The Loving Bonds of Family and Friends
“The
integrity of the family bond must be constantly considered, and the rights of
the individual members must not be transgressed. The rights of the son, the
father, the mother—none of them must be transgressed, none of them must be
arbitrary. Just as the son has certain obligations to his father, the father,
likewise, has certain obligations to his son. The mother, the sister and other
members of the household have certain prerogatives. All these rights and
prerogatives must be conserved, yet the unity of the family must be sustained. The injury of one shall be considered the
injury of all; the comfort of each, the comfort of all; the honor of one, the
honor of all.” (Revealed by `Abdu’l-Baha, "The Promulgation of Universal
Peace", p. 168)
“You must have infinite love for each other, each
preferring the other before himself.” (Talk by `Abdu’l-Baha,
From Stenographic Notes, 1 July 1912, New York)
“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)
Please click on the link and enjoy:
"This material world has an outward appearance, as it
has also an inner reality. All created things are interlinked in a chain
leading to spirituality and ultimately ending in abstract realities. I hope
that these spiritual links will become stronger day by day and that this
communication of hearts, which is termed inspiration, will continue. When this
connection exists, bodily separation is not important; this condition is beyond
the world of words and above all description." (Words
of `Abdu'l-Baha, on 28 April 1912, "Mahmud's Diary")
Radiant acquiescence,
happiness and true joy, conscious existence and understanding, confidence and
trust, positive fairness and willing respect, optimism however stilled in dark
and cheerfulness though crushing be everything that surrounds, signify power
and unflinching will, the inner purity and spiritual radiance. All are signs of
a resplendent character and each a shining reflection of an understanding
brilliant mind. To develop these
sterling traits and possess such growing spiritual capacity and wealth in one’s
being is the highest perfection and ultimate fruit and meaning of the human
existence. As the truth is that,“The troubles of this world
pass, and what we have left is what we have made of our souls.”
