3: "Make every effort to acquire the advanced knowledge of the day,
and..."
Make every effort to acquire the advanced knowledge of the day, and strain
every nerve to carry forward the divine civilization....
Included must be promotion of the arts, the discovery of new wonders, the
expansion of trade, and the development of industry. The methods of
civilization and the beautification of the country must also be
encouraged; and also to be inculcated is absolute obedience to the
Government and total avoidance of any trace of sedition.
(From a Tablet, translated from the Persian) [3]
4: "...I most urgently request the friends of God to make every effort, as
much..."
...I most urgently request the friends of God to make every effort, as
much as lieth within their competence, along these lines. The harder they
strive to widen the scope of their knowledge, the better and more
gratifying will be the result. Let the loved ones of God, whether young or
old, whether male or female, each according to his capabilities, bestir
themselves and spare no efforts to acquire the various current branches of
knowledge, both spiritual and secular, and of the arts.
(From a Tablet, translated from the Arabic) [4]
5: "All blessings are divine in origin, but none can be compared with
this..."
All blessings are divine in origin, but none can be compared with this
power of intellectual investigation and research, which is an eternal gift
producing fruits of unending delight. Man is ever partaking of these
fruits. All other blessings are temporary; this is an everlasting
possession. Even sovereignty has its limitations and overthrow; this is a
kingship and dominion which none may usurp or destroy. Briefly, it is an
eternal blessing and divine bestowal, the supreme gift of God to man.
Therefore, you should put forward your most earnest efforts toward the
acquisition of science and arts. The greater your attainment, the higher
your standard in the divine purpose. The man of science is perceiving and
endowed with vision, whereas he who is ignorant and neglectful of this
development is blind. The investigating mind is attentive, alive; the
callous and indifferent mind is deaf and dead. A scientific man is a true
index and representative of humanity, for through processes of inductive
reasoning and research he is informed of all that appertains to humanity,
its status, conditions and happenings. He studies the human body politic,
understands social problems and weaves the web and texture of
civilization. In fact, science may be likened to a mirror wherein the
infinite forms and images of existing things are revealed and reflected.
It is the very foundation of all individual and national development.
Without this basis of investigation, development is impossible. Therefore,
seek with diligent endeavour the knowledge and attainment of all that lies
within the power of this wonderful bestowal.
("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Baha
during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912" (Wilmette:
Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 50) [5]