prayer ~ spiritual nourishment

"Indeed the chief reason for the evils now rampant in society is the lack of spirituality. The materialistic civilization of our age has so much absorbed the energy and interest of mankind that people in general do no longer feel the necessity of raising themselves above the forces and conditions of their daily material existence. There is not sufficient demand for things that we call spiritual to differentiate them from the needs and requirements of our physical existence.

"The universal crisis affecting mankind is, therefore, essentially spiritual in its causes. The spirit of the age, taken on the whole, is irreligious. Man's outlook on life is too crude and materialistic to enable him to elevate himself into the higher realms of the spirit.

"It is this condition, so sadly morbid, into which society has fallen, that religion seeks to improve and transform. For the core of religious faith is that mystic feeling which unites Man with God. This state of spiritual communion can be brought about and maintained by means of meditation and prayer. And this is the reason why Bahá'u'lláh has so much stressed the importance of worship. It is not sufficient for a believer merely to accept and observe the teachings. He should, in addition, cultivate the sense of spirituality which he can acquire chiefly by means of prayer. The Bahá'í Faith, like all other Divine Religions, is thus fundamentally mystic in character. Its chief goal is the development of the individual and society, through the acquisition of spiritual virtues and powers.  It is the soul of man which has first to be fed. And this spiritual nourishment prayer can best provide.

"Laws and institutions, as viewed by Bahá'u'lláh, can become really effective only when our inner spiritual life has been perfected and transformed. Otherwise religion will degenerate into a mere organization, and becomes a dead thing. The believers, particularly the young ones, should therefore fully realize the necessity of praying. For prayer is absolutely indispensable to their inner spiritual development, and this, as already stated, is the very foundation and purpose of the religion of God."

    (Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, p. 86)

the spirit of subduing self-love

"..self-love is kneaded into the very clay of man, and it is not possible that, without any hope of a substantial reward, he should neglect his own present material good. That individual, however, who puts his faith in God and believes in the words of God -- because he is promised and certain of a plentiful reward in the next life, and because worldly benefits as compared to the abiding joy and glory of future planes of existence are nothing to him -- will for the sake of God abandon his own peace and profit and will freely consecrate his heart and soul to the common good."

 ~ Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 96

we are all gems, unique and precious.  we are all full of spiritual, gem-like qualities.  we are all born with the potential to shine with the light of godly qualities and make this world a better place. if this potential is not continually cultivated and enabled to flourish, we easily succumb to the gravity of self which pulls us down into the darkness of material traits, extinguishing that light and bringing harm to ourselves and the human race.  the Teachings from God provide the spiritual energy to ultimately overcome our selves, to subdue that lower nature molded within us..

as much as each of us is on a never-ending, ever-evolving, inter-generational progression of spiritual progress -- not merely material progress -- it is made inexplicably difficult to transform our lives unless we exert conscious, tireless effort toward overcoming our ego.

"..the spirit is the bounty of God, the water is knowledge and life, and the fire is the love of God. For material water does not purify the heart of man; no, it cleanses his body. But the heavenly water and spirit, which are knowledge and life, make the human heart good and pure; the heart which receives a portion of the bounty of the Spirit becomes sanctified, good and pure -- that is to say, the reality of man becomes purified and sanctified from the impurities of the world of nature. These natural impurities are evil qualities: anger, lust, worldliness, pride, lying, hypocrisy, fraud, self-love, etc.

Man cannot free himself from the rage of the carnal passions except by the help of the Holy Spirit.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 92

our ego is that self-love which can overtake our sense of humility before God as His servant.  we begin to glorify ourselves and basically fall in love with ourselves.  our talents, achievements, opinions, physical beauty, wealth, class, status, etc. all become aspects of our ego that we worship.  we neglect to be truly humble and carry ourselves in a dignified, selfless manner before God.

if we are not making a conscious effort toward subduing our ego, we adorn ourselves with layers and layers of self-conceit, pride, and vanity.  godliness and purity are soiled or nowhere to be seen or felt.  daily life becomes all about one's image or attention received from others.

it is in this place of self-love that a soul never finds inner peace -- there is always a desire for more from the material world, more things, more attention, more physical adornments, more degrees, more money..  at its worst, self-love is a place where addiction, obsession and suicide reside.

this very materialistic world feeds the ego instead of nourishing the soul.  as we strive to raise our children to be spiritual human beings, we are bombarded by the excesses of self-love that pervade most areas of life.  this is especially true in the world of music and entertainment to which children are much attracted.  these industries bombard us with vulgarity and indiscretions of all kinds. it is a very difficult task to help them find anything worthy of their spirit.  they are easily enticed, also, by what they see people wearing, saying and doing in public, on advertisements and at school, most of which, even in sheltered environments, give them messages of loving themselves.

parenting plays a crucial role in influencing how their children develop and strengthen their spiritual capacity while learning how to subdue their material nature:

"The forces at work on the hearts and minds of the young...are pernicious indeed. Exhortations to remain pure and chaste will only succeed to a limited degree in helping them to resist these forces. What needs to be appreciated in this respect is the extent to which young minds are affected by the choices parents make for their own lives, when, no matter how unintentionally, no matter how innocently, such choices condone the passions of the world—its admiration for power, its adoration of status, its love of luxuries, its attachment to frivolous pursuits, its glorification of violence, and its obsession with self-gratification."   (December 28, 2010 Universal House of Justice)

we are constantly striving, through our own example, to bring out the light of a good character in our children.  through counsel, we are helping them develop their capacity to attain moral and spiritual excellence which subdues this self-love.  as they make progress in their efforts, we remind them that their abilities and talents are gifts from God, not from themselves; they are to be developed and used to serve humanity in ways that are conducive to the spiritual advancement of civilization.

we encourage them to utilize all of their God-given potential and capacity with humility before God to protect their egos from swelling with pride and vanity.  we also encourage them to discern the destructive nature and emptiness of how self-love affects people in this life.  educating a soul to know itself as a noble human being is the most significant job we have in this life if we care to bring about a spiritual civilization.

"O God! Enable us to conquer self and overcome desire. O Lord! Deliver us from the bondage of the material world. O Lord! Quicken us through the breath of the Holy Spirit in order that we may arise to serve Thee, engage in worshiping Thee and exert ourselves in Thy Kingdom with the utmost sincerity. O Lord, Thou art powerful. O God, Thou art forgiving. O Lord, Thou art compassionate."

 ~ Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 458

Accra ~ not the jewel of West Africa

i think most people who have never lived in Ghana have the wrong view of what it is like.  yes, it is basically a peaceful land without obvious tensions amongst different peoples.  yes, the Chinese are here building new highways and roads; there is a variety of restaurants and shops scattered all throughout the city, and a second 'mall' has opened.  and yes, it has successfully held democratic elections since its independence.  but it is definitely not a place i would call a jewel, nor a world-class destination..

we live in Accra.  we have recently seen it described online as 'the Jewel of West Africa 'and becoming a 'world class destination' -- a great place to spend one's money for a holiday vacation.  to anyone i know, whether living in poverty, of the working class, or an ex-pat from another country who lives in a big house, Ghana is 'collapsing', 'falling apart' and compared to 'what it was like living here in the 1940's..'  perhaps the difference is actually living here, rather than being a visitor for a short time who is surrounded by the luxuries of the hotel and tour bus..

i cannot speak for what it's like in any area outside of Accra, nor can i speak for the traveler who stays at a posh hotel with the pool and spa, or the wealthy people and high government officials who navigate through life here at a level far beyond reality to the rest of us.  what the rest of us are experiencing living here is a common experience:  the country is not functioning well at all.

despite all the hype about discovering oil and selling it to foreign nations, the nation has progressively gotten worse over the past several years.  fuel (for generators), electricity and water are all very scarce.  traffic is terrible -- there is no public transportation system provided for those without cars.  jobs are very difficult to find.  unemployment is high.  almost everyone in the middle-class struggles to send their children to a simple private school because of the exorbitant rates, while public schools are renowned for being ill-equipped to effectively provide an education to the masses who have no alternative.  the masses of youth who cannot afford to attend secondary schools (which are not free) end up without any chance of receiving a GED and are left behind this ever-evolving world of exclusivity for the privileged.

many people who have pipes going into their homes have water flowing only once a week.  all classes of people pay to have a water company to come and fill up a huge tank or two to supply water to the home and/or neighborhood.  most of the time the company brings bore water instead of the filtered water that is processed throughout the city pipes.  they will charge you the same amount of money but you will see a discoloration and have a slight odor and salty taste to the water. 

it's been 35 hours since the electricity in our neighborhood went out.  we are the only house that has a generator.  in the past 2 months, the usual amount of time for 'lights out' averages 10-12 hours.  it has been rotating between nights and days.  this is a common phenomenon but it is getting more frequent and unreliable (despite how we prepay for electricity).  as thankful and grateful as i am that we actually have a generator and enough fuel to keep it going, i cannot separate myself from others and accept this extreme condition for the masses.  even if they don't have electricity in their home, they will be able to see at night from street lights and walk to the corner shop to watch a tv program together; they will be able to charge their phone at someone else's house and drink cold water from the shop..

yesterday when i went to visit my neighbor -- who lives in a wooden shack that sits on cement blocks and who has no electricity or running water -- i was intrigued to hear her start talking about how the government doesn't care about its people.  she knows that greed and corruption of money are 2 reasons why systems break down.  she knows that after 50 years after independence, the country could have progressed more than it has.  she realizes that pipes and wires that were set up a long time ago require maintenance and replacement.  but more than anything, she trusts and believes wholeheartedly that those people who are irresponsible and selfish will reap what they sow.  i listened and shared that commonly held feeling by Ghanaians that it is a shame how so much of the wealth of this nation is being consumed by the selfish desires of a small minority of people.

in addition to these basic systems falling apart, there are a few more things about living in Accra vs. passing through as a tourist which detract from its description as a 'jewel'.  it does not have a beautiful downtown area to walk through, or any of the attractive features of cities like Kampala, Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.  there is not one public park to have a picnic or kick the soccer ball on a grassy field.  the beaches of Accra are polluted, the roads are falling apart and very congested most of the time, and the food and housing are extremely expensive compared to most other African cities.  of all the families we have met from the kids' school, many have chosen to leave, while others are discontent and feel there is nothing to do as a family except stay at home or go visit another family (unless you are willing and able to spend a lot of money to go to a sports center or swim at a hotel, etc.)..

for as long as i live here, i am choosing to appreciate what i do enjoy and appreciate about Accra.  i like buying local food for a small amount of money, being able to get a drum custom made from the craft market, and enjoying some good music.  i appreciate meeting many goodhearted, God-loving souls and an abundance of bright-eyed, smiling children who appreciate you being friendly to them.  it's a short list but it's essential to be content wherever we live, no matter the circumstances or how far it is from being like a precious jewel.  this is how i am striving to live here in Accra..

conduct ~ stretching spiritual muscles

"O ye friends of God! Show ye an endeavor that all the nations and communities of the world, even the enemies, put their trust, assurance and hope in you; that if a person falls into errors for a hundred-thousand times he may yet turn his face to you, hopeful that you will forgive his sins; for he must not become hopeless, neither grieved nor despondent. This is the conduct and the manner of the people of Baha'..."

    ~ Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 436

trash piling up while waiting for the owner to supply the bin

i have studied this quote and always thought of it as something quite extraordinary.  i could not imagine one person i know falling into errors 100,000 times let alone being able to forgive that person and bring hope and consolation to his heart..

i have been facing continuous 'errors' for three weeks by the owner and contractors of the house we recently moved into.  their blatant and repeated lack of honesty and trustworthiness, unreliability and poor workmanship have combined to create a situation in which i started thinking and speaking negatively toward them.

i couldn't accept their lack of morals graciously.  i couldn't embrace the incompetency of work or craftsmanship.  the virtues of God felt far from my reach -- patience and understanding were not springing up within my heart.  internally i felt contempt and a bit of rage.  worst of all, i couldn't rely on or trust anyone..

after a week of being bombarded by accumulated 'errors', i was no longer able to cooperate peacefully with them at all.  i had started raising my voice and speaking impolitely.  i recognized that it was time to center myself spiritually.  i started asking my husband to work with them when he was home.  i retreated or kept my distance as much as possible.  whatever prayerful state i was in when i awoke in the morning was gone by noon.  too many compounded, insidious occurrences that brought all of my spiritual weaknesses to the surface..

i had to look at myself and honestly assess what qualities of God i needed to grow in.  this situation was beyond the normal sense of bringing myself to account each day.  i had developed an all-consuming attitude of irritability and complaint that needed serious attention.  i had lost that radiant, pure-hearted joy which depicts my way of life.  i typically live each day consciously mindful of the suffering of the peoples of the world, so how could i be so frustrated and not able to willingly accept the hardships that come along with material life (like an oven we bought within our budget, not knowing it has to be lit with a match or that the metal rack is so flimsy i cannot put a heavy glass dish on it)?  how could i complain about the repeated inability of the plumber to fix the leaks when my neighbors don't even have indoor plumbing?  how could i feel contempt for the owner of the house who has broken his word every time while we are fortunate to even live in a spacious, new house?  it made me feel deeply conflicted and frozen with shame because i could not empty my heart or mind of these negative feelings..

i shared how i was feeling with my husband and listened to his observations.  he pointed out first that my excessive complaining about the material aspects of the house (broken faucets, newly installed cabinets covered with contact paper, a washing machine that moves violently no matter what we've tried, poor drainage and lack of sealant around the windows) was conveying to our children that it's acceptable to complain.  he then explained how we chose to live in Africa -- how we must accept the good and the bad, so to speak.  he also shared how it helps him to not get upset by what other people do because everyone answers to God; it's our duty to be detached from the conditions and circumstances of this life and material world.

i was moved to see how my behavior was making a negative imprint on the children's life experience.  i felt like all of my husband's points were true and valid -- i love being on this continent  and deeply know that i must focus on my own spiritual deficiencies while facing every test or challenge in this life as God's way of perfecting my soul.  it made me realize that my inability to overcome being irritated was not just a combination of having high expectations of moral conduct along with the expectation that goods and services will be of the best quality.  i also have an attachment to not wanting to lower my standard of living.  i feel like i have already chosen a life outside of America that is less comfortable with less conveniences -- this situation of compounded 'errors' toward me, however, revealed that i am still holding on to a good quality kitchen, washing machine, wardrobe, plumbing, etc.

now it was up to me to put forth a mighty effort, with full determination, to change my perspective and actually practice the virtue of detachment (ie., not being negatively affected by any situation).  everything in my life that is beyond my control is God's Will.  the key for me is to attain that inner power of detachment from this world, through my love for Him, which enables me to cling to God and surrender to His Will.

i started this process by observing silence and offering a prayer whenever feeling the urge to complain about anything negative situation.  i am still reminding myself to use these 'errors' as perfect opportunities to grow in the qualities of God.  this has always been how i view my struggles and suffering, but this situation was new territory for my soul, a new challenge that was stretching my spiritual muscles.  i'm still very far from the spiritual standard that someone 'must not become hopeless, neither grieved nor despondent' after many errors, but it feels better no longer being consumed by negative emotions..

for the first time in my life, this counsel of Abdu'l-Baha has touched my life in a practical way by helping me begin to try and apply it.  these words have served as the source of inspiration and guidance for me to overcome my lower nature and tap into my spiritually potential.  i continue to recite and reflect on it each day.  i am still striving to have a pure heart when faced with this ongoing situation, but am now able to bring to mind the high standard of offering hope and forgiveness to those who have wronged me.  i am also consciously trying to accept every material hardship as a means for my spirit to grow as well.  as the creative spirit in the Word of God mysteriously works on our souls, the frustration and anger can be transformed into wisdom and sincerity if i make constant exertions to exercise these qualities of God within my soul..

as my never-ending spiritual journey evolves, i rely on the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha:

"The root cause of wrongdoing is ignorance, and we must therefore hold fast to the tools of perception and knowledge. Good character must be taught. Light must be spread afar, so that, in the school of humanity, all may acquire the heavenly characteristics of the spirit, and see for themselves beyond any doubt that there is no fiercer hell, no more fiery abyss, than to possess a character that is evil and unsound; no more darksome pit nor loathsome torment than to show forth qualities which deserve to be condemned.

The individual must be educated to such a high degree that he would rather have his throat cut than tell a lie, and would think it easier to be slashed with a sword or pierced with a spear than to utter calumny or be carried away by wrath.

Thus will be kindled the sense of human dignity and pride, to burn away the reapings of lustful appetites. Then will each one of God's beloved shine out as a bright moon with qualities of the spirit, and the relationship of each to the Sacred Threshold of his Lord will be not illusory but sound and real, will be as the very foundation of the building, not some embellishment on its facade."

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 136

spiritual root of identity

as i reflect on the many, many serious and vital issues confronting humanity as a whole, i can feel my heart tugging at me, prompting me to do more to exemplify the highest ideals of a noble character which in and of itself is a magnetic force to combat the negative forces of immorality, lethargy, despair, selfishness and greed, confusion and materialism, to name but a few..

as i strive to live the life of a spiritual and moral human being, i continue to realize that the moment i unpeel a layer of self to reveal who i really am as a soul, i am faced with yet another layer to work on removing.  this is the endless process of spiritual growth, if we choose to work on perfecting ourselves to overcome our material nature from which we are molded..

thinking about this endless process of growth makes me ask:

• how do i identify myself to others?  
• what is my full identity?  
• how do i describe others?
• is it merely in terms of nationality, religious affiliation, racial heritage, skin color, profession and gender?  
• or is it interwoven with character, virtues, ways of serving others and sacrificial endeavors?

intrinsically, i know that i am more than my skin color, my age, my name, my hair, my weight, my style, my abilities,  my profession, my status or my achievements (or lack thereof)..

i know wholeheartedly that i am more than my title, or the amount of wealth i have, or what my cultural background is, or how much education i have acquired..

so, the answers to these questions involve a dialogue that is exalted beyond and above the material and physical attributes of who we are.

i am not dismissing or discounting the beauty and richness of culture and all that pertains to the material aspects of who we are.  certainly our heritage and ancestry and cultural expressions all contribute to who we are at a certain level.

i am referring to what lies beyond that -- knowing someone as a soul -- a unique soul with its own particular capacity, experience of suffering, difficulties and challenges.  i desire to identify and see someone in terms of their God-given strengths and weaknesses, their talents and abilities, their heartfelt convictions and innermost thoughts, their spiritual accomplishments and failures, and how they see themselves as a unique individual..

if i see myself as a person who is involved in a lifelong journey of spiritual growth, i want to describe myself as a soul in a way that encompasses yet transcends my identity as a Baha'i.  this is the one word which identifies who i am as a soul in terms of how i strive to live this life, yet it is not particular to the uniqueness of who i am.  there are Baha'is all around the world who are as diverse as a botanical garden, but we each have an identity that is unique in the garden of humanity.

as i return my thoughts to how i strive to live each day, i begin to discern a sense of identity in terms of actions and intentions, one that involves the spirit of servitude, applying the skills, knowledge and abilities i have acquired toward the betterment of the world in whatever way i can.

i am a soul who cares deeply about others' well-being, who puts into practice each day Baha'u'llah's admonitions to 'do good to every person whose path he crosseth and be of some benefit to him' and 'be unjust to no man; show all meekness to all men'.

i am a soul who is loyal to my husband and dedicated to spiritually educating our children; who finds it easy to see the light of God in others without prejudice or estrangement; who is quiet in big groups and loves being surrounded by the African spirit; who derives a lot of joy from dancing, playing soccer and baking; whose heart is easily moved by the hardships of poverty and injustice that exist throughout the world..

i am spiritually rooted in my identity as a soul..

i am uplifted by how Abdu'l-Baha described His station:

"My name is Abdu'l-Baha, my identity is Abdu'l-Baha, my qualification is Abdu'l-Baha, my reality is Abdu'l-Baha, my praise is Abdu'l-Baha, Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious refulgent diadem; and servitude to all the human race is my perpetual religion."

  (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 429)

*****

"'Abdu'l-Bahá is himself a servant at the Threshold of the Blessed Beauty and a manifestation of pure and utter servitude at the Threshold of the Almighty. He hath no other station or title, no other rank or power."

 (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 295)

*****

perhaps all of this comes to my mind in part because of the deep divisions that exist amongst people in the name of religion, race, class, etc.  it is also due to the fact that i am not good at the superficial chit-chat and connections that most people make with each other.  when i see materialism encroaching on and encompassing the minds, bodies and pursuits of peoples' lives, i pause and wonder who someone really is beneath and beyond everything that creates one's identity..

"...the happiness and greatness, the rank and station, the pleasure and peace, of an individual have never consisted in his personal wealth, but rather in his excellent character, his high resolve, the breadth of his learning, and his ability to solve difficult problems."

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 23)

striving to connect spiritually..in a material world

"Observe how darkness has overspread the world. In every corner of the earth there is strife, discord and warfare of some kind. Mankind is submerged in the sea of materialism and occupied with the affairs of this world. They have no thought beyond earthly possessions and manifest no desire save the passions of this fleeting, mortal existence. Their utmost purpose is the attainment of material livelihood, physical comforts and worldly enjoyments such as constitute the happiness of the animal world rather than the world of man."

    (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 335)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

we are all in the world together but we are all living in different worlds.  i am striving to live in the world of the spirit, a world that connects many kinds of people together who can relate to each other as souls and connect with each others' hearts..we don't have to be the same in any other way except that we are conscious of the holy spirit operating in our lives as souls -- rather than superficially connecting with each other on some material level..

"The world for the most part is sunk in materialism, 

and the blessings of the Holy Spirit are ignored. 

There is so little real spiritual feeling, 

and the progress of the world is for the most part merely material."

 (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 122)

i recently attended a PTA meeting at the kids' school.  i felt like i was immersed in the world of materialism.  it is a world without radiance of spirit, without humility, and often without the purity of heart.  it is full of love, but not the love which emits radiance and humility.  this is the world with many layers of love for one's self and of the things of this world..  i was surrounded by wigs, fake nails, excessive jewelry and make-up, fancy clothes, high heels, tight jeans, exposed breasts and attitude.. i couldn't spiritually connect with anyone.

i tried to judge fairly, to look for the light in everyone, and to see with the eye of perfection.  but i had to be fair and honest with myself:  i didn't feel the warmth of spirit in the room.   in its absence was the coldness of materialism which takes over the soul of man like a disease and leaves the body cool..  i kept thinking to myself, 'who is that person beneath those layers of self-love?  who are you without your wealth, degree, position and body image?'  it made me long to be in a world with people who are at least striving to free themselves of becoming entangled by the tentacles of materialism..

"Should a man wish to adorn himself with the ornaments of the earth, to wear its apparels, or partake of the benefits it can bestow, no harm can befall him, if he alloweth nothing whatever to intervene between him and God, for God hath ordained every good thing, whether created in the heavens or in the earth, for such of His servants as truly believe in Him. Eat ye, O people, of the good things which God hath allowed you, and deprive not yourselves from His wondrous bounties. Render thanks and praise unto Him, and be of them that are truly thankful."

    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 276)

Baha'u'llah is announcing to the peoples of the world that they may adorn their outer being with the delights of the earth and enjoy the good things which come from the material world -- if we allow 'nothing whatever to intervene' between us and God.

this is a big if.  if materialism is like a disease, and if we are able to partake of the benefits of this material world, i'm concluding that it's not a simple matter of choice.  it must require an ever-present, conscious effort of making God's love one's greatest treasure, and that one's heart must remain full with God's love and not become filled up with the love of this world, including one's self -- if we want to remain radiant in spirit, humble in countenance, and pure in heart..

as the extremes of wealth and poverty pervade every corner of the earth, i find my heart yearning more and more to be surrounded by a world of humble souls and protected from the world of worldly people.   i thrive on being around people whose souls are not wrapped under layers of self-love and love for the vanities of this world.  i am striving to keep my heart pure in its servitude to God, being and doing everything wholly for the sake of God and not for myself.  being close to humble souls helps keep my world genuine and real, down to earth, sincere and rooted in reliance on and love for God more than myself or the things i possess.

O BEFRIENDED STRANGER!
The candle of thine heart is lighted by the hand of My power, quench it not with the contrary winds of self and passion. The healer of all thine ills is remembrance of Me, forget it not. Make My love thy treasure and cherish it even as thy very sight and life.
 

O MY SERVANT!
Abandon not for that which perisheth an everlasting dominion, and cast not away celestial sovereignty for a worldly desire. This is the river of everlasting life that hath flowed from the well-spring of the pen of the merciful; well is it with them that drink!

O CHILDREN OF DESIRE!
Put away the garment of vainglory, and divest yourselves of the attire of haughtiness. In the third of the most holy lines writ and recorded in the Ruby Tablet by the pen of the unseen this is revealed:
 

O BRETHREN!
Be forbearing one with another and set not your affections on things below. Pride not yourselves in your glory, and be not ashamed of abasement. By My beauty! I have created all things from dust, and to dust will I return them again.
 

O QUINTESSENCE OF PASSION!
Put away all covetousness and seek contentment; for the covetous hath ever been deprived, and the contented hath ever been loved and praised.

(Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)