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Role & Goal of
Education
[Some thoughts for Students,
Teachers & Parents] |
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Some of the teachings
of God |
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- 1. ADVERSITY :
- If tribulation touch thee
for My sake, call thou to mind My ills and troubles, and
remember My banishment and imprisonment.
- But for the tribulations
which are sustained in Thy path, how could Thy true lovers
be recognized; and were it not for the trials which are
borne for love of Thee, how could the station of such as
yearn for Thee be revealed ?
- Be not troubled in poverty
nor confident in riches, for poverty is followed by
riches, and riches are followed by poverty. Yet to be poor
in all save God is a wonderous gift;
be-little not the value thereof, for in the end it will
make thee rich in God.
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- 2. ANIMALS
- The true seeker should
show kindness to animals, how much more unto his
fellow-man, to him who is endowed with the power of
utterance. The physical sensibilities and instincts are
common to animal and man, poor animals cannot speak,
therefore, one must be very considerate towards animals
and show greater kindness towards them than to man.
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- 3. ASSOCIATION :
- Consort with all men, O
people of God, in a spirit of friendliness and
fellowship."
-
- (a) DO NOT BE
SATISFIED UNTIL each one with whom you are concerned
is to you as a member of your family. Regard each one
either as a father, or as a brother, or as a sister, or as
a mother, or as a child. If you can attain to this, your
difficulties will vanish; you will know what to do.
- (b) When you love a
member of your family or a compatriot, let it be with a
ray of the infinite love ! Let it be in God, and for
God ! Wherever you find the attributes of God love that
person, whether he be of your family, or of another. Shed
the light of boundless love on every human being whom you
meet.
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- 4. ATTRACTION THROUGH
DEEDS:
- Who so ariseth among you
to teach the Cause of his Lord, let him, before all else,
teach his own self, that his speech may attract the hearts
of them that hear him. Unless he teacheth his own self,
the words of his mouth will not influence the heart of the
seeker.
- The foundation of God is
love. You must have infinite love for each other, each
preferring the other before himself. The people must be so
attracted to you that they will exclaim : "What
happiness exists among you!" and will see in your
faces the lights of the kingdom; then in wonderment they
will turn to you and seek the cause of your happiness.
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- 5. BAD LANGUAGE :
- (a) Defile not thy
tongue with cursing or execrating anyone, and guard
your eyes against that which is not worthy.
- (b) The tongue is
for mentioning that which is good; pollute it not with
evil speech. God hath forgiven ye that which is past ;
hereafter ye must all speak that which is befitting. Avoid
execration, reviling, and that which is aggravating to
man.
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- 6. BODY :
- Thine eye is My trust,
suffer not the dust of vain desires to becloud its lustre.
Thine ear is a sign of My bounty, let not the tumult of
unseemly motives turn it away from My Word
encompasseth all creation. Thine heart is My Treasury,
allow not the treacherous hand of self to rob thee of the
pearls which I have treasured therein. Thine hand is a
symbol of My loving kindness hinder it not from holding
fast unto My guarded and hidden Tablets.
-
- 7. CAPACITY :
- Man must seek capacity and
develop readiness. As long as he lacks susceptibility to
divine influences he is incapable of reflecting the light
and assimilating its benefits. Sterile soil will produce
nothing even if the cloud of mercy pours rain upon it a
thousand years. We must make the soil of our hearts
receptive and fertile by tilling, in order that the rain
of divine mercy may refresh them.
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- 8. CHARITY :
- They who are possessed of
riches must have the utmost regard for the poor, for great
is the honour destined by God for those poor who are
steadfast in patience... There is no honour, except what
God may be pleased to bestow, that can compare to this
honour. Great is the blessedness awaiting the poor that
endure patiently and conceal their sufferings, and well is
it with the rich who bestow their riches on the needy and
prefer them before themselves.
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- 9. CHASTITY :
- Purity and chastity have
been, and still are, the most great ornaments for men
handmaidens of God. God is My witness ! The brightness of
the light of chastity sheddeth its illumination upon the
worlds of the spirit, and its fragrance is wafted even
unto the Most Exalted Paradise.
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- 10. COMPASSION :
- (a) To look after the
sick is one of the greatest duties ! Every soul who
becomes sick, the other friends should certainly offer the
life ( of service) in the utmost kindness.
- (b) We should all visit
the sick. When they are in sorrow and suffering it is
a real help and benefit to have a friend come. Happiness
is a great healer to those who are ill. In the east it is
the custom to call upon the patient often and meet him
individually. The people in the east show the utmost
kindness and compassion to the sick and suffering. This
has greater effect than the remedy itself. You always have
this thought of love and affection when you visit the
ailing and afflicted.
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- 11. CONFESSION :
- The sinner, when in a
state wherein he finds himself free and severed from all
else save God, must beg for God's forgiveness and pardon.
It is not allowable to declare one's sins and
transgressions before any man, in as much as this has not
been, nor is conducive to securing God's forgiveness and
pardon. At the same time such confession before the
creatures leads to one's humiliation and abasement, and
God does not wish for the humiliation of His servants.
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- 12. COURTESY :
- (a) We, verily,
have chosen courtesy, and made it the true mark of such as
are high unto Him. Courtesy is, in truth, an orhament
which fitteth all men, whether young or old. Well it is
with him that adorneth his temple therewith, and woe unto
him who is deprived of this great bounty.
- (b) O people of God !
I exhort you to courtesy. Courtesy is, in the primary
station, the Lord of all virtues. Blessed is he who is
illumined with the light of courtesy, and is adorned with
the mantle of uprightness ! He who is endowed with
courtesy is endowed with a great station.
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- 13. DECENCY :
- All men have been created
to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization; to act
like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those
virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy,
compassion, and loving-kindness towards all the peoples
and kindreds of the earth.
- To transgress the limits
of one's own rank and station is, neither wise nor
permissible. The integrity of every rank and station must
he preserved. By this is meant that every created thing
should be viewed in the light of the station it hath been
ordained to occupy.
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- 14. DETRACTION :
- (a) O Son of Man !
Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself
a sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed
wouldst thou be.
- (b) The tongue I
have designed for the mention of Me, defile it not with
detraction. If the fire of self overcome you, remember
your own faults and not the faults of My creatures, in as
much as every one of you knoweth his own self better than
he knoweth others.
- (c) O Companion of
My throne ! Hear no evil, and see no evil; abase not
thyself, neither sigh and weep. Speak no evil, that thou
mayst not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the
faults of others that thine own faults may not appear
great; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that thine
own abasement be not exposed.
- (d) Beware lest ye
offend the feelings of anyone, or sadden the heart of any
person, or move the tongue in reproach of, and finding
fault with any body..... Beware, beware that any one
rebuke or reproach a soul, though he may be an ill-wisher
and an ill-doer.
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- 15. DISPUTATION :
- (a) They that dispute,
as prompted by their desires, are indeed wrapped in a
palpable veil.
- (b) All these discords
and disputes which we hear on all sides only tend to
increase materiality.
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- 16. DISSENSION :
- (a) The Creed of God is
for love and union; make it not the cause of discord and
disunion. He hath forbidden dispute and strife with an
absolute prohibition.
- (b) Nothing whatever
can, in this Day, inflict a greater harm upon man than
dissension and strife, contention, estrangement, and
apathy among the loved ones of God.
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- 17. DISTINCTION :
- Ye must conduct yourselves
in such a manner that ye may stand out distinguished and
brilliant as the sun among other souls.
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- 18. EQUALITY :
- In the estimation of God
all men are equal. There is no distinction or preference
for any soul, in the realm of His justice and equity.
- The diversity in the human
family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is
in music where different notes blend together in the
making of a perfect chord.
-
- 19. EQUITY :
- Be fair to yourselves and
to others, that the evidences of justice may be revealed,
through your deeds, among Our faithful servants.
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- 20. FORTITUDE :
- The source of courage and
power is the promotion of the Word of God, and
steadfastness in His love. For Everything there is a sign.
The Sign of love is fortitude under My decree and patience
under My trials.
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- 21. FRIENDLINESS :
- (a) We love to see you
at all times consorting in amity and concord within the
paradise of My good-pleasure, and to inhale from your acts
the fragrance of friendliness and harmony, unity, of
loving kindness and fellowship.
- (b) Show forebearance and
benevolence and love to one another. Should any one among
you be incapable of grasping a certain truth, or be
striving to comprehend it, show forth, when conversing
with him, a spirit of extreme kindliness and goodwill.
Help him to see and recognize the truth, without esteeming
yourself to be in the least superior to him, or to be
possessed of greater endowments.
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- 22. GENEROSITY :
- O Children of Dust ! Tell
the rich of the midnight sighing of the poor, lest
heedlessness lead them into the path of destruction, and
deprive them of the Tree of Wealth. To give and to be
generous are attributes of Mine; Well with him that
adorneth himself with My virtues.
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- 23. GOOD CHARACTER :
- (a) The companions of
God are, in this day, the lump that must leaven the
peoples of the world. They must show for them such
trustworthiness, such truthfulness and perseverance, such
deeds and character, that all mankind may profit by their
example.
- (b) The most vital
duty, in this day, is to purify your characters, to
correct your manners, and improve your conduct. The
beloved of the Merciful must show forth such character and
conduct among His creatures, that the fragrance of their
holiness may be shed upon the whole world, and may quicken
the dead, inasmuch as the purpose of the Manifestation of
God and the dawning of the limitless lights of the
invisible is to educate the souls of men, and refine the
character of every living man.
- (c) According to the
direct and sacred command of God slander is forbidden.
-
- 24. GUIDANCE :
- Let your acts be a guide
unto all mankind, for the professions of most men, be they
high or low, differ from their conduct. It is through your
deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from others.
Through them the brightness of your lights can be shed
upon the whole earth.
-
- 25. HAPPINESS :
- The Cause of God hath come
as a token of his Grace. Happy are they who act; happy are
they who understand; happy the man that hath clung unto
the truth, detached from all that is in the heavens and
all that is on earth !
-
- 26. HEALTH :
- (a) Every malady
afflicting the body of man is an impediment that
preventeth the soul from manifesting its inherent might
and power.
- (b) If the health and
well being of the body be expended in the path of the
kingdom, this is very acceptable and praiseworthy; and if
it is expended to the benefit of the human world in
general, even though it be to their material (or bodily)
benefit and be a means of doing good-that is also
acceptable. But if the health and welfare of man be spent
in sensual desires, in a life on the animal plane, and in
devilish pursuits - then disease is better than such
health; nay, death itself is preferable to such a life
under corrective measures are taken.
-
- 27. HONESTY :
- They who dwell within the
Tabernacle of God, and are established upon the seat of
everlasting glory will refuse, though they be dying of
hunger, to stretch their hands and seize unlawfully the
property of their neighbour, however vile and worthless he
may be.
-
- 28. HOSPITALITY :
- Welcome all with
the light of oneness. When a man turns his face to God, he
finds sunshine everywhere. All men are his brothers. Let
not conventionality cause you to seem cold and
unsympathetic when you meet strange people from other
countries. Be kind to the strangers. Help to make them
feel at home; find out where they are staying, ask if you
may render them any service; try to make their lives a
little happier. Do not be content with showing friendship
in words alone, let your heart burn with loving-kindness
for all who may cross your path.
-
- 29. HUMILITY :
- Every man of discernment,
while walking upon the earth, feeleth indeed abashed,
inasmuch as he is fully aware that the thing which is the
source of his prosperity, his wealth, his might, his
exaltation, his advancement and power is, as ordained by
God, the very earth which is trodden beneath the feet of
all men. There can be no doubt that whoever is cognisant
of this truth, is cleansed and sanctified from all pride,
arrogance, and vain glory.
-
- 30. IMAGE OF GOD :
- While possessing physical
life he should lay hold of the life spiritual, and
together with bodily comforts and happiness, he should
enjoy divine pleasures and content. Then is man worthy of
the title man; then will he be "after the image and
likeness of God".
- If his morals become
spiritual in character, his aspirations heavenly and his
actions conformable to the will of God, man has attained
the image and likeness of God. Therefore His Holiness hath
said: "Ye shall know them by their fruits.
-
- 31. INTEGRITY :
- The sword of a virtuous
character and upright conduct is sharper than blades of
steel. Such people need no weapons of destruction,
inasmuch as they have guarded themselves to reconstruct
the world. Their hosts are the hosts of godly deeds, and
their arms the arms of upright conduct, and their
commander the fear of God.
-
- 32. JOY :
- Sorrow not, if, in these
days and on this earthly plane, things contrary to your
wishes have been ordained and manifested by God, for days
upon days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight, are
assuredly in store for you. All the sorrow and grief that
exist come from the world of matter - the spiritual world
bestows only joy!
-
- 33. JUSTICE :
- He will never deal
unjustly with any one, neither will He task a soul
beyond its power.
- The light of men is
justice; quench it not with the contrary winds of
oppression and tyrany. The purpose of justice is the
appearance of unity among men.
- Be vigilant, that ye may
not do injustice to any one, be it to the extent of a
grain of mustard seed. Tread ye the path of justice, for
this, verily, is the straight path.
-
- 34. KINDLINESS :
- A kindly tongue is the
lodestone of the hearts of men. It is the bread of the
Spirit, it clotheth the words with meaning, it is the
fountain of the light of wisdom and understanding.
-
- 35. KNOWLEDGE :
- Knowledge is love. Study,
listen to exhortations, think, try to understand the
wisdom and greatness of God. The soil must be fertilized
before the seed is sown.
-
- 36. LIBERTY :
- Know ye that the
embodiment of liberty and its symbol is the animal. That
which beseemeth man in submission unto such restraints as
will protect him from his own ignorance, and guard him
against the harm of the mischief-maker. Liberty causeth
man to overstep the bounds of propriety, and to infringe
on the dignity of his station. The liberty that profiteth
you is to be found nowhere except in servitude unto God,
the Eternal Truth.
-
- 37. LIFE :
- Life in man should be like
a flame, warming all with whom it comes in contact.
-
- 38. LOVE OF MAN :
- Each sees in the other the
beauty of God reflected in the soul, and finding this
point of similarity, they are attracted to one another in
love. This love will make all men the waves of one sea,
this love will make them all the stars of one heaven, and
the fruits of one tree.
-
- 39. LOVE OF GOD :
- (a) For every one of
you his paramount duty is to choose for himself that
on which no other may infringe and none usurp from him.
Such a thing is the love of God, could ye but perceive it.
- (b) In the world of
existence there is no more powerful magnet than the
magnet of love.
- (c) If the hearts of
the people become devoid of the Divine Grace - the
Love of God - they wander in the desert of ignorance,
descend to the depths of ruin, and fall into the abyss of
despair, where there is no refuge.They are like insects
living on the lowest plane.
-
- 40. LOYALTY :
- In every country or
government where any of this community reside, they must
behave towards that government with faithfulness,
trustfulness, and truthfulness.
-
- 41. MALICE :
- The tongue is a
smouldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison.
Material fire consumenth the body, whereas the fire of the
tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the
former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effect of the
latter endureth a century.
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- 42. MATERIAL GOODS :
- Rejoice not in the things
ye possess; tonight they are yours, tomorrow others will
possess them.
- Thou dost wish for gold
and I desire thy freedom from it. Thou thinkest thyself
rich in its possession, and I recognize thy wealth in thy
sanctity therefrom.
-
- 43. MEDITATION :
- (a) Through the faculty
of meditation man attains to eternal life, through it
he receives the breath of the Holy Spirit - the bestowals
of the Spirit are given during reflection and meditation.
- (b) The meditative
faculty is like a mirror; if you put it before earthly
objects it will reflect the earthly objects. Therefore, if
the spirit of man is contemplating earthly objects, he
will become informed of them. But if you turn the mirror
of your spirit heavenwards, the heavenly constellations
and the rays of the Sun of Reality will be reflected in
your heart and the virtues of the Kingdom will be
obtained.
-
- 44. MEEKNESS :
- If any differences arise
amongst you, behold Me standing before your face, and
overlook the faults of one another for My name's sake, and
as a token of your love for My manifest and resplendent
Cause.
-
- 45. MERCY :
- If thine eyes be turned
toward mercy, forsake the things that profit thee, and
cleave unto that which will profit mankind. And if thine
eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy
neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself.
-
- 46. MODERATION :
- Whatsoever passeth beyond
the limits of moderation will cease to exert a beneficial
influence.
- Whosocleaveth to justice,
can, under no circumstances, transgress the limits of
moderation. The civilization, so often vaunted by the
learned exponents of arts and sciences, will, if allowed
to overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil
upon men... If carried to excess, civilization will prove
as prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness
when kept within the restraints of moderation. All other
things are subject to this same principle of moderation.
-
- 47. MODESTY :
- The fear of God hath ever
been a sure defence and a safe stronghold for all the
peoples of the world. It is the chief cause of the
protection of mankind, and supreme instrument for its
preservation. Indeed, there existeth in man a faculty
which detereth him from, and guardeth him against,
whatever is unworthy and unseemly, and which is known as
his sense of shame.
-
- 48. NEARNESS TO GOD :
- The more pure and
sanctified the heart of man becomes, the nearer it draws
to God and the light of the Sun of Reality is revealed
within it. This light sets hearts aglow with the fire of
the love of God, opens in them the doors of knowledge and
unseals the divine mystries so that spiritual discoveries
are made possible. All the prophets have drawn near to God
through severance. We must purify ourselves from the mire
and soil of earthly contact until our hearts become as
mirrors in cleanliness and the light of the most great
guidance reveals itself in them.
-
- 49. PATIENCE :
- He verily, shall
increase the reward of them that endure with patience. If
anyone revile you, or trouble touch you, in the path of
God, be patient, and put your trust in Him Who heareth,
Who seeth.
-
- 50. POLITICS :
- Of old it hath been
revealed: "Love of one's country is an element of the
Faith of God." The Tongue of Grandeur hath, however,
in the day of His manifestation proclaimed: "It is
not his to boast who loveth his country, but it is his who
loveth the world."
-
- 51. PRAYER :
- (a) Commune intimately
with His Spirit, and be thou of the thankful.
- (b) The verses of God that
have been received by thee, as intoned by them who have
drawn nigh unto Him, that the sweetness of thy melody may
kindle thine own soul, and attract the hearts of all men.
- (c) Strive that
your actions day by day may be beautiful prayers.
- (d) Man is
eternally in a state of communion and prayer with the
source of all good. The highest and most elevating state
is the state of prayer. Prayer is communion with God.
- (e) The
worshipper must pray with a detached spirit,
unconditional surrender of the will, concentrated
attention and a magnetic spiritual passion. His innermost
being must be stirred with the ethereal breeze of
holiness.
- (f) While man prays,
he sees himself in the presence of God.
-
- 52. PURITY :
- (a) We verily behold
your actions. If we perceive from them the
sweet-smelling savour of purity and holiness, we will most
certainly bless you.
- (b) The Pure heart
is the one that is entirely cut away from self.
-
- 53. RADIANCE :
- The All-loving God created
man to radiate the Divine Light, and to illuminate the
world by his words, action, and life.
- Believers must show their
belief in their daily lives, so that the world might see
the light shining in their faces. A bright and happy face
cheers people on their way. If you are sad and pass a
laughing child, the child seeing your face will cease to
laugh, not knowing why.
-
- 54. RIGHTEOUSNESS :
- (a) Clothe thyself with
the essence of righteousness, and let thine heart be
afraid of none except God.
- (b) Cleave unto
righteousness, O people of God ! This verily is the
commandment which this wronged One hath given unto you,
and the first choice of His unrestrained will for every
one of you.
- (c) One righteous act
is endowed with a potency that can so elevate the dust
as to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens. It
can tear every bond asunder, and hath the power to restore
the force that hath spent itself and vanished.
-
- 55. SANCTITY :
- He hath chosen out
of the whole world the hearts of His servant, and made
them each a seat for the revelation of His glory.
Wherefore, sanctify them from every defilement, that the
things for which ye were created may be engraver upon
them.
-
- 56. SECLUSION :
- A solitary life and severe
discipline do not meet God's approval. Deprive not
yourself of that which is created for you. Seclude
yourself in the stronghold of My love. This, truly, is the
seclusion that befitteth you, could ye but know it. He
that secludeth himself in his house should deprise himself
from the opportunity of education.
-
- 57. SELF-EXPRESSION :
- Thou art even as a finely
tempered sword concealed in the darkness of its sheath and
its value hiddden from the artificer's knowledge.
Wherefore come forth from the sheath of self and desire
that thy worth may be made resplendent and manifest unto
all the world.
-
- 58. SELF KNOWLEDGE :
- He hath known God who hath
known himself. Man should know his own self, and know
those things which lead to loftiness or baseness, to shame
or to honour, to affluence or to poverty. After man has
realized his own being and become mature, then for him
wealth ( or competence ) is needed.
-
- 59. SELFLESSNESS :
- (a) The station of
absolute self-surrender transcendeth, and will ever
remain exalted above every other station.
- (b) Be light and
untrammeled as the breeze, that ye may obtain
admittance into the precincts of My court, my inviolable
Sanctuary.
- (c) Deliver your souls,
O people, from the bondage of self, and purify them from
all attachment to anything besides Me. Remembrance of Me
cleanseth all things from defilement, could ye but
perceive it.
- (d) Self-Love is a
strange trait and the means of the destruction of many
important souls in the world. If man be imbued with all
good qualities but be selfish, all the other virtues will
fade or pass away and eventually he will grow worse.
- (e) It behoveth thee
to sever thyself from all desires save thy Lord, the
Supreme, expecting no help or aid from anyone in the
universe.
-
- 60. SERVICE :
- That one indeed is a man
who, today, dedicateth himself to the service of the
entire human race. Do not busy yourselves in your own
concerns; let your thoughts be fixed upon that which will
rehabilitate the fortunes of mankind and sanctify the
hearts and souls of men. Service in love for mankind is
unity with God.
-
- 61. SINCERITY :
- (a) The true seeker
should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for
himself, not promise that which he doth not fulfil.
- (b) Take heed, O
people, lest ye be of them that give good counsel to
others, but forget to follow it themselves. The words of
such as these, and beyond the words the realities of all
things, and beyond these realities the angels that are
nigh unto God, bring against them the accusation of
falsehood.
-
- 62. SLEEP :
- If man sleeps, it
should not be for pleasure, but to rest the body in order
to do better, to speak better, to explain more
beautifully, to serve the servants of God and to prove the
truths.
-
- 63. SPIRITUALITY :
- (a) Spirituality is
the greatest of God's gifts, and 'Life everlasting' means
'turning to God.'
- (b) Be controlled
by the attraction of the Beauty of God, that His
remembrance may run as the spirit in thy blood, veins, and
limbs, and thus fill thee with the thoughts of the love of
God.
-
- 64. STEADFASTNESS :
- Nowhere doth your true and
abiding glory reside except in your firm adherence unto
the precepts of God, your whole-hearted observance of His
laws, your resolution to see that they do not remain
unenforced, and to pursue steadfastly the right course.
The essential thing is firmness and steadfastness.
-
- 65. SYMPATHY :
- Deny not my Servant should
he ask anything from thee, for his face is My face; be
then abashed before Me. Let your principal concern be to
rescue the fallen from the slough of impending extinction,
and to help him embrace the ancient Faith of God.
-
- 66. TEMPERANCE :
- The drinking of wine is,
according to the text of the Most Holy Book, forbidden;
for it is the cause of chronic diseases, weakeneth the
nerves, and consumeth the mind.
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