Nairobi, Kenya
“The musician’s art is among those arts worthy of the highest praise, and it moveth the hearts of all who grieve. Wherefore, O thou Shahnáz, play and sing out the holy words of God with wondrous tones in the gatherings of the friends, that the listener may be freed from chains of care and sorrow, and his soul may leap for joy and humble itself in prayer to the realm of Glory.”
-Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha
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Boulder, USA
“Your behavior towards your neighbor should be such as to manifest clearly the signs of the one true God, for ye are the first among men to be recreated by His Spirit, the first to adore and bow the knee before Him, the first to circle round His throne of glory.”
-Baha’u’llah, quoted in the Ridvan 1966 message to the Baha’is of the World.
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Pori, Finland
From a frosty morning walk.
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Jupiter, USA
“Consider again the sun when it is completely hidden behind the clouds. Though the earth is still illumined with its light, yet the measure of light which it receiveth is considerably reduced. Not until the clouds have dispersed, can the sun shine again in the plenitude of its glory. Neither the presence of the cloud nor its absence can, in any way, affect the inherent splendor of the sun. The soul of man is the sun by which his body is illumined, and from which it draweth its sustenance, and should be so regarded.”
-Baha’u’llah, Gleanings From the Writings of Baha’u’llah
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Montevideo, Uruguay
“Aun cuando la adquisición de las ciencias y las artes es la mayor gloria de la humanidad, ello es así sólo a condición de que el río del hombre desemboque en el poderoso Mar y obtenga de la antigua fuente de Dios Su inspiración. Cuando esto ocurre, entonces cada maestro es como un océano sin riberas y cada alumno, una pródiga fuente de conocimiento. Si, entonces, la búsqueda del conocimiento conduce a la belleza de Aquél Quien es el Objeto de todo conocimiento, cuán excelente es esta meta; mas, si no es así, una mera gota podría tal vez excluir al hombre de la anegante gracia, pues con el saber viene la arrogancia y el orgullo y ello acarrea error e indiferencia hacia Dios.”
-Selección de los Escritos de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.