Herein, the wondrous tablet on this site's
home page will be called TGN-- for Tablet of the Greatest Name.
We have received many comments, visits and
emails regarding this incredible tablet. First, what exactly IS the Greatest Name of God? Given it's importance as the password to God's Kingdom, the Source of eternal life and salvation, and the essence of the best guarded Secret of eons, cycles, centuries and ages, many are rightfully curious! In English, the forms of God's Greatest Name are "The All-Glorious," or "God is All-Glorious" or "The Glory of God."
Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, literally IS the Greatest Name of God, fulfilling the Biblical prophecy that Christ would return in the "GLORY of the Father." Ya Baha'u'llah Abha is a cry to Baha'u'llah, literally meaning "Oh Thou Glory of the All Glorious." The Baha'i greeting- Allah-u-Abha- means "God the All Glorious." Baha'i itself means "Follower of the Glory." Baha'u'llah is prounced "Ba-howl-ah" and the greeting is "Allow-ub-ha."
Curious questions also are received about the reference to a "password" at a time (1817 -- 1844, etc.) when there was no hint of computers yet on the planet. Even in the 1950's, when the Guardian described the internet ("a most great network containing all the world's knowledge, encircling and linking the globe, and readily available to everyone"), not a hint of PC's or the web (1985) existed! The practical answer is that passwords have been used for centuries by gatekeepers to allow entry into strongholds, and spiritually, the Divine Prophets and Manifestations one and all could see eons into the future. In fact, Baha'u'llah Himself said that if you die and ascend, and your soul finds the gates of paradise locked and closed, there is a phrase you can say, following which they will be flung wide open to you! After reading this site, you might imagine that it has something to do with TGN, and you would be right! The phrase is: "Oh my Lord, I beseech Thee by Thy Most Glorious Light, and all Thy Lights are, verily, Glorious."
The above phrase acknowledges Baha'u'llah as God's Greatest Name and Light, and most recent Manifestation, while at the same time praising Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad and all the Prophets preceding this newest and most Glorious Revelation.
Those who have listened to
Shirley Flynn's wonderful rendition of TGN, often ask about the tablet's provenance. At present, many suspect that the original tablet either is in research papers for Star of the West, or in a private collection. We're encouraging anyone who has knowledge of or copies of the original, to fax, or scan and
email us a copy -- anonymously if you wish. Although the House has approved use of the tablet in song and private prayer/ reading, the original tablet is still either in one of the voluminous pages in one of the publishing trust, house of worship, or central archives around the world, or still in a private collection. The translation surely rivals the beauty of the Guardian's other translations, to which the West owes their entire Faith. Even when found, only tiny differences from current translations are likely to emerge, such as "Chanting the words of that Phrase is to sing in harmony" vs. "The words of that phrase" and "The Holy I AM in His Court of Divine Omnipotent Truth" (written translations) vs. "His Court of Omnipotent Truth" (
Flynn song).
Did the
Master actually write this tablet? The jury is out, as the House (The Democratically elected ministers of Baha'i affairs-- Baha'is have no clergy) cannot confirm or deny any authorship, and have stated (paraphrasing) that they basically can't find anything about it in original documents. In other words, they are admitting they honestly don't know, which is pretty cool.
A huge step beyond provenance is Baha'u'llah's own statements about the Greatest Name-- some given at the bottom of the
home page-- which at root, say that It is Glorified beyond any praise or description. Calling, reading or chanting the phrase is surely greater than anything on the planet, given that it relates to eternal salvation, not this quickly passing world, but we will never truly even begin to properly praise it, even with this beautiful tablet! In other words, you are RIGHT to be astonished at it via TGN, however, it is even vastly greater than that! The Greatest Name is dumbfounding, and is at the apex of Infinite Names of God, such as the Fashioner, the All-Powerful, The All Merciful, The Creator, The Forgiving, The Compassionate, The All Knowing, The All Wise, The All Loving, etc. However, don't forget this quote by Baha'u'llah about the REALITY of God:
"Wert Thou to bestow on one of Thy creatures what would equal the kingdoms of earth and heaven, it would still not diminish by even as much as an atom the immensity of Thy dominion. Far greater art Thou than the Great One men are wont to call Thee, for such a title is but one of Thy names all of which were created by a mere indication of Thy will. There is no God but Thee, the God of power, the God of Glory, the God of knowledge and wisdom." -- Baha'u'llah (BP: 247)