Persians need not become Bahá’ís, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá said; let them simply act on Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings and watch what happens. An age can be transformed before anyone agrees on what is transforming it. The teachings He called the spirit of this age and the light of this century are measured by their effects: quarrelsome factions turned to peace, independent inquiry replacing blind imitation, the oneness of humanity, the harmony of science and religion, freedom from prejudice; and Bahá’u’lláh Himself speaks of a new life breathed into every human frame and a fresh potency instilled in every word. Jesus, noting that people can read the sky for rain yet cannot read their own time, asked them to judge for themselves what is right [1]; discernment of an age is a form of attention, not a taste for novelty. The most hopeful image is the bird of the love of God spreading its wings over every horizon, for the remedy and the renewal are finally the same thing, love. The way leads on to the greatness of this Day and to the spiritual springtime.
Now it behooves Persians to engage in one more experiment, that is, to act according to the Teachings of the Blessed Beauty. They need not become Baha'is if they do not wish to; they simply need to act according to the Teachings of Baha'u'llah. Were they to do so, they would see what results are obtained in a very short time.
After Our arrival, We revealed, as a copious rain, by the aid of God and His Divine Grace and mercy, Our verses, and sent them to various parts of the world. We exhorted all men, and particularly this people, through Our wise counsels and loving admonitions, and forbade them to engage in sedition, quarrels, disputes and conflict. As a result of this, and by the grace of God, waywardness and folly were changed into piety and understanding, and weapons converted into instruments of peace.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Ibn-i-Dhi'b (Epistle to the Son of the Wolf), 1308 ? [1891], to Muhammad Taqi Isfahani (son of the Wolf) -- BH00005)
03
At such a time as this Baha'u'llah proclaimed the first principle of His mission and teaching -- the oneness of the world of humanity. His second announcement was the investigation of reality; the third was the oneness of the foundations of the divine religions. Through spiritual education He led the people out of darkness and ignorance into the clear light of truth, illuminated their hearts with the splendor of knowledge, laid a true and universal basis for religious teachings, cultivated the virtues of humanity, conferred spiritual susceptibilities, awakened inner perceptions and changed the dishonor of prejudiced souls to the highest degree of honor and capacity.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Second Divine Science Church on 1912-Sep-25 -- ABU0057)
04
Today, whosoever becomes informed of the exhortations and counsels of Baha'u'llah and reads Tablets such as Kalimat, Tajalliyat, 'Ishraqat, Tarazat and Bisharat, will have no doubt whatsoever that these teachings are today's sustenance for the world of humanity and the cause of eternal life.
These teachings are what the world needs in this luminous age, for this is not an age of blind imitation; it is the age of light, and the century in which mysteries will be made manifest.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Words spoken on board the Himalaya at sea, 1913-Jun-15 -- ABU3749)
06
For the teachings of His Highness Baha'u'llah are the keys to all the doors. Every hidden secret will become discovered and every hidden mystery will become manifest and apparent.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1908-Mar-20, to Mrs Robert Elliott -- AB10953)
07
My hope is that your musk-scented pen will promote the teachings of the Manifest Light, so that the people of that land may know how that shining Moon bestowed illumination upon the world of being and established teachings that are the spirit of this age and the light of this century.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1914-Apr-25 ca., to Chetty, D Gopaul Editor of the New Reformer -- AB04306)
08
I will pray in thy behalf and beg for thee Divine Confirmation so that in Scotland thou mayest upraise the Banner of the Oneness of the World of humanity through the Assistance of Bah-o-llah and become the promoter of the heavenly Teachings which are the Spirit of this Age!
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1913-Feb-27, to Graham Pole -- AB10317)
09
The sacred Manifestations were not known in the first cycles and the fruit of their mission had not been discovered. But in this spiritual age, in this divine time the exaltation and the luminosity, the truth and the greatness of the Cause of God have become manifest and evident as the sun in all regions. All wise men witness that these divine teachings are the very spirit of this age, and the light of this cycle; humanity will never find peace and tranquillity without the spreading of these teachings, nor will it attain perfect civilization.
Meanwhile, the supreme antidote and the instantaneous cure for the ills of the people of the world are the sacred teachings of the Ancient Beauty (may my spirit be sacrificed for His loved ones) and true love for that heart-ravishing countenance.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, to Mirza Ibrahim Davafurush -- AB07250)
11
Through the movement of Our Pen of glory We have, at the bidding of the omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new life into every human frame, and instilled into every word a fresh potency. All created things proclaim the evidences of this world-wide regeneration.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Lawh-i-Dunya (Tablet of the World), 1308 ? [1890-1891], to Mirza Siyyid Muhammad Afnan (known as Aqa Mirza Aqa Nurud-Din) -- BH00238)
12
This is the Day whereon naught can be seen except the splendors of the Light that shineth from the face of Thy Lord, the Gracious, the Most Bountiful. Verily, We have caused every soul to expire by virtue of Our irresistible and all-subduing sovereignty. We have, then, called into being a new creation, as a token of Our grace unto men.
(Bahá’u’lláh, Tablet of the Divine Springtime, 1290 [1873] or earlier -- BH00821)
13
This is the Ocean out of which all seas have proceeded, and with which every one of them will ultimately be united. From Him all the Suns have been generated, and unto Him they will all return. Through His potency the Trees of Divine Revelation have yielded their fruits, every one of which hath been sent down in the form of a Prophet, bearing a Message to God’s creatures in each of the worlds whose number God, alone, in His all-encompassing Knowledge, can reckon.
(Bahá’u’lláh, 1290 [1873] or earlier, to Siyyid Muhammad Al-Husayni (son of Siyyid Jafar Yazdi) -- BH01828)
14
Consider His Holiness Baha'u'llah and his teaching. They are the spirit of this cycle - the light of this age. They illumine the dark places of humanity, for they address themselves to the heart of the race. For instance, the greatest evil of this century is war. In the new age Baha'u'llah has prohibited war. The need of this century is universal peace - Baha'u'llah has instituted it.
When His Holiness Baha'u'llah appeared he gave forth the declaration concerning the oneness of the world of humanity. He expounded the principles of international peace. He sent epistles to the kings and rulers.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at First Congregational Church on 1912-Oct-06 -- ABU0035)
16
The differences of the various religions are the results of dogmas and imitations, so we must give up dogmas and turn our faces to the foundation of religion. Dogmas have always been the cause of strife, while religion was always the cause of Unity. Baha'u'llah proclaimed that religion will again bring love and friendship to mankind; if it does not fulfill this duty, then is it a failure.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Public address given at Obere Museum on 1913-Apr-06 -- ABU0212)
17
Consider His Holiness Baha Ollah and His teachings. They are the spirit of this cycle, the light of this century, and they illumine the dark corners of humanity. Whosoever has heard them has confessed that these teachings are in accord with the spirit of this period.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address at weekly meeting, 15 Rue de Greuze in Paris, 1913-Feb-14 -- ABU0046)
18
At a time when the Orient was in the dark night of cataclysmic ignorance, His Holiness Baha'u'llah, like unto a glorious sun, shone forth from the eastern horizon. In the midst of contention and the clashing rivalries of the Oriental peoples he boldly proclaimed the doctrine of the oneness of the world of humanity.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Address to L'Alliance Spiritualiste on 1913-Feb-21 -- ABU0058)
19
All the peoples of the earth are astir in this age, yet have failed to discover the reason and cause thereof.
Know thou that My teachings are pure love for all creatures and infinite grace for every human being. O handmaid of God! Thou shalt see with the eyes of joy that the bird of the love of God has spread its wings on all horizons as a result of the teachings of Bahaiuillah, because they are the spirit of the world of being in the body of mankind, and the light that is shining upon the horizons of creation.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, 1903-Jun-06, to Mary C Pye -- AB00745)
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
21
As this cycle is the cycle of sciences, there must needs be new teachings, a new revelation is required and a new life is wanted. The minds and hearts refute the veracity of ancient opinions. New ideals are called for and new principles are urgently demanded which may fill the requirements of this age, be as the spirit of this century and as the light of this period. 'Abdu'l-Baha,