The two factors influencing the progress of the Cause

Shoghi Effendi, the beloved of our hearts, said: “The progress of the Cause depends upon two factors: one is the effort of the believers; the other is God’s own ways that are independent of our efforts.” And then he continued that according to the words and warnings of the Master God’s way was through a quotidian of suffering that would force humanity to the healing and redemptive laws of Baha’u’llah. 

- Keith Ransom-Kehler  (From a letter dated 17 August 1933; Baha’i News, no. 78, October 1933)

Thornton Chase – The first Baha’i in America

There are some souls like Mary Magdalen, and Mr. Chase was one of those.

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to the friends in San Francisco, October 4, 1912, quoted by Willard Hatch; Baha’i News, no. 40, April 1930)

Future of Japan

In speaking again of Japan, 'Abdu'l-Baha said:

"Blessed results will appear from the Holy Cause established in that land.” 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Mason Remey, and Howard C. Struven while in His presence at Haifa, May 1910;  Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 11, September 27, 1910)

"In movement there is life; in immobility there is death.”

In speaking of spreading the fragrances of the Kingdom, 'Abdu'l-Baha said:

"In movement there is life; in immobility there is death. The traveling of the teachers from place to place, country to country, and from the Occident to the Orient, is one of the greatest means for sowing spiritual seeds in the souls of the people." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha to Mason Remey, and Howard C. Struven while in His presence at Haifa, May 1910;  Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 11, September 27, 1910)

How to prevent sad feelings from entering one’s heart

When your heart is filled with the love of God there will be no room for sorrow. There will only be love and happiness. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha recorded by Mrs. Crockett; Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 9, August 20, 1910)

The grazing and domestic animals versus the wild and ferocious

Animals are of two kinds, one the grazing and domestic; the other the wild and ferocious. If the wild beasts are near each other for ten years, still, as soon as they find an opportunity they attack and tear one another to pieces; whereas the tame creatures show their kind feelings toward each other. The beloved of God are like the blessed birds; they are kind and merciful. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 10 May 1910, recorded by Mason Remey; Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 8, August 1, 1910)

Implications of “divine unity” among believers

[We spoke about the inhabitants of Honolulu; that many nationalities are there represented and yet all are in great harmony.]

‘Abdu’l-Baha said: "Time and place play a great influence over the conditions; when in a certain place some strangers meet, necessity requires that they should be in harmony; but our purpose is this, that the divine unity and concord may become well established among all the nations, so that they may become as one spirit in different bodies; the drops of one ocean; the fruits of one tree and the rays of the same sun.

In America, when the different people united together they were enabled to drive away the English government and establish a new government for themselves. Consider how great is the result of unity and harmony! There has never been any action performed nor any philanthropic deed achieved except through unity and concord; disagreement and dissension have always been the means of evil and corruption." 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 10 May 1910, recorded by Mason Remey; Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 8, August 1, 1910)

Concerning the death of King Edward of England

The English king, with his pomp and grandeur, used to address the sun and say: 'Thou dost never disappear from my lands' but now he is buried under the earth. Some time ago the flags at the top of the masts proclaimed the day of his ascension to the throne; but today the flags are at half mast, for he is dead. The flags and banners of the Beloved are ever waving at the top of the masts; they are never inverted; nay, rather, they go on higher day by day; in fact, theirs is the sovereignty. Without fighting forces they conquer the cities; and without taking any tribute they bestow and give freely. The kings gain their victory through bloodshed and the taking of life; whereas the Beloved of God confer life and are victorious. The sovereignty of the friends is an eternal one. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk, Holy Land, 10 May 1910, recorded by Mason Remey; Star of the West, vol. 1, no. 8, August 1, 1910)

Number of subjects students should be required to take at school

Question: ''The students in the schools have to study so many subjects! There are arising more and more sciences. What should be the remedy?''

‘Abdu’l-Baha: ''It is too much. One must be moderate in choosing the number of subjects. When there are too many the result is confusion. Moderation is necessary. For instance: if a man has the power to carry a load of three hundred (pounds) he no doubt would fall if we give him one thousand (pounds). He cannot bear it. The same way, one's brain must not be overburdened. For instance: students should not have more than six hours a day, lessons and preparations included. Otherwise they will not succeed. The brain becomes tired.'' 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

Should Baha’u’llah’s name be included when promoting principles of the Faith?

Question: ''Should these principles be spread under the name of Baha'u'llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha, or without these names?''

‘Abdu’l-Baha: "In the beginning you should mention Baha’u’llah. They are His and are spread by ‘Abdu’l-Baha. When all the world was in disorder, when warfare was prevailing in the East and the West, Russia with Turkey, Persia with England and Afghanistan, and Garibaldi was fighting, the East was in intense darkness. There was prejudice of race and religion; national and political prejudice; the horizon was very dark. And at such a time Baha’u’llah arose and spread a set of teachings." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

Best method to help the growth of the Cause

Question: "What is the best method to spread this Cause?"

‘Abdu’l-Baha: “Explain the teachings, the principles of this Cause. Some of them were revealed fifty years ago, some sixty years ago. Fifty years ago there was no thought of universal peace and arbitration. No one spoke of the oneness of religion and science. Now many spread them in their own ways. I spread them through numerous churches and papers in America; then also in Europe. The word of God is powerful. It will come to pass.'' 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

Need for moderation in “thinking”

 Question: "Shall we devote much time to the study of philosophy?"

‘Abdu’l-Baha: "Everything must be done moderately. Excess is not desirable. Do not go to extremes. Even in thinking do not go to excess but be moderate. If there is too much thinking you will be unable to control your thoughts." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

Why so much evil in the world?

Question: "Why so much evil in the world?"

‘Abdu’l-Baha: "God has created a remedy for every disease. One must apply the remedy. Now these patients run away from the expert Physician. They neglect Him. Under inexperienced physicians they get worse. The words of the religious leaders have no influence, no effect. These physicians are more diseased than their patients. The spiritual leaders now have no faith, though they claim to have faith in order to secure their positions." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

“We should speak in the language of heaven -- in the language of the spirit”

We should speak in the language of heaven -- in the language of the spirit -- for there is a language of the spirit and heart. It is as different from our language as our own language is different from that of the animals, who express themselves only by cries and sounds. It is the language of the spirit which speaks to God. When, in prayer, we are freed from all outward things and turn to God, then it is as if in our hearts we hear the voice of God. Without words we speak, we communicate, we converse with God and hear the answer. ... All of us, when we attain to a truly spiritual condition, can hear the Voice of God. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk reported by Ethel J. Rosenberg; ‘Baha'u'llah and the New Era’, by Dr. J.E. Esslemont)  

What to do when people we meet don’t show interest about religion

Question: "When people deny religion how shall we deal with them?"

Answer by 'Abdu'l-Baha: "You must be tolerant and patient, because the station of sight is a station of bounty; it is not based on capacity. They must be educated." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

Will mankind be able to eventually “see” things with their “inner eye”?

Question: "Will the day come when all mankind will be able to discern by sight?" 

‘Abdu’l-Baha said: "There will always be some. Only a special number will have this attainment. As Christ said, 'Many are called, but few are chosen.' It will always be so. The transformation depends upon divine bounty. The mineral progresses in its own world. But from the mineral to the vegetable it progresses only by divine bounty. Also transformation from the vegetable to the animal is God's plan. Of itself the transformation cannot take place. In the realm of men transformation is possible only through another person.” 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

Joining one’s mother in the next world

Question: "Shall I find my mother again?"

The Master said: "Certainly. Separation is only in the world of bodies." 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

How does Prophet “know” about immortality? – ‘Abdu’l-Baha was asked

Question: "Science denies immortality. How does the prophet know the contrary?"

The Master said: "Science does not know; but the Manifestation makes discoveries with the power of the Spirit. For instance: a philosopher with induction finds out a way. But the prophet discerns with sight. A blind man has to find his way with a stick from point to point; so a philosopher through arguments from premises goes to conclusions, and not by sight. But the Manifestations see with their inner eye (own eye); they do not go from premises to conclusions. The prophets see many things with their inner eye. They do not need to go by discoveries. The scientist with induction is like a blind man who cannot see two steps ahead of him. The prophet sees a long distance.''

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

Baha’u’llah had promised that Jews would come back to the Holy Land

We told the Master of a group of Jews who were on the boat from Brindisi to Palestine. He said:

In their heavenly books the Prophets have spoken of the Day of the Lord, the Last Day, and what They have spoken is all being real zed in this day. The Blessed Beauty sixty years ago in some of His Tablets promised the Jews that they would come back to the Holy Land -- and what He said will be realized. The pavilion of the Lord will be pitched on the mountain and this was fulfilled. The pavilion of the Blessed Beauty was often pitched on Mount Carmel and the plain and hills around Acca while He was a prisoner. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ann Kunz, Haifa, 1921; Star of the West, vol. 13, no. 6, September 1922)

‘Abdu’l-Baha choosing Shoghi Effendi as His Successor

Baha'u'llah, the Great Perfection - blessed be His words - in the past, the present and forever - chose this insignificant one to be His successor, not because I was the first born, but because His inner eye had already discerned on my brow the seal of God. Before His ascension into eternal Light the blessed Manifestation reminded me that I too irrespective of primogeniture or age - must observe among my sons and grandsons whom God would indicate for His office. My sons passed to eternity in their tenderest years, in my line, among my relatives, only little Shoghi has the shadow of a great calling in the depths of his eyes.  

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (Quoted to have told a German woman doctor, named Dr. J. Fallscheer, who lived in Haifa in the days of the Master and occasionally attended the ladies of His household; included by the Universal House of Justice in a letter dated December 23, 1974 to the Hands of the Cause of God and the Continental Board of Counsellors; printed in ‘The Power of Covenant, Part Two’, by the NSA of Canada)

To use the Hidden Words as a mirror

‘Abdu’l-Bahá once said to me that we should use the Hidden Words as a mirror—comparing our actions and thoughts with what is there revealed—and if they did not match, so to speak, and fully reflect these Divine Counsels—then we must change our actions and conduct until they were in perfect harmony and agreement with these heavenly exhortations. 

- Ethel J. Rosenberg  (Included in a letter dated 12 April, 1927, written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; ‘Messages to Canada’)