In answer to Mr. Harris' request for specific instructions as to how to teach in India, 'Abdu'l-Baha's only reply was,
"Face the people with a smile on your face and the love of God in your heart and rely wholly upon the Holy Spirit."
(Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to Hooper Harris, 1906, when he was going to India to teach the Faith)
The people who come here are divided into two classes. One comes here as dead and returns alive; ignorant and returns wise; withered and returns fresh and fragrant.
This class is likened to the man whose body is healthy and who comes out into the fresh country or the green and verdant prairie where he shall sense the life-giving breeze and healthful sunshine, and from whence he shall depart with great joy and vigor. Or, like a man who is hungry and goes to a well spread table and attains fullness therefrom. The other class resembles the man who is sick and incapable of enjoying the blessings and surroundings of the country, or of eating the wholesome foods. Now the food is rich and edible, but the man is sick and hence incapable of obtaining nourishment therefrom. Thus he goes back in the same condition as before.
Again, one is like the dry wood or oil which is ready for combustion or ignition; as soon as it contacts with fire, it is set aglow. Whereas, another class resembles a stone which may be placed for a thousand years in the fire and yet will not become ignited and shed a radiance.
Again, the sea has innumerable pearls in its depths. A good and trained diver will obtain therefrom abundant pearls, whereas one unacquainted with and incapable of this attainment can only obtain the shells.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to American Pilgrims Charles and Mariam Haney, Akka, February 1909; ‘A Heavenly Feast’)
Another Baha’i lady is presented. For the last 35 years she has been making hats to cover the heads of the poor. She desires to serve. She longs to do some actual service in the Cause. The Master smiles in her face. She is earnest. Then He slowly opens His heavenly treasury of wisdom:
For 35 years you have been making hats for the heads of the poor people. Now is the time to make heavenly crowns for them so that they may adorn their heads - such crowns whose brilliant jewels may scintillate throughout centuries and cycles. This crown is the guidance of God and the knowledge of the Kingdom of Abha!
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ahmad Sohrab, ‘Abdu'l-Baha in Britain, 1913’)
To a railroad man He said:
You are paving the material roads. May you become able to straighten the pathway to heaven. That is more important. Straighten the path for the Kingdom of God is nigh. Be a heavenly lineman.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, recorded by Ahmad Sohrab, ‘Abdu'l-Baha in Britain, 1913’)
Looking after one's health is done with two intentions:
First: Man may take good care of his body with the intention of satisfying his personal wishes.
Second: Or he may look after his health with the good intention of serving humanity and of living long enough to discharge one's duty towards mankind.
The latter is most commendable.
A teacher shall sleep at night with the thought that the next day he may be refreshed in order to do his duty more fully in relation to teaching his pupils. Therefore Mrs. -- must take good care of her health. Just look at Mr. --'s very good health - see how much work he can do, how much work he can stand! Whatever work is referred to him, he can discharge it fully.
But remember that the essential health is spiritual heath, for by means of spiritual health eternal life is obtained; whereas, through physical health only physical results are obtained. 'Abdu'l-Baha
-'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Baha to American Pilgrims Charles and Mariam Haney, Akka, February 1909; ‘A Heavenly Feast’)
There are many subjects which are difficult for man to solve. But during prayer and supplication they are unveiled and there is nothing that man cannot find out. Muhammed said: 'Prayer is a ladder by which everyone can ascend to heaven.’ If one's heart is cut from the world his prayer is the ascension to heaven.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of Abdul-Baha, from notes of Alma Albertson and other pilgrims, November and December, 1900)
On one occasion ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said to us,
At present rocks and thornbushes surround the Shrine of the Báb, but in the future this place will be encompassed by an abundance of trees and flowers and will be visited by all the peoples of the world. This Shrine you are viewing now will soon be expanded and its construction completed. In the future a kind of electrical power will be discovered which gives light from stone, and eventually the walls of the Shrine will be composed of such stone.
(Pilgrim notes by Nuru’d-din Mumtazi, 1920, published as ‘Memories of Nine Days’, translated and edited by Ardeshir Khodadad Forudi and Sheridan A. Sims; ‘Baha’i Library Online)
Every object in this world has the power of combustion. The objects by themselves and in themselves will not be ignited. A flame is necessary. I hope you will become that flame to enkindle the hearts.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Ahmad Sohrab, ‘Abdu'l-Baha in Britain, 1913’)
Man becomes like a stone unless he continually supplicates to God. The heart of man is like a mirror which is covered with dust and to cleanse it one must continually pray to God that it may become clean. The act of supplication is the polish which erases all worldly desires. The delight of supplicating and entreating before God cuts one's heart from the world. When the taste of man is nourished by honey he never likes to taste any other sweetmeat. Therefore, prayer is a key by which the doors of the kingdom are opened.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of Abdul-Baha, from notes of Alma Albertson and other pilgrims, November and December, 1900)
The Cause of God is like a house. As long as man has not entered therein he does not know what it contains. In the house there are many precious jewels, many rare objects the like of which cannot be found anywhere in this world. But the men in the street may pass by the house a 1000 times and know nothing about it. Only the one who has the key can enter. That key is the love of God.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Ahmad Sohrab, ‘Abdu'l-Baha in Britain, 1913’)
Question: In what condition is the soul before entering the body?
‘Abdu’l-Baha: In a state of potentiality, possessing no consciousness as we understand it.
- 'Abdu'l-Baha (Utterances of 'Abdu'l-Baha, 'Star of the West', vol. 2, no. 16, December 31, 1911)
A lady inquired whether some superstitions might not be good
for ignorant people, who, if they were without them might perhaps be without
beliefs of any kind?
A gentleman connected with the work of a Settlement then
asked what was the best method of raising up and civilizing the very lowest and
most degraded and ignorant of the people and would their education come about
gradually through the enlightenment of the Spirit, or was there any special
means we could adopt to further this end?
You must be like these swift-moving, luminous clouds. They
move, nothing hinders them… Let nothing hinder you. Speak always of the Love of
God. Teach the people what the Love of God is. Give them the Glad Tidings. Let
nothing hinder thee; let nothing touch thy spirit which is not in conformity
with the teachings of the Blessed Beauty. Be ever engaged in the service of the
Kingdom. Do not let the unpleasant things annoy you. You must be as far removed
from them as these clouds are above us. The important thing is to spread the
Teachings, to show love and compassion, to be kind to all, and not wound the
feelings of others. If we do not like to associate with some people, very well,
it is not compulsory. We can let them alone and become so busy with
constructive work, that there is no time to waste upon such matters. We do not
waste our time in discussing non-essentials. Neither must you do this. Forget
every unpleasantness of the past; speak only of constructive work, of the Love
of God, of the compassion and mercy of God. Seek to make others happy!
Mrs. S. asked some questions with reference to the
conditions of existence in the next world, and the life after death; she said
that having recently lost a very near relative, she had given much thought to
this subject. Many thought that re-union with those we had loved, and who had
passed on to the future life, would only take place after a long period of time
had elapsed. She wished to know whether one would be re-united with those who
had gone before immediately after death.
The question was asked if it were possible to establish
communication with the dead, and whether it was wise or advisable to attend
séances or to engage in table-turning, spirit-rapping, etc.
‘Abdu’l-Bahá laughed heartily, and said that the books of
Bahá’u’lláh, written and printed sixty years ago, contained the ideals now so
familiar to the West, but, at that time, they had not been printed or thought
of in the West. Besides, he continued, supposing that a very advanced thinker
from the West had gone to visit Bahá’u’lláh and to teach Him, would the name of
such a great man and the fact of his visit have been unknown and unrecorded?
No! In former days, in the time of the Buddha and Zoroaster, civilization in
Asia and in the East was very much higher than in the West and ideas and
thoughts of the Eastern peoples were much in advance of, and nearer to the
thoughts of God than those of the West. But since that time superstitions had
crept into the religion and ideals of the East, and from many differing causes
the ideals and characters of the Eastern peoples had gone down and down, lower
and lower, while the Western peoples had been constantly advancing and
struggling towards the Light. Consequently, in these days, the civilization of
the West was much higher than that of the East, and the ideas and thoughts of the
people of the West were much nearer to the thought of God than those of the
East. Therefore, the ideals of Bahá’u’lláh had been more quickly realized in
the West.
He [Shoghi Effendi] then explained the need to observe
moderation in all things, and reminded us of the utterance of Baha'u'llah,
"In all matters moderation is desirable. If a thing is carried to excess,
it will prove a source of evil." [Tablets of Baha’u’llah revealed after
the Kitab-i-Aqdas]
The Master's household numbers more than a hundred persons,
not counting the children of the believers and His own grandchildren. How
wonderfully significant, as an example to the world, is this living service so
cheerfully given by each member of the family! There is such harmony and unity
in this household, where all the machinery of every-day life is carried on
without a break. Every emergency is provided for; unexpected visitors are
always entertained with a composure and sincerity unbelievable unless witnessed
day after day as I saw it. Where in this wide world could a parallel be found,
even approximate to this? No complaint, no friction amidst a variety of
temperaments and of different stations in life. It is a garden of variegated
flowers growing in the utmost 8 loveliness! The contrast to family life in the
outside world is so great that the observer marvels, and the conviction deepens
that here is a miracle of miracles that only love, spiritual love, could make
possible.
