The old man and the king – a story told by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

A great king walking in his garden one day noticed an old man, about 90 years old, planting some trees. The king asked what he was doing and the old man answered that he was planting date seeds.

The king was pleased at this answer, so rewarded the old man some money. The gardener fell on his knees and thanked him.

This so pleased the king, he gave him another piece of money.

Again, the old gardener knelt saying:

This pleased the king so very much that perforce he gave the old man another piece of money, saying:

(From 'Star of the West', vol. 9. no. 18; 'Child’s Way' magazine, January-February 1980)

The “Truth” is out there

“Roya and Lanie," Mama called, "The treasure hunt is ready. I'm really excited about starting our Baha'i lesson for today."

"Treasure hunt? Are we looking for diamonds and rubies and pearls?" Lanie squeaked as her eyes widened with surprise.

"No, Honey. We're going to do some investigating," answered Mama.

"Hey, Sherlock Holmes investigated all the time!" Roya said as she went to find her detective hat in the costume box.

Lanie ran to the box and put on her plastic hard hat. "This will be my investigating hat!"

"You two certainly look ready to get started," said Mama. "Here's how the treasure hunt goes. In each room we enter, you'll find a letter card hidden. After we've found all five letters in five different rooms, we'll see what they spell."

"Will they spell g-o-l-d?" Lanie asked.

Mama laughed and gave her a hug. "You do love jewelry, don't you? You'll be looking for a treasure that is more precious than the biggest diamond in the world!"

In the living room, the girls searched and searched, and begged Mama to tell them where the letter card was hidden. "You must do this independently, my treasure hunters, and that means searching for yourselves. I won't tell you where it is, but I will help you think about it. The card isn't on anything - it's in something."

After some more investigating' Lanie opened the cover of a prayer book and called out, "I found it! It's the letter R!"

"My turn now!" called Roya as she raced into the den. "This one's easy! I see the letter T resting on top of the globe."

The girls searched everywhere for more letters, and Mama helped them investigate by giving clues when Roya and Lanie weren't sure where to look. At the end of their search, the girls looked at the cards.

"Hmm," mumbled Roya to herself, "R-U-T-H-T. . . That doesn't spell anything, Mama."

"Try moving the letters around until they make sense," hinted Mama.

"I see it!" cried Lanie. "It spells truth!"

Warden of the Báb witnesses a miracle

The Báb was a Prophet of God. He was sent by God to teach us how to live, and so, He was perfect. Are we perfect? We all know that children and even moms and dads are not perfect and we sometimes make mistakes. God sent us the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh so that we could learn to be better and better. Here is an example of one such case:

One time, God showed a man named 'Ali Khan a miracle. A miracle is something very wonderful that happens, but we can't understand how it happens. This miracle proved to ‘Ali Khan that the Báb was God's Prophet. This was a sign of God's love for 'Ali Khan.

At this time the Báb was in a terrible prison up in the mountains far from His home. His warden, the man who takes care of the prison, was this 'Ali Khan. He wouldn't let anyone come and see the Báb. This was a sad thing because so many people loved the Báb and they couldn't speak to Him or know if He was well. The Báb had only His secretary with Him, who would write down the Báb's precious Words as He spoke, and the secretary's brother who would buy things in the town.

There was a man who, because he loved the Báb very much, was called a Bábí. This man had traveled a long way just to see the Báb, but when he got to the town near the prison the warden wouldn't let him see the Báb. Not only that, he wouldn't let him sleep in the town. But this Bábí wouldn't give up. He wanted to see the Báb so much he stayed by the town and slept outside the gates.

The Báb knew about this Bábí. One day He told His secretary that the next day this Bábí would come into the prison to see them. His secretary was very surprised. How could he come into the prison? The warden wouldn't let anyone come in to see them!

Stories from the childhood of Shoghi Effendi

As the neighborhood was preparing for the Muslim Fast of Ramadan, one household near the prison of 'Akka was already celebrating a happy event. Diya'iyyih Khanum, the eldest daughter of 'Abdu'l Baha, and Mirza Hadi Shirazi had a new son. The date was March 1, 1897.

The proud Grandfather, 'Abdu'l-Baha, gave the name of Shoghi Effendi to the little boy. He said that everyone should use the title "Effendi", which means "mister" or "sir", as a term of respect for the new child, even his parents. The name Shoghi means "the one who longs". In one tablet written for Shoghi Effendi, 'Abdu'l-Baha asks that he may yearn for the Kingdom of God and soar into the realms of the unseen!

One morning, Shoghi Effendi woke up to the crowing of roosters. The sun was just dawning over the tops of the sun-baked roofs of the town. He and the other children of the household rushed to 'Abdu'l-Baha's room for prayers. The children sat on the floor, their legs folded under them and their arms folded across their breasts in great respect. When asked, they would chant for 'Abdu'l-Baha "O my God! 0 my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose ..." they sang. There was no shouting or unseemly conduct.

Then the family had breakfast. The ladies served the hot, sweet tea in little glasses. On the low table was pure wheat bread and gleaming white goat's milk cheese. "May I please have some more tea?" asked one of the little cousins of Shoghi Effendi. "Thank you;' she replied when served.

What Is the Color of Love?

Some say that love is the color of a rose - a beautiful, deep-pink rose. Shall I tell you why?

There was once a little boy named Tommy. Tommy was not a big, strong, handsome boy. He was very thin. His family was very poor. So Tommy often went to bed hungry because there wasn't enough to eat.

He had rather colorless pale hair and a very pale face. But he did have a lovely smile that showed in his eyes as well as on his lips. Everybody liked Tommy because of that lovely, smiling way of his when he talked and played with his friends.

His teacher liked him, too. She always had a kind word for him. Often she asked him to stay after school for a little treat of some kind in the way of a cookie, or an orange. She hoped it would build him up a bit.

Tommy loved his teacher very much. He wished he could give her something to show his love. But he had no money to buy a gift. What was he to do?

He began thinking very hard. These are the thoughts he had:

"Love makes me feel happy. It makes me want to do something nice, to give something nice to the one I love. Love is a warm feeling about someone.

"Warmth makes me think of a fire on the hearth. Fire is a warm, happy, rosy glow."

And that's how Tommy began to think about a rose for the teacher he loved!

But how and where to get one was something else. At that point he remembered what his mother had once told him. She had said, "God loves all of his creatures. Even the littlest bird is important to Him."

And that's how Tommy remembered to ask God to help him!

The Man Who Did Not Forget

Long ago a very poor man saved the life of his King. The King in thankfulness gave the man a place of great honor in the court. The man was of good character as well as brave, and he pleased the King so much that he was given rooms next to the royal apartment.

The people in the palace were not much different from people today and some of them became very jealous of the good fortune of the man who had saved the King's life. Whenever they had a chance they whispered untrue stories about him to the King.

For a long time no one could change the King's mind about his faithful servant. But one day a report came to him that the man was unfaithful and not to be trusted. He had been seen, late at night when everything was quiet, going to a room in the far corner of the palace. He carried with him a bundle of what was thought to be stolen goods.

"Well, now," said the King, "I'd like to know what he is up to." You see he didn't lose his faith in the man, but he was curious and decided to see for himself.

That night he gathered the jealous courtiers around him and they all quietly followed the man through the halls to the farthest corner of the palace where he disappeared behind a door.

"Open the door!" the King called loudly in the silent night.

Tammy and the Butterfly

Drip, drip, drip splashed little drops of rain as they landed on Tammy's nose and made dark splotches on her long grey dress.

Tammy had been walking in the woods. She was very excited because she had found something strange. "I must hurry home," said Tammy," and ask mother what this is."

She gazed at the object in her hand, then flitted through the woods, skirt held high to prevent branches from grabbing at it as she passed.

"Mommy! Mommy!" cried Tammy as she neared the house. "Look what I found!"

"Let's see, dear, and do come in out of the rain," said Mother. "Oh, it's a cocoon. Put it beside your bed and watch it for a few days. It has a beautiful surprise inside. It is more than an ugly shell."

"A surprise?" wondered Tammy, as she ran to her room. "O, I can hardly wait to see what it is!"

Tammy sat in her room watching the cocoon. Rain drops slithered down the window and folded into tiny puddles on the sill. "I wish you weren't so ugly," she said to the cocoon. "Maybe I could make you prettier with some paint."

"Mommy, she called. Do we have any paint?"

“What for, dear?" her mother asked.

"To paint the cocoon so it will be pretty."

Mother smiled to herself. "Come down to eat supper now, Tammy. The paint might hurt the surprise. Be patient. The shell won't always be there."

Tammy couldn't understand how so ugly a shell could contain something beautiful. As she came downstairs she asked, "Do I get a story tonight?"

Mother answered, "Yes, I'll tell you the story of Cinderella. She is very much like your cocoon."

The miracle of the Báb’s last day…

The Báb saw the sun rise over the sands of His native Persia for the last time. He was engaged in a confidential conversation with one of His followers, who served as His secretary when He was interrupted by a government official. The Chief Attendant for the Prime Minister's brother had come to lead the Báb to the presence of the leading Doctors of law in Tabriz to obtain from them the authorization for His execution.

The Báb rebuked the Attendant for his interruption and held fast to His secretary’s hand.

“Not until I have said to him all those things that I wish to say," the Báb warned the Attendant, "can any earthly power silence Me. Though all the world be armed against Me, yet shall they be powerless to deter Me from fulfilling, to the last word my intension."

The Attendant was amazed at such boldness and effrontery in a mere prisoner. He insisted that the Báb accompany him. The barracks doors were opened and the Báb was brought into the courtyard, His conversation left unfinished.

To the people of Tabriz, the Báb was no longer triumphant. The campaign of united opposition by church and state was having its effect. The Báb was now a humbled prisoner. The crowd filled the streets and people climbed on each other's shoulders the better to see this man who was still so much talked about.

Just as Jesus had entered Jerusalem hailed on all sides and with palms strewn in His path only to be mocked and reviled in that same Jerusalem within the week, in like manner the glory that had attended the Báb's first visit to Tabriz was forgotten now. This time the crowd, restless and excitable, flung insulting words at the Báb. They pursued Him as He was led through the streets. They broke through the guards and struck Him in the face. When seme missile hurled from the crowd would reach its mark the guards and the crowd would burst into laughter.

One of Baha’u’llah’s granddaughters remembers His loving nature…

Even though Baha'u'llah and His Family lived as prisoners, He tried in every way to make them happy.

When Tuba Khanum was a child, she and her sisters had a difficult time. The only time they had with their loving and wonderful Father, Abdul-Baha, was at tea early in the morning. He was always so busy taking care of the hundreds of people who came to Him for help. But at tea He would chant prayers and tell them wonderful stories of the Lord Christ and His Mother, of Muhammad, of Moses and the other Prophets. They loved Him very much.

Later when they attended school from seven in the morning until five in the afternoon, they had a little reading and writing but no play time and only a little to eat at noon. Mostly they listened to someone reading but who never explained anything.

When the children needed someone to listen to their troubles and difficulties they always went to their grandfather, Baha'u'llah. He took an interest in everything about them. Tuba says in her letters; "We children looked upon Baha'u'llah as another loving Father. . . He used to send to Beirut every year to buy stuff for our clothes. Baha'u'llah would then call for us to choose which we liked best for our frocks. . . He was always punctual, and loved daintiness and order. . . and liked to see everybody well-groomed and as neatly dressed as possible." You can imagine that this was not easy, as prisoners cannot go wherever and whenever they wish.

A lesson in forgiveness…

One evening 'Abdu'l-Baha was talking to a group of the friends who had gathered around Him, warmed and comforted by His love.

Suddenly a stranger came into the room, and, without a word, threw himself down at 'Abdu'l-Baha's feet. 'Abdu'l-Baha knew who he was, though. He introduced the man to the others as "one of My old friends," and embraced him.

Now, where do you suppose He had met the man? Wouldn't you think that this person must have been very good to 'Abdu'l-Baha to be greeted so warmly? Well, here is the story behind the story:

Years before this night, when 'Abdu'l-Baha was a prisoner along with many others--some of them children—this man was one of the soldiers who guarded the prison gate.

Now, in order to get water the prisoners had to walk two miles to a well. There they filled their jugs and carried them back to the prison. This soldier waited until the prisoners came back into the prison yard with their heavy jugs. Then he struck at the jugs with his gun and broke them!

(Adapted from a story told by Mr. Faizi, Hand of the Cause; Child’s Way magazine, March-April. 1972)

The Servant of God

Abdu'l-Baha aboard Cedric
New York April 11 1912

When His Father was alive and dwelt outside the city of Akka among the mountains, 'Abdu'l-Baha frequently visited Him. Though the journey was rather long, He usually walked. His friends asked Him why He did not save time and effort and go on horseback. "Over these mountains, Jesus walked on foot," He said, "and who am I that I should ride where the Lord Christ walked?"

Once when he was older and rode in an ordinary stagecoach to return to His home, the driver thought that for a man of His appearance and bearing that He should be riding in a private carriage. 'Abdu’l-Baha insisted on using the stagecoach. At the end of His ride, He was stopped by a poor man who pleaded for a few coins. Turning to the driver. He said, "Why should I travel in a carriage when such as he needs money?"

(Adapted from the Baha’i World, Vol. IV; ‘The Child’s Way’ magazine, July-August 1971)

The road

A man had been traveling for many days looking for the town of Happyville. He had walked many miles in search of the wonderful town. Late one afternoon he came to a fork in the road. At the exact point where the road divided there was a rock, a very large rock. On top of the rock a young boy was seated playing a musical instrument.

The man went over to the boy and asked, "Can you please tell me which road I should take to get to Happyville?"

The boy stopped playing and said, "You can take the road to the left which is the long but short way; or you can take the road to the right which is the short but long way."

The man became angry, "You speak in riddles, all I asked was how to get to Happyville. What do you mean long but short, or short but long?"

The boy went back to his guitar and explained once again, "You can take the road to the left which is the long but short way, or you can take the road to the right which is the short but long way."

By now the man was even angrier than before. "I cannot stand your foolishness; I am going to take the road to the right which is short but long."

The man started down the road to the right. When he went a very short distance he came upon a river with the town of Happyville clearly on the other side. The man looked all around but he could not find a way to cross over the river.

Baha'u'llah - The King of Kings

Mansion of Baha'u'llah's father

This story is about a boy Who grew to be the latest Prophet of God. He came to the world as promised by God to Abraham, to Moses and to Jesus; also, to Muhammad, Krishna and Buddha.

We all know that a king is someone who is in charge of a whole country, much like a father who looks after members of his family. Today, in most countries, we have democracies. A democracy is governed by all its people instead of by a king. But a hundred years ago kings were so strong in many countries that they did as they pleased, without thinking about what would be good for the people in their land. This story will tell about Husayn-'Ali, later called, Baha'u'llah, Someone God sent to tell the kings and rulers of the world how they should behave toward the people.

As Husayn-'Ali was growing up, everyone knew He was no ordinary child. When He was a boy of thirteen, He used to talk with the wise and learned men who visited His father's house. They had studied religion for many years and although He had not gone to school, He was able to understand what they were talking about and even explained difficult questions to them.

What surprised the learned men as much as Husayn-Ali’s knowledge was His politeness. He was always mild and courteous and His father’s friends wanted to keep on talking to Him.

Badí – the messenger of Baha’u’llah

A long time ago there lived an old man in the town of Nayshábúr in eastern Persia. He made a living by selling turquoise stones and pure wool. He was Hájí ‘Abdu'l-Majíd.

Hájí ‘Abdu'l-Majíd had a very clever and intelligent son named Buzurg. The Hájí was a great mullá (Muslim priest). The people loved and respected him. His son, Buzurg was also well-known because he could recite the Holy Qur’an by heart and explain its teachings by the time he was eleven years old. 

Time Capsule: - Lord Buddha

It might sound strange to say that Silly was not silly. In fact he was the cleverest boy in his class. His name was Silapachai and his friends and classmates lovingly called him Silly because his original Thai name was too long. 

So it was Silly's turn and he entered the Time Capsule and pressed the buttons that would take him to the little Himalayan Kingdom Kapilavastu.

Childhood
On the brightened screen appeared the beautiful marble palace of King Sudhodana. In the court of the king stood two boys. One carried a bow and some arrows and the other an injured swan. Before the King were also his ministers and noblemen. They had come to hear the dispute of these two young men over a swan.

One was Devdutta who claimed that he had shot down the bird; and the other was Prince Siddhartha, son of King Sudhodana. His claim was that he had saved the life of the bird and so it was his. Both young men pleaded and argued before the king and noblemen and eventually it was decided that the bird would belong to the one who had saved its life and not one who had attempted to kill it. And so Prince Siddhartha won a point and taught the first great lesson. This was the very nature of Prince Siddhartha. From his youth he was very gentle, kind and loving to all people as well as to all animals.

People heard of the Prince's wisdom and recalled the strange dream Queen Maya had had before his birth. In the dream she saw a beautiful white elephant flying from the sky and entering her body. She narrated her dream to the King, and the two of them called wise men to give the meaning of the dream. The wise men said that the Queen would have a son who would be a special child, and he would be a great man, certainly greater than the King himself. This pleased King Sudhodana very much for he wished to have a son who would be a mighty ruler and who would expand the boundaries of his tiny kingdom in the north of India.

An example of 'Abdu'l-Baha's forgiving nature...

Some of the Governors of ‘Akka were very kind to 'Abdu'l-Baha, but others listened more to His enemies than to His friends and did very cruel things. For instance, some enemies of ‘Abdu'I-Baha at one time started a rumor that 'Abdu'I-Baha had left 'Akka and gone to Haifa. With the help of His many friends, they said, He was building a strong fort on Mount Carmel. Very soon, He would take over all of Palestine and Syria, and the Turkish Government would be driven out.

It was true that 'Abdu'l-Baha had moved to the fresh air of Haifa with His family, and it was true that He had many friends of all nationalities, but the so-called fort He was building was really the sacred Shrine of the Báb. The Governor, however, believed the stories the enemies told, and 'Abdu'l-Baha's family was brought back to the prison-city of 'Akka once again.

On one occasion an unfriendly Governor who hated the Baha'is decided to take over their shops and leave them with no means of making a living. So he gave orders to the police: "There are fifteen shops owned by Baha’is; go tomorrow morning early, lock them up, and bring the keys to me."

'Abdu'l-Baha called the Baha'is to Him that same evening and said, "Do not open your shops tomorrow, but wait and see what God will send us."

The next morning, the Governor waited for the keys. The police came to him and said that the shops were closed. The Governor sent the police out again, and said, "See if the shops are open now." The police returned and said that the shops were still closed. They waited and waited. At ten o'clock the shops were still not open, although they were usually open for trade at seven in the morning. However, the Governor knew that the shops must open sometime, so he waited.

At the Prison Gates

'Abdu'l-Rahim was a fanatical Muslim. He was alarmed. The Baha'i Faith was growing in his town in Persia and he decided that it was time to ask the advice of a Muslim clergyman. Being a fanatic, as many were, the clergyman assured 'Abdu'l-Rahim that to kill the Baha'is would certainly please God.  

'Abdu'l-Rahim then decided that he would kill some Baha'is. Not only would he rid the world of these infidels, he thought, but he'd gain a place in heaven as well. So, one day he armed himself with a weapon and went to confront an older believer whose name was Haji Bábá.  

"I've come to kill you, Haji Bábá, because you are a Baha'i. You are a disgrace to Islam!"  

To 'Abdu'l-Rahim’s surprise Haji Bábá did not seem the least upset. Instead he replied calmly and lovingly. It was certainly not what 'Abdu'l-Rahim’s expected. He wanted to kill at least one Baha'i, but instead he found himself listening to the words of the old man. Quite against his will, 'Abdu'l-Rahim became interested.  

After a while, Haji Bábá took 'Abdu'l-Rahim to a meeting. It was in the house of Mulla Husayn's sister. (Perhaps you remember that Mulla Husayn was the first to believe in the Báb.) You have been to firesides I suppose? Well, this one lasted one day and one night! At the end of this meeting, 'Abdu'l-Rahim was not only a Baha'i, but a Baha'i who was on fire with the love of God. He was so charged that he could no longer bear to stay in his town. He had learned that the Manifestation of God, God's Prophet for this age, was actually on this earth and 'Abdu'l-Rahim longed to see His Face.  

'Abdu'l-Rahim set out for the prison of Akka on foot. He walked weary miles on foot. He walked weary miles with a glad heart. He walked through cold and heat, rain and snow. He walked for six months. Finally, he arrived at the city of his heart, the dusty, parched city of Akka, where God had placed His Most Glorious Treasure, Baha'u'llah.  

Unfortunately, 'Abdu'l-Rahim arrived in the early days of Baha'u'llah's imprisonment. The gates were watched carefully and anyone suspected of being a Baha'i was turned away. Outside the city 'Abdu'l-Rahim met the celebrated, long suffering Nabil, who many times had tried to get in to catch a glimpse of that Beloved Face. But Nabil had failed and was patiently waiting for a time when he might enter.

Stranger in the Mountains

Background:

[Baha'u’llah left Baghdad to travel alone in the mountains of Kurdistan for two years. He did not tell anyone there who He was. There were others in Baghdad who wanted people to believe that they were the Promised One. Baha'u’llah left so that He would not hurt even the ones who wanted to be His enemies. You can read about His journey in ‘God Passes By’, by Shoghi Effendi, pp. 120-126, or in Baha’u’llah: The King of Glory, by H. M. Balyuzi, pp. 115-122. Here is a story from that time.]

Story:

The boy was sitting on the hillside crying bitterly. He could see the mountain village below which was his home. He wanted to go home but was afraid. He had been punished at school and would be punished again at home. So instead, he ran to the hills and cried.

A stranger, who did not live in the village, heard his crying. Coming closer the stranger asked the boy why he was crying. The boy looked up. There, coming toward him, was a dervish, a man without a home who spent his days wandering the countryside praying and thinking about God.

The boy answered, "Oh, sir, my teacher has punished me for writing so badly. I can't write nicely and now I've lost the lesson he gave me to copy. I can't go back to school without it or I will be punished even more. And I can't go home for my parents will be ashamed."

Then the boy began to cry some more. The stranger gently asked him to stop crying. He then offered to write a lesson and to teach the boy to copy it so that his teacher would be proud of him.

From his clothes the stranger took out a pen and paper and wrote beautiful letters. Then he showed the boy how to copy them. The boy copied the writing again and again. After a time he could do it so well you could hardly tell the difference between one writing and the other.

Being Good and…

Elizabeth was a Good Girl. Everybody said so. Grandpa David said she was his Little Princess; Mummy said she was Good as Gold; and even Mr. Barkowski, the mailman, said she was the Perfect Child. Everybody said she must be so happy to be so good. And when her Grandma Molly asked, “Are you sure?” they all said, “Of course...”

For when she came to dinner she ate everything on her plate, even the sauerkraut. Heaven knows she never spilled her milk or had grease spots on her dress. She said please and thank you nicely and wouldn’t think of asking for seconds of dessert.

At school she was the Perfect Student. She did lovely sums and wrote ever-so-neatly. She never wiggled in her seat or spoke out-of-turn. Her teacher said she was a Little Angel.

When she went out to play she was Always Good. She didn’t get mud on her slippers and she was never rowdy. She always put her toys away. And when she stumbled and scratched her knee, not one tear appeared; she was so Brave.

But that was before Billie Sue. Billie Sue was Bad.

Elizabeth knew for sure Billie Sue was Bad. You could hear her racing down the street from a block away, she tooted her bicycle horn so. Her hair always flew out of her pony-tail in curly wisps and her knees were permanently green from grass stains. In school she always shouted “I know; I know!” before their teacher even hinted at the question, and her homework, though it was always in on time, was smeared with doggie paw-prints, melted popsicles, or last night’s spaghetti sauce.