Thou hadst asked about the meaning of the statement “the
transgressions of the parents will affect four generations of their
descendants.” Know thou that spiritual diseases are like physical ones. Thou
seest that if a person is afflicted with a chronic physical illness, traces of
his ailment will linger in three or four generations of his offspring.
Likewise, should he be afflicted with a spiritual disease, that of an immoral
character, this will have a great influence on his progeny, for upbringing
exerteth an astounding influence and that person’s character will be passed on
to his descendants. A powerful force is thus needed to eliminate that
influence. By this “transgression” is meant immorality and heedlessness of God.
In truth, this transgression is the breaking of the Covenant, the abasement
resulting from which will linger in the descendants for four generations.
And now, I hope that thou shalt become the cause of the
illumination of souls, so that they may acquire a heavenly nature, and that thy
goodly character may exert its influence upon a vast number of people.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, ‘Additional Tablets, Extracts and Talks’, Online
Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i World Center)
