Malfuzat – Volume X — Page 447
9 May 1908 447 The Task of Reformation in the Present Age After this, the Promised Messiah, upon whom be blessings and peace, continued the conversation and said: From the perspective of the state of the present age, the issue of [spiritual] reformation appears rather difficult and compli- cated to some degree. These days some winds of opposition are blowing against it. The proposal that I am presenting is a bitter remedy indeed. These people can only make use of this bitter remedy when they abandon their sweet indulgences and they become fully aware and cognizant of the truth that this ‘sugar’ [of worldly pleasure] is actually dangerous for them and that this bitter medicine holds the efficacy of the water of life. Only then can some advantage be realized. The restrictions that God Almighty has imposed are full of grace and mercy from begin- ning to end. Really, what is the ultimate gain of these transgressions? What ends up happening is that these people are seen drown- ing in drunkenness, sin, and vice and then how perilous are the evil consequences that emerge from them? People are witness- ing them every day: paralysis, stroke, syphilis, gonorrhoea, and sometimes approaching the point of leprosy. Life is ruined this way, getting overwhelmed by dangerous afflictions. You should compare and evaluate the results of this freedom versus this discipline, but this younger generation which is bent upon the expediencies of modern education, does not understand. These expediencies are scary, but one should still not lose hope. I am not even opposed to the view that seeks sincere sympa- thy and reformation for this group. On the contrary, I strongly support it. Even one out of a hundred is good enough! But if not, I would still receive the reward for my effort despite their laughing it off in ridicule.