A Compilation on Bahai Education Part 13

"92: ...O dear one of 'Abdu'l-Baha! Be the son of thy father and be the..."

...O dear one of 'Abdu'l-Baha! Be the son of thy father and be the fruit of that tree. Be a son that hath been born of his soul and heart and not only of the water and clay. A real son is such an one as hath branched from the spiritual part of a man. I ask G.o.d that thou mayest be at all times confirmed and strengthened.

("Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha", Vol. II, p. 342) [92]

"93: O ye dear children!..."

O ye dear children!

Your father is compa.s.sionate, clement and merciful unto you and desireth for you success, prosperity and eternal life in the Kingdom of G.o.d.

Therefore, it is inc.u.mbent upon you, dear children, to seek his good pleasure, to be guided by his guidance, to be drawn by the magnet of the love of G.o.d and be brought up in the lap of the love of G.o.d; that ye may become beautiful branches in the Gardens of EL-ABHa, verdant and watered by the abundance of the gift of G.o.d.

("Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha", Vol. III, p. 622) [93]

"94: It is inc.u.mbent upon the youth to walk in the footsteps of Hakim..."

It is inc.u.mbent upon the youth to walk in the footsteps of Hakim(19) to be trained in his ways, for such important souls as he and his like have now ascended to the Kingdom of Abha. The youth must grow and develop and take the place of their fathers, that this abundant grace, in the posterity of each one of the loved ones of G.o.d who bore great agonies, may day by day increase, until in the end it shall yield its fruit on earth and in Heaven.

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [94]

"95: The Sunday school for the children in which the Tablets and Teachings of..."

The Sunday school for the children in which the Tablets and Teachings of Baha'u'llah are read, and the Word of G.o.d is recited for the children is indeed a blessed thing. Thou must certainly continue this organized activity without cessation, and attach importance to it, so that day by day it may grow and be quickened with the breaths of the Holy Spirit. If this activity is well organized, rest thou a.s.sured that it will yield great results. Firmness and steadfastness, however, are necessary, otherwise it will continue for some time, but later be gradually forgotten. Perseverance is an essential condition. In every project firmness and steadfastness will undoubtedly lead to good results; otherwise it will exist for some days, and then be discontinued.

("Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Baha", Sec. 124, pp. 14344) [95]

"96: O ye children of the the Kingdom:..."

O ye children of the the Kingdom:

Your letters with your photographs have been received. From the perusal of the letters the utmost heartfelt emotions were experienced and at the sight of the portraits a spiritual joy and gladness was felt. Praise be to G.o.d the letters were indicative of the turning of the faces toward the Kingdom and from those faces it was evident that the light of the love of G.o.d is manifest and resplendent upon the brows.

I pray to G.o.d that in this school on Sundays ye may acquire heavenly knowledge, ye may secure a training of merciful characteristics and that ye may advance from day to day so that each of you may become a peerless shrub in the Divine Rose-garden and may be adorned with full foliage, and fruits.

(From a Tablet to the children of the Baha'i school, Urbana, Illinois, published in "The Magazine of The Children of the Kingdom" Vol. I, No. 2 (March, 1920), p. 2) [96]

"97: O young trees and plants, matchless and tender, that grow in the meadows..."

O young trees and plants, matchless and tender, that grow in the meadows of guidance! O ye newcomers to the Fraternity of Truth!

Although now ye be learners, the hope is that through showerings from the clouds of grace, ye will become teachers; that ye will flourish even as flowers and fragrant herbs in the garden of that knowledge which is both of the mind and of the heart; that each one of you will grow as a tree rich in yield, fair, fresh and strong, heavy with sweet fruit.

May the hidden confirmations of G.o.d make each one of you to become a well-spring of knowledge. May your hearts ever receive inspiration from the Denizens of the Concourse on high. May the drop become as the great sea; may the mote dazzle as the s.h.i.+ning sun.

His Holiness the Bab hath said: "Should a tiny ant desire in this day to be possessed of such power as to be able to unravel the abstrusest and most bewildering pa.s.sages of the Qur'an, its wish will no doubt be fulfilled, inasmuch as the mystery of eternal might vibrates within the innermost being of all created things."(20) If so helpless a creature can be endowed with so subtle a capacity, how much more efficacious must be the power released through the liberal effusions of the grace of Baha'u'llah! What confirmations will be garnered, what influxes of the heart!

Wherefore, O ye illumined youth, strive by night and by day to unravel the mysteries of the mind and spirit, and to grasp the secrets of the Day of G.o.d. Inform yourselves of the evidences that the Most Great Name hath dawned. Open your lips in praise. Adduce convincing arguments and proofs.

Lead those who thirst to the fountain of life; grant ye true health to the ailing. Be ye apprentices of G.o.d; be ye physicians directed by G.o.d, and heal ye the sick among humankind. Bring those who have been excluded into the circle of intimate friends. Make the despairing to be filled with hope. Waken them that slumber; make the heedless mindful.

Such are the fruits of this earthly life. Such is the station of resplendent glory.

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [97]

FROM THE WRITINGS OF SHOGHI EFFENDI AND LETTERS WRITTEN ON HIS BEHALF:

"98: For the members of the Children's Educational Work Committee ...

I..."

For the members of the Children's Educational Work Committee ... I supplicate Divine a.s.sistance, that He may graciously aid them in a work which was so near and dear to the Master's heart and enable them to a.s.sist in the rise of future devoted and efficient servants to the Cause of G.o.d.

(From a letter dated 23 December 1922 written by Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual a.s.sembly of the United States and Canada, published in "Baha'i Administration: Selected Messages 19221932" [rev. ed.], (Wilmette: Baha'i Publis.h.i.+ng Trust, 1980), p. 29) [98]

"99: They must promote by every means in their power the material as well as..."

They must promote by every means in their power the material as well as the spiritual enlightenment of youth, the means for the education of children, inst.i.tute, whenever possible, Baha'i educational inst.i.tutions, organize and supervise their work and provide the best means for their progress and development.