"Everyone, then, who desireth “victory” must first subdue the city of his own heart with the sword of spiritual truth and of the Word .."

"... The will of the Eternal King hath ever been to purify the hearts of [His] servants from the promptings of the world and what is therein, so that they may be prepared for illumination by the effulgences of the Lord of the Names and Attributes. Therefore must no stranger find his way into the city of the heart, so that the Incomparable Friend may come unto His own place—that is, the effulgence of His Names and Attributes, not His Essence (exalted is He), for that Peerless King hath been and will be holy for everlasting above ascent or descent. Therefore today “victory” neither hath been nor will be opposition to anyone, nor strife with any person; but rather what is well-pleasing is that the cities of [men’s] hearts, which are under the dominion of the hosts of selfishness and lust, should be subdued by the sword of the Word, of Wisdom, and of Exhortation. Everyone, then, who desireth “victory” must first subdue the city of his own heart with the sword of spiritual truth and of the Word, and must protect it from remembering aught beside God: afterwards let him turn his regards towards the cities of [others’] hearts. This is what is intended by “victory”: sedition hath never been nor is pleasing to God, and that which certain ignorant persons formerly wrought was never approved...."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative

Ellsworth Kelly

" ... the meaning of “victory” is not this, that anyone should fight or strive with anyone."

“‘He is God, exalted is He. “‘It hath been known that God (glorious is His mention) is sanctified from the world and what is therein, and that the meaning of “victory” is not this, that anyone should fight or strive with anyone. The Lord of He doeth what He will 29 hath committed the kingdom of creation, both land and sea, into the hand of kings, and they are the manifestations of the Divine
Power according to the degrees of their rank: verily He is the Potent, the Sovereign. But that which God (glorious is His mention) hath desired for Himself is the hearts of His servants, which are treasures of praise and love of the Lord and stores of divine knowledge and wisdom. ..."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative


 29. Qur’án 3:35; 22:19.



Alsaii

‘if God toucheth thee with a hurt there is no dispeller thereof save Him’

"‘Say, all is from God’24 is a sound and sufficient argument, and ‘if God toucheth thee with a hurt there is no dispeller thereof save Him’25 is a healing medicine.”"


‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative



24. Qur’án 4:80. 
25. Qur’án 6:17; 10:107.

Henry Moore

" ... withhold not from the display of justice ..."

..."Well is it for that soul whom the doubts of the perverse withhold not from the display of justice, and deprive not of the lights of the luminary of equity. " ...

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative, quoting Bahá’u’lláh

Turner

" ...In the nights and in the days the shriek of the pen ariseth and the tongue speaketh ..."

"... We have directed all in the nights and in the days to faithfulness, chastity, purity, and constancy; and have enjoined good deeds and well-pleasing qualities. In the nights and in the days the shriek of the pen ariseth and the tongue speaketh, that against the sword the word may arise, and against fierceness patience, and in place of oppression submission, and at the time of martyrdom resignation. ..."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative, quoting Bahá’u’lláh









Rothko

" ... And of wisdom is decision; for man should not accept whatsoever anyone sayeth."

“O friends, help the Oppressed One with well-pleasing virtues and good deeds! Today let every soul desire to attain the highest station. He must not regard what is in him, but what is in God. It is not for him to regard what shall advantage himself, but that whereby the Word of God which must be obeyed shall be upraised. The heart must be sanctified from every form of selfishness and lust, for the weapons of the unitarians and the saints were and are the fear of God. That is the buckler which guardeth man from the arrows of hatred and abomination. Unceasingly hath the standard of piety been victorious, and accounted amongst the most puissant hosts of the world. Thereby do the saints subdue the cities of [men’s] hearts by the permission of God, the Lord of hosts. Darkness hath encompassed the earth: the lamp which giveth light was and is wisdom. The dictates thereof must be observed under all circumstances. And of wisdom is the regard of place and the utterance of discourse according to measure and state. And of wisdom is decision; for man should not accept whatsoever anyone sayeth."

‘Abdu’l-Bahá, A Traveler’s Narrative





Alberto Giacometti

Thank you dear visitors for 100,000 Pageviews!

Thank you dear visitors for 100,000 Pageviews!

We hope you continue to enjoy visiting our blog.

The Bahá'í Community of Asheboro

bahaiasheboro@gmail.com