54: The world is in great turmoil, and what is most pathetic is that it
has learned...
The world is in great turmoil, and what is most pathetic is that it has
learned to keep away from God, Who alone can save it and alleviate its
sufferings. It is our duty, we who have been trusted with the task of
applying the divine remedy given by Baha'u'llah, to concentrate our
attention upon the consummation of this task, and not rest until the peace
foretold by the Prophets of God is permanently established....
(9 December 1931 to the Baha'is of Tokyo) [54]
55: Shoghi Effendi wrote his last general letter to the western friends...
Shoghi Effendi wrote his last general letter to the western friends
because he felt that the public should be made to understand the attitude
the Baha'i Faith maintains towards the prevailing economic and political
problems. We should let the world know what the real aim of Baha'u'llah
was. Up to the present Unity of Mankind was only of an academic
importance. Now it is becoming more and more a subject for international
statesmen to think of. It is coming to the field of practical politics. It
is therefore a wonderful chance for us to come to the front and expound
the teaching which is the goal and aim of the social precepts of
Baha'u'llah. Shoghi Effendi hopes that the friends will re-echo this call
to an organic unity of mankind until it forms part of the conscious faith
of every living man in the world. Great judgement should be however
practised lest we be misunderstood and our Faith be classed among radical
movements.
(28 January 1932 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States
and Canada) [55]
56: Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
dated...
Shoghi Effendi wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated
January 26th 1932 which accompanied a printed copy of his last general
letter. He thanks you both for this as well as for the one hundred copies
you are shipping to him. He is deeply gratified to learn that the friends
find it interesting and worthwhile enough as to make its subject-matter
the topic of their teaching campaign. He sincerely hopes that this will
also awaken some of the friends to the importance of this teaching of the
Cause and stimulate them to make a thorough and deep study of it. For it
undoubtedly forms the goal of the social precepts of the Faith. There is
no reason why the Baha'is should not take the lead in advocating such a
federation of the world, towards which the world is driven by forces it
cannot control....
(16 February 1932 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States
and Canada) [56]
57: The different nations of the world will never attain peace except
after...
The different nations of the world will never attain peace except after
recognizing the significance of the teachings and whole-heartedly
upholding them for through those precepts all international problems will
be solved and every man will secure the spiritual environment in which his
soul can evolve and produce its highest fruits.
(15 January 1933 to an individual believer) [57]
58: The Guardian has also read with deep interest all the enclosed papers.
He...
The Guardian has also read with deep interest all the enclosed papers. He
is firmly convinced that through perseverance and concerted action the
cause of Peace will eventually triumph over all the dark forces which
threaten the welfare and progress of the world today. But such purely
human attempts are undoubtedly ineffective unless inspired and guided by
the power of faith. Without the assistance of God, as given through the
message of Baha'u'llah, peace can never be safely and adequately
established. To disregard the Baha'i solution for world peace is to build
on foundations of sand. To accept and apply it is to make peace not a mere
dream, or an ideal, but a living reality. This is the point which the
Guardian wishes you to develop, to emphasize again and again, and to
support by convincing arguments. The Baha'i peace programme is, indeed,
not only one way of attaining that goal. It is not even relatively the
best. It is, in the last resort, the sole effective instrument for the
establishment of the reign of peace in this world. This attitude does not
involve any total repudiation of other solutions offered by various
philanthropists. It merely shows their inadequacy compared to the Divine
Plan for the unification of the world. We cannot escape the truth that
nothing mundane can in the last resort be enduring, unless supported and
sustained through the power of God.
(25 September 1933 to an individual believer) [58]
59: Whatever our shortcomings may be, and however formidable the forces of
darkness...
Whatever our shortcomings may be, and however formidable the forces of
darkness which besiege us today, the unification of mankind as outlined
and ensured by the World Order of Baha'u'llah will in the fullness of time
be firmly and permanently established. This is Baha'u'llah's promise, and
no power on earth can in the long run prevent or even retard its adequate
realization. The friends should, therefore, not lose hope, but fully
conscious of their power and their role they should persevere in their
mighty efforts for the extension and the consolidation of Baha'u'llah's
universal dominion on earth.
(6 November 1933 to an individual believer) [59]
60: As regards the International Executive referred to by the Guardian in
his...
As regards the International Executive referred to by the Guardian in his
"Goal of a New World Order", it should be noted that this statement refers
by no means to the Baha'i Commonwealth of the future, but simply to that
world government which will herald the advent and lead to the final
establishment of the World Order of Baha'u'llah. The formation of this
International Executive, which corresponds to the executive head or board
in present-day national governments, is but a step leading to the Baha'i
world government of the future, and hence should not be identified with
either the institution of the Guardianship or that of the International
House of Justice.
(17 March 1934 to two believers) [60]
61: In connection with your teaching work: what the Guardian wishes you
to...
In connection with your teaching work: what the Guardian wishes you to
particularly emphasize in all your talks is the supreme necessity for all
individuals and nations in this day to adopt in its entirety the social
programme given by Baha'u'llah for the reconstruction of the religious,
economic and political life of mankind. He wishes you to explain and
analyze the elements that help in raising this Divine World Order in the
light of the present-day events and conditions in the world. Special
stress, he feels, should be laid on the impending necessity of
establishing a supranational and sovereign world state, as the one
described by Baha'u'llah. With the world becoming increasingly subject to
tumults and convulsions never experienced before, the realization of such
a necessity is entering into the consciousness of not only the wise and
learned, but of the common people as well. The believers should,
therefore, seize this opportunity and make a supreme effort to present, in
a convincing and eloquent language, those social and humanitarian
teachings of the Faith which we believe to constitute the sole panacea for
the innumerable ills afflicting our present-day world.
(15 November 1935 to two believers) [61]
62: With reference to your question concerning 'Abdu'l-Baha's reference
to...
With reference to your question concerning 'Abdu'l-Baha's reference to
"unity in the political realm": this unity should be clearly distinguished
from the "unity of nations". The first is a unity which politically
independent and sovereign states achieve among themselves; while the
second is one which is brought about between nations, the difference
between a state and a nation being that the former, as you know, is a
political entity without necessarily being homogeneous in race, whereas
the second implies national as well as political homogeneity.
(26 July 1936 to an individual believer) [62]
63: As regards your teaching work: the Guardian has already advised you
to...
As regards your teaching work: the Guardian has already advised you to
stress in your talks the idea of a world superstate, and the concept of
the Oneness of Mankind underlying it. In addition, he wishes you also to
emphasize the fact that humanity, taken as a whole, has entered the most
critical and momentous stage of its evolution, the stage of maturity. This
idea of the coming of age of mankind constitutes the central core of the
Baha'i Teachings, and is the most distinguishing feature of the Revelation
of Baha'u'llah. A proper understanding of this concept gives the key to an
adequate appreciation of the tremendous claim made by the Author of the
Faith, both with regard to His own station, and to the incomparable
greatness of His Dispensation.
(12 October 1936 to an individual believer) [63]
64: With reference to the question you have asked concerning the time
and...
With reference to the question you have asked concerning the time and
means through which the Lesser and Most Great Peace, referred to by
Baha'u'llah, will be established, following the coming World War: Your
view that the Lesser Peace will come about through the political efforts
of the states and nations of the world, and independently of any direct
Baha'i plan or effort, and the Most Great Peace be established through the
instrumentality of the believers, and by the direct operation of the laws
and principles revealed by Baha'u'llah and the functioning of the
Universal House of Justice as the supreme organ of the Baha'i
superstate--your view on this subject is quite correct and in full accord
with the pronouncements of the Guardian as embodied in "The Unfoldment of
World Civilization".
(14 March 1939 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and
Canada, and to an individual believer) [64]
65: Though it is premature to try and endeavour to foresee on what
basis...
Though it is premature to try and endeavour to foresee on what basis
various nations would be represented on any international council, or in
any international form of government, it is clear that from the Baha'i
standpoint it could only be carried out on a basis of true justice; and
justice does not imply one race having a preponderating vote over some
other race's representatives, and thus being in a position to dominate
them.
(12 April 1942 to an individual believer) [65]
66: What 'Abdu'l-Baha meant about the women arising for peace is that this
is a...
What 'Abdu'l-Baha meant about the women arising for peace is that this is
a matter which vitally affects women, and when they form a conscious and
overwhelming mass of public opinion against war there can be no war. The
Baha'i women are already organized through being members of the Faith and
the Administrative Order. No further organization is needed. But they
should, through teaching and through the active moral support they give to
every movement directed towards peace, seek to exert a strong influence on
other women's minds in regard to this essential matter.
(24 March 1945 to two believers) [66]
67: The Seven Lights of Unity will not necessarily appear in the order
given....
The Seven Lights of Unity will not necessarily appear in the order given.
A product of the second may well be universal culture.
(19 November 1945 to an individual believer) [67]
68: The teachings of Baha'u'llah will establish a new way of life for...
The teachings of Baha'u'llah will establish a new way of life for
humanity. Those who are Baha'is must endeavour to establish this way of
life just as rapidly as possible. Now that the hour has arrived when the
Baha'i Faith is gaining prominence, and is being reviewed by so many
peoples, it is necessary that the adherents of the Faith should live up to
the high ideals of the Faith in every way. In this way they can
demonstrate that the Baha'i Faith does create a new way of life, which
brings to the individual a complete association with the Will of God, and
thus the establishment of a peaceful and universal society. Divisional
attachments are of men, while universal service is of God.
The Guardian is now anxious that all the friends achieve a universal
consciousness and universal way of life.
(20 November 1955 to an individual believer) [68]
69: World government will come, but we do not know the date....
World government will come, but we do not know the date.
(15 August 1957 to an individual believer) [69]