The Hidden Words is a collection of short sayings that Baha’u’llah revealed early in his revelation. He described it as the “inner essence” of all the revelations of the past, and you can hear the echoes of past revelations within them.  They are extraordinary in every way, containing a power and depth that transforms you.  In short sayings, Baha’u’llah has captured so much beauty and wisdom.  It’s helpful to read them slowly, taking each one and digesting it, or even just reading one a day and meditating on it.  Through this process, many Baha’is have memorized the Hidden Words, and then they are within you and you bring them to mind in the course of your day.

The passage sung below is as follows-

“O SON OF DUST! Blind thine eyes, that thou mayest behold My beauty; stop thine ears, that thou mayest hearken unto the sweet melody of My voice; empty thyself of all learning, that thou mayest partake of My knowledge; and sanctify thyself from riches, that thou mayest obtain a lasting share from the ocean of My eternal wealth. Blind thine eyes, that is, to all save My beauty; stop thine ears to all save My word; empty thyself of all learning save the knowledge of Me; that with a clear vision, a pure heart and an attentive ear thou mayest enter the court of My holiness.”

 The meanings are manifold so it is foolish to give just one interpretation, but it reminds us, in our busy modern lives filled with so many distractions, that finding God requires us to stop and listen. Baha’u’llah has told us that God is closer to us than our “life vein”, a phrase also used in the Quran, but we can be distracted by the “world” and forget that, allowing veils of different forms to come between us and God.  

 The passage is sung by Grant Hindin Miller, a beloved Baha’i musician from New Zealand. Grant’s music can be found here. The entire Hidden Words can be found here. Enjoy!