“The first sign of faith is love. The message of the holy, divine Manifestations is love; the phenomena of creation are based upon love; the radiance of the world is due to love; the well-being and happiness of the world depend upon it. Therefore, I admonish you that you must strive throughout the human world to diffuse the light of love.” (Revealed by `Abdu’l-Baha, “Promulgation of Universal Peace”, p. 337)
War is darkness. It is immensely destructive, terribly inhuman, unimaginably negative and unfortunate. In whatever measure the darkness may vanish and disappear, to that extent the light and felicity would take its place. Of course, there is another way of looking at it as well: once a light is kindled, however dimly, perhaps just a little flame dancing for its life over a wick, the darkness fearing away instantly, diminishes in no time. Bigger and stronger the flame and brighter the light, frail and weaker shall become the darkness. Because, "darkness has no existence; it is only the absence of light". Soon as the light appears, the shadow withers away. On this evident logic and lucid thought, however we may have grown with wearying doubts, having been ever-disappointed and long on disbelief that the "peace"—that is, the real one and not just a recurring ceasefire, a suspicious agreement to a break in conflicts, or a quiet submission to a suspending silence in severe dissensions—could and shall indeed one day be materialized. Pondering, intelligently and through the potent powers of our faculties and vision, on the true logic and reality of the light and its dominating and unfailing forces upon darkness, we ought to be able and shall acquire a fair and firm conviction that our conscious efforts and universal focus on the theme, if done genuinely, resolutely, and with good-will, could indeed contribute greatly to the forces of light, dissipating the darkness, pushing the humanity up closer and nearer to the solid peaks of the state of "no war". Once there, standing unburdened and free in celebration and glory, as we turn our visions to the refreshing magnificent sights all around, overwhelmed by awe and enraptured in thrill, we shall witness the loftier heights appearing and rising majestically in front of our eyes, chained one after and higher than the other, heralding and leading to the apex of the splendid glory, the culmination of long-awaited promise made by all the Religions of God, having invited and moving the humanity in progressive stages towards its worthy destination and perfection—the realization of the Most Great Peace.
“Let him do some good to every person whose path he crosseth, and be of some benefit to him. Let him improve the character of each and all, and reorient the minds of men. In this way, the light of divine guidance will shine forth, and the blessings of God will cradle all mankind: for love is light, no matter in what abode it dwelleth; and hate is darkness, no matter where it may make its nest. O friends of God! That the hidden Mystery may stand revealed, and the secret essence of all things may be disclosed, strive ye to banish that darkness for ever and ever.” (Revealed by `Abdu’l-Baha, “Selections From the Writings of `Abdu’l-Baha”, p. 3)
You are welcome to visit the recent posts on my two other blogs—English and bilingual—below:
Learning Felicityhttp://learningfelicity.blogspot.ca/
Timeless Treasures: Words with Meanings
