The Seven Valleys and the Four Valleys

This little book contains an entire journey. As you grow, the meanings in the text will change for you. It is a book to return to, many times, as your outlook on life changes. It was written in response to a Sufi mystic during the 19th century. As such, it uses language and references that may be quite uncommon to a 21st century western reader. For a little background, readers should consider the Sufi poem "Conference of the Birds", wherein thirty birds set out to find their Ideal King. At the end of this journey, they are told they must pass through seven valleys, at the end of which they will find their goal. Baha'u'llah comments on these seven stages, and relates them to similar Baha'i concepts of God and spiritual development.

This little book by Baha'u'llah is a very big statement about the nature of existence and the various conditions of the human soul as it attempts to unravel its mysteries and discover The Ultimate Unknown--God. While the book is written in the early ministry of the Prophet of the Baha'i religion, it is couched in the language of the Islamic-Sufi-mystic. For the reader new to this style, some of the concepts may at first be unclear or foreign, yet at the same time to the heart it all seems somehow familiar, as the valleys unfold in their mysterious--yet universal and familiar--landscape.For the Baha'i, this is a basic requirement for the personal library.For the investigator of truth, religious scholar, or mystic, it is the key to a whole new world ideas and insights, full of paradoxical wonder, and yet always simple in its truths. This is one of the most powerful spiritual works you will likely ever read, and is one of the yet undiscovered classics to be placed among the likes of Rumi, Hafez, Saadi, and Khayyam. While it is undoubtedly one of the great classics,make no mistake, it is both unique and peerless, among its contemporaries. No small wonder the the Revelations of Baha'u'llah have given birth to one of the fastest growing, and second most wide spread, religious movements--since its inception in 1844--in the world today.

This book is a wonderful read for everyone, whether new to the Writings of the founder of the Baha'i Faith, Baha'u'llah or not.It was written after Baha'u'llah spent 2 years in the wilderness praying and meditating on His mission, like many of the famous messengers from God in the past. This book together with "The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah" make up the most mystical and amoung the best loved Baha'i Writings.In "The Seven Valleys" Baha'u'llah writes about the seven stages of the lovers journey on his search for his Beloved: God. Each valley represents a plain of understanding such as Wonder, Love, Unity....I would recommend this book to everyone who is particularly seeking closeness to the spirit of God, and those who are beginning their research into the Writings of the Baha'i Faith.

Baha'u'llah takes us through a tour of Seven Valleys and Four Valleys of spiritual attainment with classical Sufi imagery. In this book, I have found many multi-faceted gems. For example, the explanation of the origin of conflict in creation found in the Valley of Contentment.

This has got to be the most beautiful work of mysticism produced in our era. Baha'u'llah, the author, describes the several stages a true seeker must traverse to attain true faith and attainment to the presense of God. He carries us as if on falcon's wings from the initial "Valley of Search" to several other "Valleys," all culminating in "true understanding" of the reality of the human being and his purpose for having been created. Baha'u'llah's use of language surpasses that of Shakespeare's with the added virtue of being pregnant with mystical overtones of great power and strength. This work is replete with wonderful poems and citations from great Arabic and Persian poets. New insights blossom within the reader's mind when contemplation is brought to bear on just one of its profoundly spiritual utterance. A must read!