وادی عشق

اعضای محفل ملی ایران ۲۷ دسامبر ۱۹۸۱ تیر باران شدند.

...عشق هستی قبول نکند و زندگی نخواهد حیوة در ممات بیند و عزّت از ذلّت جوید بسیار هوش باید تا لایق جوش عشق شود و بسیار سر باید تا قابل کمند دوست گردد.
 مبارک گردنی که در کمندش افتد و فرخنده سری که در راه محبّتش بخاک افتد
 پس ای دوست از نفس بیگانه شو تا به یگانه پی‌بری و از خاکدان فانی بگذر تا در آشیان الهی جای گیری نیستی باید تا نار هستی برافروزی و مقبول راه عشق شوی...

صدهزار مظلومان در کمندش بسته و صدهزار عارفان به تیرش خسته هر سرخی که در عالم بینی اثر قهرش دان و هر زردی که در رخسار بینی از زهرش شمر جز فنا دوائی نبخشد و جز در وادی عدم قدم نگذارد ولکن زهرش در کام عاشق از شهد خوشتر و فنایش در نظر طالب از صدهزار بقا محبوب‌تر است

پس باید بنار عشق حجابهای نفس شیطانی سوخته شود تا روح برای ادراک مراتب سیّد لولاک لطیف و پاکیزه گردد

نار عشقی برفروز و جمله هستیها بسوز

پس قدم بردار و اندر کوی عشّاقان گذار

آثار حضرت بهاءالله, هفت وادى

The Valley of Love

NSA members of Baha'i's of Iran.
Executed Dec 27 1981.

 "Love accepteth no existence and wisheth no life: He seeth life in death, and in shame seeketh glory.
To merit the madness of love, man must abound in sanity; to merit the bonds of the Friend, he must be full of spirit. Blessed the neck that is caught in His noose, happy the head that falleth on the dust in the pathway of His love. Wherefore, O friend, give up thy self that thou mayest find the Peerless One, pass by this mortal earth that thou mayest seek a home in the nest of heaven. Be as naught, if thou wouldst kindle the fire of being and be fit for the pathway of love.
Love seizeth not upon a living soul,
The falcon preyeth not on a dead mouse. 3
Love setteth a world aflame at every turn, and he wasteth every land where he carrieth his banner...
Wherefore must the veils of the satanic self be burned away at the fire of love, that the spirit may be purified and cleansed and thus may know the station of the Lord of the Worlds.
Kindle the fire of love and burn away all things,
Then set thy foot into the land of the lovers. "


Bahá'u'lláh: The Seven Valleys

وادی عشق

اعضای محفل ملی ایران ۲۷ دسامبر ۱۹۸۱ تیر باران شدند.

واگر در این سفر باعانت باری از یار بی‌نشان نشان یافت و بوی یوسف گم‌گشته از بشیر احدیّه شنید فوراً بوادی عشق قدم گذارد و از نار عشق بگدازد در این شهر آسمان جذب بلند شود و آفتاب جهانتاب شوق طالع گردد و نار عشق برافروزد و چون نار عشق برافروخت خرمن عقل بکلّی بسوخت

معشوق خیالی ندارد و جز محبوب پناهی نجوید و در هر آن صد جان رایگان در ره جانان دهد و در هر قدمی هزار سر در پای دوست اندازد

ای برادر من تا بمصر عشق درنیائی بیوسف جمال دوست واصل نشوی و تا چون یعقوب از چشم ظاهری نگذری چشم باطن نگشائی و تا بنار عشق نیفروزی بیار شوق نیامیزی

و عاشق را از هیچ چیز پروا نیست و از هیچ ضرّی ضرر نه از نار سردش بینی و از دریا خشکش یابی

نشان عاشق آن باشد که سردش بینی از دوزخ

نشان عارف آن باشد که خشکش بینی از دریا

عشق هستی قبول نکند و زندگی نخواهد حیوة در ممات بیند و عزّت از ذلّت جوید بسیار هوش باید تا لایق جوش عشق شود

     آثار حضرت بهاءالله, هفت وادى

The Valley of Love

NSA members of Baha'i's of Iran.
Executed Dec 27 1981.

The steed of this Valley is pain; and if there be no pain this journey will never end.
 In this station the lover hath no thought save the Beloved, and seeketh no refuge save the Friend.At every moment he offereth a hundred lives in the path of the Loved One, at every step he throweth a thousand heads at the feet of the Beloved.
O My Brother! Until thou enter the Egypt of love, thou shalt never come to the Joseph of the Beauty of the Friend; and until, like Jacob, thou forsake thine outward eyes, thou shalt never open the eye of thine inward being; and until thou burn with the fire of love, thou shalt never commune with the Lover of Longing.
A lover feareth nothing and no harm can come nigh him:
Thou seest him chill in the fire and dry in the sea.
 A lover is he who is chill in hell fire; A knower is he who is dry in the sea.
 Love accepteth no existence and wisheth no life: He seeth life in death, and in shame seeketh glory...

Bahá'u'lláh, The Seven Valleys

As difference in degree of capacity exists ..

 "As difference in degree of capacity exists among human souls, as difference in capability is found, therefore, individualities will differ one from another. But in reality this is a reason for unity and not for discord and enmity.
If the flowers of a garden were all of one color, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colors are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of color and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony.
Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and color, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord. Become as waves of one sea, trees of one forest, growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity."

`Abdu'l-Bahá: The Promulgation of Universal Peace. P.25

Divine physician (2)

In like manner, every time the Prophets of God have illumined the world with the resplendent radiance of the Day Star of Divine knowledge, they have invariably summoned its peoples to embrace the light of God through such means as best befitted the exigencies of the age in which they appeared.
They were thus able to scatter the darkness of ignorance, and to shed upon the world the glory of their own knowledge.
 It is towards the inmost essence of these Prophets, therefore, that the  eye of every man of discernment must be directed, inasmuch as their one and only purpose hath always been to guide the erring, and give peace to the afflicted….  
These are not days of prosperity and triumph. The whole of mankind is in the grip of manifold ills. Strive, therefore, to save its life through the wholesome medicine which the almighty hand of the unerring Physician hath prepared.

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh,  P.81

Divine Physicians

"The Prophets of God should be regarded as physicians whose task is to foster the well-being of the world and its peoples, that, through the spirit of oneness, they may heal the sickness of a divided humanity. To none is given the right to question their words or disparage their conduct, for they are the only ones who can claim to have understood the patient and to have correctly diagnosed its ailments.
  No man, however acute his perception, can ever hope to reach the heights which the wisdom and understanding of the Divine Physician have attained. Little wonder, then, if the treatment prescribed by the physician in this day should not be found to be identical with that which he prescribed before. How could it be otherwise when the ills affecting the sufferer necessitate at every stage of his sickness a special remedy?

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh P.81

Morning Prayer

I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defense. Illumine my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendors of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, even as thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of Thy favor.

 Bahá’u’lláh

The unification of mankind ?

"a power is needed to carry out and execute what is known and admitted to be the remedy for human conditions—namely, the unification of  mankind. Furthermore, it is evident that this cannot be realized through material process and means.
The accomplishment of this unification cannot be through racial power, for races are different and diverse in tendencies.
It cannot be through patriotic power, for nationalities are unlike.
Nor can it be effected through political power since the policies of governments and nations are various.
That is to say, any effort toward unification through these material means would benefit one and injure another because of unequal and individual interests. Some may believe this great remedy can be found in dogmatic insistence upon imitations and interpretations. This would likewise be without foundation and result.
Therefore, it is evident that no means but an ideal means, a spiritual power, divine bestowals and the breaths of the Holy Spirit will heal this world sickness of war, dissension and discord. Nothing else is possible; nothing can be conceived of. But through spiritual means and the divine power it is possible and practicable."


`Abdu'l-Bahá: The Promulgation of Universal Peace P.158

Hold thou fast to the Covenant of thy Lord,

Hold thou fast to the Covenant of thy Lord, and as the days go by, increase thy store of love for His beloved ones. Bend thou with tenderness over the servitors of the All-Merciful, that thou mayest hoist the sail of love upon the ark of peace that moveth across the seas of life.

Let nothing grieve thee, and be thou angered at none. It behoveth thee to be content with the Will of God, and a true and loving and trusted friend to all the peoples of the earth, without any exceptions whatever.
This is the quality of the sincere, the way of the saints, the emblem of those who believe in the unity of God, and the raiment of the people of Bahá.

Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

Morning prayer

I have risen this morning by Thy grace, O my God, and left my home trusting wholly in Thee, and committing myself to Thy care.  Send down, then, upon me, out of the heaven of Thy mercy, a blessing from Thy side, and enable me to return home in safety even as Thou didst enable me to set out under Thy protection with my thoughts fixed steadfastly upon Thee.
 There is none other God but Thee, the One, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.

 Bahá’u’lláh

The highest essence and most perfect ...

The highest essence and most perfect expression of whatsoever the peoples of old have either said or written hath, through this most potent Revelation, been sent down from the heaven of the Will of the All-Possessing, the Ever-Abiding God. Of old it hath been revealed: “Love of one’s country is an element of the Faith of God.” The Tongue of Grandeur hath, however, in the day of His manifestation proclaimed: “It is not his to boast who loveth his country, but it is his who loveth the world.” Through the power released by these exalted words He hath lent a fresh impulse, and set a new direction, to the birds of men’s hearts, and hath  obliterated every trace of restriction and limitation from God’s holy Book."

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh P.96

The doors of love and unity have

"It is incumbent upon every man, in this Day, to hold fast unto whatsoever will promote the interests,  and exalt the station, of all nations and just governments. "

Through each and every one of the verses which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed, the doors of love and unity have been unlocked and flung open to the face of men. We have erewhile declared—and Our Word is the truth—: “Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.”

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh P. 95

So firm and mighty is this Covenant,

“So firm and mighty is this Covenant,” He Who is its appointed Center has affirmed, “that from the beginning of time until the present day no religious Dispensation hath produced its like.” “It is indubitably clear,” He, furthermore, has stated, “that the pivot of the oneness of mankind is nothing else but the power of the Covenant." ...

 And finally:
“The power of the Covenant is as the heat of the sun which quickeneth and promoteth the development of all created things on earth. The light of the Covenant, in like manner, is the educator of the minds, the spirits, the hearts and souls of men.” To this same Covenant He has in His writings referred as the “Conclusive Testimony,” the “Universal Balance,” the “Magnet of God’s grace,” the “Upraised Standard,” the “Irrefutable Testament,” “the all-mighty Covenant, the like of which the sacred Dispensations of the past have never witnessed” and “one of the distinctive features of this most mighty cycle.”

Shoghi Effendi: God Passes By P. 238

Today we have closed our eyes to ...

"Today we have closed our eyes to every righteous act and have sacrificed the abiding happiness of society to our own transitory profit. We regard fanaticism and zealotry as redounding to our credit and honor, and not content with this, we denounce one another and plot each other’s ruin, and whenever we wish to put on a show of wisdom and learning, of virtue and godliness, we set about mocking and reviling this one and that.
“The ideas of such a one,” we say, “are wide of the mark, and so-and-so’s behavior leaves much to be desired. ".....


`Abdu'l-Bahá: The Secret of Divine Civilization P.57

O SON OF MAN!

O SON OF MAN!

Thou art My dominion and My dominion perisheth not; wherefore fearest thou thy perishing?
Thou art My light and My light shall never be extinguished; why dost thou dread extinction?
Thou art My glory and My glory fadeth not; thou art My robe and My robe shall never be outworn.
Abide then in thy love for Me, that thou mayest find Me in the realm of glory.

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

Valiant acts

O people of God!

Do not busy yourselves in your own concerns; let your thoughts be fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the hearts and souls of men. This can best be achieved through pure and holy deeds, through a virtuous life and a goodly behavior.
Valiant acts will ensure the triumph of this Cause, and a saintly character will reinforce its power. Cleave unto righteousness, O people of Bahá!
This, verily, is the commandment which this wronged One hath given unto you, and the first choice of His unrestrained Will for every one of you.

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

East and West.

““From the beginning of time until the present day,” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá  Himself affirms, “the light of Divine Revelation hath risen in the East and shed its radiance upon the West. The illumination thus shed hath, however, acquired in the West an extraordinary brilliancy. Consider the Faith proclaimed by Jesus. Though it first appeared in the East, yet not until its light had been shed upon the West did the full measure of its potentialities become manifest.” “The day is approaching,” He, in another passage, assures us, “when ye shall witness how, through the splendor of the Faith of Bahá’u’lláh, the West will have replaced the East, radiating the light of Divine Guidance.”

 …The West hath acquired illumination from the East but in some respects the reflection of the light hath been greater in the Occident. This is specially true of Christianity. Jesus Christ appeared in Palestine and His teachings were founded in that country. Although the doors of the Kingdom were first opened in that land and the bestowals of God were spread broadcast from its center, the people of the West have embraced and promulgated Christianity more fully than the people of the East.”

Shoghi Effendi: The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh P.75

For desire is a flame ...

For desire is a flame that has reduced to ashes uncounted lifetime harvests of the learned, a devouring fire that even the vast sea of their accumulated knowledge could never quench. How often has it happened that an individual who was graced with every attribute of humanity and wore the jewel of true understanding, nevertheless followed after his passions until his excellent qualities passed beyond moderation and he was forced into excess. His pure intentions changed to evil  ones, his attributes were no longer put to uses worthy of them, and the power of his desires turned him aside from righteousness and its rewards into ways that were dangerous and dark.
A good character is in the sight of God and His chosen ones and the possessors of insight, the most excellent and praiseworthy of all things, but always on condition that its center of emanation should be reason and knowledge and its base should be true moderation. Were the implications of this subject to be developed as they deserve the work would grow too long and our main theme would be lost to view.

`Abdu'l-Bahá: The Secret of Divine Civilization. P. 60

Knowledge, purity, devotion, discipline, independence, have nothing to do with
outer appearance and dress. Once in the course of My travels I heard an  eminent personage make the following excellent remark, the wit and charm of which remain in memory:
“Not every cleric’s turban is a proof of continence and knowledge; not every layman’s hat a sign of ignorance and immorality. How many a hat has proudly raised the banner of knowledge, how many a turban pulled down the Law of God!”

`Abdu'l-Bahá: The Secret of Divine Civilization P. 59

Prophets of God

 In thine esteemed letter thou hadst inquired which of the Prophets of God should

be regarded as superior to others. Know thou assuredly that the essence of all the Prophets of God is one and the same. Their unity is absolute.
God, the Creator, saith: There is no distinction whatsoever among the Bearers of My Message. They all have but one purpose; their secret is the same secret. To prefer one in honor to another, to exalt certain ones above the rest, is in no wise to be permitted.
Every true Prophet hath regarded His Message as fundamentally the same as the  Revelation of every other Prophet gone before Him. If any man, therefore, should fail to comprehend this truth, and should consequently indulge in vain and unseemly language, no one whose sight is keen and whose understanding is enlightened would ever allow such idle talk to cause him to waver in his belief.

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

O SON OF SPIRIT!

O SON OF SPIRIT!

 The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbor.
Ponder this in thy heart; how it behooveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness.
 Set it then before thine eyes.

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

I desire distinction for you

I desire distinction for you. The Bahá’ís must be distinguished from others of humanity. But this distinction must not depend upon wealth—that they should become more affluent than other people. I do not desire for you financial distinction. It is not an ordinary distinction I desire; not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction.

For you I desire spiritual distinction—that is, you must become eminent and distinguished in morals. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else. You must become distinguished for loving humanity, for unity and accord, for love and justice.
 In brief, you must become distinguished in all the virtues of the human world—for faithfulness and sincerity, for justice and fidelity, for firmness and steadfastness, for philanthropic deeds and service to the human world, for love toward every human being, for unity and accord with all people, for removing prejudices and promoting international peace.
Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination and for acquiring the bestowals of God. I desire this distinction for you. This must be the point of distinction among you.


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

O Son of Man!

O Son of Man! Thou dost wish for gold and I desire thy freedom from it. Thou thinkest thyself rich in its possession, and I recognize thy wealth in thy sanctity therefrom.
By My life! This is My knowledge, and that is thy fancy; how can My way accord with thine?

~ Bahá’u’lláh

What is inspiration?

What is inspiration? It is the influx of the human heart.
But what are satanic promptings which afflict mankind?
They are the influx of the heart also. How shall we differentiate between them? The question arises: How shall we know whether we are following inspiration from God or satanic promptings of the human soul?
Briefly, the point is that in the human material world of phenomena these four are the only existing criteria or avenues of knowledge, and all of them are faulty and unreliable.
What then remains? How shall we attain the reality of knowledge?
By the breaths and promptings of the Holy Spirit, which is light and knowledge itself. Through it the human mind is quickened and fortified into true conclusions and perfect knowledge. This is conclusive argument showing that all available human criteria are erroneous and defective, but the divine standard of knowledge is infallible. Therefore, man is not justified in saying, “I know because I perceive through my senses,” or “I know because it is proved through my faculty of reason,” or “I know because it is according to tradition and interpretation of the Holy Book,” or “I know because I am inspired.” All human standards of judgment are faulty, finite."

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

The well-being of mankind, its peace and security,...

The One true God beareth Me witness, and His creatures will testify, that not for a moment did I allow Myself to be hidden from the eyes of men, nor did I consent to shield My person from their injury.
Before the face of all men I have arisen, and bidden them fulfil My pleasure. My object is none other than the betterment of the world and the tranquillity of its peoples.
The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established. This unity can never be achieved so long as the counsels which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed are suffered to pass unheeded.

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Knowledge, volition and action.

All the heavenly Books, divine Prophets, sages and philosophers agree that warfare is destructive to human development, and peace constructive. They agree that war and strife strike at the foundations of humanity. Therefore, a power is needed to prevent war and to proclaim and establish the oneness of humanity.
But knowledge of the need of this power is not sufficient. Realizing that wealth is desirable is not becoming wealthy. The admission that scientific attainment is praiseworthy does not confer scientific knowledge. Acknowledgment of the excellence of honor does not make a man honorable ...
The attainment of any object is conditioned upon knowledge, volition and action. Unless these three conditions are forthcoming, there is no execution or accomplishment.

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

His purpose, however, is to ...

 "He Who is the Day Spring of Truth is, no doubt, fully capable of rescuing from such remoteness wayward souls and of causing them to draw nigh unto His court and attain His Presence. “If God had pleased He had surely made all men one people.”

His purpose, however, is to enable the pure in spirit and the detached in heart to ascend, by virtue of their own innate powers, unto the shores of the Most Great Ocean, that thereby they who seek the Beauty of the All-Glorious may be distinguished and separated from the wayward and perverse. Thus hath it been ordained by the all-glorious and resplendent Pen…."

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

love humanity with all your heart and soul

"My admonition and exhortation to you is this:
Be kind to all people, love humanity, consider all mankind as your relations and servants of the most high God. Strive day and night that animosity and contention may pass away from the hearts of men, that all religions shall become reconciled and the nations love each other so that no racial, religious or political prejudice may remain and the world of humanity behold God as the beginning and end of all existence. God has created all, and all return to God. Therefore, love humanity with all your heart and soul. If you meet a poor man, assist him; if you see the sick, heal him; reassure the affrighted one, render the cowardly noble and courageous, educate the ignorant, associate with the stranger.


`Abdu'l-Bahá: The Promulgation of Universal Peace P.291

show forth righteousness and piety

Ye have been forbidden in the Book of God to engage in contention and conflict, to strike another, or to commit similar acts whereby hearts and souls may be saddened.

A fine of nineteen mithqáls of gold had formerly been prescribed by Him Who is the Lord of all mankind for anyone who was the cause of sadness to another; in this Dispensation, however, He hath absolved you thereof and exhorteth you to show forth righteousness and piety.
Such is the commandment which He hath enjoined upon you in this resplendent Tablet.
Wish not for others what ye wish not for yourselves; fear God, and be not of the prideful. Ye are all created out of water, and unto dust shall ye return. Reflect upon the end that awaiteth you, and walk not in the ways of the oppressor.

Bahá'u'lláh :The Kitáb-i-Aqdas P.73

May the love of God be spread ...

"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

Lack of love and absence of altruism

The disease which afflicts the body politic is lack of love and absence of altruism* ....
Love and unity are the needs of the body politic today. Without these there can be no progress or prosperity attained. Therefore, the friends of God must adhere to the power which will create this love and unity in the hearts of the sons of men. Science cannot cure the illness of the body politic. Science cannot create amity and fellowship in human hearts. Neither can patriotism nor racial allegiance effect a remedy. It must be accomplished solely through the divine bounties and spiritual bestowals which have descended from God in this day for that purpose.

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

*the principle or practice of unselfish concern for or devotion to the welfare of others (opposed to egoism )

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.

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

Nations are devoted to conquest and bloodshed

Nations are devoted to conquest and bloodshed, filled with the animus of
religious hatred, seeking the good pleasure of God by killing and destroying those whom in their blindness they consider enemies. How ignorant they are! That which is forbidden by God they consider acceptable to Him.
God is love; God seeketh fellowship, purity, sanctity ; these are the attributes of Divinity. Therefore, these warring, raging nations have arisen against Divinity, imagining they are serving God. What gross ignorance this is! What injustice, blindness and lack of realization!
Briefly, we must strive with heart and soul in order that this darkness of the contingent world may be dispelled, that the lights of the Kingdom shall shine upon all the horizons, the world of humanity become illumined, the image of God become apparent in human mirrors, the law of God be well established and that all regions of the world shall enjoy peace, comfort and composure beneath the equitable protection of God.

`Abdu'l-Bahá:The Promulgation of Universal Peace P. 290

MORTAL RICHES

O YE THAT PRIDE YOURSELVES ON MORTAL RICHES!

Know ye in truth that wealth is a mighty barrier between the seeker and his desire, the lover and his beloved.
The rich, but for a few, shall in no wise attain the court of His presence nor enter the city of content and resignation.
Well is it then with him, who, being rich, is not hindered by his riches from the eternal kingdom, nor deprived by them of imperishable dominion.
By the Most Great Name! The splendor of such a wealthy man shall illuminate the dwellers of heaven even as the sun enlightens the people of the earth!

The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh

So it is with humanity.

 "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."
Differences which are only those of blood also cause them to destroy and kill one another.
Alas! that this should still be so. Let us look rather at the beauty in diversity, the beauty of harmony, and learn a lesson from the vegetable creation.

`Abdu'l-Bahá: Paris Talks

BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY

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. Rather, search diligently for the truth and make all men your friends.
 Every edifice is made of many different stones, yet each depends on the other to such an extent that if one were displaced the whole building would suffer; if one is faulty the structure is imperfect.
Bahá’u’lláh has drawn the circle of unity, He has made a design for the uniting of all the peoples, and for the gathering of them all under the shelter of the tent of universal unity.
Abdu'l-Bahá: Paris Talks

True liberty consisteth in ...

Say: True liberty consisteth in man’s submission unto My commandments, little as ye know it.Were men to observe that which We have sent down unto them from the Heaven of Revelation, they would, of a certainty, attain unto perfect liberty.
Happy is the man that hath apprehended the Purpose of God in whatever He hath revealed from the Heaven of His Will that pervadeth all created things.
Say: The liberty that profiteth you is to be found nowhere except in complete servitude unto God, the Eternal Truth. Whoso hath tasted of its sweetness will refuse to barter it for all the dominion of earth and heaven.

Bahá'u'lláh

Selections From the Writings of the Báb

He is God, the Supreme Ruler, the Sovereign Truth, He Whose help is implored by all. 

GLORIFIED is He to Whom pertaineth the dominion of the heavens and of the earth, in Whose hand lieth the kingdom of all created things and unto Whom shall all return. It is He Who setteth the measure assigned to each and every thing and revealeth His goodly gifts and blessings in His sacred Book for the benefit of those who offer gratitude for His Cause.
Say, this earthly life shall come to an end, and everyone shall expire and return unto my Lord God Who will reward with the choicest gifts the deeds of those who endure with patience. Verily thy God assigneth the measure of all created things as He willeth, by virtue of His behest; and those who conform to the good-pleasure of your Lord, they are indeed among the blissful.
Thy Lord hath never raised up a prophet in the past who failed to summon the people to His Lord, and today is truly similar to the times of old, were ye to ponder over the verses revealed by God...

Selections From the Writings of the Báb

THE NONEXISTENCE OF EVIL

Briefly, the intellectual realities, such as all the qualities and admirable perfections of man, are purely good, and exist. Evil is simply their nonexistence. So ignorance is the want of knowledge; error is the want of guidance; forgetfulness is the want of memory; stupidity is the want of good sense.
All these things have no real existence.
In the same way, the sensible realities are absolutely good, and evil is due to their nonexistence—that is to say, blindness is the want of sight, deafness is the want of hearing, poverty is the want of wealth, illness is the want of health, death is the want of life, and weakness is the want of strength.
The epitome of this discourse is that it is possible that one thing in relation to another may be evil, and at the same time within the limits of its proper being it may not be evil. Then it is proved that there is no evil in existence; all that God created He created good. This evil is nothingness; so death is the absence of life... Darkness is the absence of light...

`Abdu'l-BaháSome Answered Questions

HEALING BY MATERIAL MEANS

... the principal causes of disease are physical, for the human body is composed of numerous elements, but in the measure of an especial equilibrium. As long as this equilibrium is maintained, man is preserved from disease; but if this essential balance, which is the pivot of the constitution, is disturbed, the constitution is disordered, and disease will supervene.
For instance, there is a decrease in one of the constituent ingredients of the body of man, and in another there is an increase; so the proportion of the equilibrium is disturbed, and disease occurs....
When by remedies and treatments the equilibrium is reestablished, the disease is banished...

`Abdu'l-BaháSome: Answered Questions

FREE WILL

Question.—Is man a free agent in all his actions, or is he compelled and constrained?
Answer.—This question is one of the most important and abstruse of divine problems. ... now we will explain it briefly, in a few words, as follows.
Some things are subject to the free will of man, such as justice, equity, tyranny and injustice, in other words, good and evil actions; it is evident and clear that these actions are, for the most part, left to the will of man. But there are certain things to which man is forced and compelled, such as sleep, death, sickness, decline of power, injuries and misfortunes; these are not subject to the will of man, and he is not responsible for them, for he is compelled to endure them.
But in the choice of good and bad actions he is free, and he commits them according to his own will...
For example, if he wishes, he can pass his time in praising God, or he can be occupied with other thoughts. He can be an enkindled light through the fire of the love of God, and a philanthropist loving the world, or he can be a hater of mankind, and engrossed with material things. He can be just or cruel. These actions and these deeds are subject to the control of the will of man himself; consequently, he is responsible for them.

`Abdu'l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions

Fate is of two kinds:

Is the predestination which is mentioned in the Holy Books a decreed thing? If so, is not the effort to avoid it useless?
Answer.—Fate is of two kinds: one is decreed, and the other is conditional or impending. The decreed fate is that which cannot change or be altered, and conditional fate is that which may occur.
So, for this lamp, the decreed fate is that the oil burns and will be consumed; therefore, its eventual extinction is a decree which it is impossible to alter or to change because it is a decreed fate.
 In the same way, in the body of man a power of life has been created, and as soon as it is destroyed and ended, the body will certainly be decomposed, so when the oil in this lamp is burnt and finished, the lamp will undoubtedly become extinguished. But conditional fate may be likened to this: while there is still oil, a violent wind blows on the lamp, which extinguishes it.
This is a conditional fate. It is wise to avoid it, to protect oneself from it, to be cautious and circumspect. But the decreed fate, which is like the finishing of the oil in the lamp, cannot be altered, changed nor delayed. It must happen; it is inevitable that the lamp will become extinguished.

`Abdu'l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions

you must even treat your enemies as ...

You must, therefore, be kind to all men; you must even treat your enemies as your friends.
You must consider your evil-wishers as your well-wishers.
Those who are not agreeable toward you must be regarded as those who are congenial and pleasant so that, perchance, this darkness of disagreement and conflict may disappear from amongst men and the light of the divine may shine forth, so that the Orient may be illumined and the Occident filled with fragrance, nay, so that the East and West may embrace each other in love and deal with one another in sympathy and affection.
Until man reaches this high station, the world of humanity shall not find rest, and eternal felicity shall not be attained.
But if man lives up to these divine commandments, this world of earth shall be transformed into the world of heaven, and this material sphere shall be converted into a paradise of glory.

`Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace P.471

Why do these holy Manifestations of God appear?

Why do these holy Manifestations of God appear? What is the wisdom and purpose of Their coming?
What is the outcome of Their mission?

The holy Manifestations of God come into the world to dispel the darkness of the animal, or physical, nature of man, to purify him from his imperfections in order that his heavenly and spiritual nature may become quickened, his divine qualities awakened, his perfections visible, his potential powers revealed and all the virtues of the world of humanity latent within him may come to life.
These holy Manifestations of God are the Educators and Trainers of the world of existence, the Teachers of the world of humanity.
They liberate man from the darkness of the world of nature, deliver him from despair, error, ignorance, imperfections and all evil qualities.
They clothe him in the garment of perfections and exalted virtues...

`Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace P.466

Man is the supreme Talisman!

Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess.
Through a word proceeding out of the  mouth of God he was called into being; by one word more he was guided to recognize the Source of his education; by yet another word his station and destiny were safeguarded.
The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.

Bahá'u'lláh, Tablet of Maqṣúd

O Lord! Unto Thee have I turned my face ...

 "O Lord! Unto Thee have I turned my face, detached from all save Thee and Strengthen me then in Thy Cause in such wise that I may not be hindered by the ascendancy of the oppressors among Thy creatures nor withheld by the onslaught of the disbelievers amidst those who dwell in Thy realm.
Make me as a lamp shining throughout Thy lands that those in whose hearts the light of Thy knowledge gloweth and the yearning for Thy love lingereth may be guided by its radiance.
Unloose my tongue therefore to proclaim that which will captivate the minds of men and will rejoice their souls and spirits.
Verily, potent art Thou to do whatsoever Thou willest, and in Thy grasp Thou holdest the kingdom of creation. There is none other God but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Wise."

Bahá’u’lláh, (Tablet of Wisdom) P.152

The essence of charity is

The essence of charity is for the servant to recount the blessings of his Lord, and to render thanks unto Him at all times and under all conditions.

Bahá’u’lláh.

The essence of ...

The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose words exceed his deeds, know verily his death is better than his life.


Bahá’u’lláh, 

Glory not in love for your country,

Commit not that which defileth the limpid stream of love or destroyeth the sweet fragrance of friendship. By the righteousness of the Lord!
Ye were created to show love one to another and not perversity and rancour.
Take pride not in love for yourselves but in love for your fellow-creatures.
Glory not in love for your country, but in love for all mankind.
Let your eye be chaste, your hand faithful, your tongue truthful and your heart enlightened.
Abase not the station of the learned in Bahá and belittle not the rank of such rulers as administer justice amidst you. Set your reliance on the army of justice, put on the armour of wisdom, let your adorning be forgiveness and mercy and that which cheereth the hearts of the well-favoured of God.

Bahá'u'lláh, LAWḤ-I-HIKMAT (Tablet of Wisdom) P. 139