the veils of glory and refrain from
boasting of such worldly vanities, outward knowledge, or other gifts as God may
have bestowed upon him. He must search after the truth to the utmost of his
ability and exertion, that God may guide him in the paths of His favour and the
ways of His mercy. For He, verily, is the best of helpers unto His servants. He
saith, and He verily speaketh the truth: “Whoso maketh efforts for Us, in Our
ways shall We assuredly guide him.” [Qur’án 29:69] And furthermore: “Fear God
and God will give you knowledge.”
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Gems of Divine Mysteries’,
‘Javáhiru’l-Asrár’)
