Attributes of those “in real authority”; “none are appointed to any authority to do anything but to serve the Cause as true servants of the friends”

The ones in real authority are known by their humility and self-sacrifice and show no attitude of superiority over the friends.

Some time ago a tablet was written stating that none are appointed to any authority to do anything but to serve the Cause as true servants of the friends—and for this no tablet is necessary; such service when true and unselfish, requires no announcement, nor following, nor written document.

Let the servant be known by his deeds, by his life!

To be approved of God alone should be one's aim. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Dr. Edward Getsinger in answer to his questions asked during his pilgrimage in 1915; Star of the West, vol. 6, no. 6, June 24, 1915)

“Holding to the letter of the law is many times an indication of a desire for leadership.”

Holding to the letter of the law is many times an indication of a desire for leadership. One who assumes to be the enforcer of the law shows an intellectual understanding of the Cause, but that spiritual guidance in them is not yet established.

The alphabet of things is for children, that they may in time use their reasoning powers. "Following the spirit" is a guidance by and through the heart, the prompter of the spirit. The Pharisees were extremely orthodox, holding strictly to the law. They were the cause of the condemnation and ultimate crucifixion of Jesus. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Dr. Edward Getsinger in answer to his questions during his pilgrimage in 1915; Star of the West, vol. 6, no. 6, June 24, 1915)

“No obstacle should be placed before any soul which might prevent it from finding the truth.”

No obstacle should be placed before any soul which might prevent it from finding the truth. Baha'u'llah revealed His directions, teachings, and laws, so that souls might know God, and not that any utterance might become an obstacle in their way. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Dr. Edward Getsinger in answer to his questions during his pilgrimage in 1915; Star of the West, vol. 6, no. 6, June 24, 1915)

Reincarnation: “What is truly meant by ‘return’ is the reappearance of past attributes in future creatures”

The Master then gave an explication on the subject of reincarnation:

This reincarnation in which people have traditionally believed is contrary to what has been revealed in the Books of God. What is truly meant by ‘return’ is the reappearance of past attributes in future creatures, and the similarity of the perfections possessed by successive generations to the characters and qualities of their precursors. It is like when we say that this flower is the same flower of last year; the meaning is that the same colour and fragrance of the previous flower are now manifest in this one. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 26 December 1912, London, England, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)

“Existence itself consists of perpetual permanence.”

Existence itself consists of perpetual permanence. Show me something that does not exist perpetually! Ultimately, all things come to occupy different degrees of existence and undergo a transformation in their forms. Consider even this flower; it shall never be totally effaced from the earth. In the end, its present form shall be altered; it will not simply fade into nothingness. Neither does existence end in obliteration, nor can complete nonexistence ever come into existence in this world. Nonexistence is darkness, while existence is light. When light comes, darkness is driven out. It is not the case that darkness shall ever become light. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 26 December 1912, London, England, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)

What is Satan?

It was then asked: ‘What is Satan?’ The Master responded:

One’s insistent self. Were you to leave a child to persist in his natural state, he would develop a character that is reprehensible and fiendish… [The] corrupt inclinations all stem from human nature, and the force which compels him to indulge those inclinations is the struggle for survival. The divine Manifestations have come to save humankind from the darkness of their natural state, for humanity shall not acquire knowledge without the presence of a teacher. By what means have people come to know that honesty is good? Through education and training, of course; otherwise, a person’s natural inclination is to lie… Indeed, there is a restraining force - that is, an internal inhibitor - latent within people, but this force can only begin to exert its influence through the acquisition of education and the cultivation of godliness. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 25 December 1912, London, England, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’, vol. 2: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Europe 1912-1913)