They who are the people
of God have no ambition except to revive the world, to ennoble its life, and
regenerate its peoples.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings from the Writings of
Baha’u’llah'; Ruhi Book 5)
Things to center one’s thoughts on
Do not busy yourselves in your own concerns; let your
thoughts be fixed upon that which will rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and
sanctify the hearts and souls of men.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings from the
Writings of Baha’u’llah'; Ruhi Book 5)
We must “must shine out like a lighted taper”
…a Bahá'í is one who embodieth all the perfections,... he
must shine out like a lighted taper…
(‘Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the
Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha)
“to perceive with the eye of God”
Verily I say! No one hath apprehended the root of this
Cause. It is incumbent upon everyone, in this day, to perceive with the eye of
God, and to hearken with His ear. Whoso beholdeth Me with an eye besides Mine
own will never be able to know Me.
(Baha’u’llah, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of
Divine Justice’)
Conceal the sins of others
If ye become aware of a sin committed by another, conceal
it, that God may conceal your own sin. He, verily, is the Concealer, the
Lord of grace abounding.
(Baha'u'llah, from a Tablet addressed to Napoleon
III, ‘The Summons of the Lord of Hosts’)
To become “a source of social good”
…the honor and distinction of the individual consist in
this, that he among all the world's multitudes should become a source of social
good.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘The Secret of Divine Civilization’; Ruhi Book 5)
How to attain “the shores of the ocean of true understanding”
No man shall attain the shores of the ocean of true
understanding except he be detached from all that is in heaven and on earth.
Sanctify your souls, O ye peoples of the world, that haply ye may attain that
station which God hath destined for you…
(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Kitab-i-Iqan’; Ruhi Book 4)
Promise of assistance from Baha’u’llah
Verily, We behold you from Our Realm of Effulgent Glory, and
shall graciously aid whosoever ariseth for the triumph of Our Cause with the
hosts of the Celestial Concourse and a company of Our chosen angels.
(Baha’u’llah, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in a letter dated 21 January 1922;
‘Baha’i Administration’)
Harmony, love and purity of motive
… whatsoever thing is arranged in harmony and with love and
purity of motive, its result is light, and should the least trace of
estrangement prevail the result shall be darkness upon darkness.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha,
quoted by Shoghi Effendi, from a letter dated March 5, 1922; ‘Baha’i
Administration’)
Truthfulness
Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues. Without
truthfulness progress and success, in all the worlds of God, are impossible for
any soul. When this holy attribute is established in man, all the divine
qualities will also be acquired.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The
Advent of Divine Justice’)
Equality of man and woman
The world of humanity has two wings - - one is woman and the
other man. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly.
(‘Abdu'l-Baha,
from a talk, 'Foundations of World Unity')
Fundamental purpose of religion
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.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Tabernacle of Unity, Bahá’u’lláh’s Responses to
Mánikchí Sáhib and Other Writings’)
Humanity’s true peace & tranquility
True peace and tranquillity will only be realized when every
soul will have become the well-wisher of all mankind.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘The
Tabernacle of Unity, Bahá’u’lláh’s Responses to Mánikchí Sáib and Other
Writings’)
The effect of education
Regard man as a mine
rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’; Ruhi Book 3)
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’; Ruhi Book 3)
Detachment “from the world and the vanities thereof”
Detachment is as the sun; in whatsoever heart it doth shine
it quencheth the fire of covetousness and self. He whose sight is illumined
with the light of understanding will assuredly detach himself from the world
and the vanities thereof.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Baha’i World 1926-1928; Ruhi Book
2)
“…let your heart burn with loving-kindness…”
Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone;
let your heart burn with loving-kindness for all who may cross your path.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Paris Talks’; Ruhi Book 1)
During consultation not to voice one’s opinion as correct and right…
…consultation must have for its object the investigation of
truth. He who expresses an opinion should not voice it as correct and right but
set it forth as a contribution to the consensus of opinion…
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from
a talk, Chicago, 2 May 1912; ‘The
Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His
Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
Not to make religion the “cause of enmity or dissension”
O ye that dwell on earth! The religion of God is for love
and unity; make it not the cause of enmity or dissension.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Tablets
of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’; Ruhi Book 8)
“Let deeds, not words, be your adorning”
O Son of Dust! Verily I say unto thee: Of all
men the most negligent is he that disputeth idly and seeketh to advance himself
over his brother. Say, O brethren! Let deeds, not words, be your adorning.
(Baha'u'llah, 'The Persian Hidden Words'; included in Ruhi Book 7)
Mentioning Baha’u’llah’s name when teaching
By the righteousness of God! Whoso openeth his lips in this
Day and maketh mention of the name of his Lord, the hosts of Divine inspiration
shall descend upon him from the heaven of My name, the All-Knowing, the
All-Wise. On him shall also descend the Concourse on high, each bearing aloft a
chalice of pure light.
(Baha'u'llah, ‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah’; included in Ruhi Book 6)
Attributes to exemplify
The companions of God are, in this
day, the lump that must leaven the peoples of the world. They must show forth
such trustworthiness, such truthfulness and perseverance, such deeds and character
that all mankind may profit by their example.
- Baha’u’llah (quoted by Shoghi
Effendi in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’; included in Ruhi Book 5)
Turning one's heart to the Manifestation of God
It behoveth every man to blot out the trace of every idle
word from the tablet of his heart, and to gaze, with an open and unbiased mind,
on the signs of His Revelation, the proofs of His Mission, and the tokens of
His glory.
- Baha'u'llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah’; included in Ruhi Book 4)
- Baha'u'llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah’; included in Ruhi Book 4)
Education and training of children
Among the greatest of
all services that can possibly be rendered by man to Almighty God is the education and training of children..."
‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’; included in Ruhi Book 3)
One's vision
O Man of Two Visions! Close one eye and open the other.
Close one to the world and all that is therein, and open the other to the
hallowed beauty of the Beloved.
- Baha'u'llah (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’; included in Ruhi Book 2)
- Baha'u'llah (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’; included in Ruhi Book 2)
The effect of "pure and goodly deeds"
The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure
and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.
- Baha’u’llah (quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’; included in Ruhi Book 1)
- Baha’u’llah (quoted by Shoghi Effendi in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’; included in Ruhi Book 1)
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