Love that makes unity possible

Question: Is peace a greater word than love?

Answer: No! Love is greater than peace, for peace is founded upon love. Love is the objective point of peace, and peace is an outcome of love. Until love is attained, peace cannot be; but there is a so-called peace without love. The love which is from God is the fundamental. This love is the object of all human attainment, the radiance of heaven, the light of man.

Another unity is the spiritual unity which emanates from the breaths of the Holy Spirit. This is greater than the unity of mankind. Human unity or solidarity may be likened to the body, whereas unity from the breaths of the Holy Spirit is the spirit animating the body. This is a perfect unity. It creates such a condition in mankind that each one will make sacrifices for the other, and the utmost desire will be to forfeit life and all that pertains to it in behalf of another's good.

O honoured lady! Look about thee at the world: here unity, mutual attraction, gathering together, engender life, but disunity and inharmony spell death. When thou dost consider all phenomena, thou wilt see that every created thing hath come into being through the mingling of many elements, and once this collectivity of elements is dissolved, and this harmony of components is dissevered, the life form is wiped out.

O honoured lady! In cycles gone by, though harmony was established, yet, owing to the absence of means, the unity of all mankind could not have been achieved. Continents remained widely divided, nay even among the peoples of one and the same continent association and interchange of thought were wellnigh impossible. Consequently intercourse, understanding and unity amongst all the peoples and kindreds of the earth were unattainable.

In this day, however, means of communication have multiplied, and the five continents of the earth have virtually merged into one. And for everyone it is now easy to travel to any land, to associate and exchange views with its peoples, and to become familiar, through publications, with the conditions, the religious beliefs and the thoughts of all men. In like manner all the members of the human family, whether peoples or governments, cities or villages, have become increasingly interdependent. For none is self-sufficiency any longer possible, inasmuch as political ties unite all peoples and nations, and the bonds of trade and industry, of agriculture and education, are being strengthened every day. Hence the unity of all mankind can in this day be achieved. Verily this is none other but one of the wonders of this wondrous age, this glorious century. Of this past ages have been deprived, for this century -- the century of light -- hath been endowed with unique and unprecedented glory, power and illumination. Hence the miraculous unfolding of a fresh marvel every day. Eventually it will be seen how bright its candles will burn in the assemblage of man.

Behold how its light is now dawning upon the world's darkened horizon. The first candle is unity in the political realm, the early glimmerings of which can now be discerned. The second candle is unity of thought in world undertakings, the consummation of which will erelong be witnessed. The third candle is unity in freedom which will surely come to pass. The fourth candle is unity in religion which is the corner-stone of the foundation itself, and which, by the power of God, will be revealed in all its splendour. The fifth candle is the unity of nations -- a unity which in this century will be securely established, causing all the peoples of the world to regard themselves as citizens of one common fatherland. The sixth candle is unity of races, making of all that dwell on earth peoples and kindreds of one race. The seventh candle is unity of language, i.e., the choice of a universal tongue in which all peoples will be instructed and converse. Each and every one of these will inevitably come to pass, inasmuch as the power of the Kingdom of God will aid and assist in their realization.

We have erewhile declared - and Our Word is the truth -: 'Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.' Whatsoever hath led the children of men to shun one another, and hath caused dissensions and divisions amongst them, hath, through the revelation these words, been nullified and abolished.

Deal ye with strangers the same as with friends, cherish ye others just as ye would your own. See foes as friends; see demons as angels; give to the tyrant the same great love ye show the loyal and true, and even as gazelles from the scented cities of Khata and Khutan offer up sweet musk to the ravening wolf.

For all the nations of the world are the sheep of God, and God is the kind shepherd. He has created these sheep. He has protected them, sustained and trained them. What greater kindness than this? And every moment we must render a hundred thousand thanksgivings that, praise be to God, we are freed from all the ignorant prejudices, are kind to all the sheep of God, and our utmost hope is to serve each and all, and like unto a benevolent father educate every one.

This is mercy unalloyed and purest bounty; it is light for the world and all its peoples; it is harmony and fellowship, and love and solidarity; indeed it is compassion and unity, and the end of foreignness; it is the being at one, in complete dignity and freedom, with all on earth.

Love is light; hatred and enmity are darkness. Love is the cause of life; enmity is the cause of death. Surely the wise will prefer life over death, will consider unity preferable to discord, and will strive with heart and soul that these dark clouds may be dispelled, that the Sun of Reality may shine forth, that the world may become another world, that the earth may become a paradise of utmost freshness and delicacy, that East and West may embrace each other, that South and North may join hands, so that true divine love may be manifested in the human world.

Observe that in the world of existence, harmony is the cause of existence, love is the cause of life, and separation is the cause of death. … Thus it became clear that harmony and love are the cause of life, while aversion, discord and separation are the cause of death.

Be in perfect unity. Never become angry with one another. Let your eyes be directed toward the kingdom of truth and not toward the world of creation. Love the creatures for the sake of God and not for themselves. You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for the sake of God.

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

The divine religion is love between people, and truthfulness and trustworthiness and goodwill toward all creation, even compassion for the beasts and birds of sea and land.

Think only of illumining the human world and transforming the hatred and enmity between peoples into love and kindness. Should you witness a hundred thousand cruelties in every moment, be not grieved or disheartened. Engage in well-wishing and show kindness to ill-wishers. Rather, receive cruelty as though it were fidelity, and show boundless love to the aggressive. If they wound, consider it a balm; if they oppress, count it as mercy and compassion.

Endeavor in every possible way to do some favor, some service for someone else; do this daily, no matter how small or trivial the act of kindness may be. Even a smile counts for much.

This is the time of Love! This is the time of good-fellowship! This is the time of conciliation! This is the time of service! This is the time of affinity! This is the time of Purity! This is the time of Illumination! This is the time of Brotherhood!

In the realization of this spiritual work he was reinforced by the Divine Power. It is only with the assistance of the Divine Power that we shall succeed to unify mankind. No other power on earth is mighty enough to render this universal service.

They must cleanse their hearts from even the slightest trace of hatred and spite, and they must set about being truthful and honest, conciliatory and loving to all humankind--so that East and West will, even as two lovers, hold each other close; that hatred and hostility will perish from the earth, and universal peace be firmly rooted in their place.

You must, therefore, be kind to all men; you must even treat your enemies as your friends. You must consider your evil-wishers as your well-wishers. Those who are not agreeable toward you must be regarded as those who are congenial and pleasant so that, perchance, this darkness of disagreement and conflict may disappear from amongst men and the light of the divine may shine forth, so that the Orient may be illumined and the Occident filled with fragrance, nay, so that the East and West may embrace each other in love and deal with one another in sympathy and affection.

This is the day of the most great bounty. Should all the peoples of the world show forth love, even if they be devoid and deprived of its reality, the Sacred Court hath shown and will continue to show favor, that perchance the fragrances of the verses may guide them, lead them from the realm of fancy to the kingdom of certitude, and bring them from metaphor to reality.

Today is a day when particular thoughts, whether from individuals or nations, cause great misfortune and ultimately lead to evident loss. What is universal today is divine and causes the progress of all humanity, while what is particular is pure detriment and sheer loss.

The purpose of this Revelation is that the fire of hatred which blazeth in the hearts and souls of the followers of divers faiths should be quenched through the Kawthar of divine utterance and heavenly counsel, and be stilled and extinguished.

… O people of God! Let your drink be the Kawthar of love, your occupation that which manifesteth unity, and your deeds that which guideth mankind to the path of God, the Mighty, the Powerful.

The establishment of a women's assemblage for the promotion of knowledge is entirely acceptable, but discussions must be confined to educational matters. It should be done in such a way that differences will, day by day, be entirely wiped out, not that, God forbid, it will end in argumentation between men and women. As in the question of the veil, nothing should be done contrary to wisdom. The individual women should, today, follow a course of action which will be the cause of eternal glory to all womankind, so that all women will be illumined.

Have no hatred towards any person from any nation, religion, tribe, race or land, but rather show the utmost kindness and friendship that perhaps, through divine aid and bounty, the horizon of the world of humanity may be cleansed and sanctified of these thick clouds of ignorant prejudice and common hatred and enmity, and you may, day by day, become the cause of fellowship and love among all the nations of the world.

Mingle with the people with good conduct and behaviour and show the utmost good-will, friendship and sincerity to all humankind. Consider strangers as friends; imagine the blind to be seeing and the deaf to be hearing; regard the dead as living, the enemy as a friend and the opponent as an affectionate companion.

One amongst His Teachings is this, that love and good faith must so dominate the human heart that men will regard the stranger as a familiar friend, the malefactor as one of their own, the alien even as a loved one, the enemy as a companion dear and close. Who killeth them, him will they call a bestower of life; who turneth away from them, him will they regard as turning towards them; who denieth their message, him will they consider as one acknowledging its truth. The meaning is that they must treat all humankind even as they treat their sympathizers, their fellow-believers, their loved ones and familiar friends.

You must love humanity in order to uplift and beautify humanity. Even if they kill you, you must love them. Individual love cannot be forced and you are not called to love everybody personally, but if they are in your lives, see to it that they are means of your development and that you are means of their development, through your universal love for them.

Science cannot cure the illness of the body politic. Science cannot create amity and fellowship in human hearts. Neither can patriotism nor racial allegiance effect a remedy. It must be accomplished solely through the divine bounties and spiritual bestowals which have descended from God in this day for that purpose. This is an exigency of the times, and the divine remedy has been provided. The spiritual teachings of the religion of God can alone create this love, unity and accord in human hearts.

This Wronged One beareth witness that servants have been brought from nothingness into being for the betterment, fellowship and unity of mankind.

Whosoever is lacking in love for humanity or manifests hatred and bigotry toward any part of it violates the foundation and source of his own belief and is holding to forms and imitations. Jesus Christ declares that the sun rises upon the evil and the good, and the rain descends upon the just and the unjust -- upon all humanity alike.

Show forth the utmost love to all the peoples of the world and the diverse kindreds of the earth.

Praise be to God, these decisive texts are spread throughout all regions and are accepted by all those of understanding. Even by explicit text, He has stated that the divine friends must treat all other peoples and nations with utmost kindness, meet faithlessness with faithfulness, cover wrong with right, counter sword and dagger with honey and milk, and requite deadly poison with a wondrous elixir. They must be a remedy for every ailment and a balm for every wound. They must be friends and helpers to their enemies, show care for their oppressors, and regard vengeance as bloodthirstiness and savagery.

Peace and reconciliation prevail, along with harmony and prosperity. Love is universal and fellowship exists with all peoples and nations in every land. The favors of the Blessed Beauty have uprooted animosity, and the banner of supreme kindness has been raised to the highest summit. The foundation of conflict and strife has been scattered to the winds, and the basis of hatred and enmity has been obliterated and removed.

They are from the melodies of peace and reconciliation, of love and unity, of justice and security, of concord and harmony. In a short time this heavenly singing will intoxicate all humanity; the foundations of enmity shall be destroyed; unity and affection shall be witnessed in every assembly; and the splendours of the love of God will shine forth in these great festivals.

The friends of God are like unto the husbandmen of this farm and they should, to the utmost of their ability, water its soil from the bountiful well-springs of God's grace so that the divine blessings of the one Creator may vouchsafe salvation to the world and the light of Divinity may shine upon it and the oneness of humankind may raise its banner over it and all causes of estrangement and alienation may be removed from it, and universal love may envelop humanity, in such wise that this world may become a mirror of all the grace and bounty of the Well-beloved of all the worlds.

Baha'u'llah says if religion does not become the cause of unity, its nonexistence is better than its existence. Religion must be the cause of love.

From the tenderest childhood, the children must be taught by their mothers the love of God and the love of humanity; not the love of the humanity of Asia or the humanity of Europe or the humanity of America but the humanity of humanity.

Strive that warfare and strife may become non-existent. Strive that love and good-fellowship may replace intolerance and the narrowness of dogmatism.

Why should we hate the members of other religions? Why should we not love each other?

It has brought all beneath the shade of the creation's bounty and has decreed: "Ye are all the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch." This is the pavilion of the oneness of the world of humanity and the universality of mankind that He has raised up.

Convey my greetings and praise to all God's loved ones in that vast region, and say to them from Abdul-Baha: O loved ones of God! You must strive diligently and exert mighty effort in speaking of God's bounty, remembering God's remembrance, detaching from all else but God, holding fast to the cord of righteousness, avoiding following self and passion, showing kindness to all humanity, and loving peace and fellowship with all the peoples of the world.

We call humanity to love, unity and fellowship and disown hatred and discord. We strive for the wellbeing of the peoples of the world, exerting the utmost effort in pursuit of peace, unity and harmony.

My hope is that the life of that assembly may be the breaths of the Holy Spirit, and that in accordance with the heavenly teachings you may become an army of universal peace and shatter the forces of strife, contention and warfare through the power of the teachings of Baha'u'llah, and raise up the standard of unity, harmony and love in the human world.

If thou desirest to be confirmed in the service of the Kingdom of God, live in accord with the Teachings of Baha'u'llah and that is; - real love for the world of humanity and the utmost of kindness for the believers of God. This real love like unto the magnetic power attracts the divine Confirmations.

The utmost love has been manifested. Therefore, it is my hope that spiritual fraternity shall unite the East and the West and bring about the complete abolition of warfare among mankind. May it bind together individuals and members of the human family and be the cause of advancing minds, illuminating hearts and allowing divine bestowals to encompass us from all directions.

Be ye not a stranger to anyone, even if he be the lowest of savages on the face of the earth and knows nothing of God, or even if he be an enemy. Desire ye his association, aspire ye for his freedom and long ye for his perfection, in order that hatred and dissensions, animosities and oppressions, cruelties and tyrannies, brutalities and falsehoods, pride and transgressions may be removed from among mankind, the universe become the Paradise of Abha, the world be transformed into the Kingdom of Heaven, the human race become angels and the individuals of the world of humanity become the manifestors of the Favors of the Glorious Lord.

Know all mankind of all nations, sects and tribes as your kith and kin. Consider not their deeds, but only God. Seek your reward from Him and not from them. Know the aged of all nations as your fathers, the juveniles as your brothers and the children as your own.

This heavenly friendship and divine truthfulness of the friends will become the cause of comfort and ease for the human world. Warring parties will reconcile, antagonistic peoples will become loving, hostile nations will become friendly, and conflicting peoples will embrace.

They should be engaged with the holy divine fragrances and occupied with the remembrance of that Kind Friend. They should teach people refinement of character and deliver people from brutish temperament and behavior. They should exalt the Word of God and open the doors of peace and reconciliation with all peoples, tribes and nations of the world. They should not have familiarity with any association nor difficulty with any group, but rather reveal the mysteries of the love of God and make the world fragrant with the sweet perfumes of divine knowledge.

Thou didst write of the coming of Ardashir the Persian (Ardashir-i-Farsi), and that thou wouldst show him true Baha'i love. Well done! Thou must show forth Baha'i love to all the peoples of the world, that they may know what bonds it hath set between the hearts and what love it hath deposited within them, that men even give up their lives for one another.

When this is done, the rest of the world will accept. All nations will join in adopting the teachings of Baha'u'llah revealed more than fifty years ago. In His Epistles He asked the parliaments of the world to send their wisest and best men to an international world conference which should decide all questions between the peoples and establish universal peace. This would be the highest court of appeal, and the parliament of man so long dreamed of by poets and idealists would be realized.

Say unto him that you are commanded by the Blessed Perfection to wish good to those who hate you, to love those who wish you evil, to consider the stranger as a friend, and to have your gaze purified and sanctified from all that me do and extended toward God whose Bounty comprehends all.

The teachings of Baha'u'llah so penetrated the veins and nerves of humanity that it created unity between different tribes and divergent peoples.

Question: "What do the Baha'is believe?"

Answer: "They believe that mankind must love mankind; that universal amity must be practiced; that dead dogmas must be thrown away. That we are at the Threshold of the era of interdependence, that we must forget prejudices and that Universal Love must become the dominant note of the music of the 20th century."

The best of all deeds is to show forth love towards all the peoples of the world.

In all the heavenly Books, the command to love and unity hath been given, and in truth it is the cause of the world's order and the nations' tranquility.

We were grieved by its contents, but God, exalted and glorified be He, is witness and testimony that We have ever commanded people to unity and love. If humanity had perceived the sweetness of the divine words which descended from the Source of the Command, they would surely have acted according to what they were commanded.

For the divine teachings thus command us to become the cause of fellowship and love among humanity, that we may be delivered from danger and stay clear of harm and injury, until we become trees full of blossoms and fruit.

In these days when the gates of joy are opened and the breasts of the longing ones are dilated with verses of happiness and gladness, we must strive night and day with heavenly power, divine might, eternal confirmation and godly success so that this pitch darkness may be transformed into the greatest light, and this strife and conflict between the peoples of the world may be eliminated through the power of the Most Great Name. May the star of human oneness rise and the banner of universal peace cast its shadow over all regions.

Nurture the world through love and invite humanity to beautiful fellowship, so that true love may raise its banner among all peoples and deliver the world from ignorant prejudices.

'Abdu'l-Baha, night and day, beseecheth the divine threshold that each of the friends may become a sign of the All-Merciful and the cause of peace and harmony among all peoples, tribes and religions; that they may breathe the spirit of friendship, truthfulness and reconciliation into the body of existence, and adorn the temple of creation with the robe of supreme bounty.

May they establish peace with all the peoples of the world and adorn the gathering of contingent beings with the light of unity.

… Ever strive to show love, unity, kindness and good conduct toward all the peoples of the world.

O my congenial friend! At a time when the flames of war have spread across the world and its conflagration is increasing day by day, when all the differing factions of the earth, like bloodthirsty wolves, are tearing each other apart, we are both striving to find ways to extinguish these fires so that the light of love may shine. We are thinking of what might be done so that unity and concord might be established among the people and the nations of the world.

Therefore the Persian friends must arise with friendship, truthfulness and worship of God, and with utmost kindness embrace all the peoples of the world, so that they may dispel the thousand-year torpor with one cup of the love of God.

O Thou Almighty Lord! Strengthen all mankind that they may do according to the instructions and teachings recorded in these writings, so that wars and strifes may be eliminated from the world of man; that the roots of enmity may be destroyed and the foundations of love and affection be established; that the hearts may be filled with love and the souls be attracted; that wisdom may advance and the faces become brightened and illumined; that there be no more wars and strifes and that reconciliation and peace appear; that the Unity of the world of man may pitch its tent on the "apex of the horizons," so that peoples and parties become as one nation, that different continents become as one continent and the whole earth as one land; that the sects of antagonizing and dogmatic religions be unified; that the world of creation be adorned and all the people of the earth abide in unity and peace. Verily, Thou art the Giver, the Bestower, the Beholder!

Supplicate God that ye may become heavenly hosts, spreading the oneness of the world of humanity, taking in hand the armor of peace and conquering the hearts with the sword of love.

Whoever acts according to these teachings and becomes a lover of all humanity and a well-wisher of all peoples and races of mankind, purifies and cleanses their heart from all estrangement and gladdens their spirit through oneness with all - at that time the fire of the love of God will flame forth, the candle of the Kingdom will be lit in the heart, the doors of knowledge will open, the confirmations of the Kingdom will arrive, and the breathings of the Holy Spirit will take effect.

I hope that thou mayest be enriched by the praiseworthy station, enter into the realm of manifestation, become aware of the mystery of existence, and attain to the highest summit of ascent. This is not difficult for God to accomplish.

This station is achieved through detachment and attraction, through effacement and evanescence, through love and kindness, and through peace and harmony towards all humanity.

O kind friend! Your letter arrived in India and surely you will be the cause of the utmost spirit and fragrance in the gathering of friends, and likewise you will draw strangers beneath the shade of the All-Merciful.

In any case, strive as much as you can to be in utmost love and harmony with all the peoples of the world and all religions.

We must look upon our enemies with a sin-covering eye and act with justice when confronted with any injustice whatsoever, forgive all, consider the whole of humanity as our own family, the whole earth as our own country, be sympathetic with all suffering, nurse the sick, offer a shelter to the exiled, help the poor and those in need, dress all wounds and share the happiness of each one.

The greatest gift of man is universal love - that magnet which renders existence eternal. It attracts realities and diffuses life with infinite joy. If this love penetrate the heart of man, all the forces of the universe will be realized in him, for it is a divine power which transports him to a divine station and he will make no progress until he is illumined thereby.

Through this holy power, the children of Adam become servants and lovers of one another, and the foundation of world order and the basis of the comfort of nations becomes firm and established.

May they strive in the establishment of good-fellowship and amity amongst the children of men! May they enkindle the hearts with the fire of the Love of God! May they advance the cause of progress and real civilization! May their hearts be touched with real pity and sympathy! May they attain to such height of altruism as to be ready to sacrifice their lives for each other! This is the life of the world of humanity!

We should associate with all peoples and religions of the world with perfect love and oneness, for the Blessed Beauty says: "O people of Baha! You have been and are the dawning-places of love and the daysprings of divine grace and bounty.

But since you have been raised under the shadow of the bounties of the Ancient Beauty, you must befriend all the peoples of the world.

The foundation of God's Cause rests upon love and the unity of the human world, and it is the means for removing moral corruptions and material harms.

Look to the foundation of divine religions, which is one reality, and the principles of the Manifestations of Truth, which are one principle - not the branches that pertained to the requirements of times and ages, nor the traditions that have caused difference and conflict among people - so that you may raise the banner of peace and harmony and become the sign of the Most Great Name among the peoples of the world.

Likewise when the student of the path of Reality has attained to the loftiest summit of divine love, he will not look upon the ugliness and misery of mankind; he will not observe any differences; he will not see any racial and patriotic differences; but he will look upon humanity with the glorified vision of a seer and a prophet.

They expected us to be servants and propagators of their old dogmas and customs, not knowing that we are obliged to serve humanity and spread universal love and harmony.

Hearts are connected to one another and all souls are joyful.

I hope day by day these connections increase and this love and harmony grow more, so that this assembly may cause all humanity's hearts to draw closer to each other and all peoples to achieve love for one another, that the world of humanity may be illumined and the darkness of prejudice and ignorance may be dispelled.

'Abdul-Baha replied: "While all the other religions are hating and denouncing each other, the Baha'is are the friends of all religions and the lovers of all peoples, and their aim is to unite and harmonize all."

They wish for peace and tranquillity and they desire fellowship and love among humanity.

O how I wish that all of the leaders of the people would spend their energy for unity and peace among all nations and sects!

It is certain that this assembly will receive the rays of the Sun of Truth and will be confirmed by heavenly power, and universal benefits will result from it, for the foundation of this assembly is the oneness of the world of humanity, and its system is love between all people, and its principles are the abandonment of racial, religious, denominational, national and political prejudices, for all these prejudices are delusions.

Pay no heed to differences of thought, and treat not other peoples and nations as strangers. Deal with all in love, fellowship, justice and mercy, and love them with heart and soul.

They should become sweeter than pure honey through the utmost love and harmony with all peoples and nations, and become like refreshing water through perfect truthfulness and sincerity with all religions - that is, they should be the cause of life and the guide to salvation.

Do not restrict this love to the friends alone, but be kind and compassionate to all humanity. As much as you can, make hearts happy and joyful.

Thou didst see the exaltation (or progress) of the Cause of God and thou didst test the general character (or qualities) of the friends; and thou didst know with perfect assurance that the Cause of Baha'u'llah is the means for the quickening of the world and for the extraordinary progress of mankind; that it hath quickened Persia and hath removed the darkness of ignorance, that the friends are kind unto all the people of the world and self-sacrificing servants of mankind.

Seek happiness and comfort for the whole world of creation, for all humanity, and conduct yourselves with such love that it becomes the cause of training both the ruler and the ruled.

Man is commanded to show justice, fairness, trustworthiness, nobility, love, truthfulness, fellowship, consideration, protection and kindness towards all the peoples of the world.

Therefore, I became delighted and, out of extreme joy, set about writing this letter so that you may know that in the world of existence, the greatest gift is the love between hearts. However, the condition is that it must be universal. And I hope that all friends become enamored with one another and become the beloved of each other, and through this cause, the sun of love and faithfulness will illuminate the East and the West with radiance and light.

They must seek peace and reconciliation with all peoples and nations, pursuing security and safety, harmony and tranquility, and the comfort of all creation in every condition, until they become a mercy to all the worlds and a spiritual gift to humanity.

We treat all nations and peoples equally with the utmost love and kindness, with truthfulness and good will in order to increase concord in the world.

I beg of God to make thee promote perfect harmony among the believers of God and pure affection amid the chosen ones of God and make thee [to] cause greatest tranquility to all the creatures and [to] show kindness towards all the people on earth, because the bounty of the Merciful God is but pure love, great prosperity and universal peace among different people in all regions and laying the foundation of great happiness and felicity for all the creatures.

Praise be to God, through divine assistance and favor, the banner of the oneness of humanity and sincere love for all people and goodwill toward government and nation in East and West is waving among the Baha'is, and all the people of the world have become aware that Baha'is are purely good toward all and kind to all nations of the world.

Do not spend your life in vain. Make every stranger into a friend.

Praise be to God, we act according to divine counsels and admonitions, and are well-wishers of all peoples and tribes in every clime. By explicit text we are submissive to the royal throne and humble before the authorities. We associate with all peoples of the world with utmost kindness and are perfect friends and well-wishers to all nations.

That is, they should be adorned with all perfections that are the ornament of human reality, be a great bounty for the people of the world, and show love and kindness to humankind to the extent possible.

Let the East embrace the West, and the beloved of the Orient become companion to the darling of the Occident, so that diverse peoples and varied nations and conflicting communities and contending tribes may become loving toward one another. Let the banner of hatred and malice be cast down and the verse of manifest peace be chanted.

If on Sundays you go to the ground of the Mashriku'l Adhkar and raise the melody of the Kingdom of God for those who are present it is very acceptable; but you must speak to them with infinite kindness; and there may exist such a love in your midst that it may influence them. Then they will see with their own eyes that you are distinguished from the rest of mankind, that you are overflowing with ecstasy and acclamation, and full with attraction and joy, especially thyself; because thou hast the Harp and lyre and art efficient in music.

Comport yourselves as the People of God and show to all humankind every manner of kindliness, love and fellowship.

Ask and pray to God that thou mayest become an enkindled lamp, to shed light upon the assembly, to become a lover of men and a well-wisher of human kind; nay, rather, thou mayest become the manifestation of the divine providence, finding out the heavenly gifts, enlisting thyself among the soldiers of the kingdom of peace and reconciliation, delivering the people as far as possible from war and carnage, spreading righteousness and friendship and becoming the cause of tranquillity and composure to the world of humanity.

O thou who art good-natured! Be radiant of face, and from every direction inhale the sweet fragrance of the Beloved. Open thine eyes unto the Self-Sufficient Lord and become intimate with His mysteries. Be content with every condition and find companionship with peace of mind. Today, blessedness lies in freedom, humility and unity. As much as thou art able, be kind to both friend and stranger, that thou mayest become the recipient of divine forgiveness.

I hope that thou mayest become a source of joy to the hearts, a good example for people, imbued with spiritual qualities in the world of humanity, and mayest promulgate the divine teachings, so that the various people may find unity and become freed from discord.

Every soul among the loved ones must strive for that which benefits all humanity, excluding no one, but rather preferring others over oneself. This is the attribute of the All-Merciful, this is the heavenly grace.

They exerted the utmost endeavor to foster true unity and harmony amongst the people and the government. The Baha'i's cherish the hope and desire that the foundations of war be demolished; that bloodshed and conflict be effaced from the world; that all the nations, the peoples, the kindreds, the governments and the religions be united and harmonized, and that Universal Peace be established amongst them.

They must become a conclusive proof from God - that is, they must adopt such conduct and behavior as would represent the outpouring of the rays of the Sun of Reality and illumine the world of humanity. And that is to show forth love and affection towards all the peoples of the world, and to manifest trustworthiness and truthfulness towards all nations and communities.

Now is the time that you live in accordance with the teachings of Baha'u'llah; that is, become a lover of the world of humanity, count all mankind as your relatives and kin, and be kind to all the children of men.

I beg you so to live that you will prove yourselves to be true Bahais, not by confession merely, but by showing love toward all humanity without distinction or prejudice, considering all as servants of God. If he had not loved all mankind he would not have created nor have provided for them; nor would he have nurtured and have sheltered them beneath his providence.

One of the forms of prejudice which afflict the world of mankind is religious bigotry and fanaticism. When this hatred burns in human hearts, it becomes the cause of revolution, destruction, abasement of humankind and deprivation of the mercy of God. For the holy Manifestations and divine Founders of religion Themselves were completely unified in love and agreement, whereas Their followers are characterized by bitter antagonism and attitudes of hostility toward each other. God has desired for mankind the effulgence of love, but through blindness and misapprehension man has enveloped himself in veils of discord, strife and hatred. The supreme need of humanity is cooperation and reciprocity. The stronger the ties of fellowship and solidarity amongst men, the greater will be the power of constructiveness and accomplishment in all the planes of human activity. Without cooperation and reciprocal attitude the individual member of human society remains self-centered, uninspired by altruistic purposes, limited and solitary in development like the animal and plant organisms of the lower kingdoms. The lower creatures are not in need of cooperation and reciprocity. A tree can live solitary and alone, but this is impossible for man without retrogression. Therefore, every cooperative attitude and activity of human life is praiseworthy and foreintended by the will of God. The first expression of cooperation is family relationship, which is unreliable and uncertain in its potency, for it is subject to separation and does not permanently cement together the individual members of humanity. There is also a cooperation and oneness in nativity or race which is likewise not efficient, for although its members may agree in general, they differ radically in personal and particular points of view. Racial association, therefore, will not ensure the requirements of divine relationship. There are other means in the human world by which physical association is established, but these fail to weld together the hearts and spirits of men and are correspondingly inefficient. Therefore, it is evident that God has destined and intended religion to be the cause and means of cooperative effort and accomplishment among mankind. To this end He has sent the Prophets of God, the holy Manifestations of the Word, in order that the fundamental reality and religion of God may prove to be the bond of human unity, for the divine religions revealed by these holy Messengers have one and the same foundation. All will admit, therefore, that the divine religions are intended to be the means of true human cooperation, that they are united in the purpose of making humanity one family, for they rest upon the universal foundation of love, and love is the first effulgence of Divinity.

Each one of the divine religions has established two kinds of ordinances: the essential and the accidental. The essential ordinances rest upon the firm, unchanging, eternal foundations of the Word itself. They concern spiritualities, seek to stabilize morals, awaken intuitive susceptibilities, reveal the knowledge of God and inculcate the love of all mankind. The accidental laws concern the administration of outer human actions and relations, establishing rules and regulations requisite for the world of bodies and their control. These are ever subject to change and supersedure according to exigencies of time, place and condition. For example, during the time of Moses, ten commandments concerning the punishment of murder were revealed in His Book. Divorce was sanctioned and polygamy allowable to a certain extent. If a man committed theft, his hand was cut off. This was drastic law and severe punishment applicable to the time of Moses. But when the time of Christ came, minds had developed, realizations were keener and spiritual perceptions had advanced so that certain laws concerning murder, plurality of wives and divorce were abrogated. But the essential ordinances of the Mosaic dispensation remained unchanged. These were the fundamental realities of the knowledge of God and the holy Manifestations, the purification of morals, the awakening of spiritual susceptibilities -- eternal principles in which there is no change or transformation. Briefly, the foundation of the divine religions is one eternal foundation, but the laws for temporary conditions and exigencies are subject to change. Therefore, by adherence to these temporary laws, blindly following and imitating ancestral forms, difference and divergence have arisen among followers of the various religions, resulting in disunion, strife and hatred. Blind imitations and dogmatic observances are conducive to alienation and disagreement; they lead to bloodshed and destruction of the foundations of humanity. Therefore, the religionists of the world must lay aside these imitations and investigate the essential foundation or reality itself, which is not subject to change or transformation. This is the divine means of agreement and unification.

The love which welds together the members of various nations; divergent races and different religions, and causes them to associate with each other with love and amity, that love is divine and celestial in origin; because such love is spiritual and heavenly, which casts all the various communities and tribes in one universal mould of fraternity making organs of one great temple, suffering them to become the members of one family and the inhabitants of one country and uniting them with such an irresistible force that will become indissoluble throughout all eternity.

The bestowals of man belong to the realm of idealism, and is in the hands of God. All that concerns man is the necessary bond to bring about the happiness of humanity. This bond is for attraction, fellowship, love, self-sacrifice and unity.

In order to be accounted as a Baha'i, he must live in accord with the Teachings of Baha'u'llah; he must become a center of Merciful emotions; the rays of the sun of perfections must emanate from him; he must be kind to all the inhabitants of the earth; he must strive to become a cause of general welfare; he must consider his enemies as his friends; he must return justice for injustice; he must look upon all humanity - the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, the high and the low, the aristocrat and the democrat, the employer and the employee, those who live in Mansions and those dwell in dark, cold, wretched tenement-houses, those who are well-fed and those who have no bread to eat, - as members of his own family; he must know and believe that the whole earth is his native land, he must be sympathetic with all the people.

To cheer up and sympathise with those who are in sorrow and carry laughter and the sunbeams of happiness in the hearts of all the children of humanity. To the sick he must become a nurse. For the oppressed, he must be a shelter. To the extent of his ability he must assist and take care of the poor ones in the community. He must give a share and a portion to those who are deprived. He must be a balm of healing to every wounded one and a breath of spirit to every dead one. In short he must demonstrate his love for all the people through every loving means.

The only means is that the believers become one; then they will begin to sing a new melody, will be able to raise a new flag, will be kind to all peoples of the earth, will love humanity and act with perfect honesty and service to all, will know all as members of our own body, will know all nations as their friends, will have perfect friendship for all the peoples of the earth.

Love mankind for the sake of God and love each other very much...

I have much love for each one of you. Baha'u'llah knows how much I love you. It is indescribable. It is immeasurable.

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May this union flood the unexplored regions of the hearts with the rays of the Love of God! May such happy events hasten the day of the oneness of the world of humanity!

Every movement which increases love and affection amongst the children of men is a divine movement and any Cause creating alieneation or even ill-feeling is diabolic in origin.

Thanks be to God, you are the beloved of the universe that love the whole world. Praise be to God your affection is for all, you are the enemies of none, lovers of humanity, a precious mine for the souls.

Let us put love in the hearts of all the children of men. Let all mankind labor for this, that the favor of God may descend upon the Orient and Occident.

Therefore you must strive day unto day that the sun of Love may dawn from your hearts; day unto day the attractions of your consciousness may develop; day unto day you may become more loving to humanity, day unto day establish more rapid means of communication between the children of men.

Therefore they must be compassionate toward all. They must exert themselves to bring about the Oneness of the world of humanity. They must put forth the utmost effort to conciliate the hearts.

Therefore Abdu'l-Baha finds the note of harmony which vibrates in every human heart. This is our subtle basis. Build upon it. Follow no other method. Talk about things upon which we agree and say nothing about things upon which we differ.

We must disorganize humanism in order to construct a spiritual edifice in the world of humanity. This edifice is heavenly but its foundations are planted in the unity of human hearts.

Consider the members of humanity as thy own brothers and sisters.

[T]he kings and rulers of the world are not yet ready to acknowledge that universal peace is conducive to the life of the world of humanity.

It is very easy to come here, camp near this beautiful lake, on these charming hills, far away from everybody and deliver speeches on Universal Peace. These ideals should be spread and put in action over there (Europe), not here in the world's most peaceful corner.

In any case, beseech ye God that He may enable all to attain unto that which is the cause of elevation and exaltation. In these days news hath arrived from the land of Ta concerning the unity and concord of the friends. Praise be to God, that faction hath abandoned corruption and contention, and hath laid hold on that which conduceth to the reformation of the world and the education of the souls of nations.

O Ali, upon thee be God's grace and favor! In the Most Great Prison thou didst witness how We maintained, with love and fellowship, harmony among the many souls present there, despite their differing views and stations.

… Now We beseech God to preserve all the friends in every land, that they may ever behold the light of godliness shining before their faces, hold fast unto it, and manifest such deeds and character that their fame may encompass the world, and from every city and region the banner of unity and the standard of accord may be seen.

Today the most important thing to be established is the Unity of the Word of the Beloved of God and fellowship, good feelings and love among the faithful ones and the maid-servants of the Merciful; for the foundation of the Religion of God, and the fundamental basis of His Law tend to establish harmony among all of the nations and peoples of the world.

But in this century, there is a need to promote brotherhood and love for thinkers and the laws of nature.

… He has come from the East and all spiritual souls of the West pray that He may promote spiritual teachings, universal brotherhood and the power of love in the world, for only this spiritual power of love can unite East and West.

God has ever loved unity and harmony.

Today love and affection and friendship and unity are regarded as the greatest of all deeds in the sight of God.

Note ye how easily, where unity existeth in a given family, the affairs of that family are conducted; what progress the members of that family make, how they prosper in the world. … And if the sphere of unity be still further widened out, that is, if the inhabitants of a whole country develop peaceable hearts, and if with all their hearts and souls they yearn to cooperate with one another and to live in unity, and if they become kind and loving to one another, that country will achieve undying joy and lasting glory. Peace will it have, and plenty, and vast wealth.

Show friendship and worship truth. Seek truthfulness and desire reconciliation. … Establish the practice of love and faithfulness and be free from every bond.

What is needed today is the unity and agreement of the friends. All must exert mighty efforts in this regard.

A Baha'i was a guide to the path of friendship and truthfulness, and was at peace and reconciliation with all people of the world. He even considered his enemies as friends and wished well for his ill-wishers.

May they proffer the wine of guidance and exhilarate them that yearn after the Realm of Glory. May they open the doors of the school of the spirit and be instructed by the heavenly Teacher in the mysteries of the love of God. May they associate with each other in utter humility and achieve spiritual communion. May they, each and all, sacrifice their lives and possessions for others and be kind to all the inhabitants of the world. May they rend asunder the veil of estrangement and consort with all people in unity.

So long as the Lord is kind to all, provides for all, protects all, and shelters all of us, without exception, beneath his overshadowing protection, why should we not avail ourselves of this bestowal? Why should we change this light into darkness? Why should we transform this life into death? Why should we transform this love and fellowship into hatred and rancor?

The most important of all intentions is to spread the love of God, to establish harmony and oneness among the people.

All the beloved are commanded today to associate with one another in fellowship, unity, humility and lowliness.

You must know this, that the principle of the Divine Foundation is love, unison, oneness and the purity of intention. When love is attained the mystery of truth will then become manifest.

O friends! Today is the day of unity and accord, and sincerity in the Cause of the Luminary of the horizons.

… We had hoped that the divine friends and companions would, day and night, from the intensity of the fire of love, embrace and shake hands and show kindness and attraction to each other - not dispute and argue and curse.

Surely, all must today be called to love, to unity and to kindness; to integrity, to friendship, to fellowship, and to divine worship.

Now return and strive with utmost humility, submissiveness and lowliness to create love between the friends of God. Endeavor and be enthusiastic that perhaps a new love may arise and become the cause of `Abdu'l-Baha's heart's joy.

… My heart's ultimate desire is love and unity among the friends.

O divine Mishkin! Never imagine that due to not receiving Tablets about love and unity, your remembrance would be erased for a moment from the hearts of the loved ones and friends, or any weakness or laxity would occur in the handle of love. That covenant and testament which was made in the spiritual world has been and will forever remain firm.

Therefore, it is not possible or allowable that amongst human individuals there should linger any strife. Let no sedition tarry. Let no hatred or rancor prevail. All must live in the utmost kindness, in the utmost of love, the utmost of fellowship, and must pass their days pleasantly, for this will win the Bounties of God and the Bestowals shall surround them, and the Kingdom of God will become personified in the human kingdom.

If you love someone, let it not be due to family unity, national unity, or racial unity, but rather love souls for God's sake. Love every perfect soul even if they are not from your homeland, family or race, so that by these means you may illumine the human world and demolish the foundation of these darknesses of hatred and enmity.

The love which exists between the hearts of believers is prompted by the ideal of the unity of spirits. This love is attained through the knowledge of God, so that men see the Divine Love reflected in the heart. Each sees in the other the Beauty of God reflected in the soul, and finding this point of similarity, they are attracted to one another in love. This love will make all men the waves of one sea, this love will make them all the stars of one heaven and the fruits of one tree. This love will bring the realization of true accord, the foundation of real unity.

We beseech God, exalted be He, to aid them to unity and harmony, draw them nigh unto Him, and ordain for them through His bounty that which befitteth His might and His manifestation and His grace and His mercy that hath preceded all created things.

When this beauteous and beloved fellowship shines in the congregation of the friends, divine confirmations and everlasting assistance will encompass them on every side. The light of unity will shine. The breeze of detachment will blow. The rays of loving-kindness will radiate and vouchsafe true life. This is the sign of the greatest victory!

Praise be to God! that ye are gathered in one assembly like unto the stars of the Pleiades, are illumined with the light of the knowledge of God and through the outpouring of cloud of the love of God, ye are the fresh flowers of the meadow and plain; ye are intimate and familiar with infinite unity and love.

O respected members of the Peace Society of New York! O divine society and heavenly hosts!

… It is hoped that the luminosity of peace and tranquility and the spirituality of love and harmony that you manifest will, albeit gradually, dispel this darkness from the world and brighten the horizons.

Make Thy ancient servant a faithful counselor and enable Thy old servant of the threshold to bring about fellowship and attraction, so that all may become unified like the waves of the sea of oneness and united like the hosts of the Kingdom of the All-Merciful.

Now, if they were to set aside these acts of carnage and butchery, and to deal with one another in accord with the divine will, showing love and affection to each other, tell me Aqa Mirza Habib, is it not better?

I hope you will be assisted to do great service and to live together in the utmost love and harmony.

Love and kindness for the sake of God is required towards every soul, except those who turn away--this commandment hath been sent down from the heaven of the divine decree in the Most Holy Book. Well is it with them that act accordingly.

Engage in love and harmony and oneness, strive to spread the divine fragrances, and sacrifice your lives in exalting the Word of God.

O well-wisher of Britain! Your letter arrived and your charitable intentions became known. Unity and concord are the source of life, and discord the source of death. All creation, as you see, has come into being through the union of individual essences, and when discord appears and union dissolves, it must necessarily be destroyed.

Lay the foundation of love and faithfulness and uproot the edifice of discord and cruelty. Practice friendship and truthfulness and seek peace and reconciliation. Be kind to all creation and solicitous of friends.

These hosts give life and quicken and uproot war and strife from the foundation; they bestow peace and reconciliation and grant love and truthfulness.

O thou that mirror in which the Light of Guidance is printed!

I was informed of thy prayer, thy supplication and thy beseeching. Know thou verily:

My throne is my mat!

My glorious crown is my servitude toward God!

My standard is the commemoration of my Lord!

My hosts are the knowledge of my Master!

My sword is the guidance of God!

My dominion is my humility, my submissiveness, my lowliness, my abasement, my supplication and my beseeching unto God--this is that permanent reign which no one is able to dispute, gainsay or usurp!

I beg God to cause thee to be one of the pillars of this divine reign, that thou mayest abundantly partake of this joy and gladness, and I invoke God that He may register thy name in the published Tablet, in the pages of the Kingdom of God. I beg God to cause thy kinsmen (those who are near and dear to thee) to attain that which thou hast attained, to drink from that Cup where from thou art exhilarated, to brighten their eyes through that Light whereby thine eyes were brightened and to cause them to hearken to that Call whereby thine ears were delighted; and that He may make you assemble under the shadow of the Tree of the Testament, and cause you to be of the hosts of His Kingdom, that ye may conquer the East of that region as well as its West, through the sword of peace and the weapons of love, union and agreement, and that He may make thee to be a server in His blessed Olive Garden, and in his El-ABHA (i. e., Most Glorious) Paradise, and in His Holy Garden of the Supreme Kingdom.

O my friends! I swear by the beauteous face of that Beloved One that until we all become like the Pleiades - intimate companions and confidants of one another - and until spiritual unity manifests as it should and must, the intended beloved will not appear and will not adorn the gathering of witnessing.

Unity is love. It cannot be established without love. Therefore try, as far as possible, to be filled with love. Love is perpetual life, the most perfect vitality. Consider how love has gathered us together from the East and the West!

In the days of Moses the people pitched the tent of martyrdom, and in the time of Jesus Christ they established the greatest church but in this time the believers in God must raise the tent of peace, union and concord. I hope that through the providence of God the brilliancy of love will light all the horizons.

Tell them I love them with all My Heart, that I always think of them and never forget them, that it makes Me happy to hear from them; and when I shall hear that they are entirely united, I shall be perfectly happy. To become harmonious is very important, for the least inharmony retards the bestowal of the great blessings that are awaiting them.

O Leaf! The Lord of Eternity hath desired the reformation of the world. All bear witness that We have forbidden all from harboring rancor, hatred and enmity which cause division and disunity.

We have enjoined upon you love and unity. Blessed is he who acteth in accordance with that which hath been ordained in the Book of God, the Mighty, the All-Knowing.

In one of the Tablets this supreme utterance was observed - He says: "Today from the rustling of the Divine Lote Tree this supreme word was heard: The world is built through love and fellowship, and without it, it is in ruins."

Hear the call from the Crimson Tree at the hub of the most exalted Paradise - "God, there is no God but Him, the rightful Sovereign. He it is Who has manifested His Cause and fulfilled His promise and called all to unity and accord.

This is most beloved before God if both parties accept, for the purpose is the comfort of all and the union and unity of the people. Therefore, the more accommodating one is in these matters, the better. The people of Baha must, God willing, deal and associate with one another with perfect love and purity...

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Through the power of the Word of God and the luminosity of His teachings, He dispelled the intense darkness of enmity and established the light of love.

The East became illumined and the star of eternal life shone forth brilliantly. Different conflicting groups gathered together in perfect fellowship and harmony at the banquet of unity and table of love, as though all were kith and kin, or son and father, or brother and sister.

God willing, as the string of pearls of this assembly will endure in perfect connection, unity and agreement, and as the stars of felicity have gathered in that constellation of servitude, it will become the cause of attaining the confirmations of the All-Merciful Lord.

Deal with Mirza Ahmad Sohrab with kindness and love. God desires love, fellowship and unity. Expend all your effort on this - this is the cause of everyone's glory, this is the cause of nearness to the divine threshold, this is the cause of entry into the Kingdom of God.

My hope is that this teaching convention will remain firm and enduring, and its respected members will arise to serve the Kingdom of God in complete unity and harmony, so that the radiant lights from the Sun of Reality may shine upon the horizons of America and the call of Baha'u'llah may reach everywhere.

O what remorse is their lot by losing this Great Cause! Consequently, the teachings of Baha' shall assuredly breathe the spirit of peace, the love of God and divine compassion in the hearts of men.

Papers have no great importance - importance lies in yearning hearts and in unity and harmony and the bonds and connections of the Covenant of the Beloved of the horizons. Thanks be to God, these remain firm and established. No weakness occurs in that strong cord.

Upon you, O loved ones of God, be unity and concord.

When I read your blessed names, I was moved to joy and delight that praise be to God, the Persian friends are successful in friendship and truthfulness, and with heart and soul desire peace and reconciliation for all people.

Now, in gratitude for this bounty, you must act with utmost love and unity towards all the friends and praise them all.

Those teachings will illumine the world. They are fellowship and love, oneness and unity, truthfulness and reconciliation, peace and tranquility, and love and faithfulness. They will uproot the foundation of estrangement and establish the edifice of unity.

Whatever the pen may write and the tongue may utter is but a drop from the surging ocean that exists within the reality of the soul and consciousness. It cannot be fully explained. But when hearts face each other and thought and contemplation take hold, connection and unity and harmony become realized.

He must raise up the armies of love and destroy the foundation of war and strife, so that the luminosity of oneness, nobility and tranquility may illumine all horizons.

Now return to the City of God with a world of glad tidings and joy, and give each of the friends of the Most Glorious the glad tidings of the infinite grace of the Divine Unity, so that all may arise to serve the Cause of God in perfect fellowship, oneness, love and wisdom, and may day by day increase in unity and accord.

When divine love, like wine, causes the world-reflecting cup of the hearts of God's loved ones to overflow with infinite bounties, and when the delicacy of the cup and the purity of the joy-giving wine unite, it becomes "light upon light" and bewilders the recesses of consciousness. Through their mutual reflection, the mystery of unity becomes manifest, and "His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp, the lamp within a glass, the glass as it were a glittering star, lit from a blessed tree" becomes evident.

Though outwardly you are far from us, in reality you are in our presence, for bonds of unity and oneness and sentiments of purity and detachment exist between us.

If this be true, his mention is as honey and nectar, for the essence of illumination is the jewel of harmony which, when it shineth in any gathering, createth the highest paradise and adorneth the most exalted heaven.

Therefore, make an effort that fellowship may be established among you, for this would be the cause of joy and gladness to the heart and soul of 'Abdu'l-Baha; otherwise He shall remain grief-stricken and sorrowful.

At present forbearance is necessary lest division occur, for if division occurs, fellowship and association will cease and no one will draw near.

Thy name is Surush (Angel), therefore let thy qualities be culture and wisdom. Be not disheartened--set thy face toward the Abha Kingdom. Seek not war but peace, desire not conflict and strife. Be thou sweet as sugar and fragrant as musk.

O thou seeker of the Divine Kingdom!

The heavenly doors opened, the hosts of realities and significances rushed forth, the Lord of Hosts established a heavenly throne and spread the armies of peace and reconciliation in all parts of the world, in order that the reign of the peace and love may be founded.

Thanks be to the bounties of the Most Glorious Kingdom that has cast such love and affection and connection and unity into hearts, that when 'Abdu'l-Baha utters the names of the beloved ones, darkness becomes light and gloom is transformed into joy.

Assuredly the loved ones of God must strive with heart and soul so that this difficulty may be resolved and this account may be completed, so that the dust of ill-feeling may be entirely removed from between the two hearts, and all may arise united and in harmony to serve the Cause of God and in servitude at the Divine Threshold.

O my Baha! Confirm Thy believers in the Cause of Union and Agreement and assist them to lay amongst themselves the foundation of eternal solidarity and celestial oneness. Suffer them to become like unto the flowers of Thy Paradise - perfuming the hearts and minds of all the people with their gentle fragrances.

This, however, is astonishing, that souls from the Orient and souls from the Occident should be in the utmost of love and fellowship. Doves from Asia, from America, from Europe, from India and from Japan -- if these should flock together, associate with each other, fly together, enjoy themselves, and pick up grains together, this is very good.

As to the health and happiness of Abdul-Baha, he said many times: "My health and happiness are in this, when I see the friends of God engaged in spreading the divine fragrances, arising to serve the Cause of God, forgetting every though save that of teaching, casting into the corner of forgetfulness every matter but that of unity and harmony.

Consider how the Love of God has united us together. We are associating with each other in the utmost of unity and love.

People have come to realize that in unity there lies strength; in concentration of purpose there is power; and in self-sacrifice there is growth and development.

The real, true Baha'is are the seeing, the perceptive, the knowing; their most noble task is that they make good use of the grace of understanding and refine the conscience of men everywhere, thus paving the way for the Kingdom of God on earth. For love and peace bring heaven down to earth.

O people of God! In Our Tablets We have commanded all to unity and harmony, for harmony hath ever been and remains the cause of the exaltation of the Word.

This Wronged One hath ever desired the good of God's servants and commanded love, affection, kindness, unity and concord, and such deeds and character as would cause the manifestation of human perfections.

Today is the day of utterance and exposition, and the day of unity and harmony. Had the loved ones held fast to the counsels recorded in the Tablets, they would now behold the world adorned and illumined with the light of justice and fairness.

Give them the glad tidings of God's favors, exalted be His glory, and I beseech Him to assist all to achieve unity and harmony and to be successful in wisdom and utterance, that all may be illumined by the light of the Cause and be assisted in the mention and praise of the Intended One of the world.

God is witness that whenever the name of each is mentioned, joy and delight are felt. But from what and whence is this joy? By the life of our Beloved, all is from sincerity and love and affection and unity. The illumination of the world is from the light of love, else darkness would seize and destroy all.

We beseech God, exalted be His glory, to ever keep fresh and verdant the realm of love through the morning breezes in this springtime of inner meanings, and not to deprive it of the fragrances from the gardens of fellowship and unity. In truth, this bounty has had and has no likeness or parallel, for from love appears unity, and through the light of unity the horizons become illumined and radiant.

We beseech God to purify hearts from these two and to adorn them with the ornament of love and fellowship.

Two matters are essential today: first, the attention of God's loved ones to the wisdom revealed in the Book, and second, their unity and accord, for from discord great harm ensues.

Your honor must strive with the utmost diligence to refine souls and promote unity and concord. Every service rendered today for the sake of God will endure and remain forever.

We beseech God to assist all to hold fast unto that which is conducive to unity and concord, and to turn away from that which causeth difference.

Say: O friends! Through unity and concord, and through remembrance and utterance, illuminate the horizons. Strive that ye may perchance achieve such deeds as shall endure throughout the kingdom of earth and heaven.

You must deal with all in loving-kindness in order that this precious seed entrusted to your planting may continue to grow and bring forth its perfect fruit.

… By the absence of love, enmity increases. By the exercise of love, love strengthens and enmities dwindle away.

Sow the seeds of love in the heart and not the seeds of hatred. The reflection in the glass proves whether we are laughing or frowning. By our actions we reveal what is growing in the heart. Actions are mirrors of the soul.

God cherisheth love and union, and He abhoreth enmity and oppression.

O people of Baha! By the Luminary of Utterance which hath shone forth from the horizon of the will of the Lord of all beings in this darksome night, to whatever degree ye increase in hearts the love which is a divine trust, the lights of guidance will encompass and illumine the world. Attention, vision and deeds must be for the sake of God, not for the desires of self and passion. In creation the effulgences of the Light of Divine Manifestation exist and are witnessed. Cast aside hatred and hold fast to supreme love.

They should set an example to their fellow-men, manifest a true and sincere love towards each other and educate their children in such a manner as to blazon the fame and glory of their family.

When a person's thoughts advance somewhat and their aspirations become elevated, they begin to think about securing benefits and averting harm for their entire family, for they consider the comfort and prosperity of their entire household as their own happiness. And when their thoughts expand further and their aspirations become yet loftier, they begin to think of securing benefits and averting harm for their fellow citizens and countrymen.

Though the trace of the pen may be lacking, yet the feelings of the heart are present, and the true letter is the spirit of sincere love. Therefore, shortcoming is impossible and impracticable, and in all conditions the remembrance of the friends and love of the beloved ones are the comfort of heart and soul.

I greatly desire to see the friends united like a string of gleaming pearls and brilliant stars and radiant rays of the sun and gazelles in one meadow.

O ye friends of God! Engage in love as much as you can and be gentle to every outsider; suffer from enemies and behave with patience; see the asleep as the awakened, know the heedless as heedful, deal justly with the unjust and treat the oppressor with faithfulness.

With utmost longing we would sacrifice our souls for all the friends of the Beauty of Abha, may my spirit be offered up for His loved ones. For the life-giving fragrances of His Kingdom from the gardens of the hearts of these temples of holiness waft day and night, and we are in joy and delight remembering their enchanting countenance.

Today the solace of Abdul-Baha's heart is the love, humility and submissiveness of the friends toward one another. Until the reality of heartfelt love and the ultimate self-effacement, evanescence and spiritual attachment is manifested in the hearts of the friends toward one another, assuredly the great bounty will not encompass the world...

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There is no mightier bond in the world of being than the attachment of the heart. Even a chain of steel hath not the same degree of strength. Praise be to God, that bond between the friends is firm and solid; is binding, capturing, and concentrating the Perspicuous Light; and is day by day becoming firmer and stronger.

You must exercise toward each other the utmost degree of love and friendship. Let not anything separate you from each other. Have always the object of the Cause in view and not the passing events.

Indeed through the efforts of the friends, the world of creation may find rest and war and strife may be removed.

Regard each one either as a father, or as a brother, or as a sister, or as a mother, or as a child. If you can attain to this, your difficulties will vanish, you will know what to do. This is the teaching of Baha'u'llah."

The friends of God must arise with utmost kindness. Just as you have done, the more oppression they witness, the more faithfulness they must show, so that it may cause the appearance of the great gift in the world of creation.

In this Dispensation there are no bounds - all things are unbounded, meaning that human goodness should reach all people, not just friends and like-minded ones alone.

The Arabs were scattered in disposition, divided in assembly, plunged in the depths of ignorance, wandering in the wilderness of error, fallen into the abyss of ruin with no escape or refuge from descent and fall into the lowest depths.

They arose and were sent forth, they discovered and united and joined together, they became radiant and illumined the horizons with the light of dawning, advancing in a short time to the highest levels of prosperity and success.

Therefore, the friends of God must deal with those who oppose them with the utmost love, kindness and goodly conduct, and strive to guide souls to the extent of their ability.

Therefore marriage in the estimation of God is very much beloved so that man and woman may live together in the utmost union of the soul and the highest degree of love and the purity of the family atmosphere. Whenever I see a man and wife love each other and are united together I am made supremely happy. Therefore I hope you will live together with the sweetest affection and tenderest feelings and will form a blessed family with joy and happiness.

They are the same with everyone. These are the party of God.

The favors of the Blessed One have made the friends dear even to their enemies.

I love you all, you are the children of the Kingdom, and you are accepted of God.

That is as it should be--the world one brotherhood, loving one another!

All the loved ones should, God willing, manifest perfect love and affection and not fall short in helping one another.

Every organization whose foundation is laid down on a righteous motive, and whose members arise to perform the duties enjoined by divine ordinances, and work with their whole heart, will surely receive assistance of the Holy Spirit and be aided by the power of the Merciful One.

That world is the Kingdom of complete attraction and affinity. It is the Kingdom of the One Divine Spirit, the Kingdom of God. Therefore, the affinity and love manifest in this meeting, the divine susceptibilities witnessed here are not of this world but of the world of the Kingdom.

However, with your enemies - not the wolves - you must show the utmost love and kindness. From this, spiritual benefits will result and the world of morals will become illumined.

Know that mutual aid and assistance is the greatest cause of success, and consider love and kindness the means of comfort for the human world.

Soon you will observe that a hundred thousand souls will attain the station of a single soul and a hundred million people will enter beneath one tent.

Even if thy loving-kindness maketh him more bitter, manifest thou more kindliness, more tenderness, be more loving and tolerate his annoying and offensive behaviour....

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You must love one another; you must be self-sacrificing for one another. If you observe any shortcomings on the part of any, as much as you can, be forgiving and do not be harsh. Even if you wish to admonish, let your admonition be in symbols; do not express it explicitly lest any heart should be saddened. Remember that in the world of existence there is nothing so bad as injuring a heart, for the heart of a man is the place of the descent of the Merciful and man must not at all disquiet or harm the place of the Merciful.

You must never offend any soul. You must always have love. As soon as you see any dissatisfaction between souls, strive to create love between them. For the Kingdom of God does not accept differences.

Deal with the foreigners with utmost love, and with the Arabs with kindness and compassion. Ever keep before thy face this blessed word: "Glory is not his who loveth his country, but glory is his who loveth the world."

The purpose of human life is divine knowledge and love and kindness toward all creation.

Therefore seek the adornment of the human world and show forth love and kindness.

Be a healing balm for every wound and a remedy for every ill. At every moment be a refuge and shelter for the helpless and a support for the fallen. Every morning and evening be cool water for the thirsty and a place of rest and repose for the lost.

You will surely show him the utmost love and kindness in such way that the spirit of that martyr in the Abha Kingdom will be gladdened.

O Mihraban! In this Baha'i Dispensation, kindness, mercy and loving-kindness are among the fundamental principles of the divine teachings.

Strive as much as you can to extinguish these flames, let this always be your thought - to extinguish them. One must show the utmost kindness to all people. One must always overlook - whatever one sees from others, one must overlook it.

Illumine and hallow your hearts; let them not be profaned by the thorns of hate or the thistles of malice. Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love.

Now the time has come when we must part, but the separation is only of our bodies, in spirit we are united.

Another commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another even as I love you.

And those souls who have become disturbed and anxious in this greatest turmoil, treat them with the utmost kindliness and love, and guide them to the divine pathway through goodly exhortation, for God hath not wished that any soul should remain deprived, especially those who have become the target of vilification and humiliation in the path of God, even though it be for but an hour.

By the fire of the Love of God the veil is burnt which separates us from the Heavenly Realities, and with clear vision we are enabled to struggle onward and upward, ever progressing in the paths of virtue and holiness, and becoming the means of light to the world.

This is a general order - the loved ones of God must obey it, but with the utmost effort they must teach individually and not lose time and count the days as precious, for it has become evident and proven to all that the Baha'is are well-wishers and extremely kind to all parties, averse to conflict and contention, and far from prejudice and ulterior motives.

Due to the intense connection that exists between hearts, we are day and night eagerly awaiting news and hoping to receive word. We beseech God to grant such confirmations that from this affection of hearts and love of souls, effects may appear in existence whose luminosity will be manifest and evident from the dawning-place of creation as long as the contingent world endures.

If they complain about the lack of association, the response should be: "Our way is to wish good for all and seek divine confirmation for everyone. We are completely forbidden from criticism and impurity of speech.

You will release the hearts of the people from the intense darkness of different prejudices, so that each soul may love all the people of the world, without distinction. Just like a shepherd who is affectionate to all his sheep, without preference or distinction, you should be affectionate to all. You should not look at their shortcomings. Consider that they are all created by God who loves them all."

Spirit is universal. Man is created in a potential degree of Spirit. Growth is from the mental station into the Spiritual, something like the development from soldier to Commander. God Himself cannot compel the soul to become spiritual. The exercise of a free human will is necessary. We can point the way and furnish the example. We should do little things as well as great things for the Love of God. We should love people because they are God's creatures.

Question: "What is the Baha'i Faith?"

Answer: "Trust in God. Be kind to thy fellowmen. Fill the world with the spirit of Love. The Spirit of Faith in a Baha'i is very strong. His trust is on the Grace of the Holy Spirit."

Say: My God, my God! I beseech Thee by the lights of Thy Throne and by the influence of Thy Word, to assist Thy loved ones in that which Thou lovest and art pleased with, and to unite their hearts through Thy Most Great Name, the Most Glorious.

We created hearts for My love, and eyes to behold the signs of My power, and tongues to make mention of My beauteous praise.

They must not oppose any nation nor deal unjustly with any soul. They must consider the human world as their kith and kin and carry out what befits this station.

I have not forgotten thee nor will I do so, and I always beg of God that thou wilt day by day increase in love and that thy heart will become more illuminated.

Therefore those who would know the Reality of Christ must perceive His Spirit, by which their hearts become united. They thus become a word and have a meaning through the Reality of Jesus.

In other words, it must produce in our hearts a love of God, which must be transmuted into love for man.

When we said yes, He looked out of the window again, then turned and with a beautiful smile looking into the eyes first of one of us and then the other He replied:

"Two human beings may live side by side, may be closely related, and yet be very far apart. Their souls may never meet. And two souls may be attracted instantly and become as one.

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Be kind to all who are on earth and behave spiritually with everyone. Be gentle and gracious.

What you need is to acquire complete eloquence and fluency in the English language, translation of letters sent, translation of the utterances and speeches of Abu'l-Fadl, sincere love for all, calm and dignity and steadfastness.

Therefore if the loved ones of God are kind to someone, they should want what is best for them and endeavor to counsel them so that the kind physician may treat them and they may be healed.

And until these lights shine forth with perfect radiance from the horizon of hearts, this cycle will not yield its fruit and the purpose will not be achieved, this blessed tree will not bear fruit and the Tuba tree will not become fruitful, the morn of hope will not dawn and the darkness of despair will not vanish, the world will not become a new world and the lower kingdom will not become a mirror of the higher kingdom, and the Abha Paradise will not be adorned and the lights of bounty will not shine forth.

Thou has supplicated to become a word in the Book of Love, attain to Truth, love the enemies and be firm in the Cause of God.

The principles of Christ's life were love and mercy. He prayed for his enemies on the cross. He came into the world in order to show men a new application of the Law of Love and he embodied this divine Idea in his life. He was the founder of the law of non-resistance.

Abdul Baha: "You must be a source of happiness to whomsoever you meet. The world is like the body and the love of GOD is like the spirit thereof. Just as this body is quickened by the spirit, likewise the world must become alive with the love of GOD. Therefore I want you to open your home to all the believers and meet them all in love.

We love each other because we are all centered in the Blessed Perfection. If we did not know Him, we should never have loved one another, for we are from different countries and different customs. Still we love each other, for our love is of divine origin and will never change either in this world or in the world to come.

[W]e must look upon every human being we saw as a letter from the Beloved to us. No matter how blotted, blurred, torn or soiled that letter appears to be, nevertheless, you must look upon it with the eye of reality and say to yourself, this is a letter from my Beloved, therefore, because it is from Him, I must love it with that divine love and overlook all its defects--inasmuch as the Beloved wrote it.

Praise be to God that corruption, conflict and disputation have been erased from the Book, as every discerning one and every informed scholar doth testify.

O people of God! Illumine the horizons of the world with the light of concord and, guided by the rustling of the Most Exalted Pen, attain unto the fruits of the Divine Lote-Tree.

Blessed are they who have turned towards the horizon of God's Cause and in whose hearts are reflected the effulgences of the light of the divine countenance.

The important thing is to spread the Teachings, to show love and compassion, to be kind to all, and not wound the feelings of others.

Therefore, we must strive with life and heart that, day by day, our deeds may be better, our conduct more beautiful and our forbearance greater. That is, to cultivate love for all the world; to attain beatific character.

In the world of creation, good intentions are of two kinds. One kind is particular and aimed at specific people; this is limited and its scope is extremely narrow. The other kind is directed towards all created things; it is all-pervading and extensive in range.

They must love each other and banish all the phantasms of suspicion and doubt.

And again, in another passage, His glory be exalted, He saith: "Glory is not his who loveth his homeland, but glory is his who loveth the world." Through this word the Kingdom of Utterance is stirred, but the heedless remain in manifest obscurity.

For they are drops of one ocean and rays of one sun, flowers of one garden and trees of one orchard, links of one chain and servants with rings in their ears belonging to one master.

Say that you are one with all. Be a true well-wisher of people.

Water flowing from one spring has more force and energy than if the same water is divided between eight springs. Try always to concentrate your activities into one channel and let that one be the Cause of Baha'u'llah.

They sacrificed even life for one another and were chained in the links of love for each other.

You are all one family; you have grown out of one root. Each of you is like a branch, a flower, a fruit. You must look on no one as a stranger. You should try to show the greatest love to all men and to every creature.

Toleration leads to association, association to sympathy, sympathy to love and where the light of love enters all the darkness of misunderstandings vanish.

My word is the word of love...

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Man must be a mine of piety and sympathy. He must associate with all mankind with joy and fragrance. He must not turn away his face from any soul. He must raise the fallen and cheer the hopeless. He must treat with kindness both the friend and the stranger. At all times, man must be a mine of compassion and love, and associate with all people with joy.

Unification of the whole of mankind is the hall-mark of the stage which human society is now approaching. Unity of family, of tribe, of city-state, and nation have been successively attempted and fully established. World unity is the goal towards which a harassed humanity is striving. Nation-building has come to an end. The anarchy inherent in state sovereignty is moving towards a climax. A world, growing to maturity, must abandon this fetish, recognize the oneness and wholeness of human relationships, and establish once for all the machinery that can best incarnate this fundamental principle of its life.

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...love of God, and consequently of men, is the essential foundation of every religion, our own included. A greater degree of love will produce a greater unity, because it enables people to bear with each other, to be patient and forgiving.

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...in short, each of us is, as it were, circumscribed by many circles; some of which are less, but others larger, and some comprehend, but others are comprehended, according to the different and unequal habitudes with respect to each other. … But the outermost and greatest circle, and which comprehends all the other circles, is that of the whole human race.

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Self love but serves the virtuous mind to wake, As the small pebble stirs the peaceful lake, The centre moved, a circle straight succeeds, Another still, and still another spreads, Friend, parent, neighbour first it will embrace, His country next, and next all human race; Wide and more wide the' o'erflowings of the mind, Take every creature in of every kind.

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If we Baha'is cannot attain to cordial unity among ourselves, then we fail to realize the main purpose for which the Bab, Baha'u'llah and the Beloved Master lived and suffered.

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Unity amongst the friends brings the confirmations of the Holy Spirit, whereas inharmony kills the spirit and destroys all opportunities for successful work.

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