The body of the human world is sick...

The body of the human world is sick. Its remedy and healing will be the oneness of the kingdom of humanity. Its life is the Most Great Peace. Its illumination and quickening is love. Its happiness is the attainment of spiritual perfections. It is my wish and hope that in the bounties and favors of the Blessed Perfection we may find a new life, acquire a new power and attain to a wonderful and supreme source of energy so that the Most Great Peace of divine intention shall be established upon the foundations of the unity of the world of men with God. May the love of God be spread from this city, from this meeting to all the surrounding countries. Nay, may America become the distributing center of spiritual enlightenment, and all the world receive this heavenly blessing! For America has developed powers and capacities greater and more wonderful than other nations. While it is true that its people have attained a marvelous material civilization, I hope that spiritual forces may animate this great body and a corresponding spiritual civilization be established. May the inhabitants of this country become like angels of heaven with faces turned continually toward God. May all of them become the servants of the Omnipotent One. May they rise from present material attainments to such a height that heavenly illumination may stream from this center to all the peoples of the world.

`Abdu'l-Bahá: The Promulgation of Universal Peace

... humanity is in need of international unity ..

Today the world of humanity is in need of international unity and
conciliation. To establish these great fundamental principles a propelling power is needed. It is self-evident that the unity of the human world and the Most Great Peace cannot be accomplished through material means. They cannot be established through political power, for the political interests of nations are various and the policies of peoples are divergent and conflicting. They cannot be founded through racial or patriotic power, for these are human powers, selfish and weak. The very nature of racial differences and patriotic prejudices prevents the realization of this unity and agreement. Therefore, it is evidenced that the promotion of the oneness of the kingdom of humanity, which is the essence of the teachings of all the Manifestations of God, is impossible except through the divine power and breaths of the Holy Spirit. Other powers are too weak and are incapable of accomplishing this. For man two wings are necessary. One wing is physical power and material civilization; the other is spiritual power and divine civilization. With one wing only, flight is impossible. Two wings are essential. Therefore, no matter how much material civilization advances, it cannot attain to perfection except through the uplift of spiritual civilization.

‘Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace

Let truthfulness and courtesy be your adorning...

Say: Let truthfulness and courtesy be your adorning. Suffer not yourselves to be deprived of the robe of forbearance and justice, that the sweet savors of holiness may be wafted from your hearts upon all created things. Say: Beware, O people of Bahá, lest ye walk in the ways of them whose words differ from their deeds. Strive that ye may be enabled to manifest to the peoples of the earth the signs of God, and to mirror forth His commandments. Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their conduct. It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others. Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the whole earth. Happy is the man that heedeth My counsel, and keepeth the precepts prescribed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

 Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

O SON OF SPIRIT!
The bird seeketh its nest; the nightingale the charm of the rose; whilst those birds, the hearts of men, content with transient dust, have strayed far from their eternal nest, and with eyes turned towards the slough of heedlessness are bereft of the glory of the divine presence. Alas! How strange and pitiful; for a mere cupful, they have turned away from the billowing seas of the Most High, and remained far from the most effulgent horizon.

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

!ای پسر روح
 هر طيری را نظر بر آشيان است و هر بلبلی را مقصود جمال گل مگر طيور افئده عباد که بتراب فانی قانع شده از آشيان باقی دور مانده‌اند و بگِلهای بعد توجّه نموده از گُلهای قرب محروم گشته‌اند * زهی حيرت و حسرت و افسوس و دريغ که بابريقی از امواج بحر رفيق اعلی گذشته‌اند و از افق
ابهی دور مانده‌اند
کلمات مکنونه فارسی  حضرت بهاءالله

The children of men are all brothers, ...

The children of men are all brothers, and the prerequisites of brotherhood are manifold. Among them is that one should wish for one’s brother that which one wisheth for oneself. Therefore, it behoveth him who is the recipient of an inward or outward gift or who partaketh of the bread of heaven to inform and invite his friends with the utmost love and kindness. If they respond favourably, his object is attained; otherwise he should leave them to themselves without contending with them or uttering a word that would cause the least sadness. This is the undoubted truth, and aught else is unworthy and unbecoming.

Bahá'u'lláh, The Tabernacle of Unity

A new cycle of human power,

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London

This is a new cycle of human power. All the horizons of the world are luminous, and the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise. It is the hour of unity of the sons of men and of the drawing together of all races and all classes. You are loosed from ancient superstitions which have kept men ignorant, destroying the foundation of true humanity.
The gift of God to this enlightened age is the knowledge of the oneness of mankind and of the fundamental oneness of religion. War shall cease between nations, and by the will of God the Most Great Peace shall come; the world will be seen as a new world, and all men will live as brothers...
There is one God; mankind is one; the foundations of religion are one. Let us worship Him, and give praise for all His great Prophets and Messengers who have manifested His brightness and glory. The blessing of the Eternal One be with you in all its richness, that each soul according to his measure may take freely of Him.
Amen.

‘Abdu’l-Bahá in London

BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY 3

The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord. If you meet those of different race and colour from yourself, do not mistrust them and withdraw yourself into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness. Think of them as different coloured roses growing in the beautiful garden of humanity, and rejoice to be among them.
Likewise, when you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them. All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto. Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one.
Do not allow difference of opinion, or diversity of thought to separate you from your fellow-men, or to be the cause of dispute, hatred and strife in your hearts.

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks

BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY 2

Behold a beautiful garden full of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Each flower has a different charm, a peculiar beauty, its own delicious perfume and beautiful colour. The trees too, how varied are they in size, in growth, in foliage—and what different fruits they bear! Yet all these flowers, shrubs and trees spring from the self-same earth, the same sun shines upon them and the same clouds give them rain.
So it is with humanity. It is made up of many races, and its peoples are of different colour, white, black, yellow, brown and red—but they all come from the same God, and all are servants to Him. This diversity among the children of men has unhappily not the same effect as it has among the vegetable creation, where the spirit shown is more harmonious. Among men exists the diversity of animosity, and it is this that causes war and hatred among the different nations of the world.

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks

BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY

The Creator of all is One God.
From this same God all creation sprang into existence, and He is the one goal, towards which everything in nature yearns. This conception was embodied in the words of Christ, when He said, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end’. Man is the sum of Creation, and the Perfect Man is the expression of the complete thought of the Creator—the Word of God.
Consider the world of created beings, how varied  and diverse they are in species, yet with one sole origin. All the differences that appear are those of outward form and colour. This diversity of type is apparent throughout the whole of nature....

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks

Tests ...

And now, consider and reflect a moment upon the waywardness of this people. What could have been the reason for such denial and avoidance on their part? What could have induced them to refuse to put off the garment of denial, and to adorn themselves with the robe of acceptance? Moreover, what could have caused the nonfulfilment of the divine promise which led the seekers to reject that which they had accepted? Meditate profoundly, that the secret of things unseen may be revealed unto you, that you may inhale the sweetness of a spiritual and imperishable fragrance, and that you may acknowledge the truth that from time immemorial even unto eternity the Almighty hath tried, and will continue to try, His servants, so that light may be distinguished from darkness, truth from falsehood, right from wrong, guidance from error, happiness from misery, and roses from thorns. Even as He hath revealed:
“Do men think when they say ‘We believe’ they shall be let alone and not be put to proof?” Qur’án 29:2.

Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitáb-i-Íqán

پيروان آئين بهائی اعتقاد راسخ دارند که ....

   پيروان آئين بهائی اعتقاد راسخ دارند که جوهر تعاليمی که حضرت بهاءاللّه بعالم ابلاغ فرموده اين است که : حقائق دينی امری است نسبی نه مطلق . ظهورات الهيّه تسلسل دارد و تجدّد يابد . جميع اديان بزرگ عالم اساسشان الهی است . مبادی و اصولشان کاملاً با يکديگر موافق است . آمال و مقاصدشان يکی است . تعاليمشان جلوه هائی متنوّع از حقيقت واحد است . وظائف و اجرائاتشان مکمّل يکديگر است . تفاوتشان فقط در تعاليم فرعی و غير اساسی است . رسالتشان هر يک نماينده مراحلی متتابع در تکامل جامعه انسانی است.

هدف حضرت بهاءاللّه پيامبر اين عصر جديد و عظيم عالم انسانی چنين است ... که ظهورات سابقه را باتمام رساند نه آنکه آنها را مضمحل سازد . سبب آشتی بين اديان شود نه آنکه بر اختلافات معتقدات متضادّشان که سبب انشقاق جامعه کنونی گشته دامن زند .

    مقصد حضرت بهاءاللّه هرگز آن نيست که انبياء گذشته را تحقير نمايد و تعاليمشان را تخطئه کند بلکه آن است که

حقائق اصليّه ای که در تعاليمشان مکنون است از نو اظهار داشته بنحوی بازگو نمايد که با حوائج اين زمان موافق و با استعداد مردمان مطابق و با مشکلات و علل و سرگردانی های عصر حاضر متناسب و مربوط باشد .

حضرت ولی امرالله, ندا باهل عالم

This is the answer that history will give to ...

Every fire is seen to be extinguishable except for the fire of the Love of God that is manifest and ablaze in the hearts. Every mighty tree will be uprooted by tempestuous winds except for the trees of the Divine orchard, and every lamp is quenched except for the lamp of the Cause of God, which shineth in the heart of the world. Winds will add to its brightness, and it will never be extinguished.
This is the answer that history will give to those who enquire of your secret. Your lives are the fruit of that Divine orchard, the handiwork of the Creative Word to which you have surrendered your hearts. "O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch." "...love is light, no matter in what abode it dwelleth; and hate is darkness, no matter where it may make its nest." "Were man to appreciate the greatness of his station and the loftiness of his destiny he would manifest naught save goodly character, pure deeds, and a seemly and praiseworthy conduct." "In this day, all must cling to whatever is the cause of the betterment of the world and the promotion of knowledge amongst its peoples." "...the tongue is for mentioning what is good, defile it not with unseemly talk." "Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God." "One speck of chastity is greater than a hundred thousand years of worship and a sea of knowledge." "We have enjoined upon all to engage in crafts and trades and have accounted it as an act of worship." "Trustworthiness is the greatest of doors leading to the tranquility and security of the people of the world." "Knowledge is the cause of exaltation and advancement. It enableth man to pass beyond the world of dust to the realms above and leadeth him out of darkness into light. It is the redeemer and the bestower of life. It conferreth the living waters of immortality and imparteth heavenly food."


Day of the Covenant 26 November 2003:
To the Followers of Baha'u'llah in the Cradle of the Faith.
Universal House of Justice