Counsels and Explanations by 'Abdu'l-Baha : July 2020

July 30

I hope that you will be under the protection of God, will succeed in rendering service to humanity and will always be a source of happiness to every heart. The best person is he who wins all hearts and is not the cause of grief to anyone. The worst of souls is he who causes hearts to be agitated and who becomes the cause of sadness. Always endeavor to make people happy and their hearts joyful so that you may become the cause of guidance to mankind. Proclaim the Word of God and diffuse the divine fragrances.

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Denver, Colorado, September 26, 1912; Mahmud’s Diary)

July 28

Question: How many kinds of divine Prophets are there?

Answer [by ‘Abdu’l-Baha]: There are three kinds of divine Prophets. One kind are the universal Manifestations, which are even as the sun. Through Their advent the world of existence is renewed, a new cycle is inaugurated, a new religion is revealed, souls are quickened to a new life, and East and West are flooded with light. These Souls are the universal Manifestations of God and have been sent forth to the entire world and the generality of mankind.

Another kind of Prophets are followers and promulgators, not leaders and law-givers, but they are nonetheless the recipients of the hidden inspirations of God. Yet another kind are Prophets Whose prophethood has been limited to a particular locality. But the universal Manifestations are all-encompassing: They are like the root, and all others are as the branches; they are like the sun, and all others are as the moon and the stars.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table Talks at Akka; Online Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i World Center)

July 26

O bird without a nest! It is reported thy home and shelter is burnt, thy resting place and habitation is become desolate. Though this news is greatly affecting, yet do not be sorrowful and disheartened, because the birds of the divine gardens have nests on the branches of the Tree of Life. The earthly abode is not worth the attachment of the heart, for this structure will surely be destroyed, but that which is of worth to freed ones (detached from all save God) is the heavenly palace and the court of Divine Majesty. Thanks be to God that for each one of the divine freed slaves and the heavenly and dear maid-servants, an indestructible mansion will be erected in the New Kingdom. This mansion will be an everlasting dwelling, an eternal abode and shelter.

There is a hidden wisdom in the burning of the house which before long will be clearly known. Divine attractions and heavenly bounties alone cause happiness to the hearts.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2)

July 24

…in the latter days the Shí‘ihs of Persia had forgotten the truth of the religion of God and had become entirely devoid and deprived of the morals of the spiritually minded. They were cleaving to empty husks and remained entirely heedless of the pith and substance. They had nothing to show but outward observances, such as prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, almsgiving, and the commemoration of the blessed Imáms. The people of true knowledge would therefore call them “Qishrí” (superficial), for amongst them the inner truths and meanings were absent, spiritual perceptions were non-existent, and heavenly morals had become but an idle matter.

When the night of separation approached the dawn—that is, when the concealment of the True One ran its course and the dawn of the morn of God drew nigh—Shaykh Ahmad-i-Ahsá’í appeared. He guided the people to inner truths and meanings and expounded the secrets and mysteries of the Qur’án. The Shí‘ihs then became divided into two camps: Some followed the august Shaykh and became known as Shaykhís, while others kept to their prior condition and were called “Qishrí”.

The illustrious Shaykh began to invite the people to anticipate the advent of God’s revelation and the blazing of the Fire of Sinai. He proclaimed, in his writings and in his lessons, that the dawn was fast approaching and that the appearance of the promised Manifestation was imminent.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Table Talks at Akka; Online Baha’i Reference Library of the Baha’i World Center)

July 22

…among the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is that religion is a mighty bulwark. If the edifice of religion shakes and totters, commotion and chaos will ensue and the order of things will be utterly upset, for in the world of mankind there are two safeguards that protect man from wrongdoing. One is the law which punishes the criminal; but the law prevents only the manifest crime and not the concealed sin; whereas the ideal safeguard, namely, the religion of God, prevents both the manifest and the concealed crime, trains man, educates morals, compels the adoption of virtues and is the all-inclusive power which guarantees the felicity of the world of mankind. But by religion is meant that which is ascertained by investigation and not that which is based on mere imitation, the foundations of Divine Religions and not human imitations.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From the First Tablet to the Hague, 17 December 1919; revised translation under the direction of the Universal House of Justice, available at the online ‘Baha’i Reference Library’ site of the Baha’i World Center)

July 20

If the people live and act in accord with the General Tablets which are revealed to the beloved of the East and of the West, this universe will become another universe and the whole existence of this world will be clad in another garment. You must encourage and reinforce the beloved of God and the maid-servants of the Merciful that they may live and act in accord with the teachings in the General Tablets.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2)

July 18

Be not grieved; tests lead to the development of holy souls and the ardor of the flame of fire causeth the pure gold to shine and the violence of winds is conducive to the growth and thriving of a firm and well rooted tree.

If the earthen house and mortal dwelling-place was burned, [1] yet I hope that thou mayest build thy nest and abode, like unto the birds of holiness, in the Tree of Life in the Divine Kingdom.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2)

[1] The residence was destroyed by fire.

July 16

O ye friends of God, redouble your efforts, strain every nerve, till ye triumph in your servitude to the Ancient Beauty, the Manifest Light, and become the cause of spreading far and wide the rays of the Day-Star of Truth. Breathe ye into the world’s worn and wasted body the fresh breath of life, and in the furrows of every region sow ye holy seed. Rise up to champion this Cause; open your lips and teach. In the meeting place of life be ye a guiding candle; in the skies of this world be dazzling stars; in the gardens of unity be birds of the spirit, singing of inner truths and mysteries.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)

July 14

O ye close and dear friends of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá!

In the Orient scatter perfumes,

And shed splendours on the West.

Carry light unto the Bulgar,

And the Slav with life invest.

One year after the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, there came this verse from the lips of the Centre of the Covenant. The Covenant-breakers found it strange indeed, and they treated it with scorn. Yet, praised be God, its effects are now manifest, its power revealed, its import clear; for by God’s grace, today both East and West are trembling for joy, and now, from sweet waftings of holiness, the whole earth is scented with musk.

The Blessed Beauty, in unmistakable language, hath made this promise in His Book: ‘We behold you from Our realm of glory, and shall aid whosoever will arise for the triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of the Concourse on high and a company of Our favoured angels.’

God be thanked, that promised aid hath been vouchsafed, as is plain for all to see, and it shineth forth as clear as the sun in the heavens.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)

July 12

The teacher, when teaching, must be himself fully enkindled, so that his utterance, like unto a flame of fire, may exert influence and consume the veil of self and passion. He must also be utterly humble and lowly so that others may be edified, and be totally self-effaced and evanescent so that he may teach with the melody of the Concourse on high—otherwise his teaching will have no effect.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)

July 10

Materialism and spirituality have always kept pace together. Now materialism has gone ahead, the divine foundation is forgotten and is being left behind. Among the causes of this failure is that religious leaders have presented religion as if it were opposed to science and reason, and have promoted imitations. Therefore you must bring about a conformity of religion and science.

The appearance of the Manifestations of God is like the appearance of the spring season. Undoubtedly the spring season does not last permanently and eternally. Now we are hopeful that the divine springtime may again become the cause of refreshing the garden of the world of existence.

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to a number of clergymen who called on Him on April 13, 1912 in New York city; recorded by Dr. Zia Baghdadi, ‘Abdu’l-Baha in America’, Star of the West [The Baha'i Magazine], vol. 19, no. 2, May 1928)

July 8

You have written that there is a difference among the believers concerning the “Second Coming of Christ.” Praise be to God!—time and again this question hath arisen and its answer hath emanated in a clear and irrefutable text from the pen of Abdul-Baha that what is meant in the prophecies by the “Lord of Hosts,” the “Promised Christ” is the Blessed Perfection (Baha’u’llah) and His Highness the Supreme (the Bab). The faith of everyone must resolve around this palpable and evident text.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 2)

July 6

Why did Christ come into this world? People think He came in order that they might believe in Him as the Word of God, or the Son of God. "He came," they say, "to redeem us through His blood."

Christ was not seeking after fame. He came that He might educate the world of humanity and illumine the world of reality. He sacrificed His life for the realization of this fact. This is reality. Every fair and just man accepts this. Now is it befitting that we lay aside the refining of character and engage in war, or abandon the second birth and occupy ourselves with enmity? Christ came to release the people from the promptings of the lower nature, to make them angelic. For this thing He accepted all calamities.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West [The Baha’i Magazine], vol. 22, no. 10, December 1931)

July 4

As to the patriotic prejudice, this is also due to absolute ignorance, for the surface of the earth is one native land. Every one can live in any spot on the terrestrial globe. Therefore all the world is man’s birthplace. These boundaries and outlets have been devised by man. In the creation, such boundaries and outlets were not assigned. Europe is one continent, Asia is one continent, Africa is one continent, Australia is one continent, but some of the souls, from personal motives and selfish interests, have divided each one of these continents and considered a certain part as their own country. God has set up no frontier between France and Germany; they are continuous. Yet, in the first centuries, selfish souls, for the promotion of their own interests, have assigned boundaries and outlets and have, day by day, attached more importance to these, until this led to intense enmity, bloodshed and rapacity in subsequent centuries. In the same way this will continue indefinitely, and if this conception of patriotism remains limited within a certain circle, it will be the primary cause of the world’s destruction.

July 2

Thou hast asked concerning the spirits of men: They are not at all annihilated—they are immortal. The spirits of heavenly souls will find eternal life, that is, they will attain the highest and most great stations of perfection; but the spirits of the heedless souls, although they are eternal, yet they are in a world of imperfection, concealment and ignorance. This is a concise answer. Contemplate and meditate upon it, in order that thou mayest comprehend the reality of the mysteries in detail. for instance: No matter how much the mineral has an existence and life, yet in comparison to man, it is entirely non-existent and deprived of life. For where man is translated from life to death, his comparative station will be that of a mineral existence.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha ('Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 3)