The tests of every dispensation are in direct proportion to
the greatness of the Cause, and as heretofore such a manifest Covenant, written
by the Supreme Pen, hath not been entered upon, the tests are proportionately
severe. ... These agitations of the violators are no more than the foam of the
ocean, ... This foam of the ocean shall not endure and shall soon disperse and
vanish, while the ocean of the Covenant shall eternally surge and roar.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, quoted by the Universal House of Justice in a
letter dated 7 December 1969; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice
1963-1986’)
November 29
At the time of each Manifestation of God the people were
heedless and ignorant of the truth except for a few who investigated and
understood the divine words. The same is true today. So thank God that you have
been endowed with capacity and desire to investigate the truth. Know this much:
that the treasury of God is replete; He will shower the same bounties and gifts
on those of this day as He showered on those of previous generations. We must
endeavor to gain heavenly enlightenment, to understand the mysteries of the
holy books, to become the cause of guidance to others and to illumine hearts. I
pray that you may strive until you are blessed with these favors.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of
‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 26, Sacramento, USA, recorded by Mahmud
Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
November 28
God does not want war. These wars are against the divine
will. He desires peace and love for His servants. I pray that this darkness may
be dispelled and the light of the Kingdom may envelop the world. God is kind to
all. We, too, should be kind to one another. We should not fight for a handful
of dust. The earth is our endless tomb. Is it worthy of us to wage war and shed
blood for this tomb while God has destined that we win the cities of men's
hearts and bestowed upon us an eternal Kingdom? Is it worthy of us to shut our
eyes to such an everlasting honor and instead make war over dust?
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 26, Sacramento, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 26, Sacramento, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
November 27
Render thou thanks unto God, for He hath graciously enabled
thee to observe the injunction set forth in His Most Holy Book, inasmuch as
thou hast arisen to fulfil the obligation of Huqúq, and God hath accepted thy
goodly deed.
Know thou, moreover, that those who faithfully serve the All-Merciful will be enriched by Him out of His heavenly treasury, and that the Huqúq offering is but a test applied by Him unto His servants and maidservants. Thus every true and sincere believer will offer Huqúq to be expended for the relief of the poor, the disabled, the needy, and the orphans, and for other vital needs of the Cause of God, even as Christ did establish a Fund for benevolent purposes.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet; compilation on ‘Huqúqu’lláh—The Right of God’, 2007, prepared by the Baha’i World Centre)
Know thou, moreover, that those who faithfully serve the All-Merciful will be enriched by Him out of His heavenly treasury, and that the Huqúq offering is but a test applied by Him unto His servants and maidservants. Thus every true and sincere believer will offer Huqúq to be expended for the relief of the poor, the disabled, the needy, and the orphans, and for other vital needs of the Cause of God, even as Christ did establish a Fund for benevolent purposes.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet; compilation on ‘Huqúqu’lláh—The Right of God’, 2007, prepared by the Baha’i World Centre)
November 26
In all the cycles of the prophets the philanthropic affairs
were confined to their respective peoples only - with the exception of small
matters, such as charity, which was permissible to extend to others. But in
this wonderful dispensation, philanthropic affairs are for all humanity,
without any exception, because it is the manifestation of the mercifulness of
God. Therefore, every universal matter – that is, one that belongs to all the
world of humanity – is divine; and every matter that is sectarian and special
is not universal in character – that is, it is limited. Therefore, my hope is
that the friends of God, every one of them, may become as the mercy of God to
all mankind.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 1, March 1918; quoted in A Compilation on ‘Social and Educational Development’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. 3; compilation: Lights of Guidance)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 9, no. 1, March 1918; quoted in A Compilation on ‘Social and Educational Development’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. 3; compilation: Lights of Guidance)
November 25
There are five outward material powers in man which are the
means of perception—that is, five powers whereby man perceives material things.
They are sight, which perceives sensible forms; hearing, which perceives
audible sounds; smell, which perceives odours; taste, which perceives edible
things; and touch, which is distributed throughout the body and which perceives
tactile realities. These five powers perceive external objects.
Man has likewise a number of spiritual powers: the power of imagination, which forms a mental image of things; thought, which reflects upon the realities of things; comprehension, which understands these realities; and memory, which retains whatever man has imagined, thought, and understood. The intermediary between these five outward powers and the inward powers is a common faculty, a sense which mediates between them and which conveys to the inward powers whatever the outward powers have perceived. It is termed the common faculty as it is shared in common between the outward and inward powers.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the Baha’i World Centre)
Man has likewise a number of spiritual powers: the power of imagination, which forms a mental image of things; thought, which reflects upon the realities of things; comprehension, which understands these realities; and memory, which retains whatever man has imagined, thought, and understood. The intermediary between these five outward powers and the inward powers is a common faculty, a sense which mediates between them and which conveys to the inward powers whatever the outward powers have perceived. It is termed the common faculty as it is shared in common between the outward and inward powers.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the Baha’i World Centre)
November 24
O thou cup overflowing with the Wine of the Love of God!
Know, verily, that the doors of the Kingdom are being opened to the East and West. Verily the people neglected the Name of their Lord after expectancy of centuries and ages! However, those whose consciences were pure, whose hearts were sanctified, urge forward thereto and enter therein through every door with faces shining, hearts and spirits rejoiced. thank God for this great guidance and mighty gift!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2’)
Know, verily, that the doors of the Kingdom are being opened to the East and West. Verily the people neglected the Name of their Lord after expectancy of centuries and ages! However, those whose consciences were pure, whose hearts were sanctified, urge forward thereto and enter therein through every door with faces shining, hearts and spirits rejoiced. thank God for this great guidance and mighty gift!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2’)
November 23
…those souls whose inner being is lit by the love of God are
even as spreading rays of light, and they shine out like stars of holiness in a
pure and crystalline sky. For true love, real love, is the love for God, and
this is sanctified beyond the notions and imaginings of men.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 22
…love of God and spiritual attraction do cleanse and purify
the human heart and dress and adorn it with the spotless garment of holiness;
and once the heart is entirely attached to the Lord, and bound over to the
Blessed Perfection, then will the grace of God be revealed.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 21
The star of happiness is in every heart. We must remove the
veils so that it may shine forth radiantly.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, quoted by May Maxwell, printed in ‘The Life of Thomas Breakwell’, by Rajwantee Lakshiman-Lepain, London: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1998)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, quoted by May Maxwell, printed in ‘The Life of Thomas Breakwell’, by Rajwantee Lakshiman-Lepain, London: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1998)
November 20
…ye must give great attention to the Republic of Panama, for
in that point the Occident and the Orient find each other united through the
Panama Canal, and it is also situated between the two great oceans. That place
will become very important in the future. The teachings, once established
there, will unite the East and the West, the North and the South.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
November 19
You have asked me two questions: “That if the same spirit is
manifest in all the Manifestations and Prophets, then what is the distinction
or difference between Christ (or rather Jesus) and the other Prophets; also
[what is the difference] between Father and Son?”
Know that the human spirit is one, but it manifests itself
in various members of the body in a certain (measure or) form. The human spirit
is existent in the sight (eyes); it is also existent in the brain, which is the
location of great functions and powers; it is also existent in the heart, which
organ is largely connected with the brain or the center of the mind, and the
heart, or that center which is connection with the brain, has a distinct and
separate function, effect and appearance. In this connection, the hair and
nails have no command (nor direct feeling).
Figuratively speaking, the Father is the center of the brain
and the Son is the center of the heart; the rest of the Prophets are members
and parts. Fatherhood and Prophethood, in this case, are two expressions of the
same thing…
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)
November 18
The holy fragrances of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar vivify the
souls of the righteous, and its vitalizing breezes confer life upon the pure in
heart.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Quoted by the Universal House of Justice in a message dated 14 October 2016 addressed to the Friends Gathered in Santiago, Chile, for the Dedication of the Mother Temple of South America)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Quoted by the Universal House of Justice in a message dated 14 October 2016 addressed to the Friends Gathered in Santiago, Chile, for the Dedication of the Mother Temple of South America)
November 17
…the intention must be purified, the effort ennobled and
exalted, so that you may establish affinity between the hearts of the world of
humanity.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
November 16
O thou dear servant of God!
Thy letter was received and its contents noted. As to instructions which thou desirest, they are as follows:
Believe in God; turn unto the Supreme Kingdom; be attracted unto the Beauty of ABHA; remain firm in the Covenant; yearn for ascending unto the heaven of the sun of the universe; be disinterested in the world; be alive with the fragrances of holiness in the Kingdom of the Highest; be a caller to love; kind to the human race; gentle with humanity; interested in all the people of the world; wish for harmony and seek friendship and honesty. Be a healing for every wound, a remedy for every sick, a source of harmony among the people; chant the verses of guidance; pray to God; arise for the guidance of the people; let thy tongue explain and thy face illumine with the glowing of the love of God. Rest not a moment and breathe not a breath of repose until thou becomest a sign of God’s love and a banner of God’s favor.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)
Thy letter was received and its contents noted. As to instructions which thou desirest, they are as follows:
Believe in God; turn unto the Supreme Kingdom; be attracted unto the Beauty of ABHA; remain firm in the Covenant; yearn for ascending unto the heaven of the sun of the universe; be disinterested in the world; be alive with the fragrances of holiness in the Kingdom of the Highest; be a caller to love; kind to the human race; gentle with humanity; interested in all the people of the world; wish for harmony and seek friendship and honesty. Be a healing for every wound, a remedy for every sick, a source of harmony among the people; chant the verses of guidance; pray to God; arise for the guidance of the people; let thy tongue explain and thy face illumine with the glowing of the love of God. Rest not a moment and breathe not a breath of repose until thou becomest a sign of God’s love and a banner of God’s favor.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)
November 15
The Holy Spirit it is which, through the mediation of the
Prophets of God, teaches spiritual virtues to man and enables him to attain
Eternal Life...the Holy Spirit is the Intermediary between the Creator and the
created. The light and heat of the sun cause the earth to be fruitful, and
create life in all things that grow; and the Holy Spirit quickens the souls of
men.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 31 October 1911, Paris, France; ‘Paris Talks’)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 31 October 1911, Paris, France; ‘Paris Talks’)
November 14
…the believers of God throughout all the republics of
America, through the divine power, must become the cause of the promotion of
heavenly teachings and the establishment of the oneness of humanity. Every one
of the important souls must arise, blowing over all parts of America the breath
of life, conferring upon the people a new spirit, baptizing them with the fire
of the love of God, the water of life, and the breaths of the Holy Spirit so
that the second birth may become realized. For it is written in the Gospel:
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit.” (John 3:6)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
November 13
Know that the human spirit is one, but it manifests itself
in various members of the body in a certain (measure or) form. The human spirit
is existent in the sight (eyes); it is also existent in the brain, which is the
location of great functions and powers; it is also existent in the heart, which
organ is largely connected with the brain or the center of the mind, and the
heart, or that center which is connection with the brain, has a distinct and
separate function, effect and appearance. In this connection, the hair and
nails have no command (nor direct feeling).
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
November 12
Do not grieve on account of the death of thy son, neither
sigh nor lament. That nightingale soared upward to the divine rose-garden; that
drop returned to the most great ocean of Truth; that foreigner hastened to his
native abode; and that ill one found salvation and life eternal.
Why shouldst thou be sad and heartbroken? This separation is
temporal; this remoteness and sorrow is counted only by days. Thou shalt find
him in the Kingdom of God and thou wilt attain to the everlasting union.
Physical companionship is ephemeral, but heavenly association is eternal.
Whenever thou rememberest the eternal and never ending union, thou wilt be
comforted and blissful.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)
November 11
Consider the flowers of a garden. Though differing in kind,
color, form, and shape, yet, inasmuch as they are refreshed by the waters of
one spring, revived by the breath of one wind, invigorated by the rays of one
sun, this diversity increaseth their charm, and addeth unto their beauty. How
unpleasing to the eye if all the flowers and plants, the leaves and blossoms,
the fruits, the branches and the trees of that garden were all of the same
shape and color! Diversity of hues, form and shape, enricheth and adorneth the
garden, and heighteneth the effect thereof. In like manner, when divers shades
of thought, temperament and character, are brought together under the power and
influence of one central agency, the beauty and glory of human perfection will
be revealed and made manifest. Naught but the celestial potency of the Word of
God, which ruleth and transcendeth the realities of all things, is capable of
harmonizing the divergent thoughts, sentiments, ideas, and convictions of the
children of men.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
November 10
The two great apostles, St Peter and St John the Evangelist,
were once simple, humble workmen, toiling for their daily bread. By the Power
of the Holy Spirit their souls were illumined, and they received the eternal
blessings of the Lord Christ.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 31 October 1911, Paris, France; ‘Paris Talks’)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 31 October 1911, Paris, France; ‘Paris Talks’)
November 9
Were there no educator, all souls would remain savage, and
were it not for the teacher, the children would be ignorant creatures.
It is for this reason that, in this new cycle, education and
training are recorded in the Book of God as obligatory and not voluntary. That
is, it is enjoined upon the father and mother, as a duty, to strive with all
effort to train the daughter and the son, to nurse them from the breast of
knowledge and to rear them in the bosom of sciences and arts. Should they
neglect this matter, they shall be held responsible and worthy of reproach in
the presence of the stern Lord.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of
‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 8
…the Holy Spirit is the very cause of the life of man; without
the Holy Spirit he would have no intellect, he would be unable to acquire his
scientific knowledge by which his great influence over the rest of creation is
gained. The illumination of the Holy Spirit gives to man the power of thought,
and enables him to make discoveries by which he bends the laws of nature to his
will.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 31 October 1911, Paris, France; ‘Paris
Talks’)
November 7
The Divine Reality may be likened to the sun and the Holy
Spirit to the rays of the sun. As the rays of the sun bring the light and
warmth of the sun to the earth, giving life to all created beings, so do the
‘Manifestations’ [of God] bring the power of the Holy Spirit from the Divine
Sun of Reality to give light and life to the souls of men.
Behold, there is an intermediary necessary between the sun and the earth; the sun does not descend to the earth, neither does the earth ascend to the sun. This contact is made by the rays of the sun which bring light and warmth and heat.
The Holy Spirit is the Light from the Sun of Truth bringing, by its infinite power, life and illumination to all mankind, flooding all souls with Divine Radiance, conveying the blessings of God’s Mercy to the whole world. The earth, without the medium of the warmth and light of the rays of the sun, could receive no benefits from the sun.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 31 October 1911, Paris, France; ‘Paris Talks’)
Behold, there is an intermediary necessary between the sun and the earth; the sun does not descend to the earth, neither does the earth ascend to the sun. This contact is made by the rays of the sun which bring light and warmth and heat.
The Holy Spirit is the Light from the Sun of Truth bringing, by its infinite power, life and illumination to all mankind, flooding all souls with Divine Radiance, conveying the blessings of God’s Mercy to the whole world. The earth, without the medium of the warmth and light of the rays of the sun, could receive no benefits from the sun.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 31 October 1911, Paris, France; ‘Paris Talks’)
November 6
Although to acquire the sciences and arts is the greatest
glory of mankind, this is so only on condition that man’s river flow into the
mighty sea, and draw from God’s ancient source His inspiration. When this
cometh to pass, then every teacher is as a shoreless ocean, every pupil a
prodigal fountain of knowledge. If, then, the pursuit of knowledge lead to the
beauty of Him Who is the Object of all Knowledge, how excellent that goal; but
if not, a mere drop will perhaps shut a man off from flooding grace, for with
learning cometh arrogance and pride, and it bringeth on error and indifference
to God.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 5
The Divine Reality is Unthinkable, Limitless, Eternal,
Immortal and Invisible.
The world of creation is bound by natural law, finite and mortal.
The Infinite Reality cannot be said to ascend or descend. It is beyond the understanding of man, and cannot be described in terms which apply to the phenomenal sphere of the created world.
Man, then, is in extreme need of the only Power by which he is able to receive help from the Divine Reality, that Power alone bringing him into contact with the Source of all life.
An intermediary is needed to bring two extremes into relation with each other. Riches and poverty, plenty and need: without an intermediary power there could be no relation between these pairs of opposites.
So we can say there must be a Mediator between God and Man, and this is none other than the Holy Spirit, which brings the created earth into relation with the ‘Unthinkable One’, the Divine Reality.
The world of creation is bound by natural law, finite and mortal.
The Infinite Reality cannot be said to ascend or descend. It is beyond the understanding of man, and cannot be described in terms which apply to the phenomenal sphere of the created world.
Man, then, is in extreme need of the only Power by which he is able to receive help from the Divine Reality, that Power alone bringing him into contact with the Source of all life.
An intermediary is needed to bring two extremes into relation with each other. Riches and poverty, plenty and need: without an intermediary power there could be no relation between these pairs of opposites.
So we can say there must be a Mediator between God and Man, and this is none other than the Holy Spirit, which brings the created earth into relation with the ‘Unthinkable One’, the Divine Reality.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, 31 October 1911, Paris, France; ‘Paris Talks’)
November 4
Thou didst write as to the children: from the very
beginning, the children must receive divine education and must continually be
reminded to remember their God. Let the love of God pervade their inmost being,
commingled with their mother’s milk.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
November 3
[Today we were to depart from San Francisco. The Master's
residence was full to capacity with a multitude of friends. The power of the
Cause, the influence of the Covenant of God and the ardor of the friends were
overwhelming. What warmth and affection this gathering of true lovers generated
in the early hours of the morning! When they heard the Master coming
downstairs, everyone rose reverently. When they saw His feet on the stairs they
raised the cry of Alláh-u-Abhá, their eyes fixed intently on His face, like
sun-loving iguanas. Seeing the ardor and attraction of the friends, the Master
was deeply moved, His face transformed. He anointed all with attar of rose and
said to them:]
“Here I want to bid you farewell. This meeting and assemblage are very moving. This is the last draught in the goblet! How thankful we must be to the Blessed Perfection that He has brought the hearts so near to each other. This attar that I give you is but a token of the fragrance of the Abhá Paradise -- the best of all fragrances. I am very sad to be separated from you and I do not know how to express it. It is not possible to give tongue to the feelings of the heart. I am greatly moved because I saw the love of Bahá'u'lláh in you, I witnessed the light of Bahá'u'lláh in your beings. I am so moved that I cannot speak. I leave it to your hearts to feel what I feel. Although I am going away from you, you have your place in my heart. I will never forget you. When I reach the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, I shall lay my head on the Sacred Threshold and beseech confirmation for every one of the friends.”
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 25, San Francisco, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
“Here I want to bid you farewell. This meeting and assemblage are very moving. This is the last draught in the goblet! How thankful we must be to the Blessed Perfection that He has brought the hearts so near to each other. This attar that I give you is but a token of the fragrance of the Abhá Paradise -- the best of all fragrances. I am very sad to be separated from you and I do not know how to express it. It is not possible to give tongue to the feelings of the heart. I am greatly moved because I saw the love of Bahá'u'lláh in you, I witnessed the light of Bahá'u'lláh in your beings. I am so moved that I cannot speak. I leave it to your hearts to feel what I feel. Although I am going away from you, you have your place in my heart. I will never forget you. When I reach the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh, I shall lay my head on the Sacred Threshold and beseech confirmation for every one of the friends.”
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 25, San Francisco, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
November 2
Every day confirmations surround some specific pursuit and
every hour has a purpose decreed for it. Today, teaching the Cause of God and
spreading the divine teachings are what attract heavenly assistance. It is the
season of seed-sowing and of propagating the Word of God.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 24, San Francisco, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 24, San Francisco, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
November 1
The sciences of today are bridges to reality; if then they
lead not to reality, naught remains but fruitless illusion. By the one true
God! If learning be not a means of access to Him, the Most Manifest, it is
nothing but evident loss.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
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