June 30

O thou esteemed (or dear) maid-servant of God! All that thou hast looked upon—even in the dominion of Victoria, the Queen of England—is but an image on the water and a mirage of phantasms! That which is a reality and is eternal and everlasting is the love of God, is the knowledge of His Highness, the Forgiver, is the spread of the perspicuous religion of God, the uplifting of the Word of God, and the diffusion of the lights of the guidance of God! 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)

June 29

Trust thou in the divine grace and have hope in the merciful gift. If thou wishest for everlasting joy and happiness, engage thou in delivering (teaching) the Cause of God night and day, for the commemoration of God attracts confirmation and assistance like unto a magnet. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)

June 28

All that thou hast written was perused...Take some honey, recite “Ya Baha’u’l-Abha,” [O Thou Glory of the Most Glorious] and eat a little thereof for several days. For these thy prevailing diseases are not on account of sins, but they are to make thee detest this world and know that there is no rest and composure in this temporal life. 

‘Abdu’l-Baha, (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)

June 27

Exert thyself, O maid-servant of God, that thou mayest guide thy relatives and bring union and accord among the beloved ones and harmony among the maid-servants of God; and that thou mayest become of the myrtles of the Paradise of Oneness and of the trees of the Reality of Singleness. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol, 1’)

June 26

From inside prison walls He [Baha’u’llah] wrote epistles to all the kings. He summoned them to arbitration and the "Most Great Peace." Some of the kings expressed disdain. One was the Ottoman king. The Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte III did not reply. Then a second epistle was addressed to him. It stated: "I have written you an epistle before summoning you to the Cause but you heeded it not. You proclaimed once that you were the defender of the oppressed and it hath become evident that you are not. Nor are you kind to your own distressed and oppressed people. You act contrary to your own interests and this pride of yours, which is supported by your commands must fall. Because of your arrogance God shortly will destroy your sovereignty. France will flee away from you and a great conquest will take place. The river Rhine will be a place of lamentations and mourning. The women will bemoan the loss of their sons." 
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk, 15 April, 1912, New York; Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 9, August 20, 1912)

June 25

O servant of Baha! Music is regarded as a praiseworthy science at the Threshold of the Almighty, so that thou mayest chant verses at large gatherings and congregations in a most wondrous melody and raise such hymns of praise at the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar to enrapture the Concourse on High. By virtue of this, consider how much the art of music is admired and praised. Try, if thou canst, to use spiritual melodies, songs and tunes, and to bring the earthly music into harmony with the celestial melody. Then thou wilt notice what a great influence music hath and what heavenly joy and life it conferreth. Strike up such a melody and tune as to cause the nightingales of divine mysteries to be filled with joy and ecstasy. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  ('The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Music')

June 24

Jináb-i-Mírzá Muhammad-Qulí was a loyal brother of the Blessed Beauty. This great man was known even from his childhood for nobility of soul. He was newly born when his distinguished father passed away, and thus it came about that from the beginning to the end of his days, he spent his life in the sheltering arms of Bahá’u’lláh. He was detached from every selfish thought, averse to every mention except to whatever concerned the Holy Cause. He was reared in Persia under the care of Bahá’u’lláh, and in ‘Iráq as well, especially favored by Him. In the presence of Bahá’u’lláh, it was he who would pass around the tea; and he waited upon his Brother at all times, by day and night. He was always silent. He always held fast to the Covenant of “Am I not your Lord?” He was encompassed by loving-kindness and bounty; day and night he had access to the presence of Bahá’u’lláh; he was invariably patient and forbearing, until in the end he reached the very heights of Divine favor and acceptance. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk; ‘Memorials of the Faithful’)

June 23

The question of consultation is of the utmost importance, and is one of the most potent instruments conducive to the tranquillity and felicity of the people. For example, when a believer is uncertain about his affairs, or when he seeketh to pursue a project or trade, the friends should gather together and devise a solution for him. He, in his turn, should act accordingly. Likewise in larger issues, when a problem ariseth, or a difficulty occurreth, the wise should gather, consult, and devise a solution. They should then rely upon the one true God, and surrender to His Providence, in whatever way it may be revealed, for divine confirmations will undoubtedly assist. Consultation, therefore, is one of the explicit ordinances of the Lord of mankind. 

- 'Abdu'l-Bahá  ('The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Consultation')

June 22

...all the members of the human family, whether peoples or governments, cities or villages, have become increasingly interdependent. For none is self-sufficiency any longer possible, inasmuch as political ties unite all peoples and nations, and the bonds of trade and industry, of agriculture and education, are being strengthened every day. Hence the unity of all mankind can in this day be achieved. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Cited in Shoghi Effendi, ‘The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh: Selected Letters’;  The Compilation of Compilations, vol. III, Economics, Agriculture, and Related Subjects)

June 21

Soon the whole world, as in springtime, will change its garb. The turning and falling of the autumn leaves is past; the bleakness of the winter time is over. The new year hath appeared and the spiritual springtime is at hand. The black earth is becoming a verdant garden; the deserts and mountains are teeming with red flowers; from the borders of the wilderness the tall grasses are standing like advance guards before the cypress and jessamine trees; while the birds are singing among the rose branches like the angels in the highest heavens, announcing the glad-tidings of the approach of that spiritual spring, and the sweet music of their voices is causing the real essence of all things to move and quiver. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (The Compilation of Compilations vol. I, Conservation of the Earth's Resources)

June 20

This wonderful age has rent asunder the veils of superstition and has condemned the prejudice of the people of the East.

Among some of the nations of the Orient, music and harmony was not approved of, but the Manifested Light, Bahá'u'lláh, in this glorious period has revealed in Holy Tablets that singing and music are the spiritual food of the hearts and souls. In this dispensation, music is one of the arts that is highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of sad and desponding hearts. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  ("Bahá'í World Faith: Selected Writings of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá"; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Music)

June 19

Treat all thy friends and relatives, even strangers, with a spirit of utmost love and kindliness. 

- ‘Abdu'l-Bahá  (From a Tablet; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. I, Family Life)

June 18

As Americans are removed from most political difficulties they live at ease in isolation and, compared to most other regions, are more desirous of peace and harmony, so they can succeed in bringing about universal peace provided they arise as they should and the nation and government put forth strenuous efforts and, through spiritual power, carry out the divine teachings and principles. The matter of peace, in the religion of Bahá'u'lláh, is a firm command and a religious obligation. It is not the resolution of a congress or the edict of a committee of some nation or country influenced by selfish desires and subject to amendments. Because it is a fundamental principle, it will inevitably come to pass. As the denial of Christ and opposition to Him are considered infidelity in religious terminology, the rejection of peace has the same status in the religion of Bahá'u'lláh. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, December 1, New York, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

June 17

The Blessed Perfection Bahá’u’lláh belonged to the royal family of Írán. From earliest childhood He was distinguished among His relatives and friends. They said: “This child has extraordinary power.” In wisdom, intelligence and as a source of new knowledge He was advanced beyond His age and superior to His surroundings. All who knew Him were astonished at his precocity. It was usual for them to say: “Such a child will not live,” for it is commonly believed that precocious children do not reach maturity. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Talk; ‘Baha’i World Faith’)

June 16

Were the sun to rise from the west, it would still be the sun. Indeed, from whatever point the sun may rise, it is still the sun. One must not take its appearance to be confined to a single point and regard the other points as deprived. One must not be veiled by its rising in the east and consider the west as the place of its setting and decline. One must seek after the manifold grace of God, search out the divine effulgences, and become enraptured and enthralled with any reality in which they are clearly and plainly found. Consider that, if the Jews had not clung to the horizon of Moses but had fixed their gaze upon the Sun of Truth, they would have undoubtedly beheld that Sun shining in the fullness of its divine splendour in that true dawning point that was Christ. But a thousand times alas! They clung to the name of Moses and deprived themselves of that supernal grace and heavenly splendour. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Table talks in Akka, authenticated by ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Some Answered Questions’ – 2014 revised translation by the Baha’i World Centre)

June 15

Verily, I beseech God to illumine thy sight by witnessing the light of hopes and cause thee to speak His praise among the maid-servants, and to make thee steadfast in this path, on which feet have slipped through the power of tests

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1’)

June 14

O maid-servant of God! Know thou, the first bounty from the True One is love, unity and harmony, and without these all the deeds pass in vain and give no result. Love is the result of the Manifestation and the glorious purpose of the rising of Light on the Mount, in the Sinai of the Forgiving Lord. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1’)

June 13

Every year on the anniversary [30 September 1912] of the ascension of that blessed soul [Thornton Chase] the friends must visit his tomb on behalf of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and in the utmost lowliness and humility should with all respect lay on his grave wreaths of flowers and spend all the day in quiet prayer, while turning their faces toward the Kingdom of Signs and mentioning and praising the attributes of that illustrious person. 

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

June 12

Buddha had disciples and he wished to send them out into the world to teach, so he asked them questions to see if they were prepared as he would have them be. “When you go to the East and to the West,” said the Buddha, “and the people shut their doors to you and refuse to speak to you, what will you do?”—The disciples answered and said: “We shall be very thankful that they do us no harm.”—“Then if they do you harm and mock, what will you do?”—“We shall be very thankful that they do not give us worse treatment.”—“If they throw you into prison?”—“We shall still be grateful that they do not kill us.”—“What if they were to kill you?” the Master asked for the last time. “Still,” answered the disciples, “we will be thankful, for they cause us to be martyrs. What more glorious fate is there than this, to die for the glory of God?” And the Buddha said: “Well done!” 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Notes of conversations; ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London’)

June 11

The real teaching of Buddha is the same as the teaching of Jesus Christ. The teachings of all the Prophets are the same in character. Now men have changed the teaching. If you look at the present practice of the Buddhist religion, you will see that there is little of the Reality left. Many worship idols although their teaching forbids it. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Notes of conversations; ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London’)

June 10

O ye friends of ‘Abdu'l-Baha! It has been sometime since correspondence and letter writing has been postponed, because this servant of the Threshold of the Almighty ‘Abdu’l-Baha has been travelling continually throughout the East and the West for the last four years, reminding the people of the appearance of the Manifestation of the Lord of Hosts so that the Occident might become illumined and the Orient perfumed. Therefore, in all the meetings and temples the cry of, "Ya Baha’u’l-Abha!" reached to the zenith of the Supreme Concourse and the voice of, "0 my Lord the Supreme!" soared unremittingly towards the Court of His Highness the Almighty. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 14, November 23, 1914)

June 9

A believer in Bahá'u'lláh is he who is firm in the Covenant. He who is firm in the divine Covenant is a believer, a servant of the believers, a seeker of Bahá'í harmony and unity and a promoter of fellowship and amity among the friends of God. Is it possible that one can accept a book and refuse to accept him who teaches it? Is it possible to accept the sun and to reject its rays? He who rejects the rays is a rejector of the sun, too. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, November 26, New York, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

June 8

I am most grateful for your services; in truth you have served me. You have extended hospitality. Night and day you have been ready to serve and to diffuse the divine fragrances. I shall never forget your services, for you have no purpose but the will of God and you desire no station but entry into the Kingdom of God. Now you have brought presents for the members of my family. They are most acceptable and excellent but better than all these are the gifts of the love of God which remain preserved in the treasuries of the heart. These gifts are evanescent but those are eternal; these jewels must be kept in boxes and vaults and they will eventually perish but those jewels remain in the treasuries of the heart and will remain throughout the world of God for eternity. Thus I will take to them your love, which is the greatest of all gifts. In our house they do not wear diamond rings nor do they keep rubies. That house is sanctified above such adornments. I, however, have accepted your gifts; but I entrust them to you for you sell and send the proceeds to the fund for the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár in Chicago. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, November 30, New York, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

June 7

One of the bounties of religion and faith is the attainment of peace of the heart and soul and the joy of spirit and conscience. This station can only be gained through faith and understanding. Peace of mind is the soul's delight, as it is the means of acquiring that extraordinary state in which man finds happiness in times of affliction and tranquillity in trouble. . 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, November 29, New York, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

June 6

‘Abdu'l-Baha in churches (lit, synagogues) and meetings in many of the cities of Europe and America loudly proclaimed the Cause of His Holiness Baha’u’llah and called (people) to the Kingdom of Abha. And he (‘Abdu'l-Baha) brought forth luminous proofs and stated clear conclusions and manifest arguments. There remained no excuse for any soul whatsoever, because most of the talks were published in newspapers and spread in the world. Notwithstanding this, still the people are captives in the sleep of negligence and are prisoners of nature and inattentive to Reality. Still the people desire material luxury to such a degree that Sur-i-Israfil (i.e. the trumpet of Israfil [an angel] summoning mankind to resurrection) does not awaken them. Of course this negligence, unthankfulness and unmindfulness are the causes of regret, distress, war and dispute and produce devastation and misfortune. If the people of the world do not turn to the Greatest Name, great misery will follow. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet; Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 15, December 12, 1914)

June 5

O thou who hast gained illumination from the Light of Guidance!

Verily, I perused thy brilliant letter, which showed that thou hast advanced toward God, thy sight illumined by witnessing the signs of God, thy heart cheered by the sacred and spiritual breeze which is being blown from the garden of the Kingdom of God. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)

June 4

Convey on my behalf to Mrs. Chase respectful greetings and say: ‘Mr. Chase is a twinkling star above the horizon of Truth, but at present it is still behind the clouds; soon these shall be dispersed and the radiance of that star shall illumine the state of California. Appreciate thou this bounty that thou hast been his wife and companion in life.’ 

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

June 3

Among those who visit Akká, some have made great forward strides. Lightless candles, they were set alight; withered, they began to bloom; dead, they were recalled to life and went home with tidings of great joy. But others, in truth, have simply passed through; they have only taken a tour. 

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

June 2

…Bahá’u’lláh hath been made manifest to all mankind and He hath invited all to the table of God, the banquet of Divine bounty. Today, however, most of those who sit at that table are the poor, and this is why Christ hath said blessed are the poor, for riches do prevent the rich from entering the Kingdom; and again, He saith, ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.’ [Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25] If, however, the wealth of this world, and worldly glory and repute, do not block his entry therein, that rich man will be favoured at the Holy Threshold and accepted by the Lord of the Kingdom. 

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

June 1

O ye governments of the world! Be ye pitiful towards mankind! O ye nation is of the earth, behold ye the battlefields of slaughter and carnage [WWI]; O ye sages of humanity, investigate sympathetically the conditions of the oppressed; ye philosophers of the West, study profoundly the causes that led to this gigantic unparalleled struggle; O ye wise leaders of the globe, reflect deeply so that ye may find an antidote for the suppression of this chronic, devastating disease; O ye individuals of humanity, find ye means for the stoppage of this wholesale murder and bloodshed. Now is the appointed time! Now is the opportune time! Arise ye, shew ye an effort, put ye forward an extraordinary power, and unfurl ye the Flag of Universal Peace and dam the resistible fury of this raging torrent which is wreaking havoc and ruin everywhere! 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a Tablet  (Star of the West, vol. 5, no. 16, December 31, 1914)