‘Abdu’l-Baha with children in Chicago, May 1912
March 19, 2014
March 18, 2014
“Arise from the corporeal beds (bodies) and ask for the divine favors…
O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of
God!
Verily I say unto thee the truth, that I am with you in
spirit and in heart, that I rejoice by your joy and am happy by your happiness;
and hear with the ear of spirit your calling and scent with the spiritual
nostrils the fragrances of your garden.
O ye friends of God! Arise from the corporeal beds (bodies)
and ask for the divine favors, so that ye become revived by the Holy Spirit
through the breath which the Spirit breathes into the souls.
By the glory of my Lord, there will be for your brilliant
assemblage an evident sign and great effects in the spirits and the hearts.
Therefore, gladden the friends of the Merciful with the glad-tidings of thy
Lord in this time, and convey to them greeting from ‘Abdu’l-Baha in this
promised century, so that they may arise with me in servitude to the Threshold
of El-Baha.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)
March 17, 2014
Marriage should be viewed as a “fortress for well-being and salvation”
And when He [God] desired to manifest grace and
beneficence to men, and to set the world in order, He revealed observances and
created laws; among them He established the law of marriage, made it as a
fortress for well-being and salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which
was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity in His Most Holy Book. He saith,
great is His glory: "Marry, O people, that from you may appear he who will
remember Me amongst My servants; this is one of My commandments unto you; obey
it as an assistance to yourselves."
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Baha'i Prayers’)
March 16, 2014
March 15, 2014
Teaching the Cause
O thou maid-servant of God! Whenever thou art intending to
deliver a speech, turn thy face toward the Kingdom of Abha and, with a heart
detached, begin to talk. The breaths of the Holy Spirit will assist thee.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá,
‘Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha, vol. 2’)
March 14, 2014
God is the Great Compassionate Physician Who Alone Gives Healing - a talk by 'Abdu'l-Baha
From: Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha
October 19th, 1911, Paris
All true healing comes from God! There are two causes for sickness, one is
material, the other spiritual. If the sickness is of the body, a material
remedy is needed, if of the soul, a spiritual remedy.
If the heavenly benediction be upon us while we are being healed then only can
we be made whole, for medicine is but the outward and visible means through
which we obtain the heavenly healing. Unless the spirit be healed, the cure of
the body is worth nothing. All is in the hands of God, and without Him there
can be no health in us!
There have been many men who have died at last of the very disease of which
they have made a special study. Aristotle, for instance, who made a special
study of the digestion, died of a gastronomic malady. Aviseu was a specialist
of the heart, but he died of heart disease. God is the great compassionate
Physician who alone has the power to give true healing.
All creatures are dependent upon God, however great may seem their knowledge,
power and independence.
Read more…
March 13, 2014
London: ‘Abdu’l-Baha used “the power of Baha’u’llah” -- an incident witnessed by Lady Blomfield
One day after a meeting when, as
usual, many people had crowded round Him, 'Abdu'l-Bahá arrived home very tired.
We were sad at heart that He should be so fatigued, and bewailed the many steps
to be ascended to the flat. Suddenly, to our amazement, the Master ran up the
stairs to the top very quickly without stopping.
He looked down at us as we walked up after Him, saying with a bright smile,
from which all traces of fatigue had vanished:
"You are all very old! I am very young!"
Seeing me full of wonder, 'Abdu'l-Bahá said: "Through the power of
Bahá'u'lláh all things can be done. I have just used that power."
That was the only time we had ever seen Him use that power for Himself, and I
feel that He did so then to cheer and comfort us, as we were really sad
concerning His fatigue.
Might it not also have been to show us an example of the great Reserve of
Divine Force always available for those of us who are working in various ways
in the "Path of the Love of God and of Mankind." A celestial strength
which reinforces us when our human strength fails.
(Lady Blomfield, ‘The Chosen Highway’)
(Lady Blomfield, ‘The Chosen Highway’)
March 12, 2014
Ye are Drops – lyrics of a Baha’i song
From:
Baha’i Songs & Poems
Ye are
drops (ye are drops) echo voice
Of one
ocean (of one ocean)
Ye are
leaves (ye are leaves)
Of one
tree (of one tree)
Come
and join us (come and join us)
In our
quest for unity
It’s a
way of life for you and me.
All the
earth is (all the earth is)
But one
country (but one country)
Man is
one (man is one)
Can’t
you see (can’t you see)
Come
and join us (come and join us)
March 11, 2014
Commentary on the first few words of the thirtieth Súrah of the Qur'án: the Súrah of al-Rúm (Rome) – by ‘Abdu’l-Baha
-- provisional translation by Moojan Momen
(please see some background information at the end of the
Tablet)
He is the All- Glorious!
Praise be to Thee, O Lord! O my God! Out of Thy Bounty and
Mercy, Thou hast caused the waters of existence to descend from the heaven of
Thy Oneness and Thou hast caused the showers of Thine Eternal Bounties to rain
down from the clouds of the heaven of Thy Mighty Oneness until, through this most
mighty Beneficence, the rivers of Thy most wondrous Grace flowed forth upon the
soil of all possible existent realities in Thine act of Creation. All lands and
regions were watered by these streaming, heavenly rivers. Every hill and city
was inundated by these torrential celestial floods. And then there shone forth
upon them the sun of Thy Mercy from the horizon of Thy holy Might. And the
grains, O my God, of Thine Exalted Word and Thy Most Mighty Verses were sown in
the earth of human capacity by Thy great Grace and Favour.
March 10, 2014
The Reality of Man is His Thought
The reality of man is his thought, not
his material body. The thought force and the animal force are partners. .... If
a man's thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects then does he
become saintly; if on the other hand his thought does not soar, but is directed
downwards to centre itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more
material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha,
from a talk, ‘Paris Talks’)
March 8, 2014
Ruhiyyih Khanum’s Message to First Canadian National Convention - 1948
To the Delegates and Friends attending the First Canadian
National Baha'i Convention.
Dear Friends:
What a blessing and privilege to be allowed to raise my
voice on this historic occasion, even though from across two seas, and address
these words to you in my own home. You who are gathered here see this room,
these walls and doors clearly, but I assure you they rise up before my eyes
dimmed by the passing years, sanctified by memory and longing, and what comes
to my mind is a nostalgic co-mingling of the past and the future.
Strangely enough the most vivid picture is one neither I—nor
probably one of you -- can remember as an eye witness: 'Abdu'l Baha addressing
in this very room, a group of believers and guests. The strong, sad, wise face;
the silvery hair; the beautiful, understanding blue eyes that swa the reality
of things, the reality of evil, the reality of error, of failure and deviation,
and yet looked upon all men with a loving and gentle spirit and filled them
with hope, -- this is the first and most vivid imprint of all, which surely
clings to this house so blessed by His presence. And what He said on that
occasion must have for you, I feel, now gathered here to carry on His work at
such an important juncture in Canadian history, a special message and a special
significance. He opened his speech with these words:
March 7, 2014
Louis Gregory – First Hand of the Cause of Negro race; “noble-minded”; “golden-hearted”; “pride (and) example (to the) Negro adherents (of the) Faith”
"Profoundly deplore grievous loss dearly beloved, noble-minded,
golden-hearted Louis Gregory, pride (and) example (to the) Negro adherents (of
the) Faith, keenly feel loss (of) one so loved, admired (and) trusted (by)
'Abdu'l-Baha. Deserves rank (of) first Hand (of) his race. Rising Baha'i
generation African continent will glory (in) his memory (and) emulate his
example. Advise hold memorial gathering (in) Temple (in) token recognition (of
his) unique position, outstanding services."
-Shoghi
Cablegram received August 6, 1951.
Dearly loved, universally respected Louis G. Gregory passed away on July 30,
1951. Although he had been frail in body for many months, the luminous spirit
and great heart were so apparent, so overwhelming, that none anticipated his
sudden departure.
Only a week before, he had arranged and carried out a meeting in his home in
Eliot, Maine, where he discussed the prophecies in the Bible, with their import
for these perilous times. The dozen or more who gathered there will forever
treasure this meeting which proved to be his last. Seated at his desk, his warm
and radiant smile welcoming everyone, with his indescribable spiritual dignity,
a manifest evidence of the world in which he lived, he carried on the meeting
with joy and radiance.
March 6, 2014
20 December 1922: Message from Shoghi Effendi to the Baha'is of Australia
To the Baha’is of Australia
My dearest co-workers in that distant land:-
How great was my joy to learn that in that far-away continent, remote from the
turmoil and restlessness of a weary world, the Voice of God has been raised and
proclaimed and has attracted such a promising number of ardent and faithful
lovers of Baha’u’llah.
I offer you my heartfelt love and sympathy and the assurance of my unfailing
assistance in the great work of service to mankind which is now so gloriously
unfolding itself to your eyes.
I have shared fully your news with those loving pilgrims and resident friends
in the Holy land whom I meet regularly in what was in the past the
audience-chamber of the Master and who thirst after the tidings of the progress
of the Cause in every land. They, and myself with them, will pray most
fervently for every one of you that the seeds of faith and loving fellowship
that you are casting in the soil of hearts may geminate and swell the ever
increasing number of the valiant hosts of Baha and enable them to attain
glorious victory.
I shall await with eager expectation the welcome news of the extension of your
activities, the widening of your correspondence with the various spiritual
centres throughout the world, the plans you contemplate for the spreading of
the Movement and the means you will utilise for their speedy execution. On my
part I shall never neglect to send you such news as will urge you to press
forward your great work for the Cause and hearten you in your labours of love
and devotion at His Sacred Threshold.
Your brother in His Service,
Shoghi
(Messages to the Antipodes)
March 5, 2014
Teaching the Cause
The aim is this: The intention of the teacher
must be pure, his heart independent, his spirit attracted, his thought at
peace, his resolution firm, his magnanimity exalted and in the love of God a
shining torch. Should he become as such, his sanctified breath will even affect
the rock; otherwise there will be no result whatsoever. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Tablets of the Divine Plan’)
March 4, 2014
We shouldn't allow anything to “intervene” between us and God
From: Daily Verses
of God
Should a man wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the
earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm
can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between him and
God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in the
heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat
ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not
yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and praise unto Him, and
be of them that are truly thankful.
(Baha’u’llah,’ Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Conservation of the Earth's Resources)
(Baha’u’llah,’ Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Conservation of the Earth's Resources)
March 3, 2014
Ridvan 1965: Message from the Universal House of Justice
Ridvan 1965
The
Bahá'ís of the world
Dearly
loved friends,
The
tide of victory which carried the Bahá'í World community to the celebrations of
the Most Great Jubilee is still rising. A ceaseless shower of divine
confirmation rains upon our efforts, its evidences apparent in the many
noteworthy achievements of the few brief months since the launching of the Nine
Year Plan. The most spectacular of these is the increase in the number of
centres where Bahá'ís reside from fifteen thousand one hundred and sixty-eight
at Ridvan 1964 to twenty-one thousand and six at the present time, an increase
of nearly six thousand in one year. No less remarkable is the progress of the
teaching work in India where the number of believers now exceeds a hundred and
forty thousand, an increase of more than thirty thousand since Ridvan 1964.
Pioneers are moving to those few remaining territories of the earth as yet
un-illumined by the light of God's new Revelation; "the vast
increase" in the size of the Cause, called for at the launching of the
Plan, appears to be developing, while in country after country the institutions
and endowments of the Faith are being steadily and firmly established.
March 2, 2014
Fujita, Saichiro: (1886-1976)
He
was a young Japanese man who became a Baha’i in Oakland, California, in 1905,
the second Japanese in the world to accept the Faith. He was invited by
‘Abdu'l-Baha to travel with His entourage to California from Chicago. For a
time he lived with the family of Corinne True and in 1919 was invited to serve
‘Abdu’l-Baha in the Holy Land. He served the Master and afterwards
Shoghi Effendi until 1938, when he went to Japan for the duration of the second
world war. In 1955 he returned to the Holy Land where he served Shoghi Effendi
and then the Hands of the Cause and the Universal House of Justice.
March 1, 2014
1910: Some of the Baha'is of Mandalay, Burma
1910: Some of the Baha'is of Mandalay, Burma with Charles
Mason Remey (left) and Howard Struven (right)
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