The divine Physician: diagnosing the needs of an age

As to thy question concerning the heavenly Scriptures: The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy. Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require.

The body politic today is greatly in need of a physician. It is similar to a human body afflicted with severe ailments. A doctor diagnoses the case and prescribes treatment. He does not prescribe, however, until he has made the diagnosis.

The Prophets of God, the universal Manifestations, are even as skilled physicians; the world of being is as the body of man; and the divine religions are as the treatment and remedy. The physician must be fully aware and informed of all the parts and organs, the constitution and condition of the patient, in order to prescribe an effective remedy. Indeed, it is from the disease itself that the physician deduces the remedy, for he first diagnoses the ailment and then treats its underlying cause. Until the ailment is properly diagnosed, how can any treatment or remedy be prescribed?

The world of man is sick, and that competent Physician knoweth the cure, arising as He doth with teachings, counsels and admonishments that are the remedy for every pain, the healing balm to every wound. It is certain that the wise physician can diagnose his patient's needs at any season, and apply the cure.

… The treatment ordered by wise physicians of the past, and by those that follow after, is not one and the same, rather doth it depend on what aileth the patient; and although the remedy may change, the aim is always to bring the patient back to health.

The body of the world can be compared to that of a man and the Prophets and Messengers of God to able physicians. A human being does not remain always in the same condition: different ailments occur and each calls for a specific remedy. Thus an able physician does not treat all ailments in the same manner, but varies the treatments and remedies in accordance with the requirements of these various ailments and conditions. … This change and alteration is required by the condition of the patient and is an evident proof of the skill of the physician.

The Prophets of God should be regarded as physicians whose task is to foster the well-being of the world and its peoples, that, through the spirit of oneness, they may heal the sickness of a divided humanity.

… The whole of mankind is in the grip of manifold ills. Strive, therefore, to save its life through the wholesome medicine which the almighty hand of the unerring Physician hath prepared.

Regard the world as the human body which, though at its creation whole and perfect, hath been afflicted, through various causes, with grave disorders and maladies. Not for one day did it gain ease, nay, its sickness waxed more severe, as it fell under the treatment of ignorant physicians, who gave full rein to their personal desires, and have erred grievously. And if at one time, through the care of an able physician, a member of that body was healed, the rest remained afflicted as before.

O my beloved one! In this day the world of being is even as a stricken man, and therefore standeth in need of a mighty Physician, that He may diagnose its malady and administer a speedy remedy. This sickness cannot be cured by political nostrums, nor will the treatment of liberty alone suffice to heal it, for the disease pertaineth unto morals and conscience, and hath laid hold upon the very soul and heart of man. We seek, then, such a remedy as shall quicken the soul, educate the conscience, endue hearts with a new life, and train the human race in the perfections of the Merciful.

That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith. This can in no wise be achieved except through the power of a skilled, an all-powerful and inspired Physician. … Each time that Most Mighty Instrument hath come, and that Light shone forth from the Ancient Dayspring, He was withheld by ignorant physicians who, even as clouds, interposed themselves between Him and the world. It failed, therefore, to recover, and its sickness hath persisted until this day.

The purpose of these statements is to make it abundantly clear that the Divine religions, the holy precepts, the heavenly teachings, are the unassailable basis of human happiness, and that the peoples of the world can hope for no real relief or deliverance without this one great remedy. This panacea must, however, be administered by a wise and skilled physician, for in the hands of an incompetent all the cures that the Lord of men has ever created to heal men's ills could produce no health, and would on the contrary only destroy the helpless and burden the hearts of the already afflicted.

The divine laws and religions are God's dispensary. The remedy for every ailment exists therein. A skilled physician is needed to apply this cure, one who knows when to use these remedies.

O physician! The health of the body of this world is ruined and its illness is chronic and complete. The skilled and choice Physician is indispensable and the real and true remedy is needed. If thou art a divine Plato, use thou the wholesome medicine and the sovereign remedy from the pharmacy of divine knowledge and the drugstore of faith, so that those who are confined to the bed of deadly illness and the afflicted souls that suffer chronic diseases may be cured and attain unto ease.

It is possible for a man to hold to a book of medicine and say, "I have no need of a doctor; I will act according to the book; in it every disease is named, all symptoms are explained, the diagnosis of each ailment is completely written out, and a prescription for each malady is furnished; therefore, why do I need a doctor?" This is sheer ignorance. A physician is needed to prescribe. Through his skill the principles of the book are correctly and effectively applied until the patient is restored to health.

The Prophets of God are the real Physicians. In whatever age or time They appear They prescribe for human conditions. They know the sicknesses; They discover the hidden sources of disease and indicate the necessary remedy.

O Hakim! The essential foundation is prophethood and messengership and the appearance of the Manifestations of Oneness, for the body of contingent existence, like the human person, is subject to endless illnesses.

When this body becomes afflicted with chronic ailments, the divine Physician appears and the celestial Doctor is sent forth, so that He may heal the body of contingent beings from these severe illnesses and grant true divine health to sanctified souls, so that each one may arise in the Kingdom of heaven with a face like the shining moon and the power of Gabriel of the Concourse on High and the gift of the Most Exalted Beauty.

The divine Prophets are the true physicians and the Holy Manifestations of God are the divine healers. They treat the world of being.

Baha'u'llah is the divine physician who diagnoses the world's malady; for the whole planet is ill and needs the power of a great specialist.

The ills of the body must be diagnosed by the skilful physician. The Holy Divine Manifestations are the real Physicians of mankind. The wisest statesmen and thinkers are impotent diagnosticians and fall short in making a scientific diagnosis of the symptoms and character of the manifold diseases which have attacked the body of the world of humanity.

This patient needs a skilled physician, and this country seeks an expert ruler. … We beseech God that a skilled physician may appear who will be the cause of immediate healing for this patient.

Those physicians studied medicine in the divine school, therefore they diagnosed chronic diseases of human souls and even deadly illnesses of the world and prescribed treatments.

There are seasons in the revelation from God, as in the natural year, and just as the Christ manifested the Spirit of God in the flesh and helped the earth in his time, now the message of Baha'Ullah is the medicine of which the world has much need.

Once this word was heard from the tongue of the Ancient of Days: The Bab - may the spirit of all else be sacrificed for Him - expressed agreement with the people of the Furqan (Muslims) in most matters, that He might attract those heedless souls to the direction of awareness. And this agreement was manifested to such an extent that in some instances mention of the four well-known gates flowed from that blessed Pen. However, this Most Great Revelation rent asunder the veils with the finger of power, despite those who denied God and His sovereignty and turned away from the Day which was illumined by the lights of His countenance.

By God! The Ancient Source hath appeared and in His hand is the pulse of the world. He healeth it as He pleaseth, and verily He is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

The physician will doubtless prescribe remedies that are at variance with popular notions, but is it permissible for those who have no knowledge of science and medicine to object? No, by God! On the contrary, they must all acquiesce and follow whatsoever the skilled physician prescribes. … First, the skill of the physician must be ascertained, and once this has been done, he "doeth whatsoever he willeth."

If a man is ill, he must have confidence in his doctor. If he be sure that he is a thorough, competent doctor he must do what he orders - whether it be to take a bitter medicine, to endure a burning blister, to be bled or even to have his arm cut off. The doctor may order something contrary to the patient's ideas and may give him medicine that makes him worse for the time --but, if he wishes to be cured he must follow his instructions - otherwise he will not become well.

The divine Physician hath the pulse of mankind within His almighty grasp. At one time He may well deem fit to sever certain infected limbs, that the disease may not spread to other parts of the body. This would be the very essence of mercy and compassion, and to none is given the right to object, for He is indeed the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing.

So listen to what the Physician say, in order to produce consequences of soundness and health. If all the people knew their remedy, there would be no need of the Physician and everybody could treat himself very skillfully.

Its sickness is approaching the stage of utter hopelessness, inasmuch as the true Physician is debarred from administering the remedy, whilst unskilled practitioners are regarded with favor, and are accorded full freedom to act.

The breath of the divine Messiah was diffused, the All-Knowing Physician appeared from behind the veil, and the skilled and true Healer emerged unconcealed.

… Yet ignorant and neglectful physicians devoid of learning have intervened and are preventing the divine and timely remedy from being administered.

This divine physician has appeared and pointed out the proper remedy for the world's disease, but the ignorant doctors continue to give various inefficient remedies, and therefore day by day the sickness becomes more dangerous.

They are not willing to abide by the advice of the physician, but are trying to break his prescribed regimen. They fly away from him and refuse to touch his medicine.

Glory be to God! What heedlessness and wrath and anger is this, that the patient flees from the physician and nurse, and the wounded one abhors the balm and healing remedy! These are signs of the Lord's wrath. When the patient seeks remedy from the physician, he finds comfort of soul and attains joy of conscience.

They say that the last cure is to burn the malady, as there is no other remedy. This is because the greater the profusion of divine compassion, the deeper are people's neglects; the more protective the grace of God, the more determined is people's rebellion and denial.

For the protection and safety of the people of the world, He made Himself a target for the arrows of tribulations and subjected Himself to the attacks of fierce beasts so that the divine sheep might find rest from the aggression of cruel predators and the oppression of the wolves of self and passion, and attain eternal preservation and life.

God is the great compassionate Physician who alone has the power to give true healing.

O ye whose hearts are wounded! The heavenly Physician hath come; from His ruby lip there arriveth a thousand remedies.

O kind friend! The heavenly Physician and divine Doctor has opened wide the doors of the divine hospital, and called the spiritual patients to attend, proclaiming:

Hasten to the remedy!

Turn your attention to the Most Glorious Beauty, Who is the King of the Kingdom and the Physician of spirits and hearts.

To-day the penetrative or Executive Power over the spirits, minds and souls is the love of Baha’u’llah, because He is the Promised One of all the nations, the Heavenly Teacher of all the world and the Physician of the hearts and the souls.

The Ancient Physician healeth the nations with a sovereign remedy that penetrateth the nerves and veins - a pure, sufficient and healing elixir.

O thou proficient physician! This ailing world with its weakened body and feeble constitution hath fallen desperately ill and all its chronic maladies have become inveterate. There is no alternative now but to administer the one supreme panacea to relieve its ills and no other medicine left but the Most Great Elixir.

The student will come to realize that these principles are as remedies for the sick body of the world and as ointment for its wounds and bruises.

The Divine Lote-Tree calleth out from the crimson spot, addressing the people of creation, saying: O My chosen ones throughout the lands! Hearken unto My most sweet call and unto My rustling which hath been raised betwixt earth and heaven.

Know ye that in this day He hath appeared at the center of the world as the One circumambulating the Most Great Throne, and account all else as non-existent, extinct and forgotten.

O Tabib! The True Physician speaketh: Strive ye to protect humankind from the disease of ignorance and heedlessness through the power of the Lord of Destiny, and heal them through this supreme remedy which is the recognition of the Lord of all peoples.

The divine friends must, like skilled physicians with sincere intention, become healers of the afflicted and loving physicians to the sick, so that perhaps the breath of life may be inhaled in those regions, a gentle breeze may blow and give life to the lifeless ones and make them fresh and verdant.

Therefore, O weak bodily one, be an antidote for the world and a sweet healing remedy for the pain of the suffering. Be a wise physician for the hospital of the ignorant, and be a sugar-eating parrot in the sugar-garden of praise and prayer.

Now, O skilled physician, attend to treating the patients of heart and soul. Become an accomplished doctor - diagnose spiritual illness and provide a remedy for every ailment, apply a salve to every wound, and cure every disease, so that spiritual medicine may bestow divine power and deliver the human world from satanic suggestions.

Therefore, the believers as the spiritual physicians must diagnose the spiritual sicknesses of the people and then treat it accordingly.

If a physician describes someone's illness, this is out of kindness so they may be cured. … However, I cannot tell someone with tuberculosis that they are healthy - I want to treat them and this is the utmost kindness, not enmity.

Therefore if the loved ones of God are kind to someone, they should want what is best for them and endeavor to counsel them so that the kind physician may treat them and they may be healed.

Thou hast applied balm to wounded hearts and bestowed healing upon the grievously ill - that is, thou hast found a remedy for every spiritual patient and sought the supreme antidote for every afflicted soul. This antidote and medicine consists of proofs and evidences that provide immediate cure to the spiritually sick and become a divine remedy for those poisoned by deadly venom.

O spiritual friend! The skilled physician and expert doctor treats chronic illnesses and cures severe diseases. He applies healing salves to deep wounds and uses superior poultices for crushing blows.

Therefore, with the help and favor of the Ancient Beauty, skilled physicians must treat them with the most great universal remedy.

Now thou should ask God that thou might receive a mighty portion from the sciences of the Supreme Kingdom and the arts of the Most Glorious Concourse, so that thou might become renowned among the spiritual ones in the realm of the Placeless and become a physician of the All-Merciful ones.

When tanning substances have such an effect, consider then what power divine medicine and remedy must possess. Assuredly its influence is a hundred thousand times greater and its purification more thorough. Blessed are those souls who purify hearts through divine remedy and spiritual ingredients.

You pray that the spiritual health of mankind may be improved daily; for there are many doctors who attend to the physical ailments of the people, but there are very few divine physicians.

Praise be unto Thee for Thou hast guided every thirsty one to the Fountain of Life and every ailing one to the Merciful Physician.

O God! We are all sick and Thou art the Kind Physician! Heal our spiritual diseases! Lead us toward the road of Thy Kingdom! Deliver us from the vices of the world of nature and adorn our beings with the virtues of Thy Kingdom.

The remembrance of Him hath ever been the healing of all ills, and His Name shall be the physician for all ailments.