From the beginning of human history ...

From the beginning of human history down to this time the world of humanity has not enjoyed a day of absolute rest and relaxation from conflict and strife. Most of the wars have been caused by religious prejudice, fanaticism and sectarian hatred. Religionists have anathematized religionists, each considering the other as deprived of the mercy of God, abiding in gross darkness and the children of Satan. For example, the Christians and Muslims considered the Jews satanic and the enemies of God. Therefore, they cursed and persecuted them. Great numbers of Jews were killed, their houses burned and pillaged, their children carried into captivity. The Jews in turn regarded the Christians as infidels and the Muslims as enemies and destroyers of the law of Moses. Therefore, they call down vengeance upon them and curse them even to this day...
When the light of Bahá’u’lláh dawned from the East, He proclaimed the promise of the oneness of humanity. He addressed all mankind, saying, “Ye are all the fruits of one tree... It is not becoming in man to curse another; it is not befitting that man should attribute darkness to another; it is not meet that one human being should consider another human being as bad; nay, rather, all mankind are the servants of one God; God is the Father of all; there is not a single exception to that law.

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

A year has gone by so quickly...

Today is the 1st anniversary of passing of my dear sister-in-law, Roya.
I would like to share part of a prayer by Abdu’l-Bahá on this occasion.
 
... Bestow upon Thy heavenly handmaiden, O God, the holy fragrances born of the spirit of Thy forgiveness. Cause her to dwell in a blissful abode, heal her griefs with the balm of Thy reunion, and, in accordance with Thy will, grant her admission to Thy holy Paradise. Let the angels of Thy loving-kindness descend successively upon her, and shelter her beneath Thy blessed Tree.
 Thou art, verily, the Ever-Forgiving, the Most Generous, the All-Bountiful.

 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

... the unity of the world of humanity...

At a time when warfare and strife prevailed among nations, when enmity and hatred separated sects and denominations and human differences were very great, Bahá’u’lláh appeared upon the horizon of the East, proclaiming the oneness of God and the unity of the world of humanity. He promulgated the teaching that all mankind are the servants of one God; that all have come into being through the bestowal of the one Creator; that God is kind to all, nurtures, rears and protects all, provides for all and extends His love and mercy to all races and people.

Inasmuch as God is loving, why should we be unjust and unkind? As God manifests loyalty and mercy, why should we show forth enmity and hatred? Surely the divine policy is more perfect than human plan and theory; for no matter how wise and sagacious man may become, he can never attain a policy that is superior to the policy of God.
Therefore, we must emulate the attitude of God, love all people, be just and kind to every human creature. We must consider all as the leaves, branches and fruit of one tree, children of one household; for all are the progeny of Adam. We are waves of one sea, grass of the same meadow, stars in the same heaven; and we find shelter in the universal divine Protector. If one be sick, he must be treated; the ignorant must be educated; the sleeping must be awakened; the dead must be quickened with life. These were principles of the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh.

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

Human utterance is an ....

Human utterance is an essence which aspireth to exert its influence and needeth moderation. As to its influence, this is conditional upon refinement, which in turn is dependent upon hearts which are detached and pure. As to its moderation, this hath to be combined with tact and wisdom as prescribed in the Holy Scriptures and Tablets.
O My Name! Utterance must needs possess penetrating power. For if bereft of this quality it would fail to exert influence. And this penetrating influence dependeth on the spirit being pure and the heart stainless. Likewise it needeth moderation, without which the hearer would be unable to bear it, rather he would manifest opposition from the very outset. And moderation will be obtained by blending utterance with the tokens of divine wisdom which are recorded in the sacred Books and Tablets. Thus when the essence of one’s utterance is endowed with these two requisites it will prove highly effective and will be the prime factor in transforming the souls of men...

Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh P.199

O ye children of men!

The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity. This is the straight Path, the fixed and immovable foundation. Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure.
 Our hope is that the world’s religious leaders and the rulers thereof will unitedly arise for the reformation of this age and the rehabilitation of its fortunes. Let them, after meditating on its needs, take counsel together and, through anxious and full deliberation, administer to a diseased and sorely-afflicted world the remedy it requireth….It is incumbent upon them who are in authority to exercise moderation in all things. Whatsoever passeth beyond the limits of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial influence.

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Tablets of Abdul-Baha

‘Abdu'l-Bahá

Verily I beseech God to make thee a sign of supplication, humbleness and submissiveness unto God, so that thou mayest commune with thy Lord, in the gloomy hours of night and in the morn and eve while being enkindled with the fire of the love of God, attracted to His fragrances of holiness, strengthened by His Spirit, speaking His praise and bowing down before His Threshold of Sanctity. Verily, He is the Assister, the Beneficent!
Then know thou that, verily, the hosts of confirmation from the Kingdom of God will assist every soul who is severed from aught else save God, is associated with the commemoration of God and is rejoiced at the glad-tidings of God. Cut thyself from this world and rely on the Supreme Concourse, so that thou mayest heart the call from the Lofty Apex and thy face may become illuminated with a light shining forth from the Kingdom of El-ABHA.

Tablets of Abdul-Baha 

Hear Me, ye mortal birds!

http://www.bahaiwritingsasart.com/

Hear Me, ye mortal birds! In the Rose Garden of changeless splendor a Flower hath begun to bloom, compared to which every other flower is but a thorn, and before the brightness of Whose glory the very  essence of beauty must pale and wither. Arise, therefore, and, with the whole enthusiasm of your hearts, with all the eagerness of your souls, the full fervor of your will, and the concentrated efforts of your entire being, strive to attain the paradise of His presence, and endeavor to inhale the fragrance of the incorruptible Flower, to breathe the sweet savors of holiness, and to obtain a portion of this perfume of celestial glory. Whoso followeth this counsel will break his chains asunder, will taste the abandonment of enraptured love, will attain unto his heart’s desire, and will surrender his soul into the hands of his Beloved. Bursting through his cage, he will, even as the bird of the spirit, wing his flight to his holy and everlasting nest...

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

کودکی حضرت بهاءالله

بهاءالله لقبی است به معنای «شکوه الهی». حضرت بهاءالله در ٢١ آبان سال ١١٩٦هجری شمسی (١٢نوامبر ١٨١٧میلادی) درطهران، ایران متولّد شدند. ایشان را حسینعلی نام نهادند. پدر آن حضرت یکی از وزیران دولتی ثروتمند به نام میرزا بزرگ نوری بودند. نسل این خاندان به سلسله های بزرگ گذشتۀ امپراطوری ایران می رسد. حضرت بهاءالله در جوانی زندگی شاهانه ای داشتند؛ تحصیلاتشان بیشتر بر خطاطی، سوارکاری، شعر کلاسیک و شمشیربازی متمرکز بود.

فرزندشان حضرت عبدالبهاء، دربارۀ کودکی ایشان چنین می فرمایند: «...حضرت بهاءالله از طبقۀ نجبا و اصیل فارس بودند. از همان اوان طفولیت از سایر اطفال متمایز بودند.... در حکمت و هوش و علم جدید ذاتی، فراتر از نفوس هم سن و سال و هم طبقۀ خود بودند. همۀ کسانی که ایشان را می شناختند، از این بلوغ شگفت انگیز متحیّر بودند. آنها معمولاً می گفتند ′چنین طفلی استثنایی زنده نخواهد ماند′ زیرا باور عموم بر آن بود که شگفتی های کودک پیش از موعد او را به کام مرگ خواهد کشید، پیش از آن که او به بلوغ رسد.»

http://bahaullah.persian-bahai.org/iran/bahaullah-childhood/

An ever-advancing civilization.

 "All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. The Almighty beareth Me witness: To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all the peoples and kindreds of the earth.
Say: O friends! Drink your fill from this crystal stream that floweth through the heavenly grace of Him Who is the Lord of Names. Let others partake of its waters in My name, that the leaders of men in every land may fully recognize the purpose for which the Eternal Truth hath been revealed, and the reason for which they themselves have been created."

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Let not this life and its deceits ...

 "Say: O people! Let not this life and its deceits deceive you, for the world and all that is therein is held firmly in the grasp of His Will. He bestoweth His favor on whom He willeth, and from whom He willeth He taketh it away. He doth whatsoever He chooseth. Had the world been of any worth in His sight, He surely would never have allowed His enemies to possess it, even to the extent of a grain of mustard seed.

He hath, however, caused you to be entangled with its affairs, in return for what your hands have wrought in His Cause. This, indeed, is a chastisement which ye, of your own will, have inflicted upon yourselves, could ye but perceive it. Are ye rejoicing in the things which, according to the estimate of God, are contemptible and worthless, things wherewith He proveth the hearts of the doubtful?"

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

... summon all mankind to ...

Verily I say: Incline your ears to My sweet voice, and sanctify yourselves from the defilement of your evil passions and corrupt desires. They who dwell within the tabernacle of God, and are established  upon the seats of everlasting glory, will refuse, though they be dying of hunger, to stretch their hands and seize unlawfully the property of their neighbor, however vile and worthless he may be.
The purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself is to summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity, to piety and trustworthiness, to resignation and submissiveness to the Will of God, to forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom. His object is to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds.

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh