Aside from his written works, Ostad Elahi's system of thought was primarily conveyed through his oral teachings in friendly and informal gatherings. Several years after his passing, notes that had been transcribed during those sessions from 1964 until his passing in 1974 were compiled by his son Dr. Bahram Elahi and published in two volumes titled Words of Truth (Asar ol-Haqq).
Words of Truth represents the culmination of more than 70 years of Ostad Elahi's personal research and spiritual experience amassed during an exceptional lifetime marked by numerous peaks and valleys. A cursory look back at his life reveals how it all started in a pure spiritual environment founded on traditional mysticism within a hermitage in Jeyhounabad that has been analogized to a beautiful garden, and from there continued in a world in which Ostad Elahi was unaware that it was even possible for people to lie. In time, he would assume a governmental position and thereafter begin a judicial career, overcoming all the accompanying pressures and hardships of this period . . . resulting in experiences whose value is known only to those who are in pursuit of the truth.
The sayings in the first volume of Words of Truth have been arranged by subject matter, whereas those in the second mostly appear chronologically. In Words of Truth, Ostad Elahi covers a variety of topics, not because he devised them as part of a specific educational program for his students, but rather because these were the subjects and problems that would be confronted by those who were seeking spirituality in today's world. Ostad Elahi's sayings were generally conveyed during a specific period (in the 60s) and within the framework of a specific culture, yet its spiritual content—which is based on the principles and essence of the divine religions—transcends any particular time and place and encompasses all of humanity. Among the spiritual subjects discussed in Words of Truth are the principles of the process of perfection, self-knowledge, the other world, rights and duties, and ethical attributes.
In addition to purely spiritual topics, there are other subjects covered in the book as well that are a testament to the scope of Ostad Elahi's thought and the breadth of his knowledge. Despite being qualified to do so, he never issued any religious edicts or decrees due to his firm conviction that each person should be free to choose his or her own path. Indeed, he never sought to impose his personal beliefs or way of thinking on anyone, and always respected this principle of freedom.
Certain sections of Words of Truth contain explanations regarding Ostad Elahi's two other books—Demonstration of the Truth and Knowing the Spirit, which were written in highly formal and technical language owing to the nature of their subject matter—that are quite helpful in better understanding their content. |
