October 20, 1911
Paris, France
The sun shines upon the earth, giving light and warmth to all creatures. The Sun of Truth also shines, giving light and warmth to the souls of men. All existing creatures need the sun to shine upon them and develop them that they may grow. The souls of men also need the Sun of Truth to shine upon them, to educate and encourage them. Circumstances that benefit the body do not benefit the soul, and the soul of man is his reality, not his body, i.e., there are some men who are perfected in material things and very backward in the spiritual. Likewise many, who are at the bottom of the social and material ladder, are very much advanced spiritually.
Paris, France
The sun shines upon the earth, giving light and warmth to all creatures. The Sun of Truth also shines, giving light and warmth to the souls of men. All existing creatures need the sun to shine upon them and develop them that they may grow. The souls of men also need the Sun of Truth to shine upon them, to educate and encourage them. Circumstances that benefit the body do not benefit the soul, and the soul of man is his reality, not his body, i.e., there are some men who are perfected in material things and very backward in the spiritual. Likewise many, who are at the bottom of the social and material ladder, are very much advanced spiritually.
Galien, a Greek Philosopher who died at the time when the
Christian Religion was in its growth - and was not himself a Christian - wrote
many books about material civilization and development. He states as his belief
that Religion is the basis of all true civilization, that is to say that not
only must the brain and gifts of a nation be educated, but also the moral
character. The Christians; he points out, are an example to show the truth of
this theory, for theirs was the basis upon which the largest and most
prosperous civilization of the world had been founded and their morals were
very high. They were taught not to fear death, and to love their neighbours as
themselves and live only for the good of humanity, and only to think of doing
good to mankind.
If these principles had been carefully carried out by the
followers of Jesus Christ, then there would be no need for the world to be
reawakened. But winter fell upon the hearts of men, and God sent His prophets
to shine upon them with the Spring of the Sun of righteousness that they may be
again awakened and blossom forth and bear fruit. Because mankind has shut its
ears to the Voice of God and has neglected His teachings, wars and tumults,
unrest and misery have fallen upon them. Let us make every effort to reopen the
hearts of men to the Will of God. I pray God to give you power to bring
humanity beneath the rays of the Sun of Truth and Peace.
- ‘Abdu’l-Baha (From a
talk, October 20, 1911, Paris, France; ‘Star of the West Vol. 2, no. 16,
December 31, 1911)
