An Indian said to ‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
‘My aim in life is to transmit as far as in me lies the
message of Krishna to the world.’
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said: The Message of Krishna is the message of
love. All God’s prophets have brought the message of love. None has ever
thought that war and hate are good. Every one agrees in saying that love and
kindness are best.
Love manifests its reality in deeds, not only in words—these
alone are without effect. In order that love may manifest its power there must
be an object, an instrument, a motive.
There are many ways of expressing the love principle; there
is love for the family, for the country, for the race, there is political
enthusiasm, there is also the love of community of interest in service. These
are all ways and means of showing the power of love. Without any such means,
love would be unseen, unheard, unfelt—altogether unexpressed, unmanifested!
Water shows its power in various ways, in quenching thirst, causing seed to
grow, etc. Coal expresses one of its principles in gas-light, while one of the
powers of electricity is shown in the electric light. If there were neither gas
nor electricity, the nights of the world would be darkness! So, it is necessary
to have an instrument, a motive for love’s manifestation, an object, a mode of
expression.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, Paris, October 24, 1911, ‘Paris Talks’)
