This is my last meeting with you, for now I am on the ship ready to sail
away. These are my final words of exhortation. I have repeatedly summoned
you to the cause of the unity of the world of humanity, announcing that
all mankind are the servants of the same God, that God is the creator of
all; He is the Provider and Life-giver; all are equally beloved by Him and
are His servants upon whom His mercy and compassion descend. Therefore,
you must manifest the greatest kindness and love toward the nations of the
world, setting aside fanaticism, abandoning religious, national and racial
prejudice.
The earth is one native land, one home; and all mankind are the children
of one Father. God has created them, and they are the recipients of His
compassion. Therefore, if anyone offends another, he offends God. It is
the wish of our heavenly Father that every heart should rejoice and be
filled with happiness, that we should live together in felicity and joy.
The obstacle to human happiness is racial or religious prejudice, the
competitive struggle for existence and inhumanity toward each other.
Your eyes have been illumined, your ears are attentive, your hearts
knowing. You must be free from prejudice and fanaticism, beholding no
differences between the races and religions. You must look to God, for He
is the real Shepherd, and all humanity are His sheep. He loves them and
loves them equally. As this is true, should the sheep quarrel among
themselves? They should manifest gratitude and thankfulness to God, and
the best way to thank God is to love one another.
Beware lest ye offend any heart, lest ye speak against anyone in his
absence, lest ye estrange yourselves from the servants of God. You must
consider all His servants as your own family and relations. Direct your
whole effort toward the happiness of those who are despondent, bestow food
upon the hungry, clothe the needy, and glorify the humble. Be a helper to
every helpless one, and manifest kindness to your fellow creatures in
order that ye may attain the good pleasure of God. This is conducive to
the illumination of the world of humanity and eternal felicity for
yourselves. I seek from God everlasting glory in your behalf; therefore,
this is my prayer and exhortation.
Consider what is happening in the Balkans. Human blood is being shed,
properties are destroyed, possessions pillaged, cities and villages
devastated. A world-enkindling fire is astir in the Balkans. God has
created men to love each other; but instead, they kill each other with
cruelty and bloodshed. God has created them that they may cooperate and
mingle in accord; but instead, they ravage, plunder and destroy in the
carnage of battle. God has created them to be the cause of mutual felicity
and peace; but instead, discord, lamentation and anguish rise from the
hearts of the innocent and afflicted.
As to you: Your efforts must be lofty. Exert yourselves with heart and
soul so that, perchance, through your efforts the light of universal peace
may shine and this darkness of estrangement and enmity may be dispelled
from amongst men, that all men may become as one family and consort
together in love and kindness, that the East may assist the West and the
West give help to the East, for all are the inhabitants of one planet, the
people of one original native land and the flocks of one Shepherd.
Consider how the Prophets Who have been sent, the great souls who have
appeared and the sages who have arisen in the world have exhorted mankind
to unity and love. This has been the essence of their mission and
teaching. This has been the goal of their guidance and message. The
Prophets, saints, seers and philosophers have sacrificed their lives in
order to establish these principles and teachings amongst men. Consider
the heedlessness of the world, for notwithstanding the efforts and
sufferings of the Prophets of God, the nations and peoples are still
engaged in hostility and fighting. Notwithstanding the heavenly
commandments to love one another, they are still shedding each other's
blood. How heedless and ignorant are the people of the world! How gross
the darkness which envelops them! Although they are the children of a
compassionate God, they continue to live and act in opposition to His will
and good pleasure. God is loving and kind to all men, and yet they show
the utmost enmity and hatred toward each other. God is the Giver of life
to them, and yet they constantly seek to destroy life. God blesses and
protects their homes; they rage, sack and destroy each other's homes.
Consider their ignorance and heedlessness!
Your duty is of another kind, for you are informed of the mysteries of
God. Your eyes are illumined; your ears are quickened with hearing. You
must, therefore, look toward each other and then toward mankind with the
utmost love and kindness. You have no excuse to bring before God if you
fail to live according to His command, for you are informed of that which
constitutes the good pleasure of God. You have heard His commandments and
precepts. You must, therefore, be kind to all men; you must even treat
your enemies as your friends. You must consider your evil-wishers as your
well-wishers. Those who are not agreeable toward you must be regarded as
those who are congenial and pleasant so that, perchance, this darkness of
disagreement and conflict may disappear from amongst men and the light of
the divine may shine forth, so that the Orient may be illumined and the
Occident filled with fragrance, nay, so that the East and West may embrace
each other in love and deal with one another in sympathy and affection.
Until man reaches this high station, the world of humanity shall not find
rest, and eternal felicity shall not be attained. But if man lives up to
these divine commandments, this world of earth shall be transformed into
the world of heaven, and this material sphere shall be converted into a
paradise of glory. It is my hope that you may become successful in this
high calling so that like brilliant lamps you may cast light upon the
world of humanity and quicken and stir the body of existence like unto a
spirit of life. This is eternal glory. This is everlasting felicity. This
is immortal life. This is heavenly attainment. This is being created in
the image and likeness of God. And unto this I call you, praying to God to
strengthen and bless you.