Nearly 60 years ago when the horizon of the Orient was in a
state of the utmost gloom, warfare existed and there was enmity between the
various creeds; darkness brooded over the children of men and foul clouds of
ignorance hid the sky - at such a time His Highness Bahá'u'lláh arose from the
horizon of Persia like unto a shining sun. He boldly proclaimed peace, writing
to the kings of the earth and calling upon them to arise and assist in the
hoisting of this banner. In order to bring peace out of the chaos, He
established certain precepts or principles.
The first principle Bahá'u'lláh urged was the independent
investigation of truth. "Each individual," He said, "is
following the faith of his ancestors who themselves are lost in the maze of
tradition. Reality is steeped in dogmas and doctrines. If each investigate for
himself, he will find that Reality is one; does not admit of multiplicity; is
not divisible. All will find the same
foundation and all will be at peace."
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, January
16, 1913, Clifton, England; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
October 30
…mothers are the first educators, the first mentors; and
truly it is the mothers who determine the happiness, the future greatness, the
courteous ways and learning and judgement, the understanding and the faith of
their little ones.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 29
…every era hath a spirit; the spirit of this illumined era
lieth in the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh. For these lay the foundation of the
oneness of the world of humanity and promulgate universal brotherhood. They are
founded upon the unity of science and religion and upon investigation of truth.
They uphold the principle that religion must be the cause of amity, union and
harmony among men. They establish the equality of both sexes and propound
economic principles which are for the happiness of individuals. They diffuse
universal education, that every soul may as much as possible have a share of
knowledge. They abrogate and nullify religious, racial, political, patriotic
and economic prejudices and the like. Those teachings that are scattered
throughout the Epistles and Tablets are the cause of the illumination and the
life of the world of humanity. Whoever promulgateth them will verily be
assisted by the Kingdom of God.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings pf
‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 28
O ye who have peace of soul! Among the divine Texts as set
forth in the Most Holy Book and also in other Tablets is this: it is incumbent
upon the father and mother to train their children both in good conduct and the
study of books; study, that is, to the degree required, so that no child,
whether girl or boy, will remain illiterate. Should the father fail in his duty
he must be compelled to discharge his responsibility, and should he be unable
to comply, let the House of Justice take over the education of the children; in
no case is a child to be left without an education. This is one of the
stringent and inescapable commandments to neglect which would draw down the
wrathful indignation of Almighty God.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings pf ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings pf ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 27
From one end of the world to the other, the realm of
humanity is engaged in hostilities and war. There is enmity between the
religions. There is hatred between the classes. There is war between the
fatherlands. There is contention between the diplomats. How delightful it would
now be could these black clouds be dispersed from the horizon of the world, letting
the light of Reality shine; the dust of slaughter and the crime of shedding
blood be swept away; the breeze of providence from the Dawning-Place of Peace
and Salvation be wafted; thus the world would become a new world, and the face
of the earth receive new life from the rays of the divinely effulgent light of
God.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, reprinted from ‘The Christian Commonwealth’;
Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
October 26
The Bible commands the practice of peace and justice. God
desires love. In the gospel we find the golden statement that man should be
expressive of love even unto his enemy; he should be expressive of love to his
ill-wishers; he should be expressive of love to all his fellow men. He must
have an eye to pardon; he must have an eye to benevolence. All the divine books
invite men to these teachings. All the divine prophets suffered that man might
realize these teachings. Consider what His Holiness Christ endured, how many
vicissitudes he underwent, every day tasting a new poison, finally sacrificing
his own life, so that the tent of love and concord might be raised over the
world of humanity so that this dark world might be invested with divine light.
Alas! that all the travail of these holy souls and sanctified prophets should
be wasted. The world of humanity is in a stupor of sleep and it cannot grasp
the realities. The horizons of the minds are still beclouded and the hearts are
occupied with phantasmal longings. We seem never to think of the reason of
creation; never to strive to proclaim those principles which enlighten
humanity. In the sea of materialism we are sinking and of the Kingdom of God we
know nothing. We are not living in accord with those precious teachings of God.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, January 16, 1913, Clifton, England; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, January 16, 1913, Clifton, England; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
October 25
…in reality God has created man for love's sake. God has
endowed man with creation so that he may illumine the world with the flame of
brotherhood and express the utmost state of unity and accord. This state would
express God's good pleasure; this would be the prosperity of the world of
humanity. A thousand times alas! that this glorious century has been besmeared
with war and strife, hatred and rancour.
Bloodthirsty wolves are tearing the sheep of God. Destruction is more
widespread than in all the ages of the past.
We hear on every side praises of the wonders of this cycle, its achievements, its refinements, its genius; calling the past the age of mediaeval horror. What mediaeval age held the horror of a Krupp gun, a Mauser rifle or a shrapnel shell that kills a whole camp? On the sea we have the submarine and the dreadnought. If you compare the past with this age, impartial judgement will call this the age of human fratricide.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, January 16, 1913, Clifton, England; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
We hear on every side praises of the wonders of this cycle, its achievements, its refinements, its genius; calling the past the age of mediaeval horror. What mediaeval age held the horror of a Krupp gun, a Mauser rifle or a shrapnel shell that kills a whole camp? On the sea we have the submarine and the dreadnought. If you compare the past with this age, impartial judgement will call this the age of human fratricide.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, January 16, 1913, Clifton, England; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
October 24
Consider that His holiness Adam and others were living in
Paradise. But as soon as strife became known between him and Satan, every one
was driven away from Eden, so that the children of humanity might learn a
lesson and realize that quarrels and strife, even though with Satan, are
conducive to deprivation.
Therefore, in this radiant century, according to the
heavenly teachings, altercation and dispute are not allowable, even though
assailed by Satan himself.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, reprinted from ‘The Christian Commonwealth’; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, reprinted from ‘The Christian Commonwealth’; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
October 23
God, the Maker of the worlds, hath created the realm of
humanity to be the Paradise of Eden (or the Garden of Paradise) if the edifice
of Peace, Reconciliation, Love, and Faithfulness is founded on a solid and firm
basis; nay, rather, He hath willed it to become the mirror, reflecting the
Delectable Paradise. Then, and not until then, will all the divine bounties
become manifold; happiness and well-being infinite; the virtues of the world of
humanity revealed and resplendent; and the rays of the Sun of Reality visible
from every direction.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, reprinted from ‘The Christian Commonwealth’; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, reprinted from ‘The Christian Commonwealth’; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
October 22
All the religions are revealed for the sake of good
fellowship. The fundamentals, the
foundations of all are fellowship, unity and love. The heavenly books were revealed and divine
love bestowed to bring about peace. What
has man made of religion? He has made it
the cause of bloodshed and strife; enmity and hatred. Religion was destined to be a remedy for the
sickness of humanity; an illumination for the darkness of uncertainty. Have we then forgotten the divine teachings,
cast aside the heavenly books, created imaginary thoughts and illusions and
made them the basis of rancour and strife?
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, January 16, 1913, Clifton, England; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, January 16, 1913, Clifton, England; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)
October 21
Mankind, like unto children, are satisfied with water and
clay, and love to play with their play-things. Their ambitions are very
inferior. Praise be to God! that thou hast a lofty ambition; therefore arise in
calling the people to the Kingdom of God.
This Call shall fill the East and the West, and will continue throughout all ages and cycles. It is endless. That is why in this day, the wise and perceiving souls exalt the ideal and engage in heralding the Kingdom of God!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
This Call shall fill the East and the West, and will continue throughout all ages and cycles. It is endless. That is why in this day, the wise and perceiving souls exalt the ideal and engage in heralding the Kingdom of God!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
October 20
I have now been for some time in these regions. In any city
I have entered I have met with the friends and other people. In all the
gatherings and most of the churches I have called out to the Abhá Kingdom and
invited people to the Cause of the Blessed Beauty. At night I have implored and
supplicated and prayed and asked for assistance, so that the rays of the Sun of
Reality may shine on this country, illumine all the regions of America, bestow
everlasting life; that its citizens may acquire heavenly civilization and that
they may be bountifully favored through the teachings of the Blessed Beauty.
Praise be to God! This has come to pass through the grace of the Blessed Beauty and the assistance of the Abhá Kingdom. The call of God has been raised in all the cities of America. Accounts of the greatness of the Cause have been published even in the newspapers.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 23, San Francisco, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
Praise be to God! This has come to pass through the grace of the Blessed Beauty and the assistance of the Abhá Kingdom. The call of God has been raised in all the cities of America. Accounts of the greatness of the Cause have been published even in the newspapers.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 23, San Francisco, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
October 19
I declare by the Blessed Perfection [Bahá'u'lláh] - May my
life be a sacrifice to His believers-that if the believers arise to act
according to the good-pleasure of the Blessed Perfection, the lights will be
revealed, the mysteries discovered, the veils rent asunder, the darkness
dispelled, the verses of unity chanted, and the melodies of the spiritual music
of the Glorious Lord sung!
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a Tablet, Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
October 18
Now you must engage in the service of the Cause of God with
the utmost firmness, steadfastness and resolution, and expend day and night in
the promotion of the Religion of God. Do not unloose your tongues save for
conveying the Message! Do not behold save the Kingdom of Abhá! Wish for no
other companion save the True One. Do ye not desire other associate save
turning thy face toward the Supreme Horizon. Do ye not search for any other
delicacy save the Heavenly Food, and do ye not hope for any other sweetness
save the love of the Beauty of Abhá.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 1, March 21, 1914)
October 17
These days are the days of Faith and Deeds -- not the days
of words and lip service: Let us arise from the sleep of negligence, and
realize what a great feast is prepared for us; first eating thereof ourselves,
then giving unto others who are thirsting for the Water of Knowledge, and
hungering for the Bread of Life.
These Great Days are swiftly passing; and once gone they can never be recalled. So, while the Rays of the Sun of Truth are still shining and the Center of the Covenant of God is manifest, let us go forth to work.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Star of the West’, vol. 5, no.1, March 21, 1914)
These Great Days are swiftly passing; and once gone they can never be recalled. So, while the Rays of the Sun of Truth are still shining and the Center of the Covenant of God is manifest, let us go forth to work.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Star of the West’, vol. 5, no.1, March 21, 1914)
October 16
O People! The Doors of the Kingdom are opened; The Sun of
Truth is shining upon the world; the Fountains of Life are flowing; the
Daysprings of Mercy have appeared; the Greatest and Most Glorious Light is now
manifest to illuminate the hearts of men.
Wake up and hear the Voice of God calling from all parts of the Supreme World -- "Come unto Me, O ye children of men; come unto Me, O ye who are thirsty, and drink from this sweet Water which is descending in torrents upon all parts of the globe.”
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Star of the West’, vol. 5, no.1, March 21, 1914)
Wake up and hear the Voice of God calling from all parts of the Supreme World -- "Come unto Me, O ye children of men; come unto Me, O ye who are thirsty, and drink from this sweet Water which is descending in torrents upon all parts of the globe.”
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Star of the West’, vol. 5, no.1, March 21, 1914)
October 15
Thoughts are of two kinds:
a) Thoughts that belong entirely to the world of thought.
b) Thoughts that result in action.
The thoughts of our Lord Jesus Christ belonged to a high
spiritual world, but he also brought them into the world of action.
Some men and women have exalted thoughts, but if they do not
realize them in the world of action, they are useless. The power of thought is dependent on
manifestation in the world of action.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; From a
compilation of ‘Discourses of ‘Abdu’l-Baha given in London and Paris’; Star of
the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)
October 14
The "reality" of man is his thought - not his
material body. Although man is part of
the animal creation, he possesses a power of thought superior to the rest of
the created beings. If his thought is directed continually towards heavenly
subjects, he becomes saintly; if, on the other hand, his thought does not soar
above things of this world, he is little better than an animal.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; From a compilation of ‘Discourses of ‘Abdu’l-Baha given in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; From a compilation of ‘Discourses of ‘Abdu’l-Baha given in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)
October 13
Let those who meet you know without your saying so that you
are a Bahá'í. You must manifest the most sincere love for all. Your hearts must
burn with love for all. Let the people see that you are filled with universal
love… It is all very well for you to say that you agree with all this, that it
is good - but you must put it into practice.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; From a compilation of ‘Discourses of ‘Abdu’l-Baha given in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; From a compilation of ‘Discourses of ‘Abdu’l-Baha given in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)
October 12
Those souls who during the war have served the poor and have
been in the Red Cross Mission work, their services are accepted at the Kingdom
of God and are the cause of their everlasting life. Convey to them these glad
tidings.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 11
From separation doth every kind of hurt and harm proceed,
but the union of created things doth ever yield most laudable results. From the
pairing of even the smallest particles in the world of being are the grace and
bounty of God made manifest; and the higher the degree, the more momentous is
the union. ‘Glory be to Him Who hath created all the pairs, of such things as
earth produceth, and out of men themselves, and of things beyond their ken.’
[Qur’an 36:26, and cf. 51:49] And above
all other unions is that between human beings, especially when it cometh to
pass in the love of God. Thus is the primal oneness made to appear; thus is
laid the foundation of love in the spirit. It is certain that such a marriage
as yours will cause the bestowals of God to be revealed. Wherefore do we offer
you felicitations and call down blessings upon you and beg of the Blessed
Beauty, through His aid and favour, to make that wedding feast a joy to all and
adorn it with the harmony of Heaven.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the
Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 10
O beloved of Abdu'l-Bahá! There is no doubt that thou art
assiduously engaged in serving the Cause, giving eloquent talks at the meetings
of the friends, and elucidating divine mysteries. These exertions will cause
the outpourings of His invisible assistance to descend, and, as a magnet, will
attract the divine bounties. I earnestly hope that through the vitalizing
breath of the Holy Spirit thou mayest be strengthened day by day, and be
empowered to deliver more eloquent addresses.
- Abdu'l-Bahá (From a Tablet, The Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith)
- Abdu'l-Bahá (From a Tablet, The Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith)
October 9
His Highness Baha’u’llah dawned from the horizon of Persia
and spread to all parts of the world the rays of the Most Great Guidance. He
invited all to the Greatest Peace and gave advice to all, especially to
Napoleon the Third, who was at that time Emperor of France. For fifty years He
suffered everything in life so that by degrees the hearts became attracted to
the Most Great Peace. Now, praise be to God, this light is continually
spreading its benefits and ere long the Banner of the Most Great Peace shall
become unfurled. We will exert ourselves day and night so that the world of man
may become harmonized and the Sun of Truth and the Rays of Reality may
enlighten the East and die West.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, November 24, 1911, Paris, France; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 18, February 7, 1912)
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, November 24, 1911, Paris, France; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 18, February 7, 1912)
October 8
Kindness, training and education extended to prisoners is
exceedingly important. Therefore as thou hast exerted an effort in this, hast
awakened some of them, and hast been the cause of the turning of their faces to
the divine Kingdom, this praiseworthy deed is highly acceptable. Assuredly
persevere. Convey on my behalf to the two prisoners in San Quentin the utmost
kindness, and tell them: ‘That prison in the sight of wise souls is a school of
training and development. Ye must strive with heart and soul that ye may become
renowned in character and knowledge.’
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the
Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
October 7
God has created us to be loving and compassionate toward
each other and not draw the sword before each other’s face. We must adorn the
gathering of love and peace, and not drill soldiers for the ranks of the army.
We must organize courts of justice. God has given to us eyes so that we may
look upon each other with the eyes of the Love of God. He has granted us hearts
so that we may become attached to each other and not show enmity and rancour.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, November 24, 1911, Paris, France; Star of the West,
vol. 2, no. 18, February 7, 1912)
October 6
[‘Abdu’l-Baha’s parting words to Baha’is in Los Angeles]
I have come a long distance to see you; I have traveled
12,000 miles. Praise be to God that I have found you in spiritual joy and
happiness. I pray that you may live under the care and protection of God and be
assisted by Him in rendering greater service to His mighty Cause, so that each
of you may become a fruit-bearing tree in the garden of His favor, full of
freshness and life. May you acquire more bounties of the Kingdom and engage
yourselves in guiding souls, so that Los Angeles may become a divine city and a
center of the lights of the Kingdom. If the friends of God act according to the
teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, they will succeed in guiding the people, will promote
the unity of mankind and will strive for universal peace. Heavenly
confirmations will descend upon them and they shall attain that station which
is the desire of the holy ones and near ones.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, October
21, Los Angeles, 1912’ Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 13, November 4, 1912)
October 5
The purpose of life is to get certain results; that is, the
life of man must bring forth certain fruitage. It does not depend upon the
length of life. As soon as the life is crowned with fruition then it is
completed, although that person may have had a short life. There are certain trees
which come to fruition very quickly, but there are other trees which attain to
fruition very late; the aim is fruit. If the tree brings forth its fruit young,
its life is short; it is praiseworthy. How regretful it is that a man may live
a long life and yet his life may not be crowned with success, like unto the
cypress tree which does not give any fruitage.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha at the
grave of Thornton Chase, San Francisco, California, October 19, 1912’ Star of
the West, vol. 3, no. 13, November 4, 1912)
October 4
Whatever meeting is held to celebrate the memory of the Abhá
Beauty and to listen to the recital of the divine utterances is indeed a rose
garden of the Kingdom and that gathering is strengthened by the reviving
breaths of holiness that waft from the unseen world, inasmuch as the
outpourings of divine grace are the light of that gathering and the effulgent
splendours of His mercy are made manifest. I beseech God that those radiant
faces may be enabled to shine resplendent in the assemblage of the realm of
holiness and that those enraptured beings may be gathered together in the
heaven of His mercifulness, that they may chant the verses of praise and
glorification in the Abhá Kingdom, raise the voice of jubilation in the realm
on high and the cry of exultation and ecstasy in the Abhá Paradise.
- 'Abdu'l-Bahá (From a Tablet, The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, The
Importance of Deepening Our Knowledge and Understanding of the Faith)
October 3
Until now it never
happened that someone from the East, impelled by the promptings of his
conscience, should come to the West to see the friends of God and to associate
with respected individuals with such sincere love and friendship and without
any political or commercial motive or the desire of sightseeing. It is without
precedent and is not recorded in any history. If others have come, it has been
to sightsee or for commercial or other reasons.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a talk, October 22, Los Angeles, USA,
recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)
October 2
This is our hope: to spread the oneness of the realm of man,
to destroy the foundation of hatred and animosity from among the people, to
make manifest the Greatest Peace, so that the nations of the world may
affiliate with each other and all the governments may strengthen between
themselves the bonds of love and unity, the International Court of Arbitration
may be established and all the worldwide problems and difficulties which arise
between the nations may be adjudicated in that Universal Court.
The solving of these international problems depend upon the
increase of the number of the lovers of Peace, and those who are devoted to the
greater friendship of nations may add their power to the public opinion which
revolves around the Peace of the World. Then, through the powerful
demonstration of the people of peace and reconciliation, all the nations will
be forced to accept the doctrine of Peace.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, November
24, 1911, Paris, France; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 18, February 7, 1912)
October 1
O Thou who art alive with the remembrance of God! True life
on this earth below consisteth in the remembrance of the Almighty, and in the
realms above is attained only in the shelter of the All-Merciful. ... Verily,
true mention of God lies above all else in the teaching of His Cause.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i News, no. 2, January 1925)
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