all items by Abdu'l-Bahá, details

Now have we, the beloved of God, gathered together to partake of material and spiritual food... Strive, Strive always that ye may be united... There are two kinds of love... There is something that I especially wish to make you sure of... If you should receive news in America that I have been thrown into the sea

BSC.450 #821x, SW_v12#16 p.254x, SW_v08#10 p.134x, PN_1905 p010, PN_1904 p088x, PN_1905 p011x, BSTW#320

Love and unity; Religion as source of love and unity; Love of God; Nineteen-Day Feast; Spiritual meetings; gatherings; devotional gatherings; feasts; Steadfastness; perseverance; faithfulness; Suffering and imprisonment; Transience; worthlessness of the physical world; Unity; oneness of humanity

ABU0671

Words to MacNutts et al around Jan. 1905

440

There is something especially I wish to make you sure of…. Until real firmness is established among the believers in New York, individually and together, there will be no result.

PN_1905 p015

Consolation and comfort; Firmness in the Covenant; Prayer for firmness in the Covenant; Growth of the Cause; Mary Magdalene; Saint Peter and Saint Paul; Steadfastness; perseverance; faithfulness; Suffering and imprisonment

ABU1711

Words to Madam J, spoken on 1904-04-15

180

Yes, I know, and the more you think to know the reason the less you can solve the problem... Man erroneously thinks his happiness comes from the world

PN_1904 p021, PN_1904 p029

Happiness; joyfulness; joy and sorrow; Human reality created in the image of God; Material and spiritual existence; two books; Suffering and imprisonment; Transience; worthlessness of the physical world; Trust and reliance in God; turning to Him at all times

ABU2606

Words to Madam J, spoken on 1904-04-15

No, no, one never returns here, for this world is a school where the soul of man learns its first lessons in spirituality

PN_1904 p021, PN_1904 p030, PN_1904 p093, BSTW#180c

Reincarnation; Soul; spirit after death; Spiritual transformation; Wine as symbol of spiritual transformation; Existence; immortality of the human soul; The human soul; The human soul at midpoint of creation; the isthmus [barzakh]; Two aspects of the human soul; the higher and lower natures; Transience; worthlessness of the physical world

ABU3490

Words to Madam J, spoken on 1904-04-15

Of course, they can see us and know everything we are doing for that is the world of real sight and sense.

PN_1904 p021, PN_1904 p030, BSTW#180c

Connection between material and spiritual worlds; Soul; spirit after death

ABU2927

Words to Madame D'astre, spoken on 1913-01-29

When a person is a light sleeper, one single touch will awake him, if he sleeps heavily, then one must awake him by shaking him... if even this will not awake the sleeper we will then have to use dynamite.

DAS.1913-01-29

Call to action; Growth of the Cause; Predictions and prophecies; Spiritual transformation; Wine as symbol of spiritual transformation

ABU2935

Words to Madame Laheebe Hashem, spoken on 1913-10-24

Be thou kind to all mankind. Try thy utmost to alleviate their burdens. Enlighten the minds with the light of knowledge.

DAS.1913-10-24

Education of children; moral education; Love and unity; Religion as source of love and unity; Role and station of women; Serving humanity; working for progress, betterment of the world; Steadfastness; perseverance; faithfulness; Teaching the Cause; call to teach

ABU3052

Words to Madame Scaramuchi, spoken on 1913-02-20

The Cause of Bahá'u'lláh is the same as the Cause of Christ. For example this room is now lighted, but someone comes in and turns off the light

DAS.1913-02-20

Changing and unchanging parts of religion; Definitions of a Baha'i; qualities of a Baha'i; Oneness; unity of religion; Progressive revelation; renewal of religion

ABU2082

Words to Mahmud Zarqani, spoken on 1914-06-18

130

You have worked very diligently over the compilation of these two volumes. During the first journey to Europe no one was thinking to do this work. Now and then Mirza Baqir Khan

DAS.1914-06-18

Greatness and influence of the Cause; of this Day; Growth of the Cause; Teaching the Cause; call to teach; Travels to the West by Abdu'l-Baha

ABU3687

Words to Marie Watson et al

150

You must be like these swift-moving, luminous clouds. They move, nothing hinders them. I shall pray for you that you will be like these clouds.

BLO_PN#060

Disregarding individual capacity; weakness; Love and unity; Religion as source of love and unity; Spiritual emotions and susceptibilities; Spiritual prerequisites of teaching the Cause

ABU1473

Words to Marie Watson et al around Aug. 1921

220

Retrogression is a possibility also through egotistic importance. Pride is the greatest sin - perhaps the only sin - leading to every other evil

PN_1921 p002x, PN_1921 p004

Contention and conflict; Education and the development of capacity; Love, unity, and fellowship among the friends; in the Cause; Materialism; material vs. spiritual civilization; Pride; vanity; laying claim to inner knowledge; Scarcity of receptive souls; Spiritual emotions and susceptibilities

ABU1871

Words to Marie Watson et al around Aug. 1921

160

I plant a seed in your mind; if your heart approves it, it will become a tree and bear fruit... When the brain cells in the 'upper chamber' are active, they respond to celestial vibrations... Discerning, conscious souls who comprehend the reality of the divine teachings are few in every age.

ABU0064

Words to Marie Watson et al in Aug. 1921

1440

I have sent for thee. Others have had to ask for permission. I have thus honored thee.... All the believers in this cycle are in the same station when they accept the Manifestation of God and His Teachings. This is the baptism of water...

SW_v16#05 p.518x, PN_1921 p006

Order; organization; tact; deliberation [tadbir]; Serving humanity; working for progress, betterment of the world; Spiritual transformation; Wine as symbol of spiritual transformation; Tests and trials; sacrifice and suffering; Unity in diversity; Word of God and human limitations

ABU3059

Words to Marie Watson et al in Aug. 1921

Tests are not sent as punishment, but to reveal the soul to itself. Suffering unfolds both the strength and the weakness.

PN_1921 p012, BLO_PN#060

Knowledge of self; Self-improvement; self-perfection; discipline; Spiritual transformation; Wine as symbol of spiritual transformation; Tests and trials; sacrifice and suffering

ABU3199

Words to Marie Watson et al in Aug. 1921

Take prejudice, how it grows. First a few people say something disparaging about a person, and generally, there is a fragment of the truth in what they say.

PN_1921 p012, BLO_PN#060

Idle talk; backbiting; speaking ill of others; Prejudice; racial prejudice; class distinction; Unity; oneness of humanity

ABU1317

Words to Mary Hanford Ford around Oct. 1911

240

Bahá'í Scriptures

The utterances of Bahá'u'lláh are to be translated into deeds... It is possible to so adjust oneself to the practice of nobility that its atmosphere surrounds us and colors all our acts

BSC.450 #822x, SW_v07#18 p.188x, PN_1911 p023, BSTW#084x

Corruption and renewal; abandoning religious dogmas; Service to others; to the Cause of God; Unity; oneness of humanity; Walking the spiritual path; spiritual wayfaring; the virtuous life; Words vs deeds

ABU2610

Words to Mary Hanford Ford et al around 1911-10-25

I am very unhappy to see how wicked and uncivilized human beings can be... See what a slight thing will shut off our physical sight, so will a slight indiscretion, a cross word, an adverse criticism shut off the delicate spiritual sight.

SW_v08#11 p.139x, PN_1911 p019, PN_1911 p024

Forces of light and darkness; integration and disintegration; Two kinds of knowledge [ilm and irfan]; sight and insight; War and peace

ABU2370

Words to Mary Hanford Ford in 1910

100

But we are all happy because we have the love of God in our hearts. When the heart is full of the love of God it loses consciousness of the body.

PN_unsorted p150, TOR.160

Love of God; Martyrs and martyrdom; Spiritual emotions and susceptibilities; Tests and trials; sacrifice and suffering; Transcending the material condition

ABU3232

Words to Mary Hanford Ford in 1910

I think we should learn to live in the body as if it were a glass case, through which we can look clearly on all sides. But we must remember that we cannot see through glass unless it is clean, and no one can dust his own case but himself.

TOR.200-201

Occult sciences; psychic phenomena; Self-improvement; self-perfection; discipline; Spiritual transformation; Wine as symbol of spiritual transformation

ABU3450

Words to Mary Hanford Ford, spoken on 1911-10-18

Yes, surely sincere prayer always has its effect and it has a great influence in the other world

SW_v08#04 p.047, PN_1911 p017

Connection between material and spiritual worlds; Power of prayer; Prayer for the departed; Soul; spirit after death; Spiritual communication; connections of the heart

ABU2529

Words to Mary Hanford Ford, spoken on 1911-10-27

Pay not attention to things material but reach after the Spirit. Fix your eyes on the Sun of Truth

SW_v08#08 p.103

Christ; Christianity; Manifestation of God as sun; Material and spiritual existence; two books; Prejudice; racial prejudice; class distinction; Spiritual transformation; Wine as symbol of spiritual transformation; The Holy Spirit; Being a channel for the Holy Spirit in teaching the Cause

ABU1574

Words to Mary J. MacNutt

200

Bahá'u'lláh dictated the book of Iqan to me 1275 A.H. in less than twenty-four hours…

PN_unsorted p006

Authentication; disposition of the Sacred Writings; Autobiographical account; narrative of Abdu'l-Baha; Review of publications; Suffering and imprisonment

ABU0474

Words to Mary Lucas and other pilgrims, spoken on 1905-01-30

560

Arts, Importance of in Promoting the Faith

Voice is the vibration of the air, and is like the waves of the sea. The voice is produced through the instrumentality of the lips… It is natural for the heart and spirit to take pleasure and enjoyment in all things that show forth symmetry, harmony, and perfection

BRL_IOA#24x, COC#1422, BAVA.011-014, BLO_PN#021

Chastity and purity; Connection between material and spiritual worlds; Harmony of science and religion; Spiritual emotions and susceptibilities; Spiritual transformation; Wine as symbol of spiritual transformation; The power of words; of speech

ABU2869

Words to Mary Lucas and other pilgrims, spoken on 1905-01-31

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

SW_v09#18 p.211, BAVA.021, BLO_PN#021

Christ; Christianity; Qur'an and Hadith quotation and interpretation; Spiritual transformation; Wine as symbol of spiritual transformation; Symbolism; Symbolism of color and light

ABU1878

Words to Mary Lucas and other pilgrims, spoken on 1905-02-02

160

These words of Christ were addressed to the Jews and Pharisees. By coming in the name of the Father

BAVA.024-025, BLO_PN#021

Early Christian persecutions; the Pharisees; Prophecy and fulfillment; Suffering; rejection of Christ; Worldliness vs. other-worldliness

ABU2503

Words to Mary Lucas and other pilgrims, spoken on 1905-02-02

For everything there is a special time. There is a special time to plant the seed; there is a special time for its growth

BAVA.025, BLO_PN#021

Birth of Christ; purity; virginity of Mary; Growth and progress is gradual and according to capacity; Interpretation of words and passages in scripture; Symbolism; Symbolism of color and light

ABU2376

Words to Mary Lucas and other pilgrims, spoken on 1905-02-03

100

Religion can be divided into two parts: the first is the spirit which never changes; and the second the laws

BAVA.031, BLO_PN#021

Changing and unchanging parts of religion; Oneness; unity of religion; Symbolism; Symbolism of color and light

ABU3413

Words to Mary Lucas and other pilgrims, spoken on 1905-02-03

My heart is in a continual state of thanksgiving, and so often those accustomed to this form say the words with the lips merely

BAVA.030-031, VLAB.133x, BLO_PN#021

Empty learning; false spirituality; Thankfulness; gratitude

ABU0560

Words to Mary Lucas and other pilgrims, spoken on 1905-02-04

500

The Christians explain these verses by saying they refer to the Holy Spirit which came to the disciples after Christ's departure.

BAVA.041-042, BLO_PN#021

Christian rejection of Baha'u'llah and the Baha'i Faith; Interpretation of words and passages in scripture; Prophecy and fulfillment

ABU0898

Words to Mary Lucas and other pilgrims, spoken on 1905-02-04

340

This indicated first of all, those who claim falsely to be the Messiah, but they had no followers.

BAVA.034-035, BLO_PN#021

Christ; Christianity; Miracles and their interpretation; Multiple meanings; interpretations in scripture; Quotation from or interpretation of the Bible; Symbolism; Symbolism of color and light

ABU1470

Words to Mary Lucas and other pilgrims, spoken on 1905-02-04

220

...there are five kinds of love: 1st: The love of His own perfections which caused God to create

SW_v08#10 p.126x, BAVA.038-039, BLO_PN#021

Four; five pathways of love; Nonexistence of evil; relativity of good and evil; Realms of being; three realms; five realms; Soul; spirit after death

ABU1520