(included in ‘The Compilation of Compilations vol. 2)
Extracts From the Writings of the Guardian
How often the beloved Master was heard to say. Should each one of the friends take upon himself to carry out, in all its integrity and implications, only one of the teachings of the Faith, with devotion, detachment, constancy and perseverance and exemplify it in all his deeds and pursuits of life, the world would become another world and the face of the earth would mirror forth the splendours of the Abha Paradise. Consider what marvellous changes would be effected if the beloved of the Merciful conducted themselves, both in their individual and collective capacities, in accordance with the counsels and exhortations which have streamed from the Pen of Glory. (From a letter dated 12 January 1923 written by Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá'ís of Persia - translated from the Persian; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The wish of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, that which attracts His good
pleasure and, indeed, His binding command, is that Bahá'ís, in all matters,
even in small daily transactions and dealings with others, should act in
accordance with the divine Teaching1s. He has commanded us not to be content
with lowliness, humility and meekness, but rather to become manifestations of
selflessness and utter nothingness. Of old, all have been exhorted to loyalty
and fidelity, compassion and love; in this supreme Dispensation, the people of
Bahá are called upon to sacrifice their very lives. Notice the extent to which
the friends have been required in the Sacred Epistles and Tablets, as well as
in our Beloved's Testament, to be righteous, well-wishing, forbearing,
sanctified, pure, detached from all else save God, severed from the trappings
of this world and adorned with the mantle of a goodly character and godly
attributes.
First and foremost, one should use every possible means to purge one's heart and motives, otherwise, engaging in any form of enterprise would be futile. It is also essential to abstain from hypocrisy and blind imitation, inasmuch as their foul odour is soon detected by every man of understanding and wisdom. Moreover, the friends must observe the specific times for the remembrance of God, meditation, devotion and prayer, as it is highly unlikely, nay impossible, for any enterprise to prosper and develop when deprived of divine bestowals and confirmation. One can hardly imagine what a great influence genuine love, truthfulness and purity of motives exert on the souls of men. But these traits cannot be acquired by any believer unless he makes a daily effort to gain them... It is primarily through the potency of noble deeds and character, rather than by the power of exposition and proofs, that the friends of God should demonstrate to the world that what has been promised by God is bound to happen, that it is already taking place and that the divine glad-tidings are clear, evident and complete. For unless some illustrious souls step forth into the arena of service and shine out resplendent in the assemblage of men, the task of vindicating the truth of this Cause before the eyes of enlightened people would be formidable indeed. However, if the friends become embodiments of virtue and good character, words and arguments will be superfluous. Their very deeds will well serve as eloquent testimony, and their noble conduct will ensure the preservation, integrity and glory of the Cause of God. (From a letter dated 19 December 1923 written by Shoghi Effendi to the Bahá'ís of the East - translated from the Persian; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The chosen ones of God . . . should not look at the depraved
condition of the society in which they live, nor at the evidences of moral
degradation and frivolous conduct which the people around them display. They
should not content themselves merely with relative distinction and excellence.
Rather they should fix their gaze upon nobler heights by setting the counsels
and exhortations of the Pen of Glory as their supreme goal. Then it will be
readily realized how numerous are the stages that still remain to be traversed
and how far off the desired goal lies--a goal which is none other than
exemplifying heavenly morals and virtues.
(From a letter dated 30 October 1924 written by Shoghi Effendi to the
Local Spiritual Assembly of Teheran)
II.
Extracts from Letters Written on behalf of the Guardian
It is our duty and privilege to translate the love and devotion we have for our beloved Cause into deeds and actions that will be conducive to the highest good of mankind. (From a letter dated 20 November 1924 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
If you read the
utterances of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá with selflessness and care and
concentrate upon them, you will discover truths unknown to you before and will
obtain an insight into the problems that have baffled the great thinkers of the
world. (From a letter dated 30 January 1925 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
to an individual believer)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The great thing is to "live the life"--to have our
lives so saturated with the Divine teachings and the Bahá'í Spirit that people
cannot fail to see a joy, a power, a love, a purity, a radiance, an efficiency
in our character and work that will distinguish us from worldly-minded people
and make people wonder what is the secret of this new life in us. We must
become entirely selfless and devoted to God so that every day and every moment
we seek to do only what God would have us do and in the way He would have us do
it. If we do this sincerely then we shall have perfect unity and harmony with
each other. Where there is want of harmony, there is lack of the true Bahá'í
Spirit. Unless we can show this transformation in our lives, this new power,
this mutual love and harmony, then the Bahá'í teachings are but a name to
us. (From a letter dated 14 February
1925 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
If we Bahá'ís cannot attain to cordial unity among
ourselves, then we fail to realize the main purpose for which the Bab,
Bahá'u'lláh and the Beloved Master lived and suffered. In order to achieve this
cordial unity one of the first essentials insisted on by Bahá'u'lláh and
'Abdu'l-Bahá is that we resist the natural tendency to let our attention dwell
on the faults and failings of others rather than on our own. Each of us is
responsible for one life only, and that is our own. Each of us is immeasurably far
from being "perfect as our heavenly father is perfect" and the task
of perfecting our own life and character is one that requires all our
attention, our will-power and energy. If we allow our attention and energy to
be taken up in efforts to keep others right and remedy their faults, we are
wasting precious time. We are like ploughmen each of whom has his team to
manage and his plough to direct, and in order to keep his furrow straight he
must keep his eye on his goal and concentrate on his own task. If he looks to
this side and that to see how Tom and Harry are getting on and to criticize
their ploughing, then his own furrow will assuredly become crooked. On no
subject are the Bahá'í teachings more emphatic than on the necessity to abstain
from faultfinding and backbiting while being ever eager to discover and root
out our own faults and overcome our own failings. If we profess loyalty to
Bahá'u'lláh, to our Beloved Master and our dear Guardian, then we must show our
love by obedience to these explicit teachings. Deeds not words are what they
demand, and no amount of fervour in the use of expressions of loyalty and
adulation will compensate for failure to live in the spirit of the teachings.
(From a letter dated 12 May 1925 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
As to the question whether it is right to tell an untruth in
order to save another, he feels that under no condition should we tell an
untruth but at the same time try and help the person in a more legitimate
manner. Of course it is not necessary to be too outspoken until the question is
directly put to us. (From a letter dated 21 December 1927 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
We should not, however, forget that an essential
characteristic of this world is hardship and tribulation and that it is by
overcoming them that we achieve our moral and spiritual development. As the
Master says, sorrow is like furrows, the deeper they go the more plentiful are
the fruits we obtain. (From a letter dated 5 November 1931 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
In the
"Bayan" the Bab says that every religion of the past was fit to
become universal. The only reason why they failed to attain that mark was the
incompetence of their followers. He then proceeds to give a definite promise
that this would not be the fate of the revelation of "Him Whom God would
make manifest", that it will become universal and include all the people
of the world. This shows that we will ultimately succeed. But could we not, through
our shortcomings, failures to sacrifice and reluctance to concentrate our
efforts in spreading the Cause, retard the realization of that ideal? And what
would that mean? It shall mean that we will be held responsible before God,
that the race will remain longer in its state of waywardness, that wars would
not be so soon averted, that human suffering will last longer. (From a letter
dated 20 February 1932 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Every day has certain needs. In those early days the Cause
needed Martyrs, and people who would stand all sorts of torture and persecution
in expressing their faith and spreading the message sent by God. Those days
are, however, gone. The Cause at present does not need martyrs who would die
for the faith, but servants who desire to teach and establish the Cause
throughout the world. To live to teach in the present day is like being
martyred in those early days. It is the spirit that moves us that counts, not
the act through which that spirit expresses itself; and that spirit is to serve
the Cause of God with our heart and soul. (From a letter dated 3 August 1932
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, quoted in
"Bahá'í News", 68, Nov 1932; The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He sincerely hopes that, through these sacrifices, that
edifice will be completed and become a focal centre for the spirit and
teachings of the Cause in that land; that from it the light of guidance will
spread and bring joy and hope to the heart of this depressed humanity.
If you study the history of Nabil you will see how the Faith has been fed by the constant sacrifices of the friends. Under hardships, persecutions and constant worries has the Message of Bahá'u'lláh been established throughout the world.
(From a letter dated 30 November 1932 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The advice that Shoghi Effendi gave you regarding the
division of your time between serving the Cause and attending to your other
duties was also given to many other friends both by Bahá'u'lláh and the Master.
It is a compromise between the two verses of the "Aqdas", one making
it incumbent upon every Bahá'í to serve the promotion of the Faith and the
other that every soul should be occupied in some form of occupation that will
benefit society. In one of His Tablets Bahá'u'lláh says that the highest form
of detachment in this day is to be occupied with some profession and be
self-supporting. A good Bahá'í, therefore, is the one who so arranges his life
as to devote time both to his material needs and also to the service of the
Cause. (From a letter dated 26 February
1933 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
I need not tell you how grievously he deplores the fact that
there are so many negative forces prevailing in Bahá'í gatherings and
particularly in such an important meeting as the Convention. The oft-repeated
words of the Master concerning unity and harmonious co-operation among the
friends should be carefully and thoughtfully remembered now more than ever.
Nothing is more contrary to the spirit of the Cause than discord and strife,
which are the inevitable outcome of selfishness and greed. Pure detachment and
selfless service, these should be the sole motives of every true believer. And
unless each and every one of the friends succeeds in translating such qualities
into living action, no hope of further progress can be entertained. It is now
that unity of thought and action is most needed. It is now, when the Cause s
entering a new phase of development, when its Administration is being gradually
consolidated amid the welter and chaos of a tottering civilization, that the
friends should present a united front to those forces of internal dissension,
which, if not completely wiped out, will bring our work to inevitable
destruction. (From a letter dated 24 September 1933 written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II,
Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He, indeed, highly deplores the fact that the
representatives of the highest administrative institution in your country have
permitted such differences and misunderstandings to assume such a proportion,
especially when the principles and laws of the Administration have been each
and all clearly and emphatically stated by him in so many communications and
ever since the passing of the Master. Such difficulties, if not checked
immediately and vigorously, can do incalculable harm to the body of the Cause, and
may retard not only the flow but also the effectiveness of its spirit in the
world. If deeply and dispassionately examined the source of all these troubles
and disputes is to be found invariably in feelings of egotism and selfishness.
And unless these poisonous feelings are fully overcome there can be no hope for
the effective working and progress of the administrative machinery of the
Cause. (From a letter dated 9 May 1934 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to
an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the
Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
While he would urge you to courageously meet and overcome
the many obstacles that stand in your way, he would at the same time advise you
that in case of failure and no matter what befalls you, you should remain
radiantly content at, and entirely submissive to, the Divine will. Our
afflictions, tests and trials are sometimes blessings in disguise, as they
teach us to have more faith and confidence in God, and bring us nearer to Him.
(From a letter dated 28 April 1936 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Has not Bahá'u'lláh assured us that sufferings and
privations are blessings in disguise, that through them our inner spiritual
forces become stimulated, purified and ennobled? Remain, therefore, confident
that your material hardships will, far from hindering your activities for the
Cause, impart to your heart a powerful impetus to better serve and promote its
interests. (From a letter dated 22 November 1936 written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to an individual believer; the Compilation of Compilations, vol. II,
Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Personal effort is indeed a vital prerequisite to the
recognition and acceptance of the Cause of God. No matter how strong the
measure of Divine grace, unless supplemented by personal, sustained and
intelligent effort it cannot become fully effective and be of any real and
abiding advantage. (From a letter dated
27 February 1938 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer;
The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Such hindrances, no
matter how severe and insuperable they may at first seem, can and should be
effectively overcome through the combined and sustained power of prayer and of
determined and continued effort. For have not Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdu'l-Bahá both
repeatedly assured us that the Divine and unseen hosts of victory will ever
reinforce and strengthen those who valiantly and confidently labour in their
name? This assurance should indeed enable you to overcome any feeling of
unworthiness, of incapacity to serve, and any inner or outer limitation which
threatens to handicap your labours for the Cause. You should therefore arise,
and with a heart filled with joy and confidence endeavour to contribute any sh
re that is in your power toward the wider diffusion and greater consolidation
of our beloved Faith.
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Whatever the particular field of service you may choose,
whether teaching or administrative, the essential is for you to persevere, and
not to allow any consciousness of your limitations to dampen your zeal, much
less to deter you from serving joyously and actively. (From a letter dated 6 February 1939 written
on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The greater your trials and sufferings, the stronger should
wax your attachment and devotion to the Cause. For only through repeated
tribulations and trials does God test His servants, and these they should
therefore view as blessings in disguise, and as opportunities whereby they can
acquire a fuller consciousness of the Divine Will and Purpose. (From a letter
dated 23 February 1939 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to two believers;
The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The course on character building to be given by Miss Flora
Hottes, the Guardian feels, is particularly important and should be given due
emphasis and studied carefully and thoroughly, especially by the young
believers in attendance at the school. These standards of Bahá'í conduct, which
he himself has set forth in his last general epistle, "The Advent of
Divine Justice", and which it should be the paramount duty of every loyal
and conscientious believer to endeavour to uphold and promote, deserve serious
study and meditation, and should constitute the main central theme of this
year's programme at all the three Bahá'í Summer Schools in the States. (From a
letter dated 20 May 1939 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Regarding ...'s appeal: the Guardian feels the best course
of action in this matter is to ask both of the believers concerned to forgive
and forget the entire matter. He does not want the friends to form the habit of
taking up a kind of Bahá'í litigation against each other. Their duties to
humanity are too sacred and urgent in these days, when the Cause is struggling
to spread and assert its independence, for them to spend their precious time,
and his precious time, in this way. Ask them, therefore, to unite, forget the
past, and serve as never before. (From a letter dated 22 July 1947 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and
New Zealand; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Indeed the believers have not yet fully learned to draw on
each other's love for strength and consolation in time of need. The Cause of
God is endowed with tremendous powers, and the reason the believers do not gain
more from it is because they have not learned to fully draw on these mighty
forces of love and strength and harmony generated by the Faith. He would advise
you to leave your friend ... to herself for the time being, and pray for her.
As she does not at the moment wish your help you can only help her inwardly.
You have rendered the Cause many valuable services, and are
still doing so, and this should be your greatest consolation... (From a letter
dated 8 May 1942 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer;
The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The friends must be patient with each other and must realize
that the Cause is still in its infancy and its institutions are not yet
functioning perfectly. The greater the patience, the loving understanding and
the forbearance the believers show towards each other and their shortcomings,
the greater will be the progress of the whole Bahá'í community at large. (From
a letter dated 27 February 1943 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
We must realize our imperfection and not permit ourselves to
get too upset over the unfortunate things which occur, sometimes in
Conventions, sometimes in Assemblies or on Committees, etc. Such things are
essentially superficial and in time will be outgrown. (From a letter dated 17
March 1943 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Not all of us are capable of serving in the same way, but
the one way every Bahá'í can spread the Faith is by example. This moves the
hearts of people far more deeply than words ever can.
The love we show others, the hospitality and understanding, the willingness to help them, these are the very best advertisements of the Faith. They will want to hear about it when they see these things in our lives. (From a letter dated 14 October 1943 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) (From a letter dated 17 March 1943 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
You have complained of the unsatisfactory conditions
prevailing in the ... Bahá'í Community; the Guardian is well aware of the
situation of the Cause there, but is confident that whatever the nature of the
obstacles that confront the Faith they will be eventually overcome. You should,
under no circumstances, feel discouraged, and allow such difficulties, even
though they may have resulted from the misconduct, or the lack of capacity and
vision of certain members of the Community, to make you waver in your faith and
basic loyalty to the Cause. Surely, the believers, no matter how qualified they
may be, whether as teachers or administrators, and however high their
intellectual and spiritual merits, should never be looked upon as a standard
whereby to evaluate and measure the divine authority and mission of the Faith.
It is to the Teachings themselves, and to the lives of the Founders of the
Cause that the believers should look for their guidance and inspiration, and
only by keeping strictly to such [a] true attitude can they hope to establish
their loyalty to Bahá'u'lláh upon an enduring and unassailable basis. You
should take heart, therefore, and with unrelaxing vigilance and unremitting
effort endeavour to play your full share in the gradual unfoldment of this
Divine World Order. (From a letter dated 23 August 1939 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
These, indeed, are the days when heroism is needed on the
part of the believers. Self-sacrifice, courage, indomitable hope and confidence
are the characteristics they should show forth, because these very attributes
cannot but fix the attention of the public and lead them to enquire what, in a
world so hopelessly chaotic and bewildered, leads these people to be so
assured, so confident, so full of devotion? Increasingly, as time goes by, the
characteristics of the Bahá'ís will be that which captures the attention of
their fellow-citizens. They must show their aloofness from the hatreds and
recriminations which are tearing at the heart of humanity, and demonstrate by
deed and word their profound belief in the future peaceful unification of the
entire human race. (From a letter dated 26 October 1941 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
We must always look ahead and seek to accomplish in the
future what we may have failed to do in the past. Failures, tests, and trials,
if we use them correctly, can become the means of purifying our spirits,
strengthening our characters, and enable us to rise to greater heights of
service. (From a letter dated 14 December 1941 written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II,
Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Regarding the points you refer to in your letter: the
complete and entire elimination of the ego would imply perfection--which man
can never completely attain -- but the ego can and should be ever-increasingly
subordinated to the enlightened soul of man. This is what spiritual progress
implies. (From a letter dated 14 December 1941 written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II,
Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He was very pleased to hear that the Convention was so well
attended, and the believers enthusiastic and united. One of the most paramount
needs of the Cause in ... is that the friends should unite, should become
really keenly conscious of the fact that they are one spiritual family, held
together by bonds more sacred and eternal than those physical ties which make
people of the same family. If the friends will forget all personal differences
and open their hearts to a great love for each other for the sake of
Bahá'u'lláh, they will find that their powers are vastly increased; they will
attract the heart of the public, and will witness a rapid growth of the Holy
Faith in... The National Spiritual Assembly should do all in its power to
foster unity among the believers, and to educate them in the Administration as
this is the channel through which their community life must flow, and which,
when properly understood and practised, will enable the work of the Cause to go
ahead by leaps and bounds. (From a letter dated 26 October 1943 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of India and Burma;
The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Ultimately all the battle of life is within the individual.
No amount of organization can solve the inner problems or produce or prevent,
as the case may be, victory or failure at a crucial moment. In such times as
these particularly, individuals are torn by great forces at large in the world,
and we see some weak ones suddenly become miraculously strong, and strong ones
fail--we can only try, through loving advice, as your Committee has done, to
bring about the act on the part of the believer which will be for the highest
good of the Cause. Because obviously something bad for the Cause cannot be the
highest good of the individual Bahá'í. (From a letter dated 17 December 1943
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation
of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The thing the world needs today is the Bahá'í spirit. People
are craving for love, for a high standard to look up to, as well as for
solutions to their many grave problems. The Bahá'ís should shower on those whom
they meet the warm and living spirit of the Cause, and this, combined with
teaching, cannot but attract the sincere truth-seekers to the Faith. (From a
letter dated 18 December 1943 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Regarding your question about the need for greater unity
among the friends, there is no doubt that this is so, and the Guardian feels
that one of the chief instruments for promoting it is to teach the Bahá'ís
themselves, in classes and through precepts, that 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. (From a letter dated 7
July 1944 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, quoted
in "Bahá'í News", 173, (Feb 1945), p. 3) The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He hopes that you will develop into Bahá'ís in character as
well as in belief. The whole purpose of Bahá'u'lláh is that we should become a
new kind of people, people who are upright, kind, intelligent, truthful, and
honest and who live according to His great laws laid down for this new epoch in
man's development. To call ourselves Bahá'ís is not enough, our inmost being
must become ennobled and enlightened through living a Bahá'í life. (From a
letter dated 25 August 1944 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Louhelen
School Youth Session)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
So many misunderstandings arise from the passionate
attachment of the friends to the Faith and also their immaturity. We must
therefore be very patient and loving with each other and try to establish unity
in the Bahá'í family. The differences ... which you describe in your letter he
feels are caused by the above and not by enmity to the Faith or insincerity.
(From a letter dated 17 October 1944 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer) The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He was very happy to hear from you, and to learn that Green
Acre this year was pervaded with a love and harmony that was instrumental in
confirming many new souls in the Faith. This love amongst the believers is the
magnet which will, above all else,attract the hearts and bring new souls into
the Cause. Because obviously the teachings - however wonderful - cannot change
the world unless the Spirit of Bahá'u'lláh's love is mirrored in the Bahá'í
Communities. (From a letter dated 27 October 1944 written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to an individual believer) The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II,
Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Indeed if the friends could seek, and exert themselves, to
become 100 per cent Bahá'ís they would see how greatly their influence over
others would be increased, and how rapidly the Cause would spread. The world is
seeking not a compromise but the embodiment of a high and shining ideal. The
more the friends live up to our teachings in every aspect of their lives, in
their homes, in business, in their social relationships, the greater will be
the attraction they exercise over the hearts of others.
He is pleased to see you have naturally, with conviction and good will towards all, been mingling with and teaching the coloured people. When the Bahá'ís live up to their teachings as they should, although it may arouse the opposition of some it will arouse still more the admiration of fair-minded people. (From a letter dated 23 January 1945 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Indeed when we see the increasing darkness in the world
today we can fully realize that unless the Message of Bahá'u'lláh reaches into
the hearts of men and transforms them, there can be no peace and no spiritual
progress in the future.
His constant hope is that the believers will conduct themselves, individually and in their Bahá'í Community life, in such a manner as to attract the attention of others to the Cause. The world is not only starving for lofty principles and ideals, it is, above all, starving for a shining example which the Bahá'ís can and must provide. (From a letter dated 22 February 1945 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The need is very great, everywhere in the world, in and
outside the Faith, for a true spiritual awareness to pervade and motivate
people's lives. No amount of administrative procedure or adherence to rules can
take the place of this soul-characteristic, this spirituality which is the
essence of Man. He is very glad to see you are stressing this and aiding the
friends to realize its supreme importance. (From a letter dated 25 April 1945
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) The Compilation
of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Regarding the matter of ... and the inharmony that seems to
exist among certain of the friends ... when Bahá'ís permit the dark forces of
the world to enter into their own relationships within the Faith they gravely
jeopardize its progress; it is the paramount duty of the believers, the Local
Assemblies, and particularly the National Spiritual Assembly to foster harmony,
understanding and love amongst the friends. All should be ready and willing to
set aside every personal sense of grievance-- justified or unjustified--for the
good of the Cause, because the people will never embrace it until they see in
its community life mirrored what is so conspicuously lacking in the world: love
and unity. (From a letter dated 13 May 1945 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Most important of all is that love and unity should prevail in the Bahá'í Community, as this is what people are most longing for in the present dark state of the world. Words without the living example will never be sufficient to breathe hope into the hearts of a disillusioned and often cynical generation. (From a letter dated 20 October 1945 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Since you have turned to him for guidance, he will very
frankly give you his opinion. He feels that the present inharmony prevailing
amongst you... is very detrimental to the advancement of the Cause, and can
only lead to disruption and the chilling of the interest of new believers. You
... should forget about your personal grievances, and unite for the protection
of the Faith which he well knows you are all loyally devoted to and ready to
sacrifice for.
Perhaps the greatest test Bahá'ís are ever subjected to is from each other; but for the sake of the Master they should be ever ready to overlook each other's mistakes, apologize for harsh words they have uttered, forgive and forget. He strongly recommends to you this course of action. Also he feels that you and ... should not remain away from the meetings and Feasts in ...; you have now got an enthusiastic group of young Bahá'ís in ..., and you should show them a strong example of Bahá'í discipline and the unity which can and must prevail amongst the Community of the Most Great Name. (From a letter dated 18 December 1945 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
You ask about "spiritual indigestion": Bahá'ís
should seek to be many-sided, normal and well balanced, mentally and
spiritually. We must not give the impression of being fanatics, but at the same
time we must live up to our principles. (From a letter dated 12 March 1946
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation
of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
You may be sure he will pray for the unity of the ...
believers, as this is of paramount importance, and upon it depends the
development of the Cause there, and the success of every teaching effort. The
thing the friends need--everywhere-- is a greater love for each other, and this
can be acquired by greater love for Bahá'u'lláh; for if we love Him deeply
enough, we will never allow personal feelings and opinions to hold His Cause
back; we will be willing to sacrifice ourselves to each other for the sake of
the Faith, and be, as the Master said, one soul in many bodies. (From a letter
dated 5 September 1946 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He heartily agrees with you that unless we practise the
Teachings we cannot possibly expect the Faith to grow, because the fundamental
purpose of all religions--including our own--is to bring man nearer to God, and
to change his character, which is of the utmost importance. Too much emphasis
is often laid on the social and economic aspects of the Teachings; but the
moral aspect cannot be over-emphasized. (From a letter dated 6 September 1946
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation
of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The fact that you had a course on 'Bahá'í character' pleased
him very much, as he considers one of the greatest obligations of your
generation of believers is to live a Bahá'í life; you must demonstrate, by your
high moral standards, your courtesy, your integrity and nobility, that our
Faith, is not one of words but truly changes the heart and conduct of its
adherents. (From a letter dated 19 September 1946 written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to the Louhelen School Junior Youth Session, U.S.A.) The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He feels that the youth, in particular, must constantly and
determinedly strive to exemplify a Bahá'í life. In the world around us we see
moral decay, promiscuity, indecency, vulgarity, bad manners--the Bahá'í young
people must be the opposite of these things, and, by their chastity, their
uprightness, their decency, their consideration and good manners, attract
others, old and young, to the Faith. The world is tired of words; it wants
example, and it is up to the Bahá'í youth to furnish it. (From a letter dated
19 September 1946 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to Green Acre Summer
School; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The friends must, at all times, bear in mind that they are,
in a way, like soldiers under attack. The world is at present in an exceedingly
dark condition spiritually; hatred and prejudice, of every sort, are literally
tearing it to pieces. We, on the other hand, are the custodians of the opposite
forces, the forces of love, of unity, of peace and integration, and we must
constantly be on our guard, whether as individuals or as an Assembly or
Community, lest through us these destructive, negative forces enter into our
midst. In other words we must beware lest the darkness of society become
reflected in our acts and attitudes, perhaps all unconsciously. Love for each
other, the deep sense that we are a new organism, the dawn-breakers of a New
World Order, must constantly animate our Bahá'í lives, and we must pray to be
protected from the contamination of society which is so diseased with
prejudice. (From a letter dated 5
February 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the Local Spiritual
Assembly of Atlanta, Georgia; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living
the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The Cause in ... is growing very rapidly, and the more it
spreads the more the attention of the public will be fixed upon it. This
imposes a heavy responsibility on the believers, as they must show forth such a
spirit of love and unity among themselves as will attract the hearts of others
and encourage them to enter the Faith in large numbers. We must always remember
that the Teachings are perfect, and that the only reason more of our fellow men
have not as yet embraced them is because we Bahá'ís, the world over, are
ourselves not yet as selfless and radiant mirrors of Bahá'u'lláh's Truth as we
should and could be! We must constantly strive to better exemplify His
Teachings. (From a letter dated 18 February 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II,
Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
We must concentrate on perfecting our characters as
individual Bahá'ís, and on maturing our still embryonic, and as yet improperly
understood, World Order; on spreading the Message, according to the provisions
of the Divine Plan; and on building a tightly knit world-wide Bahá'í Community.
We are relatively few in numbers, and have such a precious, unique and
responsible task to carry out. We must concentrate our full forces upon it.
(From a letter dated 9 May 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National
Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada; The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
It is upon the individual believer, constituting the
fundamental unit in the structure of the home front, that the revitalization,
the expansion, and the enrichment of the home front must ultimately depend. The
more strenuous the effort exerted, daily and methodically, by the individual
labouring on the home front to rise to loftier heights of consecration, and of
self-abnegation, to contribute, through pioneering at home, to the
multiplication of Bahá'í isolated centres, groups and Assemblies, and to raise,
through diligent, painstaking and continual endeavour to convert receptive
souls to the Faith he has espoused, the number of its active and whole-hearted
supporters; the sooner will the vast and multiple enterprises, launched beyond
the confines of the homeland, now so desperately calling for a greater supply
of men and means, be provided with the necessary support that will ensure their
uninterrupted development and hasten their ultimate fruition ... (From a letter
dated 21 September 1957 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National
Spiritual Assembly of the United States; The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Regarding the questions you asked: self has really two
meanings, or is used in two senses, in the Bahá'í writings; one is self, the
identity of the individual created by God. This is the self mentioned in such
passages as "he hath known God who hath known himself", etc. The
other self is the ego, the dark, animalistic heritage each one of us has, the
lower nature that can develop into a monster of selfishness, brutality, lust
and so on. It is this self we must struggle against, or this side of our
natures, in order to strengthen and free the spirit within us and help it to
attain perfection.
Self-sacrifice means to subordinate this lower nature and
its desires to the more godly and noble side of our selves. Ultimately, in its
highest sense, self-sacrifice means to give our will and our all to God to do
with as He pleases. Then He purifies and glorifies our true self until it
becomes a shining and wonderful reality. (From a letter dated 10 December 1947
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) The Compilation
of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
It is the quality of devotion and self-sacrifice that brings
rewards in the service of this Faith rather than means, ability or financial
backing. (From a letter dated 11 May 1948 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
to the National Spiritual Assembly of Australia and New Zealand; The
Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
We must never dwell too much on the attitudes and feelings
of our fellow-believers towards us. What is most important is to foster love
and harmony and ignore any rebuffs we may receive; in this way the weaknesses
of human nature and the peculiarity or attitude of any particular person is not
magnified, but pales into insignificance in comparison with our joint service
to the Faith we all love.
(From a letter dated 19 September 1948 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
It is often difficult for us to do things because they are
so very different from what we are used to, not because the thing itself is
particularly difficult. With you, and indeed most Bahá'ís, who are now, as
adults, accepting this glorious Faith, no doubt some of the ordinances, like
fasting and daily prayer, are hard to understand and obey at first. But we must
always think that these things are given to all men for a thousand years to
come. For Bahá'í children who see these things practised in the home, they will
be as natural and necessary a thing as going to church on Sunday was to the
more pious generation of Christians. Bahá'u'lláh would not have given us these
things if they would not greatly benefit us, and, like children who are
sensible enough to realize their father is wise and does what is good for them,
we must accept to obey these ordinances even though at first we may not see any
need for them. As we obey them we will gradually come to see in ourselves the
benefits they confer. (From a letter dated 16 March 1949 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
...as we suffer these misfortunes we must remember that the
Prophets of God Themselves were not immune from these things which men suffer.
They knew sorrow, illness and pain too. They rose above these things through
Their spirits, and that is what we must try and do too, when afflicted. The
troubles of this world pass, and what we have left is what we have made of our
souls; so it is to this we must look--to becoming more spiritual, drawing
nearer to God, no matter what our human minds and bodies go through. (From a
letter dated 5 August 1949 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He was grieved to hear of some of the things you describe.
It shows great spiritual immaturity on the part of some of the Bahá'ís and an
astonishing lack of understanding and study of the teachings. To live up to our
Faith's moral teachings is a task far harder than to live up to those noble
principles the Moral Re-Armament inculcates, fine and encompassing as they are!
Every other word of Bahá'u'lláh's and 'Abdu'l-Bahá's writings is a preachment
on moral and ethical conduct; all else is the form, the chalice, into which the
pure spirit must be poured; without the spirit and the action which must
demonstrate it, it is a lifeless form.
He judges, from what you say, that the friends have not or at least many of them have not, been properly taught in the beginning. There is certainly no objection to stressing the "four standards" of the Moral Re-Armament--though any teaching of our precious Faith would go much more deeply into these subjects and add more to them. When we realize that Bahá'u'lláh says adultery retards the progress of the soul in the afterlife--so grievous is it--and that drinking destroys the mind, and not to so much as approach it, we see how clear are our teachings on these subjects. You must not make the great mistake of judging our Faith by one community which obviously needs to study and obey the Bahá'í teachings.
Human frailties and peculiarities can be a great test. But the only way, or perhaps I should say the first and best way, to remedy such situations, is to oneself do what is right. One soul can be the cause of the spiritual illumination of a continent. Now that you have seen, and remedied, a great fault in your own life, now that you see more clearly what is lacking in your own community, there is nothing to prevent you from arising and showing such an example, such a love and spirit of service, as to enkindle the hearts of your fellow Bahá'ís.
He urges you to study deeply the teachings, teach others, study with those Bahá'ís who are anxious to do so, the deeper teachings of our Faith, and through example, effort and prayer, bring about a change. (From a letter dated 30 September 1949 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Without the spirit of real love for Bahá'u'lláh, for His
Faith and its Institutions, and the believers for each other, the Cause can
never really bring in large numbers of people. For it is not preaching and
rules the world wants, but love and action.
(From a letter dated 25 October 1949 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
However, he feels very strongly that if ... is in the state
your letter would seem to indicate it is certainly conducting its affairs in
the wrong way. This does not mean the Assembly, it means everyone. For where is
Bahá'í love? Where is putting unity and harmony first? Where is the willingness
to sacrifice one's personal feelings and opinions to achieve love and harmony?
What makes the Bahá'ís think that when they sacrifice the spiritual laws the
administrative laws are going to work?
. . .
He urges you to exert your utmost to get the ... Bahá'ís to
put aside such obnoxious terms as "radical",
"conservative", "progressive", "enemies of the
Cause", "squelching the teachings", etc. If they paused for one
moment to think for what purpose the Bab and the Martyrs gave their lives, and
Bahá'u'lláh and the Master accepted so much suffering, they would never let
such definitions and accusations cross their lips when speaking of each other.
As long as the friends quarrel amongst themselves their efforts will not be
blessed for they are disobeying God. (From a letter dated 24 February 1950
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer) The Compilation
of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
There are two kinds of Bahá'ís, one might say: those whose
religion is Bahá'í and those who live for the Faith. Needless to say, if one
can belong to the latter category, if one can be in the vanguard of heroes,
martyrs and saints, it is more praiseworthy in the sight of God.... (From a letter dated 16 April 1950 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
...We must reach a spiritual plane where God comes first and
great human passions are unable to turn us away from Him. All the time we see
people who either through the force of hate or the passionate attachment they
have to another person, sacrifice principle or bar themselves from the Path of
God.
We must love God, and in this state, a general love for all men becomes possible. We cannot love each human being for himself, but our feeling towards humanity should be motivated by our love for the Father Who created all men. (From a letter dated 4 October 1950 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He urges you to do all you can to promote unity and love
amongst the members of the Community there, as this seems to be their greatest
need. So often young communities, in their desire to administer the Cause, lose
sight of the fact that these spiritual relationships are far more important and
fundamental than the rules and regulations which must govern the conduct of
community affairs. (From a letter dated 4 October 1950 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The greatest need it seems everywhere inside the Cause is to
impress upon the friends the need for love among them. There is a tendency to
mix up the functions of the Administration and try to apply it in individual
relationships, which is abortive, because the Assembly is a nascent House of
Justice and is supposed to administer, according to the Teachings, the affairs
of the community. But individuals toward each other are governed by love,
unity, forgiveness and a sin-covering eye. Once the friends grasp this they
will get along much better, but they keep playing Spiritual Assembly to each
other and expect the Assembly to behave like an individual.. . (From a letter
dated 5 October 1950 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual
believer, quoted in "Bahá'í News" 241 (March 1951), p. 2; The
Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
When criticism and harsh words arise within a Bahá'í
community, there is no remedy except to put the past behind one, and persuade
all concerned to turn over a new leaf, and for the sake of God and His Faith
refrain from mentioning the subjects which have led to misunderstanding and
inharmony. The more the friends argue back and forth and maintain, each side,
that their point of view is the right one, the worse the whole situation
becomes.
When we see the condition the world is in today, we must surely forget these utterly insignificant internal disturbances, and rush, unitedly, to the rescue of humanity. You should urge your fellow-Bahá'ís to take this point of view, and to support you in a strong effort to suppress every critical thought and every harsh word, in order to let the spirit of Bahá'u'lláh flow into the entire community, and unite it in His love and in His service. (From a letter dated 16 February 1951 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The Guardian feels sure that the contribution which has been
made by your friend who has not been active in the Cause for a short time will
be the means of stimulating her to renewed service. There is nothing that
brings success in the Faith like service. Service is the magnet which draws the
divine confirmations. Thus, when a person is active, they are blessed by the
Holy Spirit. When they are inactive, the Holy Spirit cannot find a repository
in their being, and thus they are deprived of its healing and quickening rays.
(From a letter dated 12 July 1952 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The Guardian feels that your attitude towards the corrupt
practice of accepting commissions from fellow physicians and pharmacists is
most admirable. The more upright and noble the Bahá'ís are in their conduct,
the more they will impress the public with the spiritual vitality of the Faith
they believe in. (From a letter dated 20 October 1953 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol.
II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
This challenge, so severe and insistent, and yet so
glorious, faces no doubt primarily the individual believer on whom, in the last
resort, depends the fate of the entire community. He it is who constitutes the
warp and woof on which the quality and pattern of the whole fabric must depend.
He it is who acts as one of the countless links in the mighty chain that now
girdles the globe. He it is who serves as one of the multitude of bricks which
support the structure and ensure the stability of the administrative edifice
now being raised in every part of the world. Without his support, at once
whole-hearted, continuous and generous, every measure adopted, and every plan
formulated, by the Body which acts as the national representative of the
community to which he belongs is foredoomed to failure. The World Centre of the
Faith itself is paralysed if such a support on the part of the rank and file of
the community is denied it. The Author of the Divine Plan Himself is impeded in
His purpose if the proper instruments for the execution of His design are
lacking. The sustaining strength of Bahá'u'lláh Himself, the Founder of the
Faith, will be withheld from every and each individual who fails in the long
run to arise and play his part. (From a letter dated 20 June 1954 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United
States; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
When a person becomes a Bahá'í, actually what takes place is
that the seed of the spirit starts to grow in the human soul. This seed must be
watered by the outpourings of the Holy Spirit. These gifts of the spirit are
received through prayer, meditation, study of the Holy Utterances and service
to the Cause of God. The fact of the matter is that service in the Cause is
like the plough which ploughs the physical soil when seeds are sown. It is
necessary that the soil be ploughed up, so that it can be enriched, and thus
cause a stronger growth of the seed. In exactly the same way the evolution of
the spirit takes place through ploughing up the soil of the heart so that it is
a constant reflection of the Holy Spirit. In this way the human spirit grows
and develops by leaps and bounds.
Naturally there will be periods of distress and difficulty, and even severe tests; but if that person turns firmly toward the divine Manifestation, studies carefully His spiritual teachings and receives the blessings of the Holy Spirit, he will find that in reality these tests and difficulties have been the gifts of God to enable him to grow and develop. Thus you might look upon your own difficulties in the path of service. They are the means of your spirit growing and developing. You will suddenly find that you have conquered many of the problems which upset you, and then you will wonder why they should have troubled you at all. An individual must center his whole heart and mind on service to the Cause, in accordance with the high standards set by Bahá'u'lláh. When this is done, the Hosts of the Supreme Concourse will come to the assistance of the individual, and every difficulty and trial will gradually be overcome. (From a letter dated 6 October 1954 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The road is stony, and there are many tests; but as you say,
if the friends will learn to live according to Bahá'u'lláh's teachings, they
will discover that they work indeed in mysterious and forceful ways; and that
there is always help at hand, that obstacles are overcome, and that success is
assured in the end. (From a letter dated 23 April 1956 written on behalf of
Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
The individual alone must assess its character, consult his
conscience, prayerfully consider all its aspects, manfully struggle against the
natural inertia that weighs him down in his effort to arise, shed, heroically
and irrevocably, the trivial and superfluous attachments which hold him back,
empty himself of every thought that may tend to obstruct his path, mix, in
obedience to the counsels of the Author of His Faith, and in imitation of the
One Who is its true Exemplar, with men and women, in all walks of life, seek to
touch their hearts through the distinction which characterizes his thoughts,
his words and his acts, and win them over, tactfully, lovingly, prayerfully and
persistently, to the Faith he himself has espoused. (From a letter dated 19
July 1956 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual
Assembly of the United States; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living
the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He was very sorry to learn of the inharmony amongst the
friends there; and he feels that the only wise course of action is for all the
believers to devote themselves to teaching the Faith and co-operating with
their National Body.
Often these trials and tests which all Bahá'í communities inevitably pass through seem terrible, at the moment, but in retrospect we understand that they were due to the frailty of human nature, to misunderstandings, and to the growing pains which every Bahá'í community must experience. (From a letter dated 25 November 1956 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
He is very happy to see that you have put into practice one
of the most encouraging precepts of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in which He said that we
should try and make every stumbling-block a stepping-stone to progress. In the
course of your past life you have all stumbled very gravely; but, far from
being embittered or defeated by this experience, you are determined to make it
a means of purifying your natures, improving your characters, and enabling you
to become better citizens in the future. This is truly pleasing in the eyes of
God. (From a letter dated 26 March 1957 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to
the Bahá'ís of Kitalya Farm Prison; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II,
Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
...the Bahá'ís must, in view of the condition of the world
today, stand forth firmly and courageously as followers of Bahá'u'lláh, obeying
His Laws, and seeking to build His World Order. Through compromise we will
never be able to establish our Faith or win others' hearts to it. This involves
often great personal sacrifice, but we know that, when we do the right thing,
God gives us the strength to carry it out, and we attract His blessing. We
learn at such times that our calamity is indeed a blessing. (From a letter
dated 5 May 1957 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to two believer; The
Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
It is not enough for the friends to make the excuse that
their best teachers and their exemplary believers have arisen and answered the
call to pioneer. A "best teacher" and an "exemplary
believer" is ultimately neither more nor less than an ordinary Bahá'í who
has consecrated himself to the work of the Faith, deepened his knowledge and
understanding of its Teachings, placed his confidence in Bahá'u'lláh, and
arisen to serve Him to the best of his ability. This door is one which we are
assured will open before the face of every follower of the Faith who knocks
hard enough, so to speak. When the will and the desire are strong enough, the
means will be found and the way opened either to do more work locally, to go to
a new goal town within the United States, or to enter the foreign pioneer
field... (From a letter dated 21 September 1957 written on behalf of Shoghi
Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔⿔
Not only must your Body provide the encouragement and
leadership required, and stimulate the friends to arise and play their part,
but the Local Assemblies must likewise do everything in their power to help the
friends to go forth and attain their objectives. Each individual Bahá'í must
likewise feel that it is his personal duty to the Cause at this time and his
greatest privilege, and must ask himself what he can do during the coming six
years, beginning now, to hasten the attainment of the goals of the World
Crusade. The Bahá'ís are the leaven of God, which must leaven the lump of their
nation. In direct ratio to their success will be the protection vouchsafed, not
only to them but to their country. These are the immutable laws of God, from
which there is no escape: "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall
be much required." (From a letter dated 21 September 1957 written on
behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United
States; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Living the Life)
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