The appearances of the Manifestations of God are the divine
springtime. When Christ appeared in this world, it was like the vernal bounty;
the outpouring descended; the effulgences of the Merciful encircled all things;
the human world found new life. Even the physical world partook of it. The
divine perfections were upraised; souls were trained in the school of heaven so
that all grades of human existence received life and light. Then by degrees
these fragrances of heaven were discontinued; the season of winter came upon
the world; the beauties of spring vanished; the excellences and perfections
passed away; the lights and quickening were no longer evident; the phenomenal
world and its materialities conquered everything; the spiritualities of life
were lost; the world of existence became life unto a lifeless body; there was
no trace of the spring left.
Bahá’u’lláh has come into this world. He has renewed that
springtime. The same fragrances are wafting; the same heat of the Sun is giving
life; the same cloud is pouring its rain, and with our own eyes we see that the
world of existence is advancing and progressing. The human world has found new
life. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, 13 April 1912, New York; ‘The Promulgation of
Universal Peace’)
June 29
Wherefore ye should not be surprised that the Tablet of
Wisdom is in conflict with the historical accounts. It behoveth one to reflect
a while on the great diversity of opinion among historians, and their
contradictory accounts; for the historians of East and West are much at odds,
and the Tablet of Wisdom was written in accordance with certain histories of
the East.
Furthermore, the torah, held to be the most ancient of histories, existeth today in three separate versions: the Hebrew, considered authentic by the Jews and the Protestant clergy; the Greek Septuagint, which was used as authoritative in the Greek and other eastern churches; and the Samaritan Torah, the standard authority for that people. These three versions differ greatly, one from another, even with regard to the lifetimes of the celebrated figures. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablet of Wisdom questions and answers’, translated by Baha’i World Centre, published in ‘Ethel Jenner Rosenberg, the Life and Times of England's Outstanding Bahá'í Pioneer Worker’, by Robert Weinberg)
Furthermore, the torah, held to be the most ancient of histories, existeth today in three separate versions: the Hebrew, considered authentic by the Jews and the Protestant clergy; the Greek Septuagint, which was used as authoritative in the Greek and other eastern churches; and the Samaritan Torah, the standard authority for that people. These three versions differ greatly, one from another, even with regard to the lifetimes of the celebrated figures. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablet of Wisdom questions and answers’, translated by Baha’i World Centre, published in ‘Ethel Jenner Rosenberg, the Life and Times of England's Outstanding Bahá'í Pioneer Worker’, by Robert Weinberg)
June 28
…physical fasting is a symbol of the spiritual fasting, that
is, abstaining from all carnal desires, becoming characterized with the
attributes of the spiritual ones, attracted to the heavenly fragrances and
enkindled with the fire of the love of God. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of
‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
June 27
The reality of man is his thought, not his material body.
The thought force and the animal force are partners. Although man is part of
the animal creation, he possesses a power of thought superior to all other
created beings.
If a man’s thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects then does he become saintly; if on the other hand his thought does not soar, but is directed downwards to centre itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, Paris, October 18, 1911; ‘Paris Talks’)
If a man’s thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects then does he become saintly; if on the other hand his thought does not soar, but is directed downwards to centre itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, Paris, October 18, 1911; ‘Paris Talks’)
June 26
Whoever sets out on a teaching journey to any place, let him recite this prayer day and night during his travels in foreign lands:
O God, my God! Thou seest me enraptured and attracted toward Thy glorious kingdom, enkindled with the fire of Thy love amongst mankind, a herald of Thy kingdom in these vast and spacious lands, severed from aught else save Thee, relying on Thee, abandoning rest and comfort, remote from my native home, a wanderer in these regions, a stranger fallen upon the ground, humble before Thine exalted threshold, submissive toward the heaven of Thine omnipotent glory, supplicating Thee in the dead of night and at the break of dawn, entreating and invoking Thee at morn and at eventide to graciously aid me to serve Thy Cause, to spread abroad Thy teachings and to exalt Thy Word throughout the East and the West.
O Lord! Strengthen my back, enable me to serve Thee with the utmost endeavor, and leave me not to myself, lonely and helpless in these regions.
O Lord! Grant me communion with Thee in my loneliness, and be my companion in these foreign lands.
Verily, Thou art the Confirmer of whomsoever Thou willest in that which Thou desirest, and, verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Omnipotent. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of Divine Plan’)
O God, my God! Thou seest me enraptured and attracted toward Thy glorious kingdom, enkindled with the fire of Thy love amongst mankind, a herald of Thy kingdom in these vast and spacious lands, severed from aught else save Thee, relying on Thee, abandoning rest and comfort, remote from my native home, a wanderer in these regions, a stranger fallen upon the ground, humble before Thine exalted threshold, submissive toward the heaven of Thine omnipotent glory, supplicating Thee in the dead of night and at the break of dawn, entreating and invoking Thee at morn and at eventide to graciously aid me to serve Thy Cause, to spread abroad Thy teachings and to exalt Thy Word throughout the East and the West.
O Lord! Strengthen my back, enable me to serve Thee with the utmost endeavor, and leave me not to myself, lonely and helpless in these regions.
O Lord! Grant me communion with Thee in my loneliness, and be my companion in these foreign lands.
Verily, Thou art the Confirmer of whomsoever Thou willest in that which Thou desirest, and, verily, Thou art the All-Powerful, the Omnipotent. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of Divine Plan’)
June 25
As to what thou didst ask regarding the history of the
philosophers: history, prior to Alexander of Greece, is extremely confused, for
it is a fact that only after Alexander did history become an orderly and
systematized discipline. One cannot, for this reason, rely upon traditions and
reported historical events that have come down from before the days of
Alexander. This is a matter thoroughly established, in the view of all
authoritative historians. How many a historical account was taken as fact in
the eighteenth century, yet the opposite was proven true in the nineteenth. No
reliance, then, can be placed upon the traditions and reports of historians
which antedate Alexander, not even with regard to ascertaining the lifetimes of
leading individuals. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablet of Wisdom questions and answers’,
translated by Baha’i World Centre, published in 'Ethel Jenner Rosenberg, the Life and Times of England's Outstanding
Bahá'í Pioneer Worker', by Robert Weinberg)
June 24
Question: Are there "earthbound" souls who try to have,
and do have, an influence over people, sometimes taking
entire possession of their wills?
'Abdu'l-Baha answered, "There are no earthbound souls. When the souls that are not good die, they go entirely away from this earth and so cannot influence anyone. They are spiritually dead. Their thoughts can have influence only while they are alive on the earth. Caiaphas had great influence during his life, but as soon as he died, his influence ceased. It was of this kind that Christ said, 'Let the dead bury their dead.' But the good souls are given eternal life, and sometimes God permits their thoughts to reach the earth to help the people. (From a table talk by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Daily Lessons Received at Akka January 1908”, by Helen Goodall and Ella Goodall Cooper)
'Abdu'l-Baha answered, "There are no earthbound souls. When the souls that are not good die, they go entirely away from this earth and so cannot influence anyone. They are spiritually dead. Their thoughts can have influence only while they are alive on the earth. Caiaphas had great influence during his life, but as soon as he died, his influence ceased. It was of this kind that Christ said, 'Let the dead bury their dead.' But the good souls are given eternal life, and sometimes God permits their thoughts to reach the earth to help the people. (From a table talk by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Daily Lessons Received at Akka January 1908”, by Helen Goodall and Ella Goodall Cooper)
June 23
Question: What is the source of evil thoughts that disturb
those who do not wish to entertain them?
Answer: “They come from other minds; they are reflected. One should not become a mirror for them - to reflect them; neither should one try to control them, for this is impossible; it only aggravates the difficulty, causing more to appear.
One should constantly turn the mirror of his heart squarely toward God so that the Light of the Sun of Truth may be reflected there.
This is the only cure for attacks of evil thoughts. The face of the mirror should be turned toward God, and the back of the mirror toward the evil thoughts.” (From a table talk by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Daily Lessons Received at Akka January 1908”, by Helen Goodall and Ella Goodall Cooper)
Answer: “They come from other minds; they are reflected. One should not become a mirror for them - to reflect them; neither should one try to control them, for this is impossible; it only aggravates the difficulty, causing more to appear.
One should constantly turn the mirror of his heart squarely toward God so that the Light of the Sun of Truth may be reflected there.
This is the only cure for attacks of evil thoughts. The face of the mirror should be turned toward God, and the back of the mirror toward the evil thoughts.” (From a table talk by ‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Daily Lessons Received at Akka January 1908”, by Helen Goodall and Ella Goodall Cooper)
June 22
Now when the news of the decisions of the doctors and the
outcry and clamor of the lawyers reached Zanján, Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí the
divine, who was a man of mark possessed of penetrating speech, sent one of
those on whom he could rely to Shíráz to investigate this matter. This
person, having acquainted himself with the details of these occurrences in such
wise as was necessary and proper, returned with some [of the Báb’s] writings.
When the divine heard how matters were and had made himself acquainted with the
writings, notwithstanding that he was a man expert in knowledge and noted for
profound research, he went mad and became crazed as was predestined: he
gathered up his books in the lecture-room saying, “The season of spring and
wine has arrived,” and uttered this sentence: “Search for knowledge after
reaching the known is culpable.” Then from the summit of the pulpit he summoned
and directed all his disciples [to embrace the doctrine], and wrote to the Báb
his own declaration and confession.
The Báb in His reply signified to him the obligation of congregational prayer.
Although the doctors of Zanján arose with heart and soul to exhort and admonish the people they could effect nothing. Finally they were compelled to go to Tihrán and made their complaint before the late king Muhammad Sháh, requesting that Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí might be summoned to Tihrán. So the royal order went forth that he should appear.
Now when he came to Thrán they brought him before a conclave of the doctors; but, so they relate, after many controversies and disputations naught was effected with him in that assembly. The late king therefore bestowed on him a staff and fifty túmans for his expenses, and gave him permission to return. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘A Traveler’s Narrative’)
The Báb in His reply signified to him the obligation of congregational prayer.
Although the doctors of Zanján arose with heart and soul to exhort and admonish the people they could effect nothing. Finally they were compelled to go to Tihrán and made their complaint before the late king Muhammad Sháh, requesting that Mullá Muhammad-‘Alí might be summoned to Tihrán. So the royal order went forth that he should appear.
Now when he came to Thrán they brought him before a conclave of the doctors; but, so they relate, after many controversies and disputations naught was effected with him in that assembly. The late king therefore bestowed on him a staff and fifty túmans for his expenses, and gave him permission to return. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘A Traveler’s Narrative’)
June 21
In fine, that inner faculty in man, unseen of the eye, wresteth
the sword from the hands of nature, and giveth it a grievous blow. All other
beings, however great, are bereft of such perfections. Man hath the powers of
will and understanding, but nature hath them not. Nature is constrained, man is
free. Nature is bereft of understanding, man understandeth. Nature is unaware
of past events, but man is aware of them. Nature forecasteth not the future;
man by his discerning power seeth that which is to come. Nature hath no
consciousness of itself, man knoweth about all things.
Should any one suppose that man is but a part of the world of nature, and he being endowed with these perfections, these being but manifestations of the world of nature, and thus nature is the originator of these perfections and is not deprived therefrom, to him we make reply and say: the part dependeth upon the whole; the part cannot possess perfections whereof the whole is deprived. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablet to August Forel)
Should any one suppose that man is but a part of the world of nature, and he being endowed with these perfections, these being but manifestations of the world of nature, and thus nature is the originator of these perfections and is not deprived therefrom, to him we make reply and say: the part dependeth upon the whole; the part cannot possess perfections whereof the whole is deprived. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablet to August Forel)
June 20
I am expecting the results of this meeting, that I may see
thee lighted as a candle and burning thyself as a moth with the fire of the
love of God, weeping like unto the cloud by the greatness of love and attraction,
laughing like unto the meadow and stirred into cheerfulness like unto the young
tree by the wafting of the breeze of the Paradise of Abha! ('Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets
of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 2)
June 19
O thou maidservant of God! Every woman who becometh the
maidservant of God outshineth in glory the empresses of the world, for she is
related to God, and her sovereignty is everlasting, whereas a handful of dust
will obliterate the name and fame of those empresses. In other words, as soon
as they go down to the grave they are reduced to naught. The maidservants of
God’s Kingdom, on the other hand, enjoy eternal sovereignty unaffected by the
passing of ages and generations. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings
of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
June 18
…the inner reality of man is a demarcation line between the
shadow and the light, a place where the two seas meet;[1] it is the lowest
point on the arc of descent.[2]With education it can achieve all excellence;
devoid of education it will stay on, at the lowest point of imperfection. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
[1] Qur’án 25:55, 35:13, 55:19–25. See also Marriage Prayer revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá beginning ‘He is God! O peerless Lord! In Thine almighty wisdom Thou hast enjoined marriage upon the peoples...’
[2] See Some Answered Questions, pp. 328–9 for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s comments on the arc of descent and ascent ]and therefore is it capable of gaining all the grades above.
[1] Qur’án 25:55, 35:13, 55:19–25. See also Marriage Prayer revealed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá beginning ‘He is God! O peerless Lord! In Thine almighty wisdom Thou hast enjoined marriage upon the peoples...’
[2] See Some Answered Questions, pp. 328–9 for ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s comments on the arc of descent and ascent ]and therefore is it capable of gaining all the grades above.
June 17
This is the third time that I am in Chicago. It is now your
turn to come and visit the Holy Shrine. Praise be to God that divine grace has
encircled you! He has chosen you from among His creation and made you favorites
of His court. How many are the divines who have called on God in their churches
saying, `O our Lord! O our Lord!' Yet when their Lord appeared they remained
veiled. You were neither ministers nor monks and you have attained this grace.
This is what Christ meant when He said, `Many are called but few are chosen'
[Matt. 20:16; 22:14]. Similarly, He said, `The people are entering the Kingdom
from all directions but the sons of the Kingdom are leaving it.' Although from
distant lands, you have become enlightened whereas most of the countrymen and
neighbors of Bahá'u'lláh have remained veiled. Be thankful unto God! (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
from an address in Chicago, October 31, 1912)
June 16
O thou who art firm in the Covenant, thy letter was
received. Thou hast exerted a great effort for that prisoner, perchance it may
prove to be fruitful. Tell him, however: ‘The denizens of the world are
confined in the prison of nature—a prison that is continuous and eternal. If
thou art at present restrained within the limits of a temporary prison, be not
grieved at this; my hope is that thou mayest be emancipated from the prison of
nature and may attain unto the court of everlasting life. Pray to God day and
night and beg forgiveness and pardon. The omnipotence of God shall solve every
difficulty.’ (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
June 15
As ye have heard of the former times, when (for example)
Christ—glory be to Him! —appeared, a storm of trials arose, afflictions
appeared, the winds of tests blew, the thunder of temptation descended and
hosts of people (Pharisees) surrounded the houses of the friends; then the weak
ones were shaken and were misled after once being guided; but the disciples
withstood the hardships and endured the storms of ordeals, remaining firm in
the Religion of God. Then observe that which occurred after the storm and what
appeared subsequent to that severity, whereby the members (followers) trembled.
God hath changed the sorrow to joy, the destructive darkness of calamity into the shining light from the Supreme Concourse. The people at the beginning persecuted and reviled the believers in God and said of them: “These are the people of aberration.” Then, when their light appeared, their stars shone and their lamps illuminated, the people returned into love and affinity; they prayed to them, offered words of glory night and day (in their name) and remembered them in eulogy, reverence, honor and majesty.
Therefore, O ye beloved of God, be not grieved when people stand against you, persecute you, afflict and trouble you and say all manner of evil against you. The darkness will pass away and the light of the manifest signs will appear, the veil will be withdrawn and the Light of Reality will shine forth from the unseen [Kingdom] of Abha. This we inform you before it occurs, so that when the hosts of people arise against you for my love, be not disturbed or troubled; nay, rather, be firm as a mountain, for this persecution and reviling of the people upon you is a pre-ordained matter. Blessed is the soul who is firm in the path! (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
God hath changed the sorrow to joy, the destructive darkness of calamity into the shining light from the Supreme Concourse. The people at the beginning persecuted and reviled the believers in God and said of them: “These are the people of aberration.” Then, when their light appeared, their stars shone and their lamps illuminated, the people returned into love and affinity; they prayed to them, offered words of glory night and day (in their name) and remembered them in eulogy, reverence, honor and majesty.
Therefore, O ye beloved of God, be not grieved when people stand against you, persecute you, afflict and trouble you and say all manner of evil against you. The darkness will pass away and the light of the manifest signs will appear, the veil will be withdrawn and the Light of Reality will shine forth from the unseen [Kingdom] of Abha. This we inform you before it occurs, so that when the hosts of people arise against you for my love, be not disturbed or troubled; nay, rather, be firm as a mountain, for this persecution and reviling of the people upon you is a pre-ordained matter. Blessed is the soul who is firm in the path! (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
June 14
…[Mullá Hasan and Mullá ‘Abdu'l-Latíf] were deputized by the
mujtahid to see the Blessed Beauty in Mázandarán. The moment they approached
Him, they were transformed and became a new creation, not seeking rest for a
moment whether by day or night. After undergoing great suffering and
persecutions in Mashhad, Mullá ‘Abdu'l-Latíf sacrificed his life in the
field of martyrdom and hastened to the Abhá Kingdom. Similarly, a blind Indian Shaykh
attained the presence of Bahá'u'lláh in Mázindarán and danced and sang ecstatically
from night till morn. Thus are people required to arise for the Cause of God.
Such are the people who are worthy of the field of service and sacrifice.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from an address, July 18, 1912, New York; Mahmud's Diary)
June 13
Now concerning philosophers, they are of two schools. Thus
Socrates the wise believed in the unity of God and the existence of the soul
after death; as his opinion was contrary to that of the narrow-minded people of
his time, that divine sage was poisoned by them. All divine philosophers and
men of wisdom and understanding, when observing these endless beings, have
considered that in this great and infinite universe all things end in the
mineral kingdom, that the outcome of the mineral kingdom
is the vegetable kingdom, the outcome of the vegetable kingdom is the animal
kingdom and the outcome of the animal kingdom the world of man. The
consummation of this limitless universe with all its grandeur and glory hath
been man himself, who in this world of being toileth and suffereth for a time,
with divers ills and pains, and ultimately disintegrates, leaving no trace and
no fruit after him. Were it so, there is no doubt that this infinite universe
with all its perfections has ended in sham and delusion with no result, no
fruit, no permanence and no effect. It would be utterly without meaning. They
were thus convinced that such is not the case, that this Great Workshop with
all its power, its bewildering magnificence and endless perfections, cannot
eventually come to naught. That still another life should exist is thus
certain, and, just as the vegetable kingdom is unaware of the world of man, so
we, too, know not of the Great Life hereafter that followeth the life of man
here below. Our non-comprehension of that life, however, is no proof of its
non-existence. The mineral world, for instance, is utterly unaware of the world
of man and cannot comprehend it, but the ignorance of a thing is no proof of
its non-existence. Numerous and conclusive proofs exist that go to show that
this infinite world cannot end with this human life. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablet to
August Forel)
June 12
…your letter was an evidence of the union and affinity of
the hearts. I hope that through the bounty and favors of the Most Glorious
Lord, in this new age, the regions of the West become the East of the Sun of
Truth, the believers of God become the dawning-places of lights, the
manifestors of the signs, be protected and guarded from the doubts of the
heedless ones, remain firm and steadfast in the Covenant and Testament, and
strive day and night in order to awaken those who are asleep, to make mindful
those who are heedless, to make confident of the mysteries of the Kingdom those
who are deprived, to confer a share from the never-ending outpouring upon those
who are helpless, to become the heralds of the Kingdom and to call the inhabitants
of this terrestrial world to the Celestial Realm. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha,
vol. 1)
June 11
... men have always been taught and led by the Prophets of
God. The Prophets of God are the Mediators of God. All the Prophets and
Messengers have come from One Holy Spirit and bear the Message of God, fitted
to the age in which they appear. The One Light is in them and they are One with
each other. But the Eternal does not become phenomenal; neither can the
phenomenal become Eternal.
Saint Paul, the great Apostle, said: “We all, with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory of God, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, London, England, September 17, 1911; “‘Abdu’l-Baha in London”)
Saint Paul, the great Apostle, said: “We all, with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory of God, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, London, England, September 17, 1911; “‘Abdu’l-Baha in London”)
June 10
The spiritual cycles of the Sun of Reality are like the
cycles of the material sun: they are always revolving and being renewed. The
Sun of Reality, like the material sun, has numerous rising and dawning places:
one day it rises from the zodiacal sign of Cancer, another day from the sign of
Libra or Aquarius; another time it is from the sign of Aries that it diffuses
its rays. But the sun is one sun and one reality; the people of knowledge are
lovers of the sun, and are not fascinated by the places of its rising and
dawning. The people of perception are the seekers of the truth, and not of the
places of its appearance, nor of its dawning points; therefore, they will adore
the Sun from whatever point in the zodiac it may appear, and they will seek the
Reality in every Sanctified Soul Who manifests it. Such people always attain to
the truth and are not veiled from the Sun of the Divine World. So the lover of
the sun and the seeker of the light will always turn toward the sun, whether it
shines from the sign of Aries or gives its bounty from the sign of Cancer, or radiates
from Gemini; but the ignorant and uninstructed are lovers of the signs of the
zodiac, and enamored and fascinated by the rising-places, and not by the sun.
When it was in the sign of Cancer, they turned toward it, though afterward the
sun changed to the sign of Libra; as they were lovers of the sign, they turned
toward it and attached themselves to it, and were deprived of the influences of
the sun merely because it had changed its place. For example, once the Sun of
Reality poured forth its rays from the sign of Abraham, and then it dawned from
the sign of Moses and illuminated the horizon. Afterward it rose with the
greatest power and brilliancy from the sign of Christ. Those who were the
seekers of Reality worshiped that Reality wherever they saw it, but those who
were attached to Abraham were deprived of its influences when it shone upon
Sinai and illuminated the reality of Moses. Those who
held fast to Moses, when the Sun of Reality shone from Christ with the utmost
radiance and lordly splendor, were also veiled; and so forth. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some
Answered Questions’)
June 9
If in this day a soul shall act according to the precepts
and the counsels of God, he will serve as a divine physician to mankind, and like
the trump of Isráfíl [1], he will call the dead of this contingent world to life;
for the confirmations of the Abhá Realm are never interrupted, and such a
virtuous soul hath, to befriend him, the unfailing help of the Company on high.
Thus shall a sorry gnat become an eagle in the fulness of his strength, and a
feeble sparrow change to a royal falcon in the heights of ancient glory.
Wherefore, look not on the degree of your capacity, ask not if you are worthy of the task: rest ye your hopes on the help and loving-kindness, the favours and bestowals of Bahá’u’lláh—may my soul be offered up for His friends! Urge on the steed of high endeavour over the field of sacrifice, and carry away from this wide arena the prize of divine grace. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
[1] Believed to be the angel appointed to sound the trumpet on the Day of Resurrection to raise the dead at the bidding of the Lord.
Wherefore, look not on the degree of your capacity, ask not if you are worthy of the task: rest ye your hopes on the help and loving-kindness, the favours and bestowals of Bahá’u’lláh—may my soul be offered up for His friends! Urge on the steed of high endeavour over the field of sacrifice, and carry away from this wide arena the prize of divine grace. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
[1] Believed to be the angel appointed to sound the trumpet on the Day of Resurrection to raise the dead at the bidding of the Lord.
June 8
The obligations of the Hands of the Cause of God are to
diffuse the Divine Fragrances, to edify the souls of men, to promote learning,
to improve the character of all men and to be, at all times and under all
conditions, sanctified and detached from earthly things. They must manifest the
fear of God by their conduct, their manners, their deeds and their words. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘The Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
June 7
Consequently, one must close his eyes wholly to these
thoughts, [“material rest, tranquillity, luxury and attachment to this
corporeal world”] long for eternal life, the sublimity of the world of
humanity, the celestial developments, the Holy Spirit, the promotion of the
Word of God, the guidance of the inhabitants of the globe, the promulgation of
universal peace and the proclamation of the oneness of the world of humanity!
This is the work! Otherwise like unto other animals and birds one must occupy
himself with the requirements of this physical life, the satisfaction of which
is the highest aspiration of the animal kingdom, and one
must stalk across the earth like unto the quadrupeds. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets
of the Divine Plan’)
June 6
How many great men have come into the world! What wealth they have owned! What kings have sat on the thrones of glory and riches! What beautiful and comely people have adorned the world of man! But what has been the outcome? Honor, life, luxury and pleasure have all perished. But the fame of the beauty of Joseph is still universal and the honor of the disciples of Christ still endures; their sufferings are the cause of life everlasting. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, New York, July 21, 1912; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
June 5
My wish is that these children should receive a Bahá’í
education, so that they may progress both here and in the Kingdom, and rejoice thy
heart.
In a time to come, morals will degenerate to an extreme degree. It is essential that children be reared in the Bahá’í way, that they may find happiness both in this world and the next. If not, they shall be beset by sorrows and troubles, for human happiness is founded upon spiritual behaviour. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-baha)
In a time to come, morals will degenerate to an extreme degree. It is essential that children be reared in the Bahá’í way, that they may find happiness both in this world and the next. If not, they shall be beset by sorrows and troubles, for human happiness is founded upon spiritual behaviour. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-baha)
June 4
At the morning gathering of the friends one asked about the
longevity of life in ancient times. The Master replied:
“Some think that is a third motion of the earth which is the cause of the length or shortness of life. This motion, they say, is different from the diurnal and annual motions and is the cause of change in the condition of the globe. But the long lives mentioned in certain books and narratives have a different basis. For instance, it was a custom in former times to mention a dynasty or family by the name of one person only. However, the people in the following ages thought that the length of time that a family survived was the length of the life of that family's founder.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, New York, July 22, 1912; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
“Some think that is a third motion of the earth which is the cause of the length or shortness of life. This motion, they say, is different from the diurnal and annual motions and is the cause of change in the condition of the globe. But the long lives mentioned in certain books and narratives have a different basis. For instance, it was a custom in former times to mention a dynasty or family by the name of one person only. However, the people in the following ages thought that the length of time that a family survived was the length of the life of that family's founder.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, New York, July 22, 1912; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
June 3
Calamities are of two kinds. One kind results from bad
morals and misconduct such as falsehood, dishonesty, treachery, cruelty and the
like. Surely, misdeeds bring forth evil consequences. The other kind is the
result of the exigencies of the contingent world, of consummate divine law, and
of universal relationships, and is that which is bound to happen, as, for
instance, changes, alterations, life and death. It is impossible that a tree
should not wither or that life should not end in death. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a
talk, New York, July 16, 1912; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
June 2
O thou whose years are few, yet whose mental gifts are many!
How many a child, though young in years, is yet mature and sound in judgement!
How many an aged person is ignorant and confused! For growth and development
depend on one’s powers of intellect and reason, not on one’s age or length of
days.
Although still in the season of childhood, yet hast thou recognized thy Lord, while myriads of women are oblivious of Him and are shut away from His heavenly Kingdom and deprived of His bestowals. Render thou thanks unto thy Lord for this wondrous gift. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
Although still in the season of childhood, yet hast thou recognized thy Lord, while myriads of women are oblivious of Him and are shut away from His heavenly Kingdom and deprived of His bestowals. Render thou thanks unto thy Lord for this wondrous gift. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
June 1
By nature is meant those inherent properties and necessary
relations derived from the realities of things. And these realities of things,
though in the utmost diversity, are yet intimately connected one with the
other. For these diverse realities an all-unifying agency is needed that shall
link them all one to the other. For instance, the various organs and members,
the parts and elements, that constitute the body of man, though at variance,
are yet all connected one with the other by that all-unifying agency known as
the human soul, that causeth them to function in perfect harmony and with
absolute regularity, thus making the continuation of life possible. The human
body, however, is utterly unconscious of that all-unifying agency, and yet
acteth with regularity and dischargeth its functions according to its will. (‘Abdu’l-Baha,
‘Tablet to August Forel)
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