“…if he seems to be lonely try to help him, give him of your willing service; if he be sad console him, if poor succour him, if oppressed rescue him, if in misery comfort him.  In so doing you will manifest that not in words only, but in deed and in truth, you think of all men as your brothers.” (`Abdu’l-Baha; “Paris Talks”, p. 16)

True merit of “Service”

Whatever the measure and regardless of its form and outer significance, a ‘service’ should be offered sincerely and selflessly.  It should encourage freedom and be detached, light and free—of any attached strings of expectations, obliging burdens, or imposed feelings of guilt, inferiority and being in debt.  Yet again, no one should be forced to render a ‘service’; it should only be done voluntarily and through the free exercise of one’s own will-power.  Act of service deserves and merits the call for one’s own willing initiative and desire, depending on one’s own volition and conscious act, not ‘being volunteered’ for or having been imposed upon.  It should not be done for the sake of saving personal benefits in difficult situations, nor be considered popularity maintenance and an effort to preserve one’s reputation within the crowed.  Rendering a ‘service’ is an act that always involves a degree of sacrifice on one’s part; thus, it stretches beyond and stands far above the limits and obligations of one’s daily duties and job assignments performed merely for earning a living, with sole incentive of survival and securing one’s own material life.  Service is a nobly independent act and not a one to be confused with a forced rendering out of helplessness or insecurity or of desperation to receive attention, praise and popularity, nor it should be done because of any other reasons and mixed with ulterior motives—but only to be of a benefit and some goodness, promoting the best interests of the cause(s) and the person(s) that are being served.

“Man's merit lies in service and virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches. Take heed that your words be purged from idle fancies and worldly desires and your deeds be cleansed from craftiness and suspicion. Dissipate not the wealth of your precious lives in the pursuit of evil and corrupt affection, nor let your endeavors be spent in promoting your personal interest. Bestow in your days of plenty, be patient in the hour of loss.”

“Tablets of Baha’u’llah”, p. 138)

“Service in love for mankind is unity with God.”

(`Abdu’l-Baha; “The Promulgation of Universal Peace”, p. 186)

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Worthy Progress, Conscious Existence, and Breathing Life  

“This is a sign of progress:  The person who is satisfied with himself is the manifestation of Satan and the one who is not satisfied is the manifestation of the Merciful One. An egotist does not progress but the one who thinks himself imperfect will seek perfection for himself and will progress. If a man has a thousand good qualities, he must not look at them. He must search always for his shortcomings.  For example, if a man has a building which is well-constructed and fully decorated but which has a small crack in one of its walls, he will, no doubt, forget the rest and turn his whole attention to repairing that crack. Furthermore, the attainment of absolute perfection for a human being is impossible; thus, however much he may progress he is still imperfect and has above him a point higher than himself. And the instant he sees this point he will not be satisfied with himself.” (Words of `Abdu’l-Baha, 21 August 1912, Green Acre, “Mahmud’s Diary”)

The Baha’i writings boldly emphasize and state that the ultimate goal of human existence and purpose of life for every human soul is that each one should attain moral and spiritual excellence, which is in the highest sense the alignment of one's inner being and outward behavior with the will of an All-Loving, All-Merciful Creator; a Will that is so vividly and clearly crystallized in the revealed Texts and expounded in the teachings and exhortations of the Faith and Its Founders.  Each individual has been bestowed with an innate potential and a unique destiny by God--a destiny which unfolds and shapes in accordance with the free exercise of one’s faculties and will power when faced with diverse choices and challenges, and presented by options and opportunities in one’s life—a freedom and right to practice and develop one’s potential which is not only everyone’s gift and advantage, but is at the same time his and her responsibility and purpose in life.  Through moral exercise of the divinely conferred free will, and vigilantly perceiving the manifold opportunities provided for the development of one’s potential, each could only and shall attain spiritual glory and advancement.  

"Were man to appreciate the greatness of his station and the loftiness of his destiny he would manifest naught save goodly character, pure deeds, and a seemly and praiseworthy conduct."

(“Tablets of Baha’u’llah”, p, 172)

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apex of nobility

“It behoveth man to adhere tenaciously unto that which will promote fellowship, kindliness and unity.”  (Tablets of Baha’u’llah, p. 90)

What would otherwise be there any meaning and truth in professing to believe in God，and where would a perceptive mind and fair conscience and vision find a merit and view a benefit of adhering to any practices in the name of Faith?

“The purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, in revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves. That the divers communions of the earth, and the manifold systems of religious belief, should never be allowed to foster the feelings of animosity among men, is, in this Day, of the essence of the Faith of God and His Religion. These principles and laws, these firmly-established and mighty systems, have proceeded from one Source, and are the rays of one Light. That they differ one from another is to be attributed to the varying requirements of the ages in which they were promulgated.”

(Gleanings from the Writings Baha’u’llah, p. 287)

The revealed Words and the holy Text is the “Divine Elixir” which alone can transmute the crude metal of human nature into pure gold, and will with its nurturing power transform and unfold the potential latent in his and her being to manifest a capacity and perfection worthy of human nobility and the brilliant heights destined for its advancement.

"When divers shades of thought, temperament and character, are brought together under the power and influence of one central agency, the beauty and glory of human perfection will be revealed and made manifest. Naught but the celestial potency of the Word of God, which ruleth and transcendeth the realities of all things, is capable of harmonizing the divergent thoughts, sentiments, ideas and convictions of the children of men."

(Shoghi Effendi, “The World Order of Baha’u’llah”, p. 42)

“O Son of Spirit! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.” (Revealed by Baha’u’llah, “Hidden Words”

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Counting our blessings,

We will see as bright as the morning sun that the Blessings and bountiful favors are truly immense.

Instead of habitually and conventionally seeing the things that are lacking, things which we do not have, advantages which are missing for us, we should see how much we already possess, count things that are favored to us, and to count and treasure them with heart and soul.

“The earth is in the motion and growth; the mountains, hills and prairies are green and pleasant; the bounty is overflowing; the mercy universal; the rain is descending from the cloud of mercy; the brilliant Sun is shining; the full moon is ornamenting the horizon of ether; the great ocean-tide is flooding every little stream; the gifts are successive; the favors consecutive; and the refreshing breeze is blowing, wafting the fragrant perfume of the blossoms. Boundless treasure is in the hand of the King of Kings! Lift the hem of thy garment in order to receive it.”

 (`Abdu’l-Baha; “Baha’i World Faith

”, p. 351)

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Understanding and Independence of Soul; Nobility and Distinction of Humanity

Wouldn’t any intelligent mind, a free soul invested with clear, sound and healthy perception, one who enjoys fairness in heart and treasures his and her sight by focusing it on bright and lofty visions, welcome new discoveries and learning, going beyond age-old habits and traditions beclouded with diverse prejudices, inherited bias and hatreds?!  Let’s think a moment and then ask ourselves, why in this time and period which we in the name of freedom sink ourselves so liberally and often in extremes into the floods and flows of commodities and merchandise of every sort—physical, mental and emotional alike—generously unaware and easily uncaring we allow them to dominate and govern our thoughts and sentiments, our time and resources? Domination and influence which often is labeled as ‘motivating the freedom of choice’, but as we may helplessly realize too from time to time, it is in actuality and practice the manipulation and even abuse of all what we possess, our power of differentiation and deducting ability and choice included. Why then, I earnestly wonder and genuinely suggest, not giving ourselves a chance to hear and read these thoughts, receiving the information and learning, exploring and investigating for ourselves whether indeed they bear the truth?  Isn’t the highest advantage of humanity, indeed the very singular reason which distinguishes mankind from the other creatures—however cherished, lovely and charming though they each in relevant degrees and rightful measures may be and are—that the human beings are gifted by intelligence and granted with the power of understanding, vision and sight?  What harm would there be to expose our  searching selves entangled as they are in the whirlpool of this troubled, confused and at times lamentably frightening and morally degenerated society, towards a horizon which breaths light and rains down refreshing insights? Such a blissful break that would be for our silently yearning and innately noble souls, born for and living only to grow and attain the summit of perfection and glory!

“O SON OF SPIRIT!  I created thee rich, why dost thou bring thyself down to poverty?  Noble I made thee, wherewith dost thou abase thyself?  Out of the essence of knowledge I gave thee being, why seekest thou enlightenment from anyone beside Me? Out of the clay of love I molded thee, how dost thou busy thyself with another?  Turn thy sight unto thyself, that thou mayest find Me standing within thee, mighty, powerful and self-subsisting.” (Revealed by Baha’u’llah, “Hidden Words”, Arabic #13)

To a vigilantly perceptive and fairly observing mind of the present society, this should not be hard to be heard in agreement that, “Human character is debased, confidence is shaken, the nerves of discipline are relaxed, the voice of human conscience is stilled, the sense of decency and shame is obscured, conceptions of duty, of solidarity, of reciprocity and loyalty are distorted, and the very feeling of peacefulness, of joy and of hope is gradually extinguished…” (Shoghi Effendi, “WOB”, p. 187)

“The wrong in the world continues to exist just because people talk only of their ideals, and do not strive to put them into practice. If actions took the place of words, the world’s misery would very soon be changed into comfort.” (Talk by `Abdu’l-Baha, “Paris Talks”, pp. 16-17)

“God has given man the eye of investigation by which he may see and recognize truth. He has endowed man with ears that he may hear the message of reality and conferred upon him the gift of reason by which he may discover things for himself. This is his endowment and equipment for the investigation of reality. Man is not intended to see through the eyes of another, hear through another’s ears nor comprehend with another’s brain. Each human creature has individual endowment, power and responsibility in the creative plan of God.” (`Abdu’l-Baha, “Promulgation of Universal Peace”, p. 293)

“Man's distinction lieth not in ornaments or wealth, but rather in virtuous behaviour and true understanding.” (From “Tablets of Baha’u’llah”, p.  57)

“O Thou kind Lord! We are servants of Thy Threshold, taking shelter at Thy holy Door. We seek no refuge save only this strong pillar, turn nowhere for a haven but unto Thy safekeeping. Protect us, bless us, support us, make us such that we shall love but Thy good pleasure, utter only Thy praise, follow only the pathway of truth.”

(From a Prayer by `Abdu’l-Baha, “Selections from theWritings of `Abdu’l-Baha”, p. 232)

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“Love ye all religions and all races with a love that is true and sincere and show that love through deeds and not through tongue; for the latter hath no importance, as the majority of men are, in speech, well-wishers, while action is the best.”

(Revealed by `Abdu’l-Baha, “Selections from the Writings of `Abdu’l-Baha”, p. 69)

War is darkness.  It is immensely destructive, terribly inhuman, unimaginably negative and unfortunate.  In whatever measure the darkness may vanish and disappear, to that extent the light and felicity would take its place.  Of course, there is another way of looking at it as well:  once a light is kindled, however dimly and just a seemingly frail, perturbed and weak flame dancing over a wick, the darkness fears away instantly and diminishes.  The greater the flame and its light, the lighter would be the density of the darkness.  Because, "darkness has no existence; it is only the absence of light". Soon as the light comes to light and is presented, the non-existence disappears and withers away.  On this evident logic and lucid thought, however we may have doubts, ever-disappointed and long on disbelief that "peace"—the real one that is and not the quiet submission and break in conflicts and dissention—could and shall indeed one day be materialized, through the logic, intelligence, and the powers of heart and spirit, we should be able to acquire fair and firm conviction that attentive and conscious efforts and universal focus on the theme, done genuinely, resolutely, and with good-will could indeed contribute greatly to the forces of light, dissipating the darkness, pushing the humanity closer and nearer to the state of "no war".  A stage which while surely is a significant peak on its own and endeavoring to attain it is highly meritorious, is of course not enough.  Once there and standing unburdened and free in celebration and glory, as we turn our visions to the refreshing magnificent sights all around, overwhelmed by awe and enraptured in thrill we shall witness the loftier peaks rising majestically in front of our eyes, chained one after and higher than the other, heralding and leading to the apex of the splendid glory, the culmination of long-awaited promise made by all the Religions of God, having invited and moving the humanity in progressive stages towards its worthy destination and perfection—the realization of the Most Great Peace.

“Blessed is he who mingleth with all people in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.”

(“Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah”, p. 334)

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