From the book, Paris Talks
page 173 

                  ADDRESS BY ABDU'L-BAHÁ 
 
         AT THE FRIENDS' MEETING HOUSE, ST MARTIN'S 
                     LANE, LONDON, W.C.  
 
                Sunday, January 12th, 1913 
                
     About one thousand years ago a society was 
formed in Persia called the Society of the Friends, 
who gathered together for silent communion with the 
Almighty.  
     They divided Divine philosophy into two parts:  
one kind is that of which the knowledge can be acquired 
through lectures and study in schools and 
colleges.  The second kind of philosophy was that of the 
Illuminati, or followers of the inner light.  The schools 
of this philosophy were held in silence.  Meditating, and 
turning their faces to the Source of Light, from that 
central Light the mysteries of the Kingdom were reflected 
in the hearts of these people.  All the Divine 
problems were solved by this power of illumination.  
     This Society of Friends increased greatly in Persia, 
and up to the present time their societies exist.  Many 
books and epistles were written by their leaders.  When 
they assemble in their meeting-house they sit silently 
and contemplate; their leader opens with a certain 
proposition, and says to the assembly `You must meditate 
on this problem'.  Then, freeing their minds from 
everything else, they sit and reflect, and before long the 
answer is revealed to them.  Many abstruse divine 
questions are solved by this illumination.  
 
Page 174

     Some of the great questions unfolding from the 
rays of the Sun of Reality upon the mind of man are:  
the problem of the reality of the spirit of man; of the 
birth of the spirit; of its birth from this world into 
the world of God; the question of the inner life of the 
spirit and of its fate after its ascension from the body.  
     They also meditate upon the scientific questions of 
the day, and these are likewise solved.  
     These people, who are called `Followers of the inner 
light', attain to a superlative degree of power, and are 
entirely freed from blind dogmas and imitations.  Men 
rely on the statements of these people:  by themselves--
within themselves--they solve all mysteries.  
     If they find a solution with the assistance of the 
inner light, they accept it, and afterwards they declare 
it:  otherwise they would consider it a matter of blind 
imitation.  They go so far as to reflect upon the essential 
nature of the Divinity, of the Divine revelation, of the 
manifestation of the Deity in this world.  All the divine 
and scientific questions are solved by them through the 
power of the spirit.  
     Bahá'u'lláh says there is a sign (from God) in every 
phenomenon:  the sign of the intellect is contemplation 
and the sign of contemplation is silence, because it is 
impossible for a man to do two things at one time--he 
cannot both speak and meditate.  
     It is an axiomatic fact that while you meditate you 
are speaking with your own spirit.  In that state of 
mind you put certain questions to your spirit and the 
spirit answers:  the light breaks forth and the reality is 
revealed.  
 
Page 175 

     You cannot apply the name `man' to any being void 
of this faculty of meditation; without it he would be 
a mere animal, lower than the beasts.  
     Through the faculty of meditation man attains to 
eternal life; through it he receives the breath of the 
Holy Spirit--the bestowal of the Spirit is given in 
reflection and meditation.  
     The spirit of man is itself informed and strengthened 
during meditation; through it affairs of which man 
knew nothing are unfolded before his view.  Through 
it he receives Divine inspiration, through it he receives 
heavenly food.  
     Meditation is the key for opening the doors of 
mysteries.  In that state man abstracts himself:  in that 
state man withdraws himself from all outside objects; 
in that subjective mood he is immersed in the ocean of 
spiritual life and can unfold the secrets of 
things-in-themselves. To illustrate this, think of man as 
endowed with two kinds of sight; when the power of insight 
is being used the outward power of vision does not see.  
     This faculty of meditation frees man from the animal 
nature, discerns the reality of things, puts man in 
touch with God.  
     This faculty brings forth from the invisible plane the 
sciences and arts.  Through the meditative faculty 
inventions are made possible, colossal undertakings are 
carried out; through it governments can run smoothly.  
Through this faculty man enters into the very Kingdom 
of God.  
     Nevertheless some thoughts are useless to man; they 
are like waves moving in the sea without result.  But 
 
Page 176 

if the faculty of meditation is bathed in the inner light 
and characterized with divine attributes, the results 
will be confirmed.  
     The meditative faculty is akin to the mirror; if you 
put it before earthly objects it will reflect them.  
Therefore if the spirit of man is contemplating earthly 
subjects he will be informed of these.  
     But if you turn the mirror of your spirits heavenwards, 
the heavenly constellations and the rays of the 
Sun of Reality will be reflected in your hearts, and the 
virtues of the Kingdom will be obtained.  
     Therefore let us keep this faculty rightly directed--
turning it to the heavenly Sun and not to earthly 
objects--so that we may discover the secrets of the 
Kingdom, and comprehend the allegories of the Bible 
and the mysteries of the spirit.  
     May we indeed become mirrors reflecting the 
heavenly realities, and may we become so pure as to 
reflect the stars of heaven.