Paris Talks
Read online at https://bahai-library.com/abdul-baha_paris_talks .
Its importance[edit]
Paris Talks among books urgently needed for translation (in the past)[edit]
"...he does not consider it necessary to publish at present "This Earth One Country"; there are other books more urgently needed by the German friends such as "Some Answered Questions" and the "Paris Talks" of the Master."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Light of Divine Guidance, vol. 1, p. 160)
"Some Answered Questions" is more important in the teaching work than "Paris Talks"[edit]
"He thinks that "Some Answered Questions" is more important in the teaching work than "Paris Talks", and recommends to get "Some Answered Questions" out first."
- (On behalf of Shoghi Effendi, Light of Divine Guidance, vol. 1, p. 168)
Notes on authenticity[edit]
"In regard to the question you raise in your letter of June 9th about the "Paris Talks", the Guardian does not advise your putting the suggested footnote, as we cannot be absolutely sure, unless we see the Persian text, that what you propose is really what the Master means. The present translation cannot be considered accurate in all its details, obviously, and as at the moment the Persian text is not available, he suggests you either put no footnote at all, or one stating that the meaning is obscure and future re-translation will clear up such passages."
"Regarding the status of Abdu'l-Baha's talks published in "The Promulgation of Universal Peace" and "Paris Talks", original Persian transcripts of some, but not all, of the talks are available. We provide the following extract from a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice which indicates that "in the future each talk will have to be identified and those which are unauthenticated will have to be clearly distinguished from those which form a part of Baha'i Scripture":
"The original of "Some Answered Questions" in Persian is preserved in the Holy Land; its text was read in full and corrected by Abdu'l-Baha Himself. Unfortunately, Abdu'l-Baha did not read and authenticate all transcripts of His other talks, some of which have been translated into various languages and published. For many of His addresses included in "The Promulgation of Universal Peace" and "Paris Talks", for example, no original authenticated text has yet been found. However, the Guardian allowed such compilations to continue to be used by the friends. In the future each talk will have to be identified and those which are unauthenticated will have to be clearly distinguished from those which form a part of Baha'i Scripture. This does not mean that the unauthenticated talks will have to cease to be used -- merely that the degree of authenticity of every document will have to be known and understood. (23 March 1987)"
- (From a memorandum of the Research department dated 28 March 1996 at https://bahai-library.com/uhj_authenticity_some_texts)
Notes on publication[edit]
An article at https://bahai-library.com/books/lango/lang10.html cites the "following extract from a letter by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, dated 17 December 1912:"
- This morning 'Abdu'l-Bahá spoke about America and the probability of his return to that country. He said: "God willing! If I go to America another time I will go differently; but it is very difficult. This first trip was made with great exertion." As I was reading one of his addresses delivered in America, he said it would be well if all his addresses in that country could be printed in one or two volumes. At present, he declared, they are all scattered and not collected. He called attention to how quickly the Paris and London addresses delivered last year were printed; and this was done through one woman, Lady Blomfield. Some one mentioned the name of a prominent wealthy woman and he said: "One of these poor, sincere and honest women is more beloved by me than a thousand millionaires; just now this Lady Blomfield is dearer to me than all the queens of the world."
- (Attributed to 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Star of the West, Vol 3, No 19)
Quotations from the Qur'án[edit]
(Rodwell's numbering)
- p. 23 - ?
- p. 47 - ?, cf. 3:32
- p. 69 - 24:35
- p. 94 - cf. 2:18, 25:73, 6:38, 8:22-23 (Non-Rodwell numbering references); Rodwell numbering references: See Surahs 5, 10-11, 17, 27, 30, 43, 47
By Talk[edit]
Part I[edit]
- Oct. 16, 17
- Oct. 18
- Oct. 19
- Oct. 20 - 1
- Oct. 20 - 2
- Oct. 21
- Oct. 22
- Oct. 23
- Oct. 24
- Oct. 25
- Oct. 26
- Oct. 27 - 1
- Oct. 27 - 2
- Oct. 27 - 3
- Oct. 28
- Oct. 30
- Oct. 31
- Nov. 1
- Nov. 2
- Nov. 3
- Nov. 4
- Nov. 5 - 1
- undated - 1
- Nov. 6
- Nov. 7
- Nov. 8
- Nov. 9 - 1
- Nov. 9 - 2
- Nov. 10 - 1 (2nd is below, as with Nov. 11-14)
- Nov. 15
- Nov. 17 - 1 (2nd is below, as with Nov. 18)
- Nov. 19
- Nov. 20
- Nov. 21
- Nov. 22
- Nov. 23
- Nov. 24
- Nov. 25
- Nov. 26
Part II[edit]
- undated - 2
- Nov. 10 - 2
- Nov. 11
- Nov. 12
- Nov. 13
- undated - 3
- undated - 4
- Nov. 17 - 2
- Nov. 14 (out of date order in book)
- Nov. 18
- Nov. 28
- Dec. 1
Part III[edit]
- Jan. 12
- Dec. 26 (out of date order in book)
- Jan. 4 (out of date order in book)
- Aug. 28, 1913 - Tablet - p. 182 - apparently updated translation at Family Life (compilation), no. 99