“If our chalice is full of self, there is no room in it for the water of life.”

If five people meet together to seek for truth, they must begin by cutting themselves free from all their own special conditions and renouncing all preconceived ideas. In order to find truth we must give up our prejudices, our own small trivial notions; an open receptive mind is essential. If our chalice is full of self, there is no room in it for the water of life. The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity, and unity is necessary if we would reach truth, for truth is one.

Therefore it is imperative that we should renounce our own particular prejudices and superstitions if we earnestly desire to seek the truth. Unless we make a distinction in our minds between dogma, superstition and prejudice on the one hand, and truth on the other, we cannot succeed. When we are in earnest in our search for anything we look for it everywhere. This principle we must carry out in our search for truth.

America’s role in establishing “the foundation of international agreement”, in proclaiming “the universality of mankind”, in upraising “the standard of the Most Great Peace”

May this American democracy be the first nation to establish the foundation of international agreement. May it be the first nation to proclaim the universality of mankind. May it be the first to upraise the standard of the Most Great Peace, and through this nation of democracy may these philanthropic intentions and institutions be spread broadcast throughout the world. Truly, this is a great and revered nation. Here liberty has reached its highest degree. The intentions of its people are most praiseworthy. They are, indeed, worthy of being the first to build the Tabernacle of the Most Great Peace and proclaim the oneness of mankind. I will supplicate God for assistance and confirmation in your behalf. (Abdu'l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given in Washington DC; The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 37) (To read the entire talk please visit Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

How to “attract divine bounties”

Endeavor to keep your hearts sanctified and your intentions pure so that you may attract divine bounties. Remember, although the sun shines equally on all things, yet in the mirror its effulgence is intense, and not in the dark stone. The cause of this intensity and heat in the glass is its purity; without purity and cleanliness, these effects would never appear in it. Similarly, if rain fall on barren land, it produces nothing, but if it fall on pure fertile land, it makes it verdant and causes it to yield a harvest. This is the day in which only pure and chaste hearts can derive benefit from the eternal bounties and only pious souls can receive light from the ever-existent splendors. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from a talk given during His last day in Chicago, The Diary of Mirza Mahmud-i-Zarqani, p. 80) (To see the entire talk please visit Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)

“When your heart is filled with the love of God there will be no room for sorrow.”

He [‘Abdu’l-Baha] asked me about myself, if I were well and if I were happy. I replied to thr latter question: “I have had many sorrows.” “Forget them!” he answered. “When your heart is filled with the love of God there will be no room for sorrow. There will only be love and happiness.” I can not tell you the sweet sympathy of his voice as he said these beautiful and comforting words. (Excerpt from 'An Interview with ‘Abdu’l-Baha', a letter written by an American visiting Palestine to her Baha’i friend in the States, Star of the West , vol. 1 no. 9, August 20, 1910)

Knowledge is secondary in importance to devotion

A humble man without learning, but filled with the Holy Spirit, is more powerful than the most nobly born, profound scholar without that inspiration. ('Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 156)

"Mental faculties are in truth of the inherent properties of the soul"

Mental faculties are in truth of the inherent properties of the soul, even as the radiation of light is the essential property of the sun. The rays of the sun are renewed but the sun itself is ever the same and unchanged. Consider how the human intellect develops and weakens, and may at times come to naught, whereas the soul changes not. For the mind to manifest itself, the human body must be whole; and a sound mind cannot be but in a sound body, whereas the soul depends not upon the body. It is through the power of the soul that the mind comprehends, imagines and exerts its influence, while the soul is a power that is free. The mind comprehends the abstract by the aid of the concrete, but the soul has limitless manifestations of its own. The mind is circumscribed, the soul limitless. It is by the aid of such senses as those of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch that the mind comprehends, whereas the soul is free from all agencies. The soul, as you observe, whether it be in sleep or waking, is in motion and ever active. Possibly it may, while in a dream, unravel an intricate problem, incapable of solution in the waking state. The mind, moreover, understands not while the senses have ceased to function, and in the embryonic stage and in early infancy the reasoning power is totally absent, whereas the soul is ever endowed with full strength. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpts from a Tablet to Dr. August Forel, The Baha’i World, 1926-1928, p.64)

Our desire in life should be for spirituality and for union with God

Some of the people of the earth desire conquest over others: some of them are longing for rest and ease; others desire a high position; some desire to become famous: -- thank God our desire is for spirituality and for union with God. (‘Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 46)

Human beings are “the highest specialized organism of visible creation”

If we look with a perceiving eye upon the world of creation, we find that all existing things may be classified as follows: first, mineral -- that is to say, matter or substance appearing in various forms of composition; second, vegetable -- possessing the virtues of the mineral plus the power of augmentation or growth, indicating a degree higher and more specialized than the mineral; third, animal -- possessing the attributes of the mineral and vegetable plus the power of sense perception; fourth, human -- the highest specialized organism of visible creation, embodying the qualities of the mineral, vegetable and animal plus an ideal endowment absolutely absent in the lower kingdoms -- the power of intellectual investigation into the mysteries of outer phenomena. The outcome of this intellectual endowment is science, which is especially characteristic of man. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 29)

What is the Truth?

“‘Abdu’l-Baha was asked, ‘What is the truth’. He replied, ‘Truth is the Word of God, which gives life to humanity. It restores sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf; it makes eloquent those who are dumb, and living beings out of dead beings; it illuminates the world of the heart and soul; it reduces to nothingness the iniquities of the neglectful and erring ones. Beauty, perfection, brilliancy and spirituality of this existence come from or through the Word of God. For all it is the supreme goal, the greatest desire, the cause of life, light, instruction. The road to attain to this Truth is the Love of God. When the light of the Love of God is burning in the mirror of the heart, that flame shows the way and guides to the Kingdom of the Word of God.’

“’As to that which causes the growth of the love of God, know that it is to turn one's self toward God.’" (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted in the Introductory section of the book: The Baha’i Revelation, by Thornton Chase, 1909)

Our “rational soul” or “mind” has a “potential existence before its appearance in human life”

In the human, worldly soul signifies the "rational being, or mind." This has a potential existence before its appearance in human life. It is like unto the existence of a tree within the seed. The existence of the tree within the seed is potential: but when the seed is sown and watered, the signs thereof, its roots and branches, and all of its different qualities, appear. Likewise, the "rational soul" has a potential existence before its appearance in the human body, and through the mixture of elements and a wonderful combination, according to the natural order, law, conception, and birth, it appears with its identity.

What happens to one's spirit after it leaves the body

Thou has asked concerning the spirit and its immortality after its departure. Know thou that at the time of its translation it ascends and ascends until it reaches the presence of God, clothed in a temple (body) which will not become subject to the changes wrought by ages and cycles, nor by the contingencies of the world, nor the emanations thereof.
It will continue to exist through the eternity of the Kingdom of God -- its sovereignty, its dominion, its potency. From it will appear the signs of God and his qualities, the providence of God and his bestowal. Verily the pen is unable to move in a befitting manner in explaining this truth -- its exaltation and loftiness.

Question: "How can one love another whose personality is unpleasant?”

Answer: ''We are creatures of the same God. We must therefore love all as children of God even though they are doing us harm. Christ loved his persecutors. It is possible for us to attain to that love. God manifested his love by creating man in His own image. Man must manifest his love by developing himself and others more and more in the image of God. The true fruit of man is, therefore, love. The purpose of a tree is to produce fruit. Man is like a tree; his fruit should be love." (‘Abdul-Baha, Unity Through Love; p. 27; Star of the West, vol. 8, no. 10, Sept. 1917)

We each have two types of susceptibilities – physical and spiritual in character

Man is possessed of two types of susceptibilities. One is physical, the other spiritual, in character.

Physical susceptibilities have certain avenues of expression, and spiritual susceptibilities likewise have their avenues. The physical or material susceptibilities have their channels of expression in the physical realm. Earthly fraternity is due either to a family relationship, or to a commercial bond, or to a bond of love based upon policy or politics, or to a racial bond which supplies that affection, or to a bond patriotic in foundation. These are physical susceptibilities and ordinary outward love.

But spiritual susceptibilities, namely, real love and heavenly fraternity, emanate through divine channels. They emanate from faith, or they emanate from knowledge, or they emanate from the bounty of the Holy Spirit or they emanate from the effulgence of the Sun of Reality.

The soul of the unbeliever and the spiritually defective

Question: "You have made it clear to us that the soul is immortal, but what will become of the soul of the wicked and the unbeliever in the next world?

‘Abdu'l Baha: realities and souls or spirits are immortal. Even the soul of the unbeliever and the spiritually defective are immortal. But when these are compared with holy souls and sanctified spirits, they are not worth mentioning. It is just like this wood, which has an existence, but in comparison to the existence of man, it is as if nonexistent. (Quoted by Dr. Zia Baghdadi, one of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s translators during His visit to the West; Star of the West, Vol. 19, no. 12, March 1929)

The mind is superior to the soul – the soul being “that power which is the mover of this physical body”

… By soul we mean that power which is the mover of this physical body which is entirely under its control and lives in accordance with its dictates. The soul that lives in the material world is dark for in the material world there is aggression, struggles greed, vice and transgression. If the soul remains in this station, and moves along these paths it will receive no uplift, but if it becomes the recipient of the world of mind, its darkness will be transformed into light; its tyranny into justice, its ignorance into wisdom and its aggression into loving kindness. There will be no more struggle for existence and man will become free from egotism. He will be released from the material world and become the embodiment of justice, the personification of the virtues. He will become a sanctified soul and be the means of the illumination of the world of humanity and an honor to human kind. He will confer life upon the children of men so that all nations will attain to the station of perfection. To such a person we may apply the name of "a holy soul."
The soul in itself cannot unravel the mysteries; but the mind is superior to the soul. The mind is a power whereby man can investigate the reality of every object. It unfolds to his vision the secrets of existence and leads him on and on to the station of divine sublimity. It frees man from the fetters of self and causes him to ascend to the pure heaven of sanctity. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, a talk given on January 30, 1913, at 30 rue St. Didier Paris; from Persian notes, translated by Ahmad Sohrab; Star of the West, vol. IV, no. 2, April 9, 1913)

Criteria to use to check the validity of a Prophet of God

… the proofs of the validity and inspiration of a Prophet of God are the deeds of beneficent accomplishment and greatness emanating from Him. If He proves to be instrumental in the elevation and betterment of mankind, He is undoubtedly a valid and heavenly Messenger. (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 366)

Proof of nobility

Anybody can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of nobility. (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 263)

Divine Manifestation represents God, but not in Essence

Question: Is the Divine Manifestation, God?

'Abdu'l-Baha: Yes, and yet not in Essence. A Divine Manifestation is as a mirror reflecting the light of the Sun. The light is the same and yet the mirror is not the Sun. All the Manifestations of God bring the same Light; they only differ in degree, not in reality. The Truth is one. The light is the same though the lamps may be different; we must look at the Light not at the Lamp. If we accept the Light in one, we must accept the Light in all; all agree, because all are the same. The teaching is ever the same, it is only the outward forms that change. ('Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 66)

Love is ...

Love is the breath of the Holy Spirit in the heart of Man ('Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 30)

A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love

When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 28)

Personality, Individuality and Character of a Human Being

Personality is one of two kinds. One is the natural or God-given personality which the Western thinkers call individuality. Individuality is the inner aspect of man which is not subject to change. The second is personality. Personality is the acquired virtues and perfections, with which man is adorned.
When the individuality of man, i.e., his God-given natural virtues, is adorned with acquired virtues and perfections then we have character. When the infinite effulgences of God are revealed in the individual, then divine perfections which are invisible in all creation will become manifest in him. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, excerpt from an address given on Feb. 14, 1913 at 30 rue St. Didier, Paris; Star of the West, Vol. IV, No. 2)

The Divine Reality is to man what the sun is to the earth

The Divine Reality is to man what the sun is to the earth. The sun is life, radiance, heat, energy, power. The earth is dead, inert, helpless, incapable of initiative or change. It is poor, cold, and without resources.

The sun in its remoteness could never reach the earth, and the earth, wretched indifferent clod, could never attain to the glory and splendor of the sun. In order that one may gain the other, that life and fragrance may come to the helpless earth floating alone in dim space, there must be an intermediary. In some way the life-giving power of the radiant sun must be brought to the sodden earth, and this becomes possible through the media of light and heat. Through their means the glory of the distant luminary is transmitted to the dark ball of earth, and instantly it becomes the home of fragrance and blooming life. The glory of the magnificent source of light touches our dim planet and banishes death and darkness.

As there must be an intermediary to transmit to earth the life-giving power of the sun, so there must be an intermediary to bring God to man, and this is found through the ever-present efficacy of the Holy Spirit. As the media of light and heat carry fragrance and bloom to the earth, so the intermediary of the Holy Spirit brings to man warmth, perfection and inspiration. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Star of the West, vol. II, no. 14, November 1911)

The oneness of humanity and its happiness are dependent on the equality of man and woman

And let it be known once more that until woman and man recognize and realize equality, social and political progress here or anywhere will not be possible. For the world of humanity consists of two parts or members: one is woman; the other is man. Until these two members are equal in strength, the oneness of humanity cannot be established, and the happiness and felicity of mankind will not be a reality. God willing, this is to be so.(The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 76)

How to express our opinion when consulting

… consultation must have for its object the investigation of truth. He who expresses an opinion should not voice it as correct and right but set it forth as a contribution to the consensus of opinion, for the light of reality becomes apparent when two opinions coincide. A spark is produced when flint and steel come together. Man should weigh his opinions with the utmost serenity, calmness and composure. Before expressing his own views he should carefully consider the views already advanced by others. If he finds that a previously expressed opinion is more true and worthy, he should accept it immediately and not willfully hold to an opinion of his own. By this excellent method he endeavors to arrive at unity and truth. Opposition and division are deplorable. (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 72)

A person will eventually realize the love of the Creator

One day He said to me: “The child does not realize the love of the parent, but when it becomes mature, it knows.” “Can the creature,” I asked, “ever realize the love of the Creator “Yes, if not in this world, then in the next -- as a sleeping one awakens.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, quoted by Juliet Thompson, Star of the West, vol. II, no.14, November 1911)

Magnetism of the Word of God is sincerity of intention

You must give up all differences among you – differences of opinion – and all work for the same aim. You must be qualified with divine attributes, so that the Word of God may assist you, so that the bounties of God may descend upon you. And know that without the help of the Holy Spirit you will not be able to do this. And the magnetism of the Word of God is sincerity of intention. And until you are entirely severed from yourself and emptied of yourself, you will never be sincere enough.

You must entirely sacrifice yourself. You must close your eyes to all rest. You must give up even your happiness and your enjoyment so that you may be able to do this. (Words of 'Abdu'l-Baha, recorded by Juliet Thompson during her visit in Akka, The Diary of Juliet Thompson p, p. 35)

Religion and Science are inter-twined with each other and cannot be separated

Religion and Science are inter-twined with each other and cannot be separated. These are the two wings with which humanity must fly. One wing is not enough. Every religion which does not concern itself with Science is mere tradition, and that is not the essential. Therefore science, education and civilization are most important necessities for the full religious life. (Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 30)

Great causes of separation among people

The great causes of separation among the people are: Racial, political, religious, traditional, personal, and commercial. Baha’u’llah has abolished these. (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, from Discourses given in London and Paris, Star of the West, vol. II, no. 19, March 2, 1912)

Wisdom of attending Baha’i events

Attendance at the gatherings of the friends is specifically to keep them alert, vigilant, loving and attracted to the divine Kingdom. (Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 205)

Body & Spirit

The body is like the crystal and the spirit is like the light. Though the crystal be extremely transparent, its brilliancy and splendor belong to the brightness of the light. To be luminous, the light does not need the crystal, but the crystal to be bright needs the light. Even so the spirit does not live by the body, but the body lives by the spirit.
(From ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s address to the Alliance Spiritualiste of Paris, November 9th, 1911; Star of the West, vol. II, no. 17)