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Quote of the Day

andyjamal

servant
"O peoples of the earth! God, the Eternal Truth, is My witness that streams of fresh and soft-flowing waters have gushed from the rocks through the sweetness of the words uttered by your Lord, the Unconstrained; and still ye slumber. Cast away that which ye possess, and, on the wings of detachment, soar beyond all created things. Thus biddeth you the Lord of creation, the movement of Whose Pen hath revolutionized the soul of mankind."

--Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Aqdas, 54
 

andyjamal

servant
"Be generous in prosperity,
and thankful in adversity.
Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbour,
and look upon him with a bright and friendly face.
Be a treasure to the poor,
an admonisher to the rich,
an answerer of the cry of the needy,
a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge.
Be fair in thy judgement,
and guarded in thy speech.
Be unjust to no man,
and show all meekness to all men.
Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness,
a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty,
a haven for the distressed,
an upholder and defender of the
victim of oppression.
Let integrity and uprightness distinguish
all thine acts.
Be a home for the stranger,
a balm to the suffering,
a tower of strength for the fugitive.
Be eyes to the blind,
and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring.
Be an ornament to the countenance of truth,
a crown to the brow of fidelity,
a pillar of the temple of righteousness,
a breath of life to the body of mankind,
an ensign of the hosts of justice,
a luminary above the horizon of virtue,
a dew to the soil of the human heart,
an ark on the ocean of knowledge,
a sun in the heaven of bounty,
a gem on the diadem of wisdom,
a shining light in the firmament
of thy generation,
a fruit upon the tree of humility."

--Baha'u'llah, A Selection of Baha'i Prayers and Holy Writings, pp. 119-120
 

andyjamal

servant
"O ye children of men! The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race, and to foster the spirit of love and fellowship amongst men. Suffer it not to become a source of dissension and discord, of hate and enmity. This is the straight Path, the fixed and immovable foundation. Whatsoever is raised on this foundation, the changes and chances of the world can never impair its strength, nor will the revolution of countless centuries undermine its structure."

--Baha'u'llah, "Excerpts from Some Tablets of Baha'u'llah", A Selection of Baha'i Prayers and Holy Writings, p. 117
 

andyjamal

servant
"Were any of the all-embracing Manifestations of God to declare: 'I am God!' He, verily, speaketh the the truth, and no doubt attacheth thereto. For it hath been repeatedly demonstrated that through their Revelation, their attributes and names, the Revelation of God, His name and His attributes, are made manifest in the world. Thus, He hath revealed: 'Those shafts were God's, not Thine!' (Quran 8:17). And also He saith: 'In truth, they who plighted fealty unto thee, really plighted that fealty unto God.' (Quran 48:10). And were any of them to voice the utterance: 'I am the Messenger of God,' He also speaketh the truth, the indubitable truth. Even as He saith: 'Muhammed is not the father of any man among you, but He is the Messenger of god.' (Quran 33:40). Viewed in this light, they are all but Messengers of that ideal King, that unchangeable Essence. And were they all to proclaim: 'I am the seal of the Prophets,' they verily utter but the truth, beyond the faintest shadow of doubt. For they are all but one person, one soul, one spirit, one being, one revelation. They are all the manifestation of the 'Beginning' and the 'End,' the 'First' and the 'Last,' the 'Seen' and 'Hidden'--all of which pertain to Him Who is the innermost Spirit of Spirits and eternal Essence of Essences. And were they to say: 'We are the servants of God,' this also is a manifest and indisputable fact. For they have been made manifest in the uttermost state of servitude, a servitude the like of which no man can possibly attain. Thus in moments in which these Essences of being were deeply immersed beneath the oceans of ancient and everlasting holiness, or when they soared to the loftiest summits of divine mysteries, they claimed their utterance to be the Voice of divinity, the Call of God Himself. Were the eye of discernment to be opened, it would recognize that in this very state, they have considered themselves utterly effaced and non-existent in the face of him Who is the All-Pervading, the Incorruptible. Methinks, they have regarded themselves as utter nothingness, and deemed their mention in that Court an act of blasphemy. For the slightest whispering of self, within such a Court, is an evidence of self-assertion and independent existence. In the eyes of them that have attained unto that Court, such a suggestion is itself a grievous transgression. How much more grievous would it be, were aught else to be mentioned in that Presence, were man's heart, his tongue, his mind, or his soul, to be busied with anyone but the Well-Beloved, were his eyes to behold any countenance other than His beauty, were his ear to be inclined to any melody but His voice, and were his feet to tread any way but His way."

-Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Iqan, pp. 178-180
 

Lloyd

Member
Justice is, in this day, bewailing its plight, and Equity groaneth beneath the yoke of oppression. The thick clouds of tyranny have darkened the face of the earth, and enveloped its peoples. Through the movement of Our Pen of glory We have, at the bidding of the omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new life into every human frame, and instilled into every word a fresh potency. All created things proclaim the evidences of this world-wide regeneration. This is the most great, the most joyful tidings imparted by the Pen of this Wronged One to mankind. Wherefore fear ye, O My well-beloved ones? Who is it that can dismay you? A touch of moisture sufficeth to dissolve the hardened 85 clay out of which this perverse generation is moulded. The mere act of your gathering together is enough to scatter the forces of these vain and worthless people.

(Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 84)
 

andyjamal

servant
"... the divine religions of the holy Manifestations of God are in reality one, though in name and nomenclature they differ. Man must be a lover of the light, no matter from what dayspring it may appear. He must be a lover of the rose, no matter in what soil it may be growing. He must be a seeker of the truth, no matter from what source it may come. Attachment to the lantern is not loving the light. Attachment to the earth is not befitting, but enjoyment of the rose which develops from the soil is worthy. Devotion to the tree is profitless, but partaking of the fruit is beneficial. Luscious fruits, no matter upon what tree they grow or where they may be found, must be enjoyed. The word of truth, no matter which tongue utters it, must be sanctioned. Absolute verities, no matter in what book they be recorded, must be accepted. If we harbor prejudice, it will be the cause of deprivation and ignorance. The strife between religions, nations, and races arises from misunderstanding. If we investigate the religions to discover the principles underlying their foundations, we will find they agree; for the fundamental reality of them is one and not multiple. By this means the religionists of the world will reach their point of unity and reconciliation. They will ascertain the truth that the purpose of religion is the acquisition of praiseworthy virtues, the betterment of morals, the spiritual development of mankind, the real life and divine bestowals. All the Prophets have been the promoters of these principles; none of Them has been the promoter of corruption, vice or evil. They have summoned mankind to all good. They have united people in the love of God, invited them to the religions of the unity of mankind and exhorted them to amity and agreement.", "...we do not mean the limitation implied in the mere names but intend the virtues which these names embody.", "These perfections and graces are not limited to names and boundaries.", "If we are lovers of the light, we adore it in whatever lamp it may become manifest, but if we love the lamp itself and the light is transferred to another lamp, we will neither accept nor sanction it. Therefore we must follow and adore the virtues revealed in the Messengers of God ... but we must not adhere to and adore the lamp. We must recognize the sun, no matter from what dawning point it may shine forth ... for we are lovers of sunlight and not of orientation. We are lovers of illumination and not of lamps and candles. We are seekers for water, no matter from what rock it may gush forth. We are in need of fruit in whatsoever orchard it may be ripened. We long for rain; it matters not which cloud pours it down. We must not be fettered. If we renounce these fetters, we shall agree, for all are seekers of reality. The counterfeit or imitation of true religion has adulterated human belief, and the foundations have been lost sight of. The variance of these imitations has produced enmity and strife, war and bloodshed. Now ... the divine bounty is radiating universally. The Sun of Truth is shining forth in intense enkindlement. ... these limitations must be forsaken, superstitions abandoned and God alone worshipped. We must look at the reality of the Prophets and Their teachings in order that we may agree."

--Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, pp. 151-153
 

andyjamal

servant
"In this manner they reached the the shrine of Shaykh Tabarsi. The first words that fell from the lips of Quddus after he had dismounted and leaned against the shrine were the following: 'The Baqiyyatu'llah [Remnant of God] will be best for you if ye are of those who believe.' (Quran, 11:85) By this utterance was fulfilled the prophecy of Muhammed as recorded in the following tradition: 'And when the Mihdi is manifest, He shall lean His back against the Ka'bih and shall address to the three hundred and thirteen followers who will have grouped around Him, these words: "The Baqiyyatu'llah will be best for you if ye are of those who believe."' By 'Baqiyyatu'llah' Quddus meant none other than Baha'u'llah. To this testified Mulla Mirza Muhammed-i-Furughi, who related to me the following: 'I myself was present when Quddus alighted from his horse. I saw him lean against the shrine and utter those same words. No sooner had he spoken them than he made mention of Baha'u'llah and, turning to Mulla Husayn, enquired about Him. He was informed that unless God decreed to the contrary, He had signified His intention to return to this place before the first day of Muharram. (November 27, 1848 A.D.)

...
Quddus, on his arrival at the shrine Shaykh Tabarsi, charged Mulla Husayn to ascertain the number of the assembled companions. One by one he counted them and passed them in through the gate of the fort: three hundred and twelve in all. He himself was entering the fort in order to aquaint Quddus with the result, when a youth, who had hastened all the way on foot from Barfarush, suddenly rushed in and, seizing the hem of his garment, pleaded to be enrolled among the companions and to be allowed to lay down his life, whenever required, in the path of the Beloved. His wish was readily granted. When Quddus was informed of the total number of the companions, he remarked: 'Whatever the tongue of the Prophet of god has spoken concerning the promised One must needs be fulfilled, [The assembling of three hundred and thirteen chosen supporters of the imam in Taliqan of Khurasan is one of the signs that must needs herald the advent of the promised Qa'im. (E.G. Browne's "A History of Persian Literature in Modern Times", p. 399)] that thereby His testimony may be complete in the eyes of those divines who esteem themselves as the sole interpreters of the law and traditions of Islam. Through them will the people recognise the truth and acknowledge the fulfillment of these traditions.'"
--Nabil-i-Azam, The Dawn-Breakers (Nabil's Narrative), pp. 352-354
 

andyjamal

servant
An essential principle of Baha'u'llah's teaching is that religion must be the cause of unity and love amongst men; that it is the supreme effulgence of Divinity, the stimulus of life, the source of honor and productive of eternal existence. Religion is not intended to arouse enmity and hatred nor to become the source of tyranny and injustice. Should it prove to be the cause of hostility, discord and the alienation of mankind, assuredly the absence of religion would be preferable. Religious teachings are like a course of treatment having for its purpose the cure and healing of mankind. If the only outcome of a course of treatment be mere diagnosis and fruitless discussion of symptoms, it would be better to abandon and abolish it. In this sense the absence of religion would be at least some progress toward unity.

Furthermore, religion must conform to reason and be in accord with the conclusions of science. For religion, reason and science are realities; therefore, these three, being realities, must conform and be reconciled. A question or principle which is religious in nature must be sanctioned by science. Science must declare it to be valid, and reason must confirm it in order that it may may inspire confidence. If religious teaching, however, be at variance with science and reason, it is unquestionably superstition. The Lord of mankind has bestowed upon us the faculty of reason whereby we may discern the realities of things. How then can man rightfully accept any proposition which is not in conformity with the processes of reason and the principles of science? Assuredly such a course cannot inspire man with confidence and real belief.
Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 394
 

andyjamal

servant
"The scent of flowers is carried
No farther than the wind allows,
Neither the sandalwood, tagar, nor jasmine.
But the fragrance of the deeds of good men
spreads
To the ends of the earth, in all directions,
Regardless of the wind."

--Buddha, The Dhammapada, 4:11
 

andyjamal

servant
" There is a Persian story of a thief who, in order to rob a certain house went to work to undermine the foundations. The owner of the house happened to be on the roof and looking down discovered the thief and asked what he was doing. The man replied, 'I am trumpeting.' 'Trumpeting!' exclaimed the owner. 'Why are you not making any noise?' 'Oh no,' answered the thief, 'you will hear the noise tommorrow.'"

--Abdu'l-Baha, Stories Told By Abdu'l-Baha, 102
 

andyjamal

servant
Tablet revealed by Baha'u'llah entitled "Qad-Ihtaraqa 'l-Mukhlisun"

In the Name of God, the Most Ancient, the Most Great.

Indeed the hearts of the sincere are consumed in the fire of seperation:
Where is the gleaming of the light of Thy Countenance, O Beloved of the worlds?

Those who are near unto Thee have been abandoned in the darkness of desolation:
Where is the shining of the morn of Thy reunion, O Desire of the worlds?

The bodies of Thy chosen ones lie quivering on distant sands:
Where is the ocean of Thy presence, O Enchanter of the worlds?

Longing hands are uplifted to the heaven of Thy grace and generosity:
Where are the rains of Thy bestowal, O Answerer of the worlds?

The infidels have arisen in tyranny on every hand:
Where is the compelling power of Thine ordaining pen, O Conqueror of the worlds?

The barking of dogs is loud on every side:
Where is the lion of the forest of Thy might, O Chastiser of the worlds?

Coldness hath gripped all mankind:
Where is the warmth of Thy love, O Fire of the worlds?

Darkness hath enveloped most of the peoples:
Where is the brightness of Thy splendour, O Radiance of the worlds?

The necks of men are stretched out in malice:
Where are the swords of Thy vengeance, O Destroyer of the worlds?

Abasement hath reached its lowest depth:
Where are the emblems of Thy glory, O Glory of the worlds?

Sorrows have afflicted the revealer of Thy Name, the All-Merciful:
Where is the joy of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, O Delight of the worlds?

Anguish hath befallen all the peoples of the earth:
Where are the ensigns of Thy gladness, O Joy of the worlds?

Thou seest the Dawning Place of Thy signs veiled by evil suggestions:
Where are the fingers of Thy might, O Power of the worlds?

Sore thirst hath overcome all men:
Where is the river of Thy bounty, O Mercy of the worlds?

Greed hath made captive all mankind:
Where are the embodiments of detachment, O Lord of the worlds?

Thou seest this Wronged One lonely in exile:
Where are the hosts of the heaven of Thy command, O Sovereign of the worlds?

I have been forsaken in a foreign land:
Where are the emblems of Thy faithfulness, O Trust of the worlds?

The agonies of death have laid hold on all men:
Where is the surging of Thine ocean of eternal life, O Life of the worlds?

The whisperings of Satan have been breathed to every creature:
Where is the meteor of Thy fire, O Light of the worlds?

The drunkenness of passion hath perverted most of mankind:
Where are the daysprings of purity, O Desire of the worlds?

Thou seest this Wronged One veiled in tyranny among the Syrians:
Where is the radiance of Thy dawning light, O Light of the worlds?

Thou seest Me forbidden to speak forth:
Then from where will spring Thy melodies, O Nightingale of the worlds?

Most of the people are enwrapped in fancy and idle imaginings:
Where are the exponents of Thy certitude, O Assurance of the worlds?

Baha is drowning in a sea of tribulation:
Where is the Ark of Thy salvation, O Saviour of the worlds?

Thou seest the Dayspring of Thine utterance in the darkness of creation:
Where is the sun of the heaven of Thy grace, O Lightgiver of the worlds?

The lamps of truth and purity, of loyalty and honour, have been put out:
Where are the signs of Thine avenging wrath, O Mover of the worlds?

Canst Thou see any who have championed Thy Self, or who ponder on what hath befallen Him in the pathway of Thy love?
Now My pen doth halt, O Beloved of the worlds.

The branches of the Divine Lote-Tree lie broken by the onrushing gales of destiny:
Where are the banners of Thy succour, O Champion of the worlds?

This Face is hidden in the dust of slander:
Where are the breezes of Thy compassion, O Mercy of the worlds?

The robe of sanctity is sullied by the people of deceit:
Where is the vesture of Thy holiness, O Adorner of the worlds?

The sea of grace is stilled for what the hands of men hath wrought:
Where are the waves of Thy bounty, O Desire of the worlds?

The door leading to the Divine Presence is locked through the tyranny of Thy foes:
Where is the key of Thy bestowal. O Unlocker of the worlds?

The leaves are yellowed by the poisoning winds of sedition:
Where is the downpour of the clouds of Thy bounty, O Giver of the worlds?

The universe is darkened with the dust of sin:
Where are the breezes of Thy forgiveness, O Forgiver of the worlds?

This Youth is lonely in a desolate land:
Where is the rain of Thy heavenly grace, O Bestower of the worlds?

O Supreme Pen, We have heard Thy most sweet call in the eternal realm:
Give Thou ear unto what the Tongue of Grandeur uttereth, O Wronged One of the worlds!

Were it not for the cold,
How would the heat of Thy words prevail, O Expounder of the worlds?

Were it not for calamity,
How would the sun of Thy patience shine, O Light of the worlds?

Lament not because of the wicked.
Thou wert created to bear and endure, O Patience of the worlds.

How sweet was Thy dawning on the horizon of the Covenant among the stirrers of sedition,
and Thy yearning after God, O Love of the worlds.

By Thee the banner of independence was planted on the highest peaks,
and the sea of bounty surged, O Rapture of the worlds.

By Thine aloneness the Sun of Oneness shone,
and by Thy banishment the land of Unity was adorned. Be patient, O Thou Exile of the worlds.

We have made abasement the garment of glory,
and affliction the adornment of Thy temple, O Pride of the worlds.

Thou seest the hearts are filled with hate,
and to overlook is Thine, O Thou Concealer of the sins of the worlds.

When the swords flash, go forward!
When the shafts fly, press onward! O Thou Sacrifice of the worlds.

Dost Thou wail, or shall I wail? Rather shall I weep at the fewness of Thy champions,
O Thou Who hast caused the wailing of the worlds.

Verily, I have heard Thy Call, O All-Glorious Beloved; and now is the face of Baha flaming with the heat of tribulation and with the fire of Thy shining word, and He hath risen up in faithfulness at the place of sacrifice, looking toward Thy pleasure, O Ordainer of the worlds.
 

arthra

Baha'i
O COMPANION OF MY THRONE!

Hear no evil, and see no evil, abase not thyself, neither sigh and weep. Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that thine own abasement be not exposed. Live then the days of thy life, that are less than a fleeting moment, with thy mind stainless, thy heart unsullied, thy thoughts pure, and thy nature sanctified, so that, free and content, thou mayest put away this mortal frame, and repair unto the mystic paradise and abide in the eternal kingdom for evermore.

~ Baha'u'llah
 

arthra

Baha'i
O Thou Whose tests are a healing medicine to such as are nigh unto Thee, Whose sword is the ardent desire of all them that love Thee, Whose dart is the dearest wish of those hearts that yearn after Thee, Whose decree is the sole hope of them that have recognized Thy truth! I implore Thee, by Thy divine sweetness and by the splendors of the glory of Thy face, to send down upon us from Thy retreats on high that which will enable us to draw nigh unto Thee. Set, then, our feet firm, O my God, in Thy Cause, and enlighten our hearts with the effulgence of Thy knowledge, and illumine our breasts with the brightness of Thy names.
— Bahá'u'lláh, Bahá'í Prayers
 

arthra

Baha'i
O SON OF SPIRIT!
The bird seeketh its nest; the nightingale the charm of the rose; whilst those birds, the hearts of men, content with transient dust, have strayed far from their eternal nest, and with eyes turned towards the slough of heedlessness are bereft of the glory of the divine presence. Alas! How strange and pitiful; for a mere cupful, they have turned away from the billowing seas of the Most High, and remained far from the most effulgent horizon.

— Bahá'u'lláh,
 

arthra

Baha'i
O MY FRIENDS!
Quench ye the lamp of error, and kindle within your hearts the everlasting torch of divine guidance. For ere long the assayers of mankind shall, in the holy presence of the Adored, accept naught but purest virtue and deeds of stainless holiness.

— Bahá'u'lláh,


 

arthra

Baha'i
The mystic and wondrous Bride, hidden ere this beneath the veiling of utterance, hath now, by the grace of God and His divine favor, been made manifest even as the resplendent light shed by the beauty of the Beloved. I bear witness, O friends! that the favor is complete, the argument fulfilled, the proof manifest and the evidence established. Let it now be seen what your endeavors in the path of detachment will reveal. In this wise hath the divine favor been fully vouchsafed unto you and unto them that are in heaven and on earth. All praise to God, the Lord of all Worlds.
— Bahá'u'lláh,
 

arthra

Baha'i
A prayer often said by children:

O God, guide me, protect me, illumine the lamp of my heart and make me a brilliant star. Thou art the Mighty and the Powerful.

- 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers
 

arthra

Baha'i
O SON OF BOUNTY!Out of the wastes of nothingness, with the clay of My command I made thee to appear, and have ordained for thy training every atom in existence and the essence of all created things. Thus, ere thou didst issue from thy mother's womb, I destined for thee two founts of gleaming milk, eyes to watch over thee, and hearts to love thee. Out of My loving-kindness, 'neath the shade of My mercy I nurtured thee, and guarded thee by the essence of My grace and favor. And My purpose in all this was that thou mightest attain My everlasting dominion and become worthy of My invisible bestowals. And yet heedless thou didst remain, and when fully grown, thou didst neglect all My bounties and occupied thyself with thine idle imaginings, in such wise that thou didst become wholly forgetful, and, turning away from the portals of the Friend didst abide within the courts of My enemy.
— Bahá'u'lláh,
 

arthra

Baha'i
O my God! O my God! Glory be unto Thee for that Thou hast confirmed me to the confession of Thy oneness, attracted me unto the word of Thy singleness, enkindled me by the fire of Thy love, and occupied me with Thy mention and the service of Thy friends and maidservants.O Lord, help me to be meek and lowly, and strengthen me in severing myself from all things and in holding to the hem of the garment of Thy glory, so that my heart may be filled with Thy love and leave no space for love of the world and attachment to its qualities.O God! Sanctify me from all else save Thee, purge me from the dross of sins and transgressions, and cause me to possess a spiritual heart and conscience.Verily, Thou art merciful and, verily, Thou art the Most Generous, Whose help is sought by all men.

— 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers
 

arthra

Baha'i
http://www.fido.sakhalin.ru/vega/space2/images/hubble_quintuplet_1280.jpg

Praise be to Him through Whose splendours the earth and the heavens are aglow, through Whose fragrant breathings the gardens of holiness that adorn the hearts of the chosen are trembling for joy, to Him Who hath shed His light and brightened the face of the firmament. Verily there appeared luminous and sparkling stars, glittering, shining out, and casting forth their rays upon the supreme horizon. They derived their grace and brilliance from the bounties of the Abhá Realm, then, stars of guidance, they poured down their lights upon this earth.

- Abdul-Baha
http://www.fido.sakhalin.ru/vega/space2/images/hubble_quintuplet_1280.jpg
 
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