Proofs of the Prophets: the Case for Lord Krishna
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1 PROOFS OF THE PROPHETS: THE CASE FOR LORD KRISHNA Peter Terry Compiler and Commentator Volume VII, Bahá’í Studies Series Original compilation of texts related to Lord Krishna: Forty Proofs of Prophethood set forth in the Bhagavad-Gita, the Bhagavata Purana and other Scriptures of Hinduism, as well as the writings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Báb, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi, and other authors, in English translations. Passages from the Writings of the Báb are in some cases presented in the compiler’s rendering of their French translation by A.L.M. Nicolas, originally published circa 1900-1911. Published by Lulu Publications 2008 Copyright © 2008 by Peter TerryAll rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. ISBN: 978-0-557-06720-6 The essential requirement for whoso advanceth a claim is to support his assertions with clear proofs and testimonies.1 Some of the divines who have declared this Servant an infidel have at no time met with Me. Never having seen Me, or become acquainted with My purpose, they have nevertheless spoken as they pleased and acted as they desired. Yet every claim requireth a proof, not mere words and displays of outward piety.2 In this day the verses of the Mother Book are resplendent and unmistakable even as the sun. They can in no wise be mistaken for any past or more recent utterances. Truly this Wronged One desireth not to demonstrate His Own Cause with proofs produced by others. He is the One Who embraceth all things, while all else besides Him is circumscribed. Say, O people, peruse that which is current amongst you and We will peruse what pertaineth unto Us.3 The Cause is manifest, it shineth resplendent as the sun, but the people have become veils unto themselves. We entreat God that He may graciously assist them to return unto Him. He is, in truth, the Forgiving, the Merciful.4 The breezes of Revelation can never be confounded with other breezes. Now the Lote-Tree beyond which there is no passing standeth laden with countless fruits before thy face; besmirch not thyself with idle fancies, as have done the people aforetime. These utterances themselves proclaim the true nature of the Faith of God. He it is Who witnesseth unto all things. To demonstrate the truth of His Revelation He hath not been, nor is He, dependent upon any one. Well nigh a hundred volumes of luminous verses and perspicuous words have already been sent down from the heaven of the will of Him Who is the Revealer of signs, and are available unto all. It is for thee to direct thyself towards the Ultimate Goal, and the Supreme End, and the Most Sublime Pinnacle, that thou mayest hear and behold what hath been revealed by God, the Lord of the worlds.5 TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREWORD…1 NINETEENTH PROOF…223 PREFACE…3 TWENTIETH PROOF…229 INTRODUCTION…5 TWENTY-FIRST PROOF…233 OUTLINE…9 TWENTY-SECOND PROOF…241 PROOFS OF THE AVATARAS TWENTY-THIRD PROOF…247 PRECEDING TWENTY-FOURTH PROOF…259 LORD KRISHNA…15 TWENTY-FIFTH PROOF…265 FIRST PROOF…21 TWENTY-SIXTH PROOF…269 SECOND PROOF…69 TWENTY-SEVENTH PROOF…275 THIRD PROOF…77 TWENTY-EIGHTH PROOF…283 FOURTH PROOF…83 TWENTY-NINTH PROOF…297 FIFTH PROOF…93 THIRTIETH PROOF…301 SIXTH PROOF…103 THIRTY-FIRST PROOF…305 SEVENTH PROOF…111 THIRTY-SECOND PROOF…313 EIGHTH PROOF…115 THIRTY-THIRD PROOF…321 NINTH PROOF…125 THIRTY-FOURTH PROOF…329 TENTH PROOF…133 THIRTY-FIFTH PROOF…337 ELEVENTH PROOF…143 THIRTY-SIXTH PROOF…343 TWELFTH PROOF…149 THIRTY-SEVENTH PROOF…349 THIRTEENTH PROOF…161 THIRTY-EIGHTH PROOF…355 FOURTEENTH PROOF…167 THIRTY-NINTH PROOF…359 FIFTEENTH PROOF…189 FORTIETH PROOF…365 SIXTEENTH PROOF…201 REFLECTIONS…371 SEVENTEENTH PROOF…211 ENDNOTES…375 EIGHTEENTH PROOF…219 Verily I say! No one hath apprehended the root of this Cause. It is incumbent upon everyone, in this day, to perceive with the eye of God, and to hearken with His ear. Whoso beholdeth Me with an eye besides Mine own will never be able to know Me. None among the Manifestations of old, except to a prescribed degree, hath ever completely apprehended the nature of this Revelation.vi 1 FOREWORD The compiler/editor of this volume has used various orthographical devices in order to highlight what he considers to be notable numbers, letters, words, phrases and passages found in the collected texts. These devices are not integral to the text, nor were they featured in the published editions consulted in preparation for this volume. Quotation marks, square brackets, bold or italic typeface which have been employed within quoted words, phrases or passages are among such devices. Long citations from the writings of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, and others who are identified in this study as Prophets are indented, while in citations from the Writings and utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and the writings of Shoghi Effendi only the first line of the citation is indented. All citations have been carefully checked, but some errors may yet be found by vigilant readers. Please report these without delay to the compiler/editor so that he can correct these blemishes in the Second Edition. As monarchs, emperors, pontiffs and justices of the courts are addressed with honorific titles such as His Majesty, His Eminence, His Honor and the like, so also Lord Krishna, the principal subject of this work, and others regarded as Prophets of God in various religious traditions, are addressed with a capitalized male pronoun. This usage does not assume that the reader is a believer any more than referring to Her Majesty the Queen of England or His Eminence the Pope presupposes that the writer or reader is a British subject or a Roman Catholic. What it conveys is a measure of respect for these persons who are more highly revered by some than kings or emperors, pontiffs or priests. It is in honor of such reverence that this convention has been followed in reference to the persons aforementioned, as well as to Muhammad and Jesus and other objects of enduring adoration. None of the interpretations of texts cited in this study are wholly original to the compiler/commentator, and hence he does not claim to be their inventor. Nor does he claim that his interpretations are the only valid understandings of the texts cited. Let the reader read, reflect and come to his own conclusions. 2 The abbreviated titles of source texts are used almost without exception in this book: ABDP: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on Divine Philosophy ABL: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London ADJ: Shoghi Effendi, The Advent of Divine Justice AHW: Bahá’u’lláh, Arabic Hidden Words BG: Bhagavad-Gita BP: Bahá’í Prayers BWF: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Bahá’u’lláh, Bahá’í World Faith ESW: Bahá’u’lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf FV: Bahá’u’lláh, The Four Valleys GL: Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh GPB: Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By GTT: Shoghi Effendi, Guidance for Today and Tomorrow JA: Bahá’u’lláh, Javahiru’l-Asrar JN: Gospel of John KA: Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas KI: Bahá’u’lláh, Kitáb-i-ĺqán LK: Gospel of Luke MK: Gospel of Mark MT: Gospel of Matthew PDC: Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come PHW: Bahá’u’lláh, Persian Hidden Words PM: Bahá’u’lláh, Prayers and Meditations PT: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks PUP: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace REV: Book of Revelation (The Apocalypse) SAQ: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions SDC: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization SLH: Bahá’u’lláh, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts SP: Báb, The Seven Proofs SV: Bahá’u’lláh, The Seven Valleys SW: Star of the West SWAB: Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá TAB: Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá TB: Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh revealed after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas TF: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablet to Dr. Auguste Forel UAB: Utterances of Abdul Beha Abbas to two young men, American pilgrims to Acre, 1901; New York: The Board of Counsel, 1902 3 PREFACE This book sets forth forty proofs of prophethood described in the Writings of Mírzá Husayn 'Alí Núrí (1817-1892), known as Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith. These proofs are found in His Writings, and in the Writings and recorded talks of His appointed Interpreters. Why would a Hindu or anyone interested in Hinduism, let alone a Vaisnavite or a devotee of Lord Krishna read beyond this page? For one reason, and it is one worthy of your close consideration…there is only one among all the religions upon the planet that regards Lord Krishna as the Founder of a Faith, as a Messenger and Manifestation of God. Indeed, Shoghi Effendi, the great-grandson of Bahá’u’lláh, and His second appointed Interpreter has called the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, “the "Tenth Avatar," the "Immaculate Manifestation of Krishna."”vii Not surprisingly in this case, Lord Krishna is regarded by Shoghi Effendi as one of the “Prophets” including “Zoroaster, Krishna, Moses, the Christ, Muhammad, Buddha, the Prophet of the Sabaeans Whose name is unrecorded, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh appeared in the Adamic cycle"viii. Consider this, that neither Zoroastrianism nor Judaism, Christianity nor Mormonism, Buddhism nor Jainism, Sikhism nor Islam have ever regarded Krishna as a Sayoshant (Zoroastrian), prophet (Jewish), divine Son (Christian), prophet (Mormon), Tathagata (Buddhist), Tirthankar (Jain), Guru (Sikh), messenger or prophet (Muslim). In fact, Hindus do not consider Krishna a prophetic figure, but instead He is worshipped as a deity, an incarnation of Vishnu.