The Truly Blessed

• Blessed is he who is charitable, for he shall inherit eternal life.
• Blessed is he who overlooks the faults of others, for he shall enjoy divine beatitude.
• Blessed is he who associates with all with joy and fragrance, for he has obeyed the commands of Baha’u’llah.
• Blessed is he who loves mankind, for he has heeded the advice of Baha’u’llah.
• Blessed is he who is kind to his enemies, for he has walked in the footsteps of Christ.
• Blessed is he who proclaims the doctrine of spiritual brotherhood, for he shall be the child of light.
• Blessed is he whose heart is tender and compassionate, for he will throw stones at no one.
• Blessed is he who will speak evil of no one, for he hath attained to the good pleasure of the Lord.
• Blessed is he who will not uncover the sins of others, for he will become favored at the threshold of the Almighty.
• Blessed is he who hath a forgiving nature, for he will win the spiritual graces of God.
• Blessed is he who diffuses only the sweet fragrance of the flowers of friendship and mutual association, for he will obtain a goodly portion of the bounties of the Merciful.
• Blessed is he who teaches union and concord, for he will shine like unto a star in heaven.
• Blessed is he who practices loving-kindness and co-operation, for he will be encircled with celestial benedictions.
• Blessed is he who comforts the downtrodden, for he will be the friend of God.

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of Abdul-Baha to Miss Harriet Magee, May 1913, recorded by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, His secretary and translator from 1912 to 1919; Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 5, June 5, 1916)

Meaning of certain phrases in the Bible

Words spoken by Abdu’l-Baha to some pilgrims who had just returned from a trip to the place of sacrifice of Elijah:

The altar of sacrifice is the living heart of man, and not a few pieces of dead stones. The fire that came down from heaven was no other than the fire of the love of God descending from the heaven of the divine will; the bullocks are human and carnal desires and appetites which are entirely burned away by this ideal fire, leaving the spiritual altar cleansed and pure, and then celestial qualifications and attributes will take the place of former blameworthy qualities. The killing of the priests of Baal means that the enemies of truth were so filled with wrath against the triumph of the cause of righteousness that they perished by their own defeat. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, His secretary and translator from 1912 to 1919; Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 4, May 17, 1916)

“The greatest proof of Baha’u’llah”: - “He was always manifest and evident under all conditions and circumstances”

The greatest proof of Baha’u’llah — may my life be a ransom to Him — consists in the fact that He was always manifest and evident under all conditions and circumstances. He was never concealed nor was He disguised for one day. In Persia, in Bagdad, in Constantinople, in Adrianople and in the Most Great prison, Baha’u’llah ever withstood the persecutions of the enemies and kept His own ground in the face of all the world. He never attempted to protect or shield Himself for one second. Before all nations and all religions He proclaimed His Cause and declared His teachings. The foes were resisting the spread of the cause with the greatest hostility and His blessed breast was the target for an hundred thousand arrows. It is revealed in the Visiting Tablet:

“I bear witness that the eye of creation hath never gazed upon one wronged like Thee. Thou wast immersed all the days of Thy life beneath an ocean of tribulations. At one time Thou wast in chains and fetters; at another Thou wast threatened by the sword of Thine enemies.”

Continually He was threatened with the darts and javelins of the adversaries. He cried out:

“We have burned away the veil and the shroud and are enkindled with the fire of love. Like the candle We are set aglow and like the Beloved We are ever present in the gathering of the lovers.”

It is well-nigh beyond belief that notwithstanding all these dangers, Baha’u’llah was protected. The condition was like that of a deer: although surrounded by a hundred thousand hounds, attacking it from every side, yet protected by an invisible power. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, His secretary and translator from 1912 to 1919; Star of the West, vol. 7, no. 4, May 17, 1916)

An example of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s compassion and generosity

Upon returning from that place, the Master saw a number of other poor people, to whom He showed great kindness and good cheer. He then related an anecdote from the days when He lived in ‘Akká:

“A number of souls, destitute and famished, approached me and begged me to give them something to sustain them. I directed their attention to a grocers stall, on which every kind of food imaginable had been laid out, and said to them, ‘Throw yourselves upon this stall. Whatever is there, seize it, eat it, and take it with you. The responsibility for your actions will rest with me.’ Upon hearing these words, these impoverished, desperately hungry souls immediately ransacked the stall and began to plunder its wares.

“However much the shopkeeper loudly objected, 'You are stealing my goods!’, these impoverished people paid him no heed whatsoever. They even ate dry, uncooked rice, and took all sorts of merchandise with them.”

Later ‘Abdu’l-Baha compensated the grocer.

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 27 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)

To help oneself to “enter into a state of reflection and transcendence”

Following this, the Master commented on the spaciousness and pleasantness of the park:

“It is indeed uncrowded and peaceful here. The weather is lovely, and the grass is verdant and beautiful. To walk in such places causes one to feel more spiritual, and grants tranquillity to one's heart. This is especially the case when one is alone, and may enter into a state of reflection and transcendence.” 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 27 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)

“Children must first be trained in divine virtues and encouraged to improve their characters.”

Children must first be trained in divine virtues and encouraged to improve their characters. When this has taken place, every effort must be made to teach them sciences, crafts, and other excellences - for if godly training and a goodly character are absent, the acquisition of sciences and crafts alone are inadequate. In such a state, there would be nothing to safeguard the child’s character against corruption, or to protect him from the harmful influence of self and desire. On the contrary, such a void would generate idle thoughts, and strengthen the compelling power of personal interests. Such an outcome can be avoided only when this secular education is imparted in conjunction with the conferment of godly training and the cultivation of a goodly character. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 27 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)