October 24, 2011
Paris
An Indian said to
‘Abdu’l-Bahá:
‘My aim in life
is to transmit as far as in me lies the message of Krishna to the world.’
‘Abdu’l-Bahá
said:
The Message of Krishna is the message of love. All God’s prophets have
brought the message of love. None has ever thought that war and hate are good.
Every one agrees in saying that love and kindness are best.
Love manifests
its reality in deeds, not only in words—these alone are without effect. In
order that love may manifest its power there must be an object, an instrument,
a motive.
There are many
ways of expressing the love principle; there is love for the family, for the
country, for the race, there is political enthusiasm, there is also the love of
community of interest in service. These are all ways and means of showing the
power of love. Without any such means, love would be unseen, unheard,
unfelt—altogether unexpressed, unmanifested! Water shows its power in various
ways, in quenching thirst, causing seed to grow, etc. Coal expresses one of its
principles in gas-light, while one of the powers of electricity is shown in the
electric light. If there were neither gas nor electricity, the nights of the
world would be darkness! So, it is necessary to have an instrument, a motive
for love’s manifestation, an object, a mode of expression.
We must find a way of spreading love among the sons of humanity.
Love is
unlimited, boundless, infinite! Material things are limited, circumscribed,
finite. You cannot adequately express infinite love by limited means.
The perfect love
needs an unselfish instrument, absolutely freed from fetters of every kind. The
love of family is limited; the tie of blood relationship is not the strongest
bond. Frequently members of the same family disagree, and even hate each other.
Patriotic love is
finite; the love of one’s country causing hatred of all others, is not perfect
love! Compatriots also are not free from quarrels amongst themselves.
The love of race
is limited; there is some union here, but that is insufficient. Love must be
free from boundaries!
To love our own
race may mean hatred of all others, and even people of the same race often
dislike each other.
Political love
also is much bound up with hatred of one party for another; this love is very
limited and uncertain.
The love of
community of interest in service is likewise fluctuating; frequently
competitions arise, which lead to jealousy, and at length hatred replaces love.
A few years ago,
Turkey and Italy had a friendly political understanding; now they are at war!
All these ties of
love are imperfect. It is clear that limited material ties are insufficient to
adequately express the universal love.
The great
unselfish love for humanity is bounded by none of these imperfect, semi-selfish
bonds; this is the one perfect love, possible to all mankind, and can only be
achieved by the power of the Divine Spirit. No worldly power can accomplish the
universal love.
Let all be united
in this Divine power of love! Let all strive to grow in the light of the Sun of
Truth, and reflecting this luminous love on all men, may their hearts become so
united that they may dwell evermore in the radiance of the limitless love.
Remember these
words which I speak unto you during the short time I am amongst you in Paris. I
earnestly exhort you: let not your hearts be fettered by the material things of
this world; I charge you not to lie contentedly on the beds of negligence,
prisoners of matter, but to arise and free yourselves from its chains!
The animal
creation is captive to matter, God has given freedom to man. The animal cannot
escape the law of nature, whereas man may control it, for he, containing
nature, can rise above it.
The power of the
Holy Spirit, enlightening man’s intelligence, has enabled him to discover means
of bending many natural laws to his will. He flies through the air, floats on
the sea, and even moves under the waters.
All this proves
how man’s intelligence has been enabled to free him from the limitations of
nature, and to solve many of her mysteries. Man, to a certain extent, has
broken the chains of matter.
The Holy Spirit
will give to man greater powers than these, if only he will strive after the
things of the spirit and endeavour to attune his heart to the Divine infinite
love.
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
a boundless love on every human being whom you meet, whether of your country,
your race, your political party, or of any other nation, colour or shade of
political opinion. Heaven will support you while you work in this in-gathering
of the scattered peoples of the world beneath the shadow of the almighty tent
of unity.
You will be
servants of God, who are dwelling near to Him, His divine helpers in the service,
ministering to all Humanity. All Humanity! Every human being! never forget
this!
Do not say, he is
an Italian, or a Frenchman, or an American, or an Englishman, remember only
that he is a son of God, a servant of the Most High, a man! All are men! Forget
nationalities; all are equal in the sight of God!
Remember not your
own limitations; the help of God will come to you. Forget yourself. God’s help
will surely come!
When you call on
the Mercy of God waiting to reinforce you, your strength will be tenfold.
Look at me: I am so feeble, yet I have had the strength given me to come amongst you: a poor servant of God, who has been enabled to give you this message! I shall not be with you long! One must never consider one’s own feebleness, it is the strength of the Holy Spirit of Love, which gives the power to teach. The thought of our own weakness could only bring despair. We must look higher than all earthly thoughts; detach ourselves from every material idea, crave for the things of the spirit; fix our eyes on the everlasting bountiful Mercy of the Almighty, who will fill our souls with the gladness of joyful service to His command ‘Love One Another’.
~ 'Abdu'l-Baha ('Paris Talks')
Look at me: I am so feeble, yet I have had the strength given me to come amongst you: a poor servant of God, who has been enabled to give you this message! I shall not be with you long! One must never consider one’s own feebleness, it is the strength of the Holy Spirit of Love, which gives the power to teach. The thought of our own weakness could only bring despair. We must look higher than all earthly thoughts; detach ourselves from every material idea, crave for the things of the spirit; fix our eyes on the everlasting bountiful Mercy of the Almighty, who will fill our souls with the gladness of joyful service to His command ‘Love One Another’.
~ 'Abdu'l-Baha ('Paris Talks')
