ll superstitions. Many of us do not realize the Reality of all Religions.

Divine Manifestations

Question.--What is 'Abdu'l-Baha's teaching concerning the different Divine
manifestations?

Answer.--The Reality of all is One. Truth is one. Religions are like the
branches of one Tree. One branch is high, one is low and one in the
centre, yet all draw their life from the one stem. One branch bears fruit
and others are not laden so abundantly. All the Prophets are lights, they
only differ in degree; they shine like brilliant heavenly bodies, each
have their appointed place and time of ascension. Some are like lamps,
some like the moon, some like distant stars, and a few are like the sun,
shining from one end of the earth to the other. All have the same Light to
give, yet they are different in degree.

Buddhism

Some referred to the teaching of Buddha. 'Abdu'l-Baha said: The real
teaching of Buddha is the same as the teaching of Jesus Christ. The
teachings of all the Prophets are the same in character. Now men have
changed the teaching. If you look at the present practice of the Buddhist
religion, you will see that there is little of the Reality left. Many
worship idols although their teaching forbids it.

Buddha had disciples and he wished to send them out into the world to
teach, so he asked them questions to see if they were prepared as he would
have them be. "When you go to the East and to the West," said the Buddha,
"and the people shut their doors to you and refuse to speak to you, what
will you do?"--The disciples answered and said: "We shall be very thankful
that they do us no harm."--"Then if they do you harm and mock, what will
you do?"--"We shall be very thankful that they do not give us worse
treatment."--"If they throw you into prison?"--"We shall still be grateful
that they do not kill us."--"What if they were to kill you?" the Master
asked for the last time. "Still," answered the disciples, "we will be
thankful, for they cause us to be martyrs. What more glorious fate is
there than this, to die for the glory of God?" And the Buddha said: "Well
done!"

The teaching of Buddha was like a young and beautiful child, and now it
has become as an old and decrepit man. Like the aged man it cannot see, it
cannot hear, it cannot remember anything. Why go so far back? Consider the
laws of the Old Testament: the Jews do not follow Moses as their example
nor keep his commands. So it is with many othe