The Seven Valleys

The Seven Valleys (Persian هفت وادی stick Vadi ) is a book which was written in Persian by Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahai religion. The Four Valleys (Persian چهار وادی Chahar Vadi ) were also written by Baha'u'llah. These two books are usually published together under the title The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys. They are markedly different and have no direct links to each other.

Background and History

The Seven Valleys were written around 1860 in Baghdad after Baha'u'llah had returned from Sulaymaniyah in Kurdistan Region. The piece, written mainly in Persian was written Qadiriyyah the direction of Sufism in response to questions by Sheikh Muyi'd -Din, a judge and trailers. This short mystical work deals with the journey of the soul to its Creator, God. The case passed through seven states ( = valleys ) are based on a traditional east mystical concept. The metaphor of the seven valleys found in the work of the Fariduddin Attar, a poem of over 4000 lines, known as " The Conference of the Birds " ( MANTEQ -at- Tair ).

Content and structure

The style of the Seven Valleys is very poetic, although it is not written in verse. Almost every line of the text consists of rhythm and playing with words, which can be lost in translation. Because the recipient of sufischem background was Baha'u'llah pointed historical and religious subtleties which sometimes had only one or a few words, to refer to a Quranic verse, traditions or well-known poems. In the English translation footnotes are often used to provide background information.

The book follows the path of the soul on a spiritual journey in which she comes over at various stages, from this world to a realm that is closer to God, first described by the Sufi poet Attar from the 12th century in his work " the Conference of the Birds ". Baha'u'llah explains the meaning and significance of the seven stages in this work. In the introduction, Bahá'u'lláh says "Some have called it the Seven Valleys, The other seven cities ". The steps are summarized in a series, the goal of the trip is "right path " to follow "to overcome the waste of life, to the sea of ​​" " to enter and" Life Bestower to take a look at the beloved ".

" These trips have no visible end in the temporal world, but the separate hikers - if an invisible blessing comes to him descended, and the guardian of the thing supported him - like the seven levels exceed seven steps, but not after seven breaths, still in a single breath, if God wills and desires. "

The valley of searching

The valley of searching is described as a first step that a seeker must go on his path. A seeker has to clean his heart and not follow the ways of his ancestors. Enthusiasm and patience are needed to go through this valley.

The Valley of Love

The next valley is " The Valley of Love " and in this valley the seeker with a moth is compared, which has a flame found. Baha'u'llah writes that the heart of the seeker is touched and the seeker in love with God.

The Valley of the knowledge

The realization that in this valley is referred to, is the knowledge of God, and not one that is based on learning; it is said that pride is often not allow in someone's knowledge and achievements to achieve a true understanding, which is the knowledge of God. It is explained that the viewfinder when it is in this valley, to understand the secrets, the disclosure contained in God, and finds wisdom in all things, which includes a discussion of pain and distress in which he of God 's mercy and blessings understands. This valley is called the valley last limited.

The Valley of the unit

The next stage is the Valley of the unit. The viewfinder does not recognize the creation within their borders, but the attributes of God in all created things. The viewfinder is detached from worldly things and is no longer busy with his own self and ego, instead he praises God for his whole creation.

The valley of the Genügens

The next valley for the seeker is the valley of the Genügens. The viewfinder is independent of all things. Even though he may look poor or chosen is to suffer, it is equipped with wealth and power of the spiritual worlds, and he will be happy inside. Happiness is the property of the true believers, it can not be achieved through material things as material things are impermanent.

The valley of wonder

It is written, that the viewfinder is held in the valley of wonder by the beauty of God for a fool; the seeker is the waste and the enormity of creation consciously and discovered the inner secrets of God's revelation. Guided by a secret of creation, it is explained that the seeker continues to be amazed at God's work.

The Valley of true poverty and utter offense

The last valley is the valley of true poverty and total offense. It is the outermost level, which can achieve the mystique. The seeker lacks everything material and is rich in spiritual attributes. This is the stage of the cancellation of the self in God, and it ultimately remains separated from the essence of the divine self and no perfect unit forms, as taught in many other traditions.

Other topics

In the introductory part of the book Baha'u'llah speaks at a new era, which begins with a time cycle, the Kull -i - Shay ' (Arabic: " all things," numerical value 361 after Abdschad system, a cycle of 361 years is mentioned in the Baha'i calendar) by using metaphors of the Hindu end-time expectation of a golden age, which will arise from an age of darkness.

Publications and Translations

The work was described by Shoghi Effendi as Baha'u'llah's "greatest mystical poetry ", and in the west it was one of his first books available. The translation into French by Hippolyte Dreyfus could be published as early as 1905. A year later an English translation has been published.