How to recognize a new Divine Teacher?

How to recognize a new Divine Teacher? The first people to hear the new teachings, as well as the established clergy of the time, rejected Moses, Jesus Christ, and Muhammad. The same pattern repeated when the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh announced their stations as the most recent Prophets, or Manifestations of God. In "The Book of Certitude", Bahá'u'lláh writes:

...they that tread the path of faith, they that thirst for the wine of certitude, must cleanse themselves of all that is earthly -- their ears from idle talk, their minds from vain imaginings, their hearts from worldly affections, their eyes from that which perisheth. They should put their trust in God, and, holding fast unto Him, follow in His way. … man can never hope to attain unto the knowledge of the All-Glorious, can never quaff from the stream of divine knowledge and wisdom, can never enter the abode of immortality, nor partake of the cup of divine nearness and favour, unless and until he ceases to regard the words and deeds of mortal men as a standard for the true understanding and recognition of God and His Prophets.

Consider the past. How many, both high and low, have, at all times, yearningly awaited the advent of the Manifestations of God in the sanctified persons of His chosen Ones. How often have they expected His coming, how frequently have they prayed that the breeze of divine mercy might blow, and the promised Beauty step forth from behind the veil of concealment, and be made manifest to all the world. And whensoever the portals of grace did open, and the clouds of divine bounty did rain upon mankind, and the light of the Unseen did shine above the horizon of celestial might, they all denied Him, and turned away from His face -- the face of God Himself.

"The Book of Certitude" also upholds Judaism, Christianity, and Islam among the essential foundations of God’s plan for the spiritual and material progress of humanity.

Read or download this book for free.

To watch the 50-minute film Light to the World, about the life of Bahá’u’lláh and the impact of His teachings on people around the world, go to http://www.bahai.org/light-to-the-world/

This dvd is in the Washington County public library system.