He [‘Abdu’l-Baha] then asked whether the addresses given in
the various cities had been prepared or were extemporaneous. When told they had
been the latter He said that the teacher should always speak from the heart,
for only words from the heart reach the hearts of the hearers and has effect,
whereas when one speaks not from the heart, the effect of his words is but a
passing one. All teaching should be done by the Spirit working or speaking
through the teacher, and should not come from the mentality of the individual. One
should always use spiritual methods in teaching.
(Reported words of
‘Abdu’l-Baha to travelling teachers Mason Remey and Howard Struven, Star of the
West, vol. 1, no. 11, September 27, 1910)
