effort; striving
Editorial introduction
Discovering the way to America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá once remarked, does not bring anyone to America; a road has to be travelled. Effort in the Bahá’í writings is this second act, the turning of understanding into movement, and its field is as wide as a life: daily work done with trust in God, conduct that grows a little more beautiful each day, knowledge and craft acquired according to one’s means, and the long emigration out of the realm of self toward the heart of the Friend. Capacity, He says, follows striving and sincerity. The urgency is real, since no one can count on another moment of life, yet it is softened by counsel to be patient when results are slow and to let obstacles become steps. Guidance itself remains a gift, and the Qur’anic promise that those who strive in God’s path will be guided to His ways holds the two together [1]. The journey continues through the condition of search, through steadfastness and perseverance, and along the spiritual path itself.
It is not sufficient only to distinguish the way of the Kingdom, only to discover the heavenly way: you must travel upon it until the end is reached. For example, that a man discovers the way to America is not sufficient. He must travel in it that he may reach that country.
However, the cause of success and prosperity is trustworthiness and religiosity and effort and zeal, and conduct and movement according to divine teachings. Strive in your work but trust in God. Seek assistance and grace from Him, and seek success and prosperity and advancement from Him.
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.
Strive diligently to acquire both outward and inward perfections, for the fruit of the human tree has ever been outer and inner perfections. A person without knowledge and crafts is not beloved - like trees without fruit have they been and ever shall be. Therefore you must needs adorn, according to your capacity and means, the tree of your being with the fruits of knowledge and wisdom, of meanings and utterance.
In the world of existence, every gift can be attained through effort and endeavor, through seeking and yearning, but guidance is a divine bestowal and a heavenly gift.
Today striving is necessary, and likewise meditation on the signs in the horizons and within yourselves. His exalted Word: "And those who strive in Our path, We shall assuredly guide them to Our ways."
But you too must strive to the extent possible and take hold of the means, for "He provides for whomsoever He wishes without measure."
The establishment of the School of Happiness is the cause of happiness, but it requires effort and zeal and with pure intention patience and forbearance are fitting.
One must not look to the beginning of matters - one must strive in affairs with pure intention and ultimately await the results.
O my dear ..., endure and be patient, and by patience thou wilt attain thy desire.
In this Cause, he who is active and who makes an effort will always meet with success. In worldly matters how often we see a man work hard for a lifetime and never achieve success. But the worker in the cause of God is like a gardener. The more attention he gives his garden, the more fruit will reward his efforts, or, like the traveler who has a great goal before him, no matter how hard the road, if he only keep on walking and is not turned aside by discouragements, he is sure, eventually, to reach his goal.
The Blessed Beauty often remarked: 'There are four qualities which I love to see manifested in people: first, enthusiasm and courage; second, a face wreathed in smiles and a radiant countenance; third, that they see all things with their own eyes and not through the eyes of others; fourth, the ability to carry a task, once begun, through to its end.'
When a pupil enters the school first, he will not understand a thing at all, but when he persists in his studies, he will learn his first lessons. Even so it is with the Kingdom of God. When a person enters, when he concentrates his thought and is steadfast, he will learn good lessons, very good lessons indeed.
Q. How can one increase in faith?
A. You must strive. A child does not know, in learning he obtains knowledge. Search for Truth.
Thus he who is endowed with any degree of capacity and ability must constantly exert himself in order to increase them, or he will see the beginning of failure and decadence.
Capacity is in accordance with striving and sincerity.
Consequently we must strive in order to obtain the capability - so that this divine Grace may have its effect upon us and may enrich us with its inexhaustible favours - We must make an effort - so that when thirsty we may drink with utmost relish and enjoyment this water of life.
Strive night and day that capacity, worthiness and merit may increase, and advance day by day in the degrees of recognition and certitude, so that you may be counted among the friends of the Most Glorious Beauty and the loved ones of the Most Exalted Lord.
No matter what level a human being reaches, he can still attain higher ones, so he is always making effort and desiring more.
In every matter one must arise with utmost effort to fulfill its conditions and reach the height of perfection.
O heavenly one! The maid-servant of God Asiyih hath praised thee! I hope thou wilt acquire great proficiency in writing literature, composition, eloquence of tongue and fluency of speech, co-operating with the maid-servant of God in the service of God, becoming an esteemed servant in the Threshold of Oneness and partaking of a share of the heavenly gifts, and progressing day by day until thou attain to the apex of the excellencies of this human world.
O thou who art advancing toward God!
Verily, I read thy long letter, which showed thine abundant joy for the appearance of the Kingdom of God and longing of thy heart for the knowledge of God. Endeavor with thy soul, so that the fountain of knowledge may flow within thy heart and the bounties of mysteries may pour upon thee from the Kingdom of Lights. Then thou wilt understand the meanings hidden and recorded in the symbols in the Holy Scriptures.
First must we meditate upon it and consider the hardships, trials, and calamities, then must we resolve and commence our journey. We witness how people sacrifice their wealth and much else to discover the North Pole, with great devotion. How much greater must our devotion be in seeking the Pole of the Kingdom!
Even a little bird perched upon the loftiest branch of a tree on a hill-top commands a view and occupies a height that Kings might envy. He has no troubles or trials. But such freedom and loftiness are of no consequence; while a man who endures trials, and sacrifices ease and comfort to great achievements, is endowed with true independence.
Confirmation is not dependent on talent, knowledge or wisdom. Many unimportant persons have made significant discoveries. Many people labored for years to explore the North Pole but Admiral Peary reached it. One's efforts should be focussed on the object of one's quest.
All the difficulties and hardships which they endured! How many ships were wrecked, how many souls were lost, how much property was destroyed until they could discover the North Pole! Finally they found it, and it was nothing.
Once his effort is directed in the proper channel if he does not succeed today he will succeed tomorrow. Effort in itself is one of the noblest traits of human character.
A third class of men and women to whom nature has bestowed an iron will, an adamant determination, an unwavering strength, a sterling character, a dominating personality, a passionate desire in doing good,- look upon all hindrances and stumbling-blocks as so many ladders or stepping-stones to rise and rise till they have grasped into their mighty hands the scepter of glory.
It requires determination - let us see what their determination will accomplish. It requires enthusiasm - this is the essential thing. When one has enthusiasm, wonders are wrought. In whatever matter one develops enthusiasm, in that thing one acquires proficiency. But without enthusiasm nothing is achieved; it brings weariness.
Not through idleness do we accomplish anything but through ceaseless, joyful, ever expanding activity.
In this court we must be humble and meek, active and progressive, wide-awake and thoughtful, true and sincere, noble and good, straightforward and zealous.
This is the outcome of life! This is the result of ceaseless endeavour!
It is time to surge like the ocean and soar to the Pleiades. If we seek to ascend to the highest horizon we must spread our wings, and if we wish to dive into the ocean's depths we must learn to swim.
Therefore, desire with your heart and demonstrate humility and lowliness with your soul, show forth the strength of your arms with your body, and strive with all your powers until this brilliant star of bounty may rise from the horizon of heart and soul, and this bird of aspiration may fall into the snare of attainment, this flower may bloom in the gathering, and this dove may sing in that garden.
O thou who art enkindled with the fire of the love of God!
Man, who is the sign of the All-Merciful and the manifestation of the favors of the Lord God, must seek with his soul and strive with his body and strength and tread the path of the free ones, so that he may become the dawning-place of light and the recipient of inspiration and inner meanings from the All-Forgiving Lord.
But effort is needed until thou emigratest from the realm of self and desire and soarest to the sacred precincts of holiness and becomest intimate with the sanctuary of the soul and findest the way to the heart of the Friend. How sweet is this utterance and how excellent must be the deed! If thou hearkenest to the counsel of the Friend and journeyest in the paths of His good-pleasure - keep far from thyself and draw near to thy Lord; cast away what thy self desireth and seek what thy Lord willeth; forget all else and remember His light.
Deprive not thyself of the portion of striving, for hearts become ill just as bodies become ill. Therefore, purify thy heart through remembrance of God the Most Great in every condition.
Man must never get satisfied. He must ever be thirsty. There is nothing worse in this world than satisfaction from thirst. Man must drink from every fountain. His Holiness Baha'u'llah says: 'Your thirst must be so great that if you quaff the seven seas of the world you may yet be thirsty and dry.'
The thirsty one must run after the water; the fountain will not run after those who are thirsty.
O friends! Strive ye to receive your portion from the ocean of divine bounty and take your share from the infinite cornfields of grace.
Therefore look at the degrees of existence - whatever you observe of the gifts of the Loving Lord, seek it with heart and soul and run in the path of its pursuit until you become a center of the merciful emanations and the pole of the circle of divine guidance.
O 'Ali! God has ordained stations for His loved ones in all ranks and conditions, and has called them to striving and seeking that He might bestow upon them that which they desire.
O thou who gazest upon the Abha Kingdom!
In these days when the lights of divine confirmation are dawning and shining forth from the Dayspring of the All-Merciful upon the kingdom of possibility, and when the Most Great Ocean of Glory is surging and overflowing from the realm of the unseen, an effort is needed to gain a portion of this divine bestowal and to receive a share of this great bounty.
God willing, ye must strive with utmost endeavor that perchance ye may attain to the recognition of this most exalted and most high station.
O ye who soar in the atmosphere of divine recognition! Make a mighty effort that ye may attain unto that which hath been mentioned.
God willing, may they fix their gaze upon lofty stations and strive with the utmost effort and endeavor to attain them.
Say: O friends! Man hath been created for this blessed and wondrous Day. Strive ye that ye may attain unto that wherefrom the fragrances of eternity are wafted.
Strive thou that there may appear from thee that from which the sincere ones may inhale the fragrance of the love of God, the Goal of all who have recognized Him.
Now that divine flame from the invisible Kingdom of the Most Glorious Concourse sheds its radiance upon all horizons. Strive that thou mayest be enkindled by its effulgence and attain the utmost attraction through its revelation.
Increase also thine efforts, and day by day settle more in the Kingdom, and be nearer to God, till Love may surge within thee every minute, and may take thee to whatever is the desire of the near ones.
Thou must strive day by day so that the Fire of the Love of God may burn brighter and brighter upon the censer of thy heart; day by day thy servitude at the Threshold of Abha become more pronounced, day by day thy attachment to the Kingdom of God become stronger. If thou dost this, then all thy studies will be crowned with success; otherwise they will bring thee no eternal results.
In acquiring the qualities and characteristics of spiritual beings, show forth the high endeavor of men, that thou mayest attain to the station where "I will make all my remembrances and prayers but a single remembrance, and my condition in Thy service eternal."
As much as thou art able, increase in hope and strive until the greatest bounty unveils its countenance and heavenly grace encompasses thee.
The more effort is expended, the more bounty will be received, and the more one ascends, the more progress will be achieved in all directions.
Know thou that this effort was like the sowing of a seed that shall yield a bountiful harvest. As mentioned in the Qur'an: "like a grain which groweth seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains" - so shall it be. Ere long, praiseworthy results and acceptable effects of this deed shall become evident and manifest....
So now you must strive until the result is achieved and the fruit obtained and the lamp of eternal life is kindled and the gifts of the Lord of the Kingdom become manifest, and again engage in worship of the Lord of Hosts with utmost joy and delight.
I entreat God that this favor may be realized and this unending outpouring become manifest and apparent, and the friends of God be confirmed by every bounty.
O ye two lovers of the Beauty of ABHA! Ere long the Word of God will display a wonderful influence and finally that region (America) will become the paradise of ABHA. Consequently, strive ye bravely that this aim may be accomplished in the near future. Striving means this: Ye must live and move according to the divine commands and behests, be united in loving with ecstasy and joy; do not take any rest but engage continually in the service of the Cause of God.
While there is still oil in thy lamp, therefore, while there is yet some strength left in thy body, make thou a mighty effort that thy faith may burn brightly within the globe of divine grace and bounty.
Let not time slip from thy grasp nor beneficence escape thy hand. Make mighty effort and tremendous endeavor that thou mayest attain to this glorious purpose.
O my beloved! Time is a cutting sword and thy Lord's bestowals are a brilliant flash. Seize the opportunity and strive in the Cause of thy Lord Who created thee and fashioned thee, from Whom is thy beginning and to Whom is thy end.
Yes, striving and endeavor, effort and exertion are necessary and obligatory, while negligence and laxity are blameworthy and reproachable. Indeed, one must not be idle for a moment day and night, nor let a minute slip away.
I hope, from the bounties of the Exalted, the Quickener of the souls, that thou mayest not rest for one moment but pulsate constantly like unto the pulsation of an artery in the body of the world, to infuse the spirit of life in the souls and suffer the people to soar up to the zenith of the Kingdom.
Show ye an effort! Work unceasingly! Labor diligently---so that the Everlasting Bounty be realized, Eternal Life be destined, and the nostrils be perfumed with the Holy Fragrances!
Eschew all feebleness and weakness and succumb to weariness or lassitude. Strive with all thy determination so that thou mayest be aided and confirmed day by day, so that thou mayest grow nearer to the sacred Threshold.
In this age of grace, make a boundless effort and endeavor, that thou mayest become sanctified above the signs of past ages and become a brilliant moon among the renowned ones of the age of unity.
This is the day of the arena and the time of polo mallet and ball. Make an effort to snatch away this ball of precedence and victory, to utterly rout the armies of doubts and dispel the darkness of uncertainty.
Effort and endeavor are needed, zeal and enthusiasm are required, and in this arena, striving is necessary and hunting is obligatory.
Be like men and cast your ball into the field. I hope you will be a man of the field, wielding the polo stick and seizing the ball.
Praise God that thou hast spurred on thy charger in this field and, with the mallet of endeavor, carried away the ball of success.
Therefore night and day we must strive and endeavor that perchance in gratitude for the favors of the one true God we may draw breath and make the world a companion to this abundant grace.
Otherwise, "if He forsake you, who is there that can help you after Him?" will become manifest and apparent. Therefore, strive that thou mayest be confirmed and assisted.
Whether or not men will reach the higher place, under the wings of God, depends upon the efforts which they put forth.
If you strive unceasingly, if you make a great effort, if you put forward extraordinary exertion, then these people will be awakened, their eyes will be opened and their ears unstopped, so that they can hear the melodious music which streams down from the supreme concourse, the notes and strains of which have been played from all eternity ever enrapturing with the thousand harmonious accompaniments the pure in the heart.
Now, should one desire, by means of sciences, arts, and morals, to reform certain souls, he must strive for years upon years, and exert himself until he hath guided a few. But the true believer, in a single hour, transformeth ten souls.
A person must be rapid in motion and not slow and tortoise-like. You see, I take always Khosro and Mirza Ahmad with me, because they move rapidly and have not attachment to anything. When a soul is severed and quick in attending to all his duties, his station is great in the Kingdom of Abha.
Further quotations · supplied wording and references
As for what the Supreme Pen hath previously set down, the reason is that in every art and skill, God loveth the highest perfection.
It ill-beseemeth men to centre all their efforts on their own selves; rather must they ceaselessly strive for the betterment of the lives of one another.
For thought and discussion