Heart
Mentioning Baha’u’llah’s Name
O Son of Being! Make
mention of Me on My earth, that in My heaven I may remember thee…
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
Love of God
Let your hearts be filled with the great love of God, let it
be felt by all; for every man is a servant of God, and all are entitled to a
share of the Divine Bounty.
-‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a talk, Paris, October 26,
1911, ‘Paris Talks’)
Genuine faith
Regard not the all-sufficing power of God as an idle fancy.
It is that genuine faith which thou cherishest for the Manifestation of God in
every Dispensation.
- The Báb (‘Selections from the Writings of the Báb)
To glory in Baha’u’llah’s name not in one’s own
…it behooveth thee to glory in My name, not in thine own; to
put thy trust in Me and not in thyself…
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
The “prince of virtues”
O people of God! I admonish you to observe courtesy, for
above all else it is the prince of virtues.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Tablets of
Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
Arise
Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word
amongst men. We are with you at all times, and shall strengthen you through the
power of truth.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
The “attributes of the people of faith”
…the attributes of the people of faith are justice and
fair-mindedness; forbearance and compassion and generosity; consideration for others;
candor, trustworthiness, and loyalty; love and loving-kindness; devotion and
determination and humanity.
- ‘Abdu'l-Baha (‘The Secret of Divine Civilization’)
Human soul
The soul hath been
created for the remembrance of the Friend; safeguard its purity.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Tabernacle of Unity’)
Understanding the Writings
The understanding of His words and the comprehension of the
utterances of the Birds of Heaven are in no wise dependent upon human learning.
They depend solely upon purity of heart, chastity of soul, and freedom of
spirit....
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitáb-i-Íqán’)
Verses of God
Recite ye the verses of God every morning and eventide.
Whoso faileth to recite them hath not been faithful to the Covenant of God and
His Testament…
- Baha'u'llah ('The Kitab-i-Aqdas')
Consultation
The heaven of divine wisdom is illumined with the two
luminaries of consultation and compassion. Take ye counsel together in all
matters, inasmuch as consultation is the lamp of guidance which leadeth the
way, and is the bestower of understanding.
- Baha’u’llah
(‘Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Peace)
Character
Endeavour to rectify the conduct of men, and seek to excel
the whole world in moral character.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the
Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i
Education)
God’s care & protection
O God, my God! I have set out from my home, holding fast
unto the cord of Thy love, and I have committed myself wholly to Thy care and
Thy protection.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Prayers and meditations by Baha’u’llah’)
Moderation in “all matters”
In all matters
moderation is desirable. If a thing is carried to excess, it will prove a
source of evil.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Words of Paradise’; Tablets of
Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
Purpose of our creation
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
Joy
Let your joy be the joy born of My Most Great Name, a Name
that bringeth rapture to the heart, and filleth with ecstasy the minds of all
who have drawn nigh unto God.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
Deeds & Character
God hath, verily, willed that His Cause should be assisted
by the hosts of goodly deeds and a righteous character.
- Baha’u’llah (The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II,
Trustworthiness)
Not to exalt oneself above any one
That seeker… must never seek to exalt himself above any one,
must wash away from the tablet of his heart every trace of pride and vainglory…
- Baha'u'llah (The Kitab-i-Iqan)
Not to “make any heart to sorrow”
Beware lest ye harm any soul, or make any heart
to sorrow; lest ye wound any man with your words, be he known to you or a
stranger, be he friend or foe. Pray ye for all; ask ye that all be blessed, all
be forgiven.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
Humility
Education of children
Let the mothers… strive by day and by night to establish
within their children faith and certitude, the fear of God, the love of the
Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and traits.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’; The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i Education)
Striving for excellence
Strain every nerve to acquire both inner and outer
perfections, for the fruit of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be
perfections both within and without.
- Baha’u’llah (The Compilation of
Compilations, Vol. I, Excellence in All Things)
One’s glory
In the estimation of the people of Bahá man’s glory lieth in
his knowledge, his upright conduct, his praiseworthy character, his wisdom, and
not in his nationality or rank.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Words of Paradise’; Tablets
of Baha’u’llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas)
Human soul
The soul of man is the sun by which his
body is illumined…
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
Involvement in the society
Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in,
and centre your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Tabernacle of Unity’)
Love for Baha’u’llah
Make My love thy treasure and cherish it even as thy very
sight and life.
- Baha'u'llah (The Hidden Words of Baha'u'llah)
To be thoughtful of others
Consort with all men, O people of Bahá, in a spirit of
friendliness and fellowship. If ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a
jewel, of which others are deprived, share it with them in a language of utmost
kindliness and good-will.
- Bahá’u’lláh (‘Gleanings from the Writings of
Bahá’u’lláh’)
Truthfulness & honesty
Beautify your tongues, O people, with truthfulness, and
adorn your souls with the ornament of honesty.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings
from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
Service & virtue
Man’s merit lies in service and virtue and not in the
pageantry of wealth and riches.
- Baha’u’llah (Lawh-i-Hikmat, Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed
after the Kitab-i-Aqdas)
Rose of love
In the garden of thy heart plant naught but the rose of
love…
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
Pure heart and tranquil conscience
Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil
conscience within me, O my Hope!
- Baha’u’llah (‘Prayers and Meditations of
Baha’u’llah’)
How to interact with everyone
Consort with all men, O people of Baha, in a spirit of
friendliness and fellowship.
- Baha'u'llah
(‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
Love of God
O people of Baha! Ye are the dawning-places of the love of God and the daysprings of His loving-kindness.
- Baha'u'llah ('Tablets of Baha'u'llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas')
The Word of God
The Word of God may be likened unto a sapling, whose roots
have been implanted in the hearts of men. It is incumbent upon you to foster
its growth through the living waters of wisdom, of sanctified and holy words…
- Baha'u'llah (Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah)
Our duty…
It is your duty to be exceedingly kind to every human being,
and to wish him well; to work for the upliftment of society; to blow the breath
of life into the dead; to act in accordance with the instructions of
Bahá’u’lláh and walk His path—until ye change the world of man into the world
of God.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
Inner peace
O Son of Spirit! There is no peace for thee save by
renouncing thyself and turning unto Me…
- Baha’u’llah ('The Hidden Words of
Baha’u’llah’)
“bring joy and happiness to the hearts”
As much as ye can, bring joy and happiness to the hearts and
seek felicity for all humankind.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (quoted by the Universal House
of Justice in a message dated Naw-Ruz 2015 to the Baha’is of Iran)
Not to mention the sins of others
O Son of Man! Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou
art thyself a sinner.
- Baha’u’llah (‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
Happiness of nations
.... We desire but the good of the world and happiness of
the nations…
- Baha'u'llah (Words of Baha’u’llah, spoken to E. G. Browne in 1890, from his
pen portrait of Bahá'u'lláh, quoted by J. E. Esslemont in ‘Bahá'u'lláh and the
New Era’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Peace)
Power of the Word of God
Every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God is
endowed with such potency as can instill new life into every human frame…
- Baha'u'llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah’)
Divine assistance
We
behold you from Our realm of glory, and shall aid whosoever will arise for the
triumph of Our Cause with the hosts of the Concourse on high and a company of
Our favoured angels.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh’)
How to view God’s commandments…
O ye peoples of the world! Know assuredly that My commandments are the lamps of My loving
providence among My servants, and the keys of My mercy for My creatures.
- Baha'u'llah (‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
God’s purpose for our creation
The purpose of God in creating man hath been, and will ever
be, to enable him to know his Creator and to attain His Presence.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of
Baha’u’llah’)
What to see in each other
One must see in every human being only that which is worthy
of praise.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of
‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
Virtues to cultivate
Adorn your heads with the garlands of trustworthiness and
fidelity, your hearts with the attire of the Fear of God, your tongues with
absolute truthfulness, your bodies with the vesture of courtesy.
- Baha'u'llah ('The Kitab-i-Aqdas)
The purpose of God in creating a human being
The purpose of God in creating man hath been, and will ever
be, to enable him to know his Creator and to attain His Presence.
- Baha’u’llah (‘Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’; Ruhi Book 5)
Essential qualities for those who take counsel together
The prime requisites for them that take counsel together are
purity of motive, radiance of spirit, detachment from all else save God,
attraction to His Divine Fragrances, humility and lowliness amongst His loved
ones, patience and long-suffering in difficulties and servitude to His exalted
Threshold.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)
To do some good to every person one meets
Let each one of God's loved ones… do some good to every
person whose path he crosseth, and be of some benefit to him. Let him improve
the character of each and all, and reorient the minds of men.
(‘Abdu'l-Baha,
Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha)
"be a lesson for others."
By good deeds, pure lives, humility and meekness be a lesson
for others.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’, vol. 1)
To remember one’s own faults and not the faults of others
O Emigrants! The tongue I have designed for the mention of
Me, defile it not with detraction. If the fire of self overcome you, remember
your own faults and not the faults of My creatures, inasmuch as every one of
you knoweth his own self better than he knoweth others.
(Baha'u'llah, ‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
“Love is the source of all the bestowals of God”
Love is the source of all the bestowals of God. Until love
takes possession of the heart, no other divine bounty can be revealed in it.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha,
from a talk, New York, 14 April 1912; ‘The
Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His
Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912’)
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