That truth is often imparted through dreams no one who is
familiar with history, especially religious history, can doubt. At the same
time dreams and visions are always coloured and influenced more or less by the
mind of the dreamer and we must beware of attaching too much importance to
them. The purer and more free from prejudice and desire our hearts and minds
become, the more likely is it that our dreams will convey reliable truth, but if
we have strong prejudices, personal likings and aversions, bad feelings or evil
motives, these will warp and distort any inspirational impression that comes to
us ... In many cases dreams have been the means of bringing people to the truth
or of confirming them in the Faith. We must strive to become pure in heart and
'free from all save God.' Then our dreams as well as our waking thoughts will
become pure and true. We should test impressions we get through dreams, visions
or inspirations, by comparing them with the revealed Word and seeing whether
they are in harmony therewith.
- Shoghi Effendi (From a message dated May 16, 1925 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi; compilation: ‘Spiritualism, Reincarnation and Related
Subjects’, included in compilation: Baha’i Institutions’, 1973)
