The vast range of Baha’u’llah’s Teachings

The greatness of the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh will be known when they are acted upon and practiced. Not one of a hundred has as yet come into force. All of your thoughts should be turned toward bringing these blessed teachings into practice. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha (From a conversation, September 4, 1912, Montreal, Canada, recorded by Mirza Mahmud’s Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

Telepathy or communication from mind to mind

Another person asked about telepathy or communication from mind to mind. ‘Abdu’l-Baha replied:

It is evident. If a lover holds the hand of a beloved, it is obvious what feelings ensue. They communicate face to face and speak heart to heart, as this light is communicating now with human eyes, the sun with the earth, the cloud with the land and the breeze with the tree. This process is found in all things. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 24 September 1912, Denver, USA, recorded by Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

How to conduct Baha’i meetings

Then one of the friends comes in and asks how the Baha’is must conduct their meetings in London.

The Master’s answer: “When the believers gather together their sole object must be the commemoration of God. When all the friends are present, one in the most clear and effective voice, may read a prayer or commune. Then for 5 or ten minutes do most quiet communing with the source of life, and thinking how they should be better and act nobly; then one who knows how to speak may rise and deliver an address either on the proofs and evidences of the Cause, the hardships and tribulations of Baha’u’llah, the exposition of the Baha’i principles, quoting from the Tablets of the Blessed Perfection to the Kings and rulers etc, etc. When this is over, one or the same person may read another among the supplications, thus bringing the meeting to a close. Then they may either talk with each other in groups or may return to their homes or they may serve refreshments.

The questioner asked about music. ‘Abdu’l-Baha said: "As regards to music, they may act as they are pleased. If they like to have it, all right; if not, again it is all right." 

(Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, 1913, recorded by Ahmad Sohrab, in ‘Abdu’l-Baha; ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Edinburgh – Sohrab’s Diary Letters’)

“Until love appears among men, there can be no full happiness and peace.”

Love is the brightness of the beauty of God. If there be no love, this is the animal's kingdom, for the distinguishing feature of man's world is love. Until love appears among men, there can be no full happiness and peace. Notice how, when a person sits with a friend, his heart leaps, how happy he becomes, but when he sits with an enemy, what a punishment! We must therefore foster brotherhood and universal love.  

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, London, 1912, recorded by Mirza Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Sampler from Mahmud’s Diary’, by Marzieh Gail, ‘The Baha’i World vol. 13)

One’s capacity

All men are not of the same capacity. To serve to full capacity is meritorious with God. God judges men by how they use their capacity. 

(Words of Shoghi Effendi reported by Ramona Brown during her pilgrimage in 1954; ‘Memories of ‘Abdu’l-Baha: Recollections of the Early Days of the Baha’is of California’)

Those who heard about the Faith and those who didn’t

It is not enough to be good and kind and to lead a religious life today; it does not count for much unless one accepts the Manifestation of God, if one has heard of Him; it is almost wasted. One must accept the Manifestation in His day. If one has not heard of Bahá'u'lláh, they are not to be blame; the blame lies with the Bahá'ís. If the Bahá'ís fail to teach the Faith, the people who do not hear of the Faith are not to blame. The blame lies with the Bahá'ís. 

(Words of Shoghi Effendi reported by Ramona Brown during her pilgrimage in 1954; ‘Memories of ‘Abdu’l-Baha: Recollections of the Early Days of the Baha’is of California’)

Baha’is must be distinguished

Bahá'ís must have a new way of life. They need to be different from other people. They must be distinguished. The more distinguished, the more they will attract people. The greater the distinction, the greater the attraction. 

(Words of Shoghi Effendi reported by Ramona Brown during her pilgrimage in 1954; ‘Memories of ‘Abdu’l-Baha: Recollections of the Early Days of the Baha’is of California’)

Union of husband and wife in the next world

Replying to another questioner, 'Abdu'l-Baha said that when two people, husband and wife for instance, have been completely united in this life their souls being as one soul, then after one of them has passed away, this union of heart and soul would remain unbroken. 

(Notes of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s explanations; ‘Abdu’l-Baha in London’)

Condition of souls in the next world

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.

'Abdu'l-Bahá answered that this would depend upon the respective stations of the two. If both had the same degree of development, they would be re-united immediately after death.

The questioner then said, how could this state of development be acquired?

'Abdu'l-Bahá replied, by unceasing effort, striving to do right, and to attain spiritual qualities.

The questioner remarked that many differing opinions were held as to the conditions of the future life. Some thought that all would have exactly the same perfections and virtues; that all would be equal and alike.

Dialogue between man and the Prophets

Always, man has confronted the Prophets with this: 'We were enjoying ourselves, and living according to our own opinions and desires. We ate; we slept; we sang; we danced. We had no fear of God, no hope of Heaven; we liked what we were doing, we had our own way. And then you came. You took away our pleasures. You told us now of the wrath of God, again of the fear of punishment and the hope of reward. You upset our good way of life.'

The Prophets of God have always replied: 'You were content to stay in the animal world, We wanted to make you human beings. You were dark, We wanted you illumined; you were dead, We wanted you alive. You were earthly, We wanted you heavenly.'  

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, London, 1912, recorded by Mirza Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Sampler from Mahmud’s Diary’, by Marzieh Gail, ‘The Baha’i World vol. 13)

To ride in “the Ship of God”

One must ride in the Ship of God; for this life is a stormy sea, and all the people on earth - that is, over two billion souls - will drown in it before a hundred years have passed. All, except those who ride in the Ship of God. Those will be saved. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha aboard the Celtic as he left America, recorded by Mirza Mahmud Zarqani; ‘Sampler from Mahmud’s Diary’, by Marzieh Gail, ‘The Baha’i World vol. 13)

The Clay Bird

In the Koran are many things referring to Christ not mentioned in the Gospel. For instance: it is said that Christ took a bit of clay and shaped it into the form of a bird. Then He blew upon it, and it flew away.

The interpretation of this is that the bird symbolizes an earthly man, who received spiritual education through the Christ. The story says: ‘He blew upon it, and it flew away.' This means that the man received the Breath of Life Eternal, and through this enlightenment, soared into the Heaven of Knowledge. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Mary Lucas, ‘A Brief Account of my visit to Akka’, 1905)

'Abdu'l-Baha's absolute naturalness -- an utter absence of any desire or effort to impress one with his greatness

Every morning it is the custom of the household to meet in the large sitting room, where tea is served, and the little children of the family come and chant for the Master while he drinks his tea. At this first meeting, at seven o'clock in the morning, how inexpressibly I was impressed by the absolute poise of the Master; his absolute naturalness; absolute freedom. There was an utter absence of any desire or effort to impress one with his greatness, which is majestic in its simplicity. 

(Mary Lucas, ‘A Brief Account of my visit to Akka’, 1905)

Teaching the Cause is the most important work: “this is not to be brought under special rules… they should teach in any way possible"

The essential thing now is teaching. This gathering of the convention is for this object, also to arrange for the building of the Mashriqu’l-Adhkar, or for choosing people to go out as teachers. These are the objects. In Persia there are no conventions. There is a Spiritual Assembly in each city, and all are engaged in teaching.

People should be engaged in teaching the Cause. Teaching should make one full of joy and happiness, it will attract one, it will bring spiritual susceptibilities, it gives extreme happiness and joyfulness. One's own self becomes enriched thereby.

Teaching the cause is the most important work in which anyone can engage, for in any other work there will not be such results as in this. Give great importance to work of importance, and this is not to be brought under special rules. It can't be, they should teach in any way possible. This will bring happiness, it also brings one nearer the kingdom of Abha, it will be the cause of joy and happiness and refreshes one. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Agnes Parsons during lunch at Pilgrim’s House in Haifa, January 2, 1920)

Whatever the world of humanity is in need of is to be found in the Teachings of Baha’u’llah

Among the proofs are the teachings of the Blessed Perfection. Such teachings as have not been given since the beginning of the world, and these teachings refer to all mankind and the highest degree of advice is at hand. Advice in the utmost of eloquence and rhetoric; morals in the highest degree of perfection; politics in the highest degree of perfection; laws in the utmost of firmness; public management in the utmost of regulation. Whatever the world of humanity is in need of is to be found here. All the religions of the world see the utmost perfection of man in these. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha recorded by Agnes Parsons during her pilgrimage on January 10, 1920, Bahji, ‘Akka)