Now there are many wisdoms to ponder in the dream, which none but the people of this Valley can comprehend in their true elements. First, what is this world, where without eye and ear and hand and tongue a man puts all of these to use? Second, how is it that in the outer world thou seest today the effect of a dream, when thou didst vision it in the world of sleep some ten years past? Consider the difference between these two worlds and the mysteries which they conceal, that thou mayest attain to divine confirmations and heavenly discoveries and enter the regions of holiness.
Visions
Bahá’u’lláh, The Seven Valleys, p. 32
But many things come to the mind of man which are like the waves of the sea of imaginations; they have no fruit, and no result comes from them. In the same way, man sees in the world of sleep a vision which becomes exactly realized; at another time, he sees a dream which has absolutely no result.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 251
If thou art not seeing dreams (and visions), be thou not sad. Thou art going to see, whilst thou art awake. A wakeful eye is acceptable in the Threshold of the Almighty. Therefore, I hope that thou wilt open the eye of thine insight, travel in all the realms of God, see the splendor of the Kingdom and behold the effulgence of the Realm of might.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá v3, p. 531
That merciful maid-servant (i. e., thyself) seeth some spiritual dreams (or visions). these are, in reality, discoveries of the heart and are spiritual visions.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá v3, p. 728
As regards . . .'s claim to have direct revelation from God; such visions and communications as he may receive cannot, from the standpoint of the Cause, be well considered in the nature of a direct and authoritative revelation from God such as experiences by Divine Prophets and Messengers. There is a fundamental difference between Divine Revelation as vouchsafed by God to His Prophets, and the spiritual experiences and visions which individuals may have. The latter should, under no circumstances, be construed as constituting an infallible source of guidance, even for the person experiencing them. The Guardian wishes you to fully explain and clarify this point to . . . that he may have no illusion regarding the true Bahá’í attitude on this and similar matters.
Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 514
Briefly, there is no question that visions occasionally do come to individuals, which are true and have significance. On the other hand, this comes to an individual through the grace of God, and not through the exercise of any of the human faculties. It is not a thing which a person should try to develop. When a person endeavors to develop faculties so that they might enjoy visions, dreams etc., actually what they are doing is weakening certain of their spiritual capacities; and thus under such circumstances, dreams and visions have no reality, and ultimately lead to the destruction of the character of the person.
Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 515
First concerning visions; it is very difficult to distinguish between true visions which are true spiritual experiences of the soul and imaginations which have no reality in spiritual truths. True visions, however, can be granted to those who are spiritually pure and receptive, and are not therefore confined to the Prophets alone.
Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 514
There is a fundamental difference between Divine Revelation as vouchsafed by
God to His Prophets, and the spiritual experiences and visions which individuals
may have. The latter should, under no circumstances, be construed as constituting
an infallible source of guidance, even for the person experiencing them.
From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian dated 1 November 1940 to an individual believer
