- 1. Goal of Education :
The field of education is unexplored and the goal of
education (i.e. establishment of Divine Civilization) is
unattained.
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- 2. Attain the Goal of
Education:
Let us try to explore the
field of education and attain the goal of education which
is none other than the "Establishment of Divine
Civilization" through proper child education.
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- 3. Every Child is the
light of the World :
Every child is potentially
the light of the world and at the same it’s darkness;
wherefore must the question of education be accounted as
of primary importance. Share with teachers and parents.
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- 4. Man is a mine rich
in Gems of inestimable value :
Regard man as a mine rich
in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause
it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit
therefrom.
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- 5. Bend your minds to
the Education of Children :
"Bend your minds and
wills to the education of the peoples and kindred of the
earth, that happily the dissensions that divide it, may,
through the power of the Most Great Name, be blotted out
from its face, and all mankind become the upholders of one
Order, and the inhabitants of one City".
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- 6. Strain every nerve
to acquire perfections :
"Strain every nerve
to acquire both inner and outer perfections, for the fruit
of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be
perfections both within and without. It is not desirable
that a man be left without knowledge or skills, for he is
then but a barren tree. Then, so much as capacity and
capability allow, ye needs must deck the tree of being
with fruits such as knowledge, wisdom, spiritual
perception and eloquent speech.
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- 7. Education brings out
the essence of a man :
"Man is even as
steel, the essence of which is hidden : through admonition
and explanation, good counsel and education, that essence
is brought to light, if, however, he be allowed to remain
in his original condition, the corrosion of lusts and
appetites will effectively destroy him."
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- 8. Better dead than
alive is he who produceth no fruit :
"There are many
things which will, if neglected, be wasted, and come to
nothing. How often in this world do we see a child who has
lost his parents, unless attention be devoted to his
education and training, can produce no fruit. And better
off dead than alive is he who produceth no fruit."
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- 9. Praiseworthy deeds
are born out of the light of religion :
"It is the bounden
duty of parents to rear their children to be staunch in
Religion of God, the reason being that a child who
removeth himself from the religion of God will not act in
such a way as to win the good pleasure of his parents and
his Lord. For every praiseworthy deed is born our of the
light of religion, and lacking this supreme bestowal the
child not turn away from any evil, nor will he draw nigh
unto any good."
-
"The feat of God hath
ever been the prime factor in the education of His
creatures. Well is it with them that have attained
thereunto."
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- 10. Teach your children
oneness of God & the laws of God :
"That which is of
paramount importance for the children, that which must
precede all else, is to teach them the oneness of God and
the Laws of God. For lacking this, the fear of God cannot
be inculcated, and lacking the fear of God an infinity of
odious and abominable actions will spring up, and
sentiments will be uttered that transgress all bounds.
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- 11. Parents to make
their children religious :
The parents must exert
every effort to rear their offspring to be religious, for
should the children not attain this greatest of
adornments, they will not obey their parents, which in a
certain sense means that they will not obey God. Indeed,
such children will show no consideration to any one, and
will do exactly as they please.
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- 12. Schools must first
train the children in the principles of religions :
"Schools must first
train the children in the principles of religion, so that
the Promise and the Threat, recorded in the Books of God,
may prevent them from the things forbidden and adorn them
with the mantle of the commandments, but this in such a
measure that it may not injure the children by resulting
in ignorant fanaticism and bigotry."
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- 13. Knowledge is as
wings to man’s life :
"Arts, crafts and
sciences uplift the world of being and are conducive to
its exaltation. Knowledge is as wings to man’s life, and
a ladder for his ascent. Its acquisition is incumbent upon
everyone. The knowledge of such sciences, however, should
be acquired as can profit the peoples of the earth, and
not those which begin with words and end with words."
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- 14. Knowledge is a
veritable treasure from man :
"In truth, knowledge
is a veritable treasure for man, and a source of glory, of
bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto
him. Happy the man that cleaveth unto it, and woe betide
the heedless."
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- 15. Acquire those
branches of knowledge which are of use :
"The learned of the
day must direct the people to acquire those branches of
knowledge which are of use, that both the learned
themselves and the generality of mankind may derive
benefits therefrom. Such academic pursuits as begin and
end in words alone have never been and will never be of
any worth. The majority of Persia’s learned doctors
devote all their lives to the study of a philosophy the
ultimate yield of which is nothing but words."
- 16. Teach knowledge of
God :
"In the treasures of
the knowledge of God there lieth concealed a knowledge
which, when applied, will largely, though not wholly,
eliminate fear. This knowledge, however, should be taught
from childhood, as it will greatly aid in its elimination.
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17. Teach words
of God to your students :
- "Teach unto your
children the words that have been sent down from God, that
they may recite them in the sweetest of tones. This
standeth revealed in a mighty Book."
- 18. Look at the end of
every things:
"At the outset of
every endeavour, it is incumbent to look to the end of it.
If all the arts and sciences, set the children to studying
those which will result in advantage to man, will ensure
his progress and elevate his rank.
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- 19. Perform deeDs that
will draw you closer to the Lord : "As to the
children : We have directed that in the beginning they
should be trained in the observances and laws of religion;
and thereafter, in such branches of knowledge as are of
benefit, and in commercial pursuits that are distinguished
for integrity, and in deeds that will further the victory
of God’s Cause or will attract some outcome which will
draw the believer closer to his Lord."
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- 20. Strive harder to
widen the scope of your knowledge :
The harder they strive to
widen the scope of their knowledge, the better and more
gratifying will be the result. Let the loved ones of God,
whether young or old, whether male or female, each
according to his capabilities, bestore themselves and
spare no efforts to acquire the various current branches
of knowledge, both spiritual and secular, and of the arts.
Whensoever they gather in their meetings let their
conversation be confined to learned subjects and to
information on the knowledge and sciences of the day.
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- 21. Man is the greatest
representative of God :
Man is said to be the
greatest representative of God, and he is the Book of
Creation because all the mysteries of beings exist in him.
If he comes under the shadow of the True Educator and is
rightly trained, he becomes the centre of the divine
appearances, the source of spiritual qualities, the
rising-place of heavenly lights, and the receptacle of
divine inspirations. If he is deprived of this education
he becomes the manifestation of satanic qualities, the sum
of animal vices, and the source of all dark conditions.
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- 22. Lack of religious
faith is the cause of all problems of life :
"Close investigation
will show that the primary cause of oppression and
injustice, of unrighteousness, irregularity and disorder,
is the people’s lack of religious faith and the fact
that they are uneducated.
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- 23. Education brings
honour :
"Observe carefully
how education and the arts of civilization bring honour,
prosperity, independence and freedom to a government and
its people."
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- 24. Education brings
honour :
"Education is of
three kinds - material, human and Divine :-
-
- i) Material
Education is concerned with the progress and development
of the body through gaining its sustenance, its material
comfort and ease. This, education is common to animal and
man.
-
- ii) Human Education
signifies civilization and progress : that is to say,
government, administration, charitable works, trades, arts
and handicrafts, sciences, great inventions and
discoveries, and elaborate institutions, which are the
activities essential to man and distinguished from the
animal.
-
- iii) Divine Education
is that of the Kingdom of God : it consists in
acquiring divine perfections, and this is true education;
for in this state man becomes the focus of divine
blessings, the manifestation of the words, ‘Let us make
man in our image and after our likeness." This is the
goal of the world of humanity.
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- 25. The teacher should
impart material, human and spiritual education :
Now we need an educator
who will be at the same time a material, human and
spiritual educator, and whose authority will be effective
in all conditions.
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- 26. Man has three kinds
of nature :
Question :
How many kinds of character has man and what is the cause
of the differences and varieties in men.
- Answer : He
has the i) innate character ii) the
inherited character, and iii) the acquired
character which is gained by education.
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- 27. Education has great
influence:
"But the difference
of the qualities with regard to culture is very great; for
education has great influence. Through education the
ignorant become learned, the cowardly become valiant;
through cultivation the crooked branch becomes straight,
the acid, bitter fruit of the mountains and woods becomes
sweet and delicious, and the five petalled flower becomes
hundred-petalled. Through education savage nations become
civilized, and even the animals become domesticated.
Education must be considered as most important; for as
diseases in the world of bodies are extremely contagious,
so, in the same way, qualities of spirit and heart are
extremely contagious, education has a universal influence,
and the differences caused by it are very great.
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- 28. Individual should
be trained from his infancy : "Observe how many
penal institutions, houses of detention and places of
torture are made ready to receive the sons of men, the
purpose being to prevent them, by punitive, measures, from
committing terrible crimes - whereas this very torment and
punishment only increaseth depravity, and by such means
the desired aim cannot be properly achieved. Therefore
must the individual be trained from his infancy in such a
way that he will never undertake to commit a crime, will
rather, direct all his energies to the acquisition of
excellence, and will look upon the very commission of an
evil deed as in itself the harshest of all punishments,
considering the sinful act itself to be far more grievous
than any prison sentence. For it is possible so to train
the individual that, although crime may not be completely
done away with, still it will become very rare.
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- 29. Every child
requires utmost training and care : "Otherwise,
the children will turn into weeds growing wild, and become
the cursed, Infernal Tree, knowing not right from wrong,
distinguishing not the highest of human qualities from all
that is mean and vile; they will be brought up in vain
glory and will be hated of the Forgiving Lord.
- "Wherefore doth every
child, new-risen in the garden of Heavenly love, require
the utmost training and care."
-
- 30. The root cause of
wrong doing is ignorance :
"The root cause of
wrong doing 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 posses a character that is evil and
unsound; no more darksome pit nor loathsome torment than
to show forth qualities which deserve to be
condemned."
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- 31. School must be a
place of utmost discipline :
"It followeth that
the children’s school must be a place of utmost
discipline and order, that instruction must be thorough,
and provision must be made for the rectification and
refinement of character; so that, in his earliest years,
within the very essence of the child, the divine
foundation will be laid and the structure of holiness
raised up.
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- 32. Illumined children
will arise to spread light :
"Thus, if God will,
out of these spiritual schools illumined children will
arise, adorned with all the fairest virtues of humankind
and will shed their light not only across India, but
around the world."
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- 33. Firm foundation
must be laid in early childhood :
"It is extremely
difficult to teach the individual and refine his character
once puberty is passed. By then, as experience hath shown,
even if every effort be exerted to modify some tendency of
his, it all aileth nothing. He may, perhaps, improve some
what today; but let a few days pass and he forgetteth, and
turneth backward to his habitual condition and accustomed
ways. Therefore it is in early childhood that a firm
foundation must be laid. While the branch is green and
tender it can easily be made straight.
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- 34. Education is the
greatest service to God :
"Among the greatest
of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to
Almighty God is the education and training of children,
young plants of the Abha Paradise, so that these children,
fostered by grace in the way of salvation, growing like
pearls of divine bounty in the shell of education, will
one day be jewel the crown of abiding glory.
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- 35. Try to become an
ensign of God’s grace :
"It is, however, very
difficult to undertake this service, even harder to
succeed in it. I hope that you well acquit yourself will
in this most important of tasks, and successfully carry
the day, and become an ensign of God’s abounding grace;
that these children, reared one and all in the Holy
Teaching, will develop natures like unto the sweet airs
that blow across the gardens of the All-Glorious, and will
waft their fragrance around the world."
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- 36. Establish heavenly
school and make your children Godly:
"O thou handmade of
God; Do thou establish heavenly school and be thou a
teacher in that house of learning. Educate the children in
the things of God; and, even as pearls, rear them in the
heart of the shell of divine guidance.
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- 37. Try to embody the
highest perfections of humankind :
"Strive you with
heart and soul, see to it that the children are raised up
to embody the highest perfections of humankind, to such a
degree that every one of them will be trained in the use
of the mind, in acquiring knowledge, in humility and
lowliness, in dignity, in ardour and love."
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- 38. Education is the
greatest service to God :
"Among the greatest
of all great services is the education of children, and
promotion of the various sciences, crafts and arts.
-
- 39. School supports the
edifice of humankind :
"The school is one of
the vital and essential institutions which indeed support
and bulwark the edifice of humankind.
-
- 40. Utilize every means
to make this school :
"Utilize every means
to make this school a garden of the All-Merciful from
which the lights of learning will cast their beams, and
wherein the children, will be educated to such a degree as
to become God’s gifts to mankind, and the pride of the
human race. Let them make the greatest progress in the
shortest span of time, let them open wide their eyes and
uncover the inner realities of all things, become
proficient in every art and skill, and learn to comprehend
the secrets of all things even as they are --- this
faculty being one of the clearly evident effects of
servitude to the Holy Threshold.
