A Compilation on Bahai Education Part 8

O thou handmaid of G.o.d!

Do thou establish a heavenly school and be thou a teacher in that house of learning. Educate the children in the things of G.o.d; and, even as pearls, rear them in the heart of the sh.e.l.l of divine guidance.

Strive thou with heart and soul; see to it that the children are raised up to embody the highest perfections of humankind, to such a degree that every one of them will be trained in the use of the mind, in acquiring knowledge, in humility and lowliness, in dignity, in ardour and love.

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [59]

"60: Make ye inquiries as to a woman teacher. She must be extremely modest,..."

Make ye inquiries as to a woman teacher. She must be extremely modest, even-tempered, forbearing, and well bred, and she must be expert in the English language.

(From a Tablet-translated from the persian) [60]

"61: In thy school, instruct thou G.o.d's children in the customs of the Kingdom...."

In thy school, instruct thou G.o.d's children in the customs of the Kingdom.

Be thou a teacher of love, in a school of unity. Train thou the children of the friends of the Merciful in the rules and ways of His loving-kindness. Tend the young trees of the Abha Paradise with the welling waters of His grace and peace and joy. Make them to flourish under the downpour of His bounty. Strive with all thy powers that the children may stand out and grow fresh, delicate, and sweet, like the ideal trees in the gardens of Heaven.

All these gifts and bounties depend upon love for the Beauty of the All-Glorious, and on the blessings in the teachings of the Most High, and the spiritual instructions of the Supreme Concourse, and on ecstasy and ardour and diligent pursuit of whatsoever will redound to the eternal honour of the community of man.

From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [61]

"62: Make every effort to acquire the advanced knowledge of the day, and strain..."

Make every effort to acquire the advanced knowledge of the day, and strain every nerve to carry forward the divine civilization. Establish schools that are well organized, and promote the fundamentals of instruction in the various branches of knowledge through teachers who are pure and sanctified, distinguished for their high standards of conduct and general excellence, and strong in faith; scholars and educators with a thorough knowledge of sciences and arts.

It is inc.u.mbent upon the exalted body of the Hands of the Cause of G.o.d to watch over and protect these schools in every way, and see to their requirements, so that all the means of progress will continually be at hand, and the lights of learning will illumine the whole world.

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [62]

"63: O thou steadfast in the Covenant!..."

O thou steadfast in the Covenant!

In reply to thy letter, I am obliged to be brief: Praise thou G.o.d that thou hast succeeded in becoming a teacher of young Baha'is, young trees of the Abha Paradise, and at the same time art able to benefit the other children as well.

According to the explicit divine Text, teaching the children is indispensable and obligatory. It followeth that teachers are servants of the Lord G.o.d, since they have arisen to perform this task, which is the same as wors.h.i.+p. You must therefore offer praise with every breath, for you are educating your spiritual children.

The spiritual father is greater than the physical one, for the latter bestoweth but this world's life, whereas the former endoweth his child with life everlasting. This is why, in the Law of G.o.d, teachers are listed among the heirs.

Now you in reality have acquired all these spiritual children free and gratis, and that is better than having physical children; for such children are not grateful to their fathers, since they feel that the father serveth them because he must-and therefore no matter what he doeth for them, they pay it no mind. Spiritual children, however, are always appreciative of their father's loving kindness. This verily is out of the grace of thy Lord, the Beneficent.

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [63]

"64: O thou who art steadfast in the Covenant!..."

O thou who art steadfast in the Covenant!

Thou hast exerted strenuous efforts for the education of children and I have been, and am, infinitely pleased with thee. Praise G.o.d, thou hast been enabled to serve in this field, and it is certain that the confirmations of the Abha Kingdom will encompa.s.s thee, and thou shalt achieve prosperity and success.

Today the training and education of the believers' children is the pre-eminent goal of the chosen. It is the same as servitude to the Sacred Threshold and waiting upon the Blessed Beauty. Joyously, therefore, canst thou pride thyself on this.

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [64]

"65: O thou teacher of the children of the Kingdom!..."

O thou teacher of the children of the Kingdom!

Thou hast arisen to perform a service which would justly ent.i.tle thee to vaunt thyself over all the teachers on earth. For the teachers of this world make use of human education to develop the powers, whether spiritual or material, of humankind, whilst thou art training these young plants in the gardens of G.o.d according to the education of Heaven, and art giving them the lessons of the Kingdom.

The result of this kind of teaching will be that it will attract the blessings of G.o.d, and make manifest the perfections of man.

Hold thou fast to this kind of teaching, for the fruits of it will be very great. The children must, from their infancy, be raised to be spiritual and G.o.dly Baha'is. If such be their training, they will remain safe from every test.

(From a Tablet-translated from the Persian) [65]

"66: O ye recipients of the favours of G.o.d!..."

O ye recipients of the favours of G.o.d!