"The essence of understanding is to testify to one’s poverty, and submit to the Will of the Lord, the Sovereign, the Gracious, the All-Powerful."

"In the Name of God, the Exalted, the Most High  

The source of all good is trust in God, submission unto His command, and contentment with His holy will and pleasure. 

The essence of wisdom is the fear of God, the dread of His scourge and punishment, and the apprehension of His justice and decree. 

The essence of religion is to testify unto that which the Lord hath revealed, and follow that which He hath ordained in His mighty Book. 

The source of all glory is acceptance of whatsoever the Lord hath bestowed, and contentment with that which God hath ordained. 

The essence of love is for man to turn his heart to the Beloved One, and sever himself from all else but Him, and desire naught save that which is the desire of his Lord. 

True remembrance is to make mention of the Lord, the All-Praised, and forget aught else beside Him. 

True reliance is for the servant to pursue his profession and calling in this world, to hold fast unto the Lord, to seek naught but His grace, inasmuch as in His Hands is the destiny of all His servants. 

The essence of detachment is for man to turn his face towards the courts of the Lord, to enter His Presence, behold His Countenance, and stand as witness before Him. 

The essence of understanding is to testify to one’s poverty, and submit to the Will of the Lord, the Sovereign, the Gracious, the All-Powerful. 

The source of courage and power is the promotion of the Word of God, and steadfastness in His Love. 

The essence of charity is for the servant to recount the blessings of his Lord, and to render thanks unto Him at all times and under all conditions. 

The essence of faith is fewness of words and abundance of deeds; he whose words exceed his deeds, know verily his death is better than his life. 

The essence of true safety is to observe silence, to look at the end of things and to renounce the world. 

The beginning of magnanimity is when man expendeth his wealth on himself, on his family and on the poor among his brethren in his Faith. 

The essence of wealth is love for Me; whoso loveth Me is the possessor of all things, and he that loveth Me not is indeed of the poor and needy. This is that which the Finger of Glory and Splendor hath revealed. 

The source of all evil is for man to turn away from his Lord and set his heart on things ungodly. 

The most burning fire is to question the signs of God, to dispute idly that which He hath revealed, to deny Him and carry one’s self proudly before Him. 

The source of all learning is the knowledge of God, exalted be His glory, and this cannot be attained save through the knowledge of His Divine Manifestation. 

The essence of abasement is to pass out from under the shadow of the Merciful and seek the shelter of the Evil One. 

The source of error is to disbelieve in the One true God, rely upon aught else but Him, and flee from His Decree. 

True loss is for him whose days have been spent in utter ignorance of his self. 

The essence of all that We have revealed for thee is Justice, is for man to free himself from idle fancy and imitation, discern with the eye of oneness His glorious handiwork, and look into all things with a searching eye. 

Thus have We instructed thee, manifested unto thee Words of Wisdom, that thou mayest be thankful unto the Lord, thy God, and glory therein amidst all peoples." 

 ~Bahá’u’lláh

(Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh)

Dedicated to the memory of my blessed mother Frances who passed March 19, 2006