“The distinction of the world of humanity is love.”

After giving an extensive account of the [First] Balkan War, the Master said:

In the world of humanity, love is a manifestation of the splendour of God. Without love, this world would be even as the animal kingdom. The distinction of the world of humanity is love. Until there is love among humankind, complete tranquillity and perfect prosperity will never be achieved. Consider how a person is filled with excitement and delight when he sits next to his friend, and how he is overcome with torment and dread alongside his enemy. Therefore, you must promulgate universal love and promote the brotherhood of all humanity. Now, we are from the East, and you are from the West, and we are gathered here in a spirit of utmost love and fellowship. Is this not better than if we were to be embroiled in conflict and contention? Is it not preferable to the shedding of one another’s blood, or the uprooting of each others families? We must awaken the souls, that they may learn the secret of the world of existence, and recognize the gifts and bounties of God. Otherwise, people will continue to toil unnecessarily and be afflicted with calamity. They see that which is outwardly apparent, not what lies within. They see only lamps of varying form, not the reality of the light and the mystery of its manifestation. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 17 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)

“We should strive to make our material civilization the purest possible medium…through which the light of our spiritual civilization must shine”

Our material civilization has progressed greatly with the perfection of the crafts and the forward steps of material science, but our spiritual civilization, that which is based on divine morals, has declined and become degraded. We should strive to make our material civilization the purest possible medium, the most unclouded glass, through which the light of our spiritual civilization must shine.

One of the things that supports a spiritual civilization is Peace and the most pressing need of politics is universal peace. But the oneness of humanity—human solidarity—which has been the message of all the Prophets, will be achieved only through spiritual power, for neither racial distinctions nor patriotism can further it. The oneness of humanity will come with the supremacy of spiritual civilization, and not while, as now, we are submerged in a sea of materialism. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; compilation: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in America’, by DR. Zia Baghdadi; Star of the West, vol. 19, no.2, May 1928)

Materialism and spirituality: need to keep pace together

Materialism and spirituality have always kept pace together. Now materialism has gone ahead, the divine foundation is forgotten and is being left behind. Among the causes of this failure is that religious leaders have presented religion as if it were opposed to science and reason, and have promoted imitations. Therefore you must bring about a conformity of religion and science.

The appearance of the Manifestations of God is like the appearance of the spring season. Undoubtedly the spring season does not last permanently and eternally. Now we are hopeful that the divine springtime may again become the cause of refreshing the garden of the world of existence. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; compilation: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in America’, by DR. Zia Baghdadi; Star of the West, vol. 19, no.2, May 1928)

People’s general attitude and response when a new Manifestation of God appears

Whenever a prophet would appear, people would say to them, ‘We were enjoying ourselves in accordance with our own thoughts and desires. We would eat, sleep, sing, and dance. We had neither fear of God, nor hope of the Kingdom; we were content with what we had, and were occupied with our own whims. Despite all this, you came and deprived us of our pleasures and robbed us of our delights. At one time, you would frighten us with the wrath of God; at another, you would speak of the fear of punishment and the hope of reward in the hereafter. In short, you ruined all our joy.’ The divine prophets, however, would reply, ‘You had satisfied yourselves with the lives of animals; We desired only to elevate you to the rank of humans. You were enveloped in darkness; We wished for you to be luminous. You were as dead; We wanted you to be revived. You were terrestrial; We willed that you be celestial.’ 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 17 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)

“All the Prophets of God were Manifestations of Truth and Reality.” – “imitations” caused “divisions and misunderstanding”

All the Prophets of God were Manifestations of Truth and Reality. But because imitations have crept into religions, divisions and misunderstanding have resulted. These imitations cannot be found in the reality of religion. Human beings should refer to the original foundations and then six thousand years of strife and warfare will vanish. My purpose is to bring about the oneness of humanity and to secure accord and fellowship among all mankind, so that all may dwell together finally as one family. They were so originally. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Dr. Zia Baghdadi; compilation: ‘Abdu’l-Baha in America’; Star of the West, vol. 19, no.2, May 1928)

Teachings of Baha’u’llah and Words of Jesus

Rev. Bixby: How can we receive more from the Teaching of Baha’u’llah than from the Words of Jesus?

‘Abdu’l-Baha: Jesus and the former Prophets laid the foundation of the Cause of God,—the Heavenly Kingdom. But their followers forget and overlook the foundation. Christ said, "Ye must be born again of water and spirit." "As children from the womb, so must ye be born again of Spirit." The essence of His meaning was that those who were taught by Him and became His real followers would become free from world-imperfections; they would become perfect, redeemed from animalism and human passions, transformed into angels; that is to say the earthly would become heavenly. These are the real disciples of Christ. These are real Christians. Galen, a Greek philosopher, who was pagan and not Christian, writing upon the subject of "Ancient Civilization of Nations," states that "the greatest shaping influences in the civilization of nations are religious principles; and that the effect of Christianity upon the lives and morals of its adherents is a great proof of this statement."

Now Baha’u’llah came and brought a new life into the hearts of mankind. He reversed the order of many former teachings. Vast numbers of His followers live in accord with the principles He set forth. Mirza Abu’l Fadhil for instance, whom you have named, was firmly fixed in his religious belief. Under the influence of Baha’u’llah’s words, he arose to serve this Cause. He was thrown into prison two years;—he was persecuted and driven out of Persia. Under all conditions of distress and suffering, he was thankful and filled with happiness,—constantly serving the Cause of Baha’u’llah.

“The prejudice of race is mere superstition”

The prejudice of race is mere superstition, for God created all men of one race. In the beginning there were no limits, no boundaries put to the different lands. There should be no different nations, we are all men, all descendants of Adam. We must not think of a man as an Englishman or a Frenchman or a Persian. This is all mere superstition. 

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

“The feeling that existed between the East and the West is changing in the Light of Baha’u’llah’s teaching.”

The feeling that existed between the East and the West is changing in the Light of Baha’u’llah’s teaching. It used to be that if a Westerner drank from the cup of an Easterner the cup would be thought polluted, and the Easterner would break it. Now it is, with believers, that when a Westerner dines with an Easterner, the vessels and the plates that he has used are kept apart and reverenced in his memory. 

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

“Devotion to and love for one's vocation”

Devotion to and love for one's vocation accomplishes miracles.

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, from the Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, July 11, 1914; Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 2, April 9, 1917)

Hands of the Cause

The Blessed Perfection has extirpated superstitions, root and branch. The Hands of the Cause in this dispensation are not heirs to any name or title; rather, they are sanctified souls, the rays of whose holiness and spirituality throw light on the hearts of all. Hearts are attracted by the beauty of their morals, the sincerity of their intentions, and their sense of equity and justice. Souls are involuntarily enamored of their praiseworthy morals and laudable attributes. Faces turn in spontaneous attraction to their outstanding qualities and actions. ‘Hand of the Cause’ is not a title that may be awarded to whomever it may please to have it, nor is it a chair of honor upon which whoever wishes may sit. The Hands of the Cause are the hands of God. Therefore, whomsoever is the servant and promoter of the Word of God, he is the hand of God. The object is a matter of the spirit and not one of letters or words. The more self-effacing one is, the more assisted he is in the Cause of God; and the more meek and humble, the nearer he is to God. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha aboard the Cedric, April 2, 1912; recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

“the contents of the history of Hájí Mírzá Jání”[known as ‘The New History’ (tarikh-i-jadid)]

Later He [‘Abdu’l-Baha] gave an account of Mírzá Yahyá and his followers and of the complaints they made to Edward G. Browne:

“They tampered with the contents of the history of Hájí Mírzá Jání by removing some of its passages and inserting others. They sent it to the libraries of London and Paris and through such falsehood induced him [Browne] to translate and publish the document. In order to achieve his own selfish desires, he had it printed.” 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha aboard the Cedric, March 31, 1912; recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

“One of the chief reasons for this growing apathy“ towards spiritual matters

Material and spiritual matters have always advanced hand in hand but at the present time the material side is predominant and the divine principles have been neglected and thrown aside and forgotten. One of the chief reasons for this growing apathy is that the ministers of religion have taught that religion is opposed to science and reason and have thus enforced imitation. You must, therefore, relate religious verities to science. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, April 12, 1912, New York; recorded by Mahmud Zarqani, His secretary and chronicler during His travels in the West; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

Contributions of “the religion of God” to humanity

The religion of God reforms the moral side of the life of mankind. It is the spreader of the virtues of the world of humanity. It is the founder of divine perfections in the hearts of men. It is nearness to God. It is the cause of attraction and enkindlement with the fire of the love of God. It is conducive to the illumination of human consciousness. . . . All the prophets are sent by God for the guidance of the people, for the enlightenment of the minds of the inhabitants of the earth and for the promotion of the Word of Truth. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of Abdul-Baha, March 12, 1914, recorded by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Abdu'l-Bahá's secretary and translator from 1912 to 1919; 'Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab'; Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 2, April 9, 1917)

Economy; Contentment; Profession; Poverty and wealth

Economy is the foundation of human prosperity. The spendthrift is always in trouble. Prodigality on the part of any person is an unpardonable sin. The fewer the habits, the better for the man. It is a divine virtue to be satisfied with very few things. Contentment is the antidote for all the social diseases. We must live an independent life. We must never live on others like a parasitic plant. Every person must have a profession, whether it be literary or manual, and must live a clean, manly, honest life, an example of purity to be imitated by others. Contentment is the master key to all success. If the members of my family starve I will not ask money from the people. It is more kingly to be satisfied with a crust of stale bread than to enjoy a good dinner composed of many delicious dishes the money for which comes out of the pockets of others. . . . A Bahai must be satisfied. There was a time that I lived on five cents a day and I was then much happier than I am now. The Persian Bahais often live in the utmost poverty and want, yet they never complain nor ask for money from any one. Begging they consider to be below their spiritual station. A man who is the beneficiary of the treasury of the Kingdom is not poor. There have been some rich Bahais in Persia, whose properties were entirely confiscated. Being thus reduced to utter destitution they went out cheerfully to work and in their turn spent all they made for the maintenance of the poorer Bahai families. Love, yea, love must be demonstrated through deeds. Love has never been a passive verb, a figure of speech; it has always been an active verb, an ideal reality. The sign of true faith is the service of the believers of God and service must always manifest itself in loving deeds and actions. . . .

A small business with a steady income is better than the wild, helter-skelter speculations of the financiers.

The mind of a contented person is always peaceful and his heart is at rest. He is like a monarch ruling over the whole world. How happily such a man helps himself to his frugal meals. How joyfully he takes his walks and how peacefully he sleeps!

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of Abdul-Baha, August 24, 1914, recorded by Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, Abdu'l-Bahá's secretary and translator from 1912 to 1919; 'Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab'; Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 2, April 9, 1917)

Qualities a human being should develop

Chastity and purity of life are the two divine standards of the spiritual and moral law. The greater the aim of man the nobler his purpose. A man must ever be thoughtful of others and be polite and courteous toward his fellow-beings. This will win for him the good pleasure of the Lord and the satisfaction of the general public. One's sitting and rising, speech and conversation, social intercourse and communication should be based upon a firm foundation and be conducive to the glory of the world of humanity. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of Abdul-Baha, from the Diary of Mirza Ahmad Sohrab, September 4, 1913)

To become like children: - we “must become pure in heart”

His highness Christ, has addressed the world, saying: "Be like unto children." That is, men must become pure in heart. The hearts of children are of the utmost purity. But this is on account of weakness, not on account of strength. In the early period of childhood the hearts are pure; they have no hypocrisy nor stratagem and they cannot display any great intelligence.

But man becomes pure through the power of strength, through the power of intelligence and understanding. He becomes simple through the great power of reason. He becomes sincere through the power of intelligence not through the power of weakness. When man attains to the great state of perfection his heart becomes pure, his spirit becomes enlightened, his soul becomes tender and receives these qualities through great strength. This is the difference between the perfect man and the child. Both have the great, simple, underlying qualities. But the child through the power of weakness and the man through the power of strength. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of Abdul-Baha; Star of the West, Vol. 3, No. 3)

“Christ was the mirror; God was the Sun.” “The Sun of Truth reflected itself in the mirrors of Moses and Christ.”

Christ was the mirror; God was the Sun. The Sun appeared with all its effulgence and splendor in the mirror; that is, the virtues, the perfections and the characteristics of God appeared in Christ. This is what is meant where it is written in the Bible that 'We have created man in our own image.' The perfect man is the visage and image of God, just as the mirror reflects the sun. We can not say that the sun has come down from heaven and has taken a place in the mirror. The sun is eternal, living in its own station. It had no ascent or descent, entrance or exit; but the rays and the heat of the sun have become fully reflected in the clear mirror. That is why Christ said the future is in the sun and the sun is in the future. The Sun of Truth reflected itself in the mirrors of Moses and Christ. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha; From an interview by a prominent rabbi, 1912, USA; ‘Star of the West, vol. 3, no. 6, June 24, 1912’).

“a vital position of responsibility for women”

If a mother is well educated, her children will also be well taught. If the mother is wise, the children will be wise; if the mother is religious, the children will also be religious. If the mother is a good woman, then the children will also be good. The future generations depends then on the mothers of today. Is this not a vital position of responsibility for women? 

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

“Nearness to God depends…on the luminosity of the heart”

Nearness to God depends not on sex but on the luminosity of the heart; he or she with the greatest faith, these are near to God. Women must try then to attain greater perfection to be man's equal in the world, to make such progress that men will be forced to own them as their equals in every respect. In Europe women have made greater progress than in the East, though they are not yet physically as far advanced as men. It is my hope that they may progress rapidly until humanity will be perfected. 

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