“our desire is to hoist the Standard of the Unity of God, to spread the Light of God and to make the hearts of the people heavenly”

Some of the people of the earth desire conquest over others; some of them are longing for rest and ease; others desire a high position; some of them desire to become famous; thank God that our desire is for spirituality and for union with God.

Now that we are gathered here our desire is to hoist the Standard of the Unity of God, to spread the Light of God and to make the hearts of the people heavenly. Therefore I thank God that He is causing us to do this great work.

I pray for all of you, that all of you may become heavenly soldiers and that you may everywhere spread the news of the Unity of God and may enlighten the East and the West and give to all hearts the love of God. This is my utmost desire and I pray God that your desire may be the same. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha at Lady Blomfield's drawing room, 12 September 1911; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 12, 16 October, 1911)

“sowing spiritual seeds in the souls of the people”

In speaking of spreading the fragrances of the Kingdom, ‘Abdu’l-Baha said: 

"In movement there is life; in immobility there is death. The traveling of the teachers from place to place, country to country, and from the Occident to the Orient, is one of the greatest means for sowing spiritual seeds in the souls of the people." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to Messrs. Howard C. Struven and Charles Mason Remey while in his presence at Haifa, Syria, May, 1910; Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 11, Sept. 27, 1910)

“Truly, the hearts of the children are very pure. This was why Christ said, `Be ye like children.'”

In the afternoon the children who had earlier seen the Master on the way from school, had been so attracted and had asked to see Him, came to visit Him. He spoke to them with deep affection and kindness, asking about their health and welfare. To each He gave candies and flowers and then sprinkled them with attar of rose. He then gave them kindly counsels and encouraged them to acquire knowledge, science, good morals and sincerity, saying:

"I hope that you will be educated as you ought to be and that each of you will become the pride of your family. May God assist you to acquire divine knowledge in the school of the world of humanity. I shall pray for you and beg assistance for you. Truly, the hearts of the children are very pure. This was why Christ said, `Be ye like children.' Praise be to God who created you illumined children. Praise be to the Lord who hath created His creatures perfectly. God has created you as human beings so that you may daily acquire better morals and human virtues. You must obey your parents so that they may be pleased with you, and so that God will be pleased with you, and that you may become the children of the Kingdom and mirror forth the words of Christ." 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, November 24, New York, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

“Our capabilities are limited, but the help of the Kingdom of Abha is limitless.”

The life and morals of a spiritual man are in themselves an education to others. Let your thoughts, words and actions bring life to those around you. Do not think of your own limitations, dream only of the welfare of the Kingdom of Abha. See the influence of Jesus Christ among His apostles, then consider their influence on others. These simple men were helped by the Power of the Holy Spirit. So may you receive the Divine Assistance. Our capabilities are limited, but the help of the Kingdom of Abha is limitless. The earth of itself has no properties of life, but it is fertilized by the sun and the rain. The earth must not consider its own limited power. Likewise may you be given life, may the rain of the Divine Mercy and the sun of Truth make your gardens fruitful, so that many beautiful flowers of exquisite fragrance and hue may blossom there in abundance.

Turn your minds away from your own forces, your own selves, and make your souls ready to receive, to overflowing, the Divine Power of the Spirit and the blessings of the Infinite Bounty. If you thus keep yourselves in readiness, you will become to the world of humanity a burning flame, a star of guidance, a fruitful tree. I pray that you may receive the blessings of the Holy Spirit. This is my counsel to you. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Discourses given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 2, April 9, 1912)

Religion and Politics

…religious interests should not be brought into politics. Religions should treat of morals; politics of material circumstances. Those in authority should occupy themselves with the lives of men, they should teach ideas of service, good morals and develop the habit of Justice. "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's." In Persia there are among the most important ministers of state religious men who fear divine punishment; the others, however, do not think of the consequences of their acts. This is the reason why they have great difficulties in Persia.

Friends of God, set forth the example of Justice! Justice is a universal quality. From the highest to the lowest justice should be sacred; from the sovereign to the merchant, the minister of state to the artisan, all must be just. Be just, respect the rights of each man—"do unto others as you would have them do unto you." A workman who commits an injustice is as much to blame as a tyrant. Each one of us can choose between justice and injustice.

I hope you will be just in your relations with others, that you will never harm your fellows, that you will respect the rights of all men, and above all consider the rights of others before your own. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Discourses given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 2, April 9, 1912)

LSAs “must have a complete connection and a firm union with each other”

Concerning the many Assemblies in America, ‘Abdu’l-Baha said: 

"These centers must have a complete connection and a firm union with each other, just as all the various Assemblies in Persia. Rest assured, all this shall come to pass." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, Haifa, May 10, 1910. American believers Charles Mason Remey and Howard C. Struven, along with some Persian pilgrims were in attendance. The notes were taken by Mirza Moneer Zain in Persian and subsequently translated to English; Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 8, August 1, 1910)

“My happiness lies in seeing you, for in your faces are apparent the glad tidings of the Abhá Kingdom and in your hearts heavenly love and attraction.”

In the morning, after revealing Tablets and granting interviews, the Master joined the gathering of the friends with these words:

I always derive great pleasure from being with you. I shall always remember these gatherings. I shall never forget them. If I cannot see each one of you individually every day that should not undermine our real love. See how much work I have to do! It is more than a week since I received this letter from my sister, the Greatest Holy Leaf [Bahíyyih Khánum], and other members of the household, but I have not had the opportunity to open it yet. I was looking for another letter when I came upon this unopened letter. Then I heard that you were waiting here and I came downstairs to see you because I have no time to see you individually. In spite of this, if anyone has an urgent matter I will see them privately, even if only for a few minutes. Had I time I would always be with you. My happiness lies in seeing you, for in your faces are apparent the glad tidings of the Abhá Kingdom and in your hearts heavenly love and attraction. If outwardly we fail to meet, it does not weaken our real love. God willing, you shall all be assisted and immersed in the sea of bounty and the favor of Bahá'u'lláh. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, November 26, New York, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

“God created man after His own image and likeness . . . but now, behaving contrarily, man has become more merciless and fearless than rapacious beasts.”

God created man after His own image and likeness . . . but now, behaving contrarily, man has become more merciless and fearless than rapacious beasts. A beast kills only one animal each day for his food, while merciless man tears apart a hundred thousand people in a day merely for fame and dominion. Should a wolf tear a sheep apart, they would kill it; but if a man massacres a hundred thousand men in blood and dust, he is given an ovation and is pronounced a marshall or a general. If a man kills another or sets fire to a house, he is condemned as a murderer; but if he annihilates an army and overturns a country, he is called a conqueror and is admired. If a man steals a dollar he is thrown into prison but if he plunders the homes of people and lays waste a city he is called a commander and is praised. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, October 4, 1912, San Francisco, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

Equalization of means of livelihood: - “The Law of God exacts that there should be neither excessive wealth nor excessive poverty.”

Among the most important principles of the Teaching of Baha’u’llah is the equalization of the means of living among men. There are in the world at present numerous cases of men who are either too poor or too rich. While some live in palaces, others have nowhere to lay their head; some have many courses at their meals, while others scarcely have enough bread to keep them alive. This state of affairs is wrong and must be remedied.

The remedy, however, cannot consist in the bringing to pass of equality, absolute equality among men; this would be impossible. There is needed some organization which will bring about an order in this disorder. Equality is a mere dream and absolutely impracticable. If Equality existed the whole order of the world would be destroyed. In mankind there is always a difference in degree. Since creation men have never been the same. Some have superior intelligence, others are more ordinary and some are devoid of intellect. How can there ever exist equality between those who are clever and those who are not? Humanity is like an army. An army must have a general, captains and soldiers, each with their appointed duties; it cannot consist of generals only, or captains, or soldiers only—there must be degrees in the organization.

“Those who do most good say the least about it.”

The world is wrong, just because people talk too much and do not carry out their ideals. If action took the place of words, the world would change very soon. A man who does good and does not talk about it is perfect. The man who does very little good and magnifies it in his speech, is not good. If I love you, you know it, I need not tell you all the time; on the other hand, if I did not love you, you would know it also, and you would not believe me if I said I did love you a thousand times. People speak too much because they seek fame, because they wish to be thought better than their brethren. Those who do most good say the least about it. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Discourses given by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London and Paris’; Star of the West, vol. 2, no. 19, March 2, 1912)

“‘Abdu’l-Baha finds the note of harmony which vibrates in every human heart.”

In my talks with the reverend doctors of religion and men of the peace societies I have spoken the Glad tidings Baha’u’llah, but always according to their varying need and capacity. As capacities differ, the purpose must be to satisfy the degree of hunger, destroy all possible antagonism and establish a point of agreement. We cannot induce men to lay down their arms by fighting with them. War intensifies the spirit of strife. War begets war. We are peacemakers, not destroyers of peace. Therefore ‘Abdu’l-Baha finds the note of harmony which vibrates in every human heart. This is our subtle basis. Build upon it. Follow no other method. Talk about things upon which we agree and say nothing about things upon which we differ. We must disorganize humanism in order to construct a spiritual edifice in the world of humanity. This edifice is heavenly but its foundations are planted in the unity of human hearts. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha; Star of the West, vol. 4, no. 1, March 21, 1913)

“Unity is the cause of existence, love is the cause of life”

Consider: Unity is the cause of existence, love is the cause of life; and on the other hand separation is the cause of death. In the world of creation, for instance, all things owe their existence to unity. The elements which compose wood, stone or minerals, are held together by the law of attraction; if the law ceases to hold these elements together, if they are separated, then the object will not exist. The law of attraction has brought together certain elements in the form of this flower, but as soon as the law of attraction is withdrawn from this centre, the flower will decompose.

So it is with humanity. The great law of attraction, harmony and unity forms this wonderful creation. When the law is no longer active on the body of a man, he dies. So it is evident that attraction, unity, harmony and love are the causes of life, whereas repulsion, disunion, inharmony and hatred cause death.

We have seen that whatever causes separation in the world of existence causes death. Therefore, it is the same in the world of the spirit. All who are servants of the one God must be united in the law of attraction. They must, therefore, avoid all hatred, disagreement and discord.

We find, if we look at nature, that the gentler animals group together, the lambs, the deer—and also that the wild animals live apart from civilization in the forest, the tiger, the lion and the wolf. Two wolves can live together, but a thousand lambs can share the same fold and remain at peace. Two eagles can dwell in the same place, while a thousand doves can make their habitation together. Man should at least be numbered among the gentler animals…

Search after truth: “we must renounce our own particular prejudices and superstitions if we are in earnest in our search for truth”

In order to search after the truth, men must shut their eyes to all the traditional superstitions of the past.

The Jews have traditional superstitions, the Christians also; also the Zoroastrians, the Buddhists. All religions are bound by traditions and dogma, all consider they themselves are right and the rest are wrong. The Jews believe themselves to be the only possessors of the truth and condemn all other religions; the Christians say their religion is the only true one and all others are false; likewise the Buddhists and Muslims, all limit themselves. If all condemn one another, where can we search for Truth? All contradict one another, all cannot be true. If each considers their religion as the only true one, it is impossible for them to see the truth in the others.

If a Jew is bound by the external practice of the religion of Israel, he can never understand that truth can exist in any other religion but his own. We must, therefore, detach ourselves from forms and external practices of religion if we wish to see the truth and reality of others. We must abandon the prejudices of tradition.

If a Zoroastrian believes that the sun is God, how can he be united to other religions? The idolaters believe in their idols, how can they understand the unity of God?

It is clear then that in order to search after truth we must detach ourselves from superstition. If all men would follow this principle, truth would be found and they would have a clear vision.

Daily prayers; Bahá’u’lláh’s ancestry; Tithes; Baha’i calendar; Starting date of New Era; Day of rest; Universal Manifestations; Anniversary of the martyrdom of the Báb; Anniversary of the passing of Bahá’u’lláh; believers to avoid those matters upon which they cannot agree

Some Questions and Answers from ‘Abdu’l-Baha: written shortly after the interviews with ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from notes taken at the time, by Charles Mason Remey, while in Haifa, Syria, May, 1910.

Question―Many of the American believers desire to worship daily in accordance with the Teachings. What prayers should they use daily? No instruction has yet been revealed for them regarding daily worship.

Answer―Later on I will give instructions.

Question―Was Bahá’u’lláh of the seed of Jesse?

Answer―Yes. He was the ninth generation in succession from Jesse, but this was not the Jesse of the Bible.

Question―What is the Command regarding the giving of tithes: Is it 19% of the increase of one's capital, or is it the one-nineteenth part of one's income?

Answer―It should be the one nineteenth part of one's income. This tithe giving is a blessed privilege. Among mankind money is the greatest thing. This giving will confirm the people. With this money many great works will be done. In Hamadan in Persia, the Jewish believers raised much money in this way. At first I did not accept this money, but later on I directed that it should be used in their own town for the Baha’i school. This giving was a great spiritual blessing to those believers. Everyone knows how the Jews love money.