Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Hidden Words, October 8, 2003
By A Customer
I won't offer my personal, highly biased opinion. Istead, I will share the reaction of two Christian friends, one of whom is just shy of a Master of Theology degree from a Methodist university, and the other of whom studied for the priesthood, before deciding it wasn't to be his life vocation.The first friend found the Hidden Words to be nothing special- a collection of platitudes. He didn't disagree with the ideas, but wasn't moved by the form of expression. The second said nothing for two or three weeks after receiving the book, but then told me it was the most Christian book he had had ever read, save the New Testament. He told me that some of the brief verses had brought him greater insight into the teachings of Christ than had his study of scholarly texts. He confessed he had only read part way through the very short book, because so many passages gave him so much to reflect upon. I think these reactions reflect a generality about reader reactions to the Hidden Words. It's not a matter of loving it or hating it. Instead, readers find it either inconsequential of life-changing. All in the eye and heart of the beholder.
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25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cliff Notes for holy books, November 23, 2003
Remember those Cliff Notes in school, condensing down long books into a form that was manageable? That's exactly what this book is, Cliff Notes for all the world's holy books. I read this book at least 5 or 10 times a year just to review the messages and see what new insights I can pick up. The very first paragraph of the book refers to these holy books, saying, "We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed it in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous". Could Cliff Notes have stated it more clearly?
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Baha'i Religious Text, October 24, 2005
I have had a long curiosity about the Baha'i Faith and its teachings of the universal nature of religion, the unity of human beings, and the imperative of tolerating and respecting beliefs different from one's own. I have always been intrigued by how these teachings of universalism and the essential unity of all religions can fit within the confines of an individual, independent religion, the Baha'i Faith, with its own teachings and texts. Thus, I was pleased to have the opportunity to read this short book "The Hidden Words of Bahaullah" composed by the founder of the Baha'i Faith, Baha'u'llah (1817 -- 1892) while in prison. The book was written in part in Arabic and in part in Persian and was translated by Baha'u'llah's disciple, Shogi Effendi. This book was my first experience with Baha'i scripture.
"The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah" consists of about 153 short paragraphs in two parts. It is cast in the form of short revelations to Bahaullah each of which is prefaced by a short exortation such as "To the Son of Man" characterizing the person or persons to whom the revelation is addressed. There is a brief introductory paragraph to the collection, indicating that the aim of the text is to distill, in short form, teachings that are universal to the spiritual life. This goal of the collection is reflected in some of the comments on this site. These teachings have, and were intended to have, many parallels in the teachings of the other great world religions.
The teachings speak of the need for a pure heart, of the need of detachment from everyday life, and of the importance of not envying,critcizing or condemning others. I was struck by the other-worldiness of many of the teachings, as they exhort the follower to turn away from materialism and desire and turn one's attention and heart to the divine. To me, some of the teachings seem directed to mankind, while others, if I am not mistaken, appear primarily directed towards Baha'u'llah himself. In this latter regard, there are several of the teachings which speak of the value of imprisonment, suffering and martyrdom as they advance the cause of God. These teachings seem to be directed to the founder of the faith or to those in danger of persecution on account of their beliefs. While most of the short sayings are readily intelligible to readers of many backgrounds, some sections, particularly near the end of the book, allude to figures that have some specific meaning for the Baha'i faith.
This book is known within the Baha'i community but will appeal to those who have an interest in exploring a variety of spiritual traditions. I am in this latter group. It is an inspiring text. The work here is presented without an introduction, notes, or commentary. Thus, I was unable to learn the place of this specific text within the Baha'i teachings as a whole. An introduction to the book with an overview of the Baha'i Faith and of how this book fits within it would have been invaluable. Also, notes in the way of a commentary on the organization and substance of the text would have been helpful. There is always a great deal more to understanding a short spiritual work than reading the words of the text. Context and discussion would be useful.
This is an important religious text, and it is good to have it widely accessible. It will appeal to those readers interested in the Baha'i Faith, to those interested in comparative religion, and to those interested in spiritual growth.
Robin Friedman
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