Buddhism
Sources: 'abdu'l-baha In LondonSome referred to the teaching of Buddha. 'Abdu'l-Baha said: The real
teaching of Buddha is the same as the teaching of Jesus Christ. The
teachings of all the Prophets are the same in character. Now men have
changed the teaching. If you look at the present practice of the Buddhist
religion, you will see that there is little of the Reality left. Many
worship idols although their teaching forbids it.
Buddha
teach, so he asked them questions to see if they were prepared as he would
have them be. When you go to the East and to the West, said the Buddha,
and the people shut their doors to you and refuse to speak to you, what
will you do?--The disciples answered and said: We shall be very thankful
that they do us no harm.--Then if they do you harm and mock, what will
you do?--We shall be very thankful that they do not give us worse
treatment.--If they throw you into prison?--We shall still be grateful
that they do not kill us.--What if they were to kill you? the Master
asked for the last time. Still, answered the disciples, we will be
thankful, for they cause us to be martyrs. What more glorious fate is
there than this, to die for the glory of God? And the Buddha said: Well
done!
The teaching of Buddha was like a young and beautiful child, and now it
has become as an old and decrepit man. Like the aged man it cannot see, it
cannot hear, it cannot remember anything. Why go so far back? Consider the
laws of the Old Testament: the Jews do not follow Moses as their example
nor keep his commands. So it is with many other religions.
How can we get the power to follow the right path?
By putting the teaching into practice power will be given. You know which
path to follow: you cannot be mistaken, for there's a great distinction
between God and evil, between Light and darkness, Truth and falsehood,
Love and hatred, Generosity and meanness, Education and ignorance, Faith
in God and superstition, good Laws and unjust laws.
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All Glory Be To This Day The Day In Which The
All glory be to this Day, the Day in which the fragrances of mercy have been wafted over all created things, a Day so blest that past ages and centuries can never hope to rival it, a Day in which the countenance of the Ancient of Days hath turned ... All Praise And Glory Be To God Who
All praise and glory be to God Who, through the power of His might, hath delivered His creation from the nakedness of non-existence, and clothed it with the mantle of life. From among all created things He hath singled out for His special favor th... All Praise Be To God Who Hath Adorned
All praise be to God Who hath adorned the world with an ornament, and arrayed it with a vesture, of which it can be despoiled by no earthly power, however mighty its battalions, however vast its wealth, however profound its influence. Say: the ess... All Praise Be To Thee, O Lord, My God! How Mysterious
All praise be to Thee, O Lord, my God! How mysterious the Fire which Thou hast enkindled within my heart! My very limbs testify to the intensity of its heat, and evince the consuming power of its flame. Should my bodily tongue ever attempt to desc... All Praise Be To Thee, O My God! Thou Beholdest
All praise be to Thee, O my God! Thou beholdest my helplessness and poverty, and bearest witness unto my woes and trials. How long wilt Thou abandon me among Thy servants? Suffer me to ascend into Thy presence. The power of Thy might beareth me wi... All Praise To The Unity Of God And All
All praise to the unity of God, and all honor to Him, the sovereign Lord, the incomparable and all-glorious Ruler of the universe, Who, out of utter nothingness, hath created the reality of all things, Who, from naught, hath brought into being the... All Praise, O My God, Be To Thee Who Art The
All praise, O my God, be to Thee Who art the Source of all glory and majesty, of greatness and honor, of sovereignty and dominion, of loftiness and grace, of awe and power. Whomsoever Thou willest Thou causest to draw nigh unto the Most Great Ocea... All-praise Be To Thee, O Lord, My God! I Know
All-praise be to Thee, O Lord, my God! I know not how to sing Thy praise, how to describe Thy glory, how to call upon Thy Name. If I call upon Thee by Thy Name, the All-Possessing, I am compelled to recognize that He Who holdeth in His hand the im... Amongst The Proofs Demonstrating The Truth
Amongst the proofs demonstrating the truth of this Revelation is this, that in every age and Dispensation, whenever the invisible Essence was revealed in the person of His Manifestation, certain souls, obscure and detached from all worldly entangl... And Now Concerning Thy Question
And now concerning thy question whether human souls continue to be conscious one of another after their separation from the body. Know thou that the souls of the people of Baha, who have entered and been established within the Crimson Ark, shall a... And Now Concerning Thy Question Regarding
And now, concerning thy question regarding the creation of man. Know thou that all men have been created in the nature made by God, the Guardian, the Self-Subsisting. Unto each one hath been prescribed a pre-ordained measure, as decreed in God's m... And Now Concerning Thy Question Regarding
And now concerning thy question regarding the soul of man and its survival after death. Know thou of a truth that the soul, after its separation from the body, will continue to progress until it attaineth the presence of God, in a state and condit... And Now Concerning Thy Reference To The
And now concerning thy reference to the existence of two Gods. Beware, beware, lest thou be led to join partners with the Lord, thy God. He is, and hath from everlasting been, one and alone, without peer or equal, eternal in the past, eternal in t... And Now Regarding Thy Question "how
And now regarding thy question, "How is it that no records are to be found concerning the Prophets that have preceded Adam, the Father of Mankind, or of the kings that lived in the days of those Prophets?" Know thou that the absence of any referen... Are Superstitions Useful
A lady enquired whether some superstitions might not be good for ignorant people, who, if they were without them might perhaps be without beliefs of any kind? 'Abdu'l-Baha replied that superstitions were of two kinds; those that were harmful an... Art
A painter asked: Is art a worthy vocation? 'Abdu'l-Baha turning to her impressively, said: Art is worship. An actor mentioned the drama, and its influence. The drama is of the utmost importance. said 'Abdu'l-Baha. It has been a great educational... As To Thy Question Concerning The Origin
As to thy question concerning the origin of creation. Know assuredly that God's creation hath existed from eternity, and will continue to exist forever. Its beginning hath had no beginning, and its end knoweth no end. His name, the Creator, presup... As To Thy Question Concerning The Worlds
As to thy question concerning the worlds of God. Know thou of a truth that the worlds of God are countless in their number, and infinite in their range. None can reckon or comprehend them except God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. Consider thy sta... At Brooklands
The morning of the second day, a neighbour sent over her car asking if 'Abdu'l-Baha would not like to take his guests to the Brooklands aviation ground. Though it was windy, an aviator was on the track, when he heard who the visitor was offered to... At Byfleet
On the afternoon of September 9th, a number of working women of the Passmore Edwards' Settlement, who were spending their holidays with Miss Schepel and Miss Buckton at Vanners, in Byfleet, a village some twenty miles out of London, had the great ... At One Time We Address The People Of The Torah And Summon
At one time We address the people of the Torah and summon them unto Him Who is the Revealer of verses, Who hath come from Him Who layeth low the necks of men.... At another, We address the people of the Evangel and say: 'The All-Glorious is come i... Be Generous In Prosperity And Thankful In
Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver... Be Not Dismayed O Peoples Of The World
Be not dismayed, O peoples of the world, when the day star of My beauty is set, and the heaven of My tabernacle is concealed from your eyes. Arise to further My Cause, and to exalt My Word amongst men. We are with you at all times, and shall stren... Because Of You The Apostle (muhammad) Lamented,
BECAUSE of you the Apostle (Muhammad) lamented, and the Chaste One (Fatimihs) cried out, and the countries were laid waste, and darkness fell upon all regions. O concourse of divines! Because of you the people were abased, and the banner of Islam ... Behold How The Divers Peoples And Kindreds
Behold, how the divers peoples and kindreds of the earth have been waiting for the coming of the Promised One. No sooner had He, Who is the Sun of Truth, been made manifest, than, lo, all turned away from Him, except them whom God was pleased to g... Behold The Disturbances Which For Many A
Behold the disturbances which, for many a long year, have afflicted the earth, and the perturbation that hath seized its peoples. It hath either been ravaged by war, or tormented by sudden and unforeseen calamities. Though the world is encompassed... Bestir Yourselves O People In Anticipation Of
Bestir yourselves, O people, in anticipation of the days of Divine justice, for the promised hour is now come. Beware lest ye fail to apprehend its import and be accounted among the erring. ... Better Conditions
After two years of the strictest confinement permission was granted me to find a house so that we could live outside the prison walls but still within the fortifications. Many believers came from Persia to join us but they were not allowed to do s... Beware O Believers In The Unity Of God
Beware, O believers in the Unity of God, lest ye be tempted to make any distinction between any of the Manifestations of His Cause, or to discriminate against the signs that have accompanied and proclaimed their Revelation. This indeed is the true... Blessed Art Thou O My Servant Inasmuch
Blessed art thou, O My servant, inasmuch as thou hast recognized the Truth, and withdrawn from him who repudiated the All-Merciful, and was condemned as wicked in the Mother Tablet. Walk thou steadfastly in the love of God, and keep straight on in... Blessed Is The Man That Hath Acknowledged
Blessed is the man that hath acknowledged his belief in God and in His signs, and recognized that "He shall not be asked of His doings." Such a recognition hath been made by God the ornament of every belief, and its very foundation. Upon it must d... Buddhism
Some referred to the teaching of Buddha. 'Abdu'l-Baha said: The real teaching of Buddha is the same as the teaching of Jesus Christ. The teachings of all the Prophets are the same in character. Now men have changed the teaching. If you look at the... By Him Who Is The Great Announcement!
By Him Who is the Great Announcement! The All-Merciful is come invested with undoubted sovereignty. The Balance hath been appointed, and all them that dwell on earth have been gathered together. The Trumpet hath been blown, and lo, all eyes have s... By Him Who Is The Great Announcement! The All-merciful
BY Him Who is the Great Announcement! The All-Merciful is come invested with undoubted sovereignty. The Balance hath been appointed, and all them that dwell on earth have been gathered together. The Trumpet hath been blown, and lo, all eyes have s... By The Righteousness Of God! These Are The
By the righteousness of God! These are the days in which God hath proved the hearts of the entire company of His Messengers and Prophets, and beyond them those that stand guard over His sacred and inviolable Sanctuary, the inmates of the celestial... Call Out To Zion, O Carmel, And Announce The
CALL out to Zion, O Carmel, and announce the joyful tidings: He that was hidden from mortal eyes is come! His all-conquering sovereignty is manifest; His all-encompassing splendour is revealed. Beware lest thou hesitate or halt. Hasten forth and c... Call Thou To Mind That Which Hath Been
Call thou to mind that which hath been revealed unto Mihdi, Our servant, in the first year of Our banishment to the Land of Mystery (Adrianople). Unto him have We predicted that which must befall Our House (Ba_gh_dad House), in the days to come, l... Call Thou To Mind The Behavior Of A_sh_raf's
Call thou to mind the behavior of A_sh_raf's mother, whose son laid down his life in the Land of Za (Zanjan). He, most certainly, is in the seat of truth, in the presence of One Who is the Most Powerful, the Almighty. When the infidels, so unjus... Call Thou To Remembrance O Land Of Ta
Call thou to remembrance, O Land of Ta (Tihran), the former days in which thy Lord had made thee the seat of His throne, and had enveloped thee with the effulgence of His glory. How vast the number of those sanctified beings, those symbols of cert... Call Thou To Remembrance Thine Arrival In
Call Thou to remembrance Thine arrival in the City (Constantinople), how the Ministers of the Sultan thought Thee to be unacquainted with their laws and regulations, and believed Thee to be one of the ignorant. Say: Yes, by My Lord! I am ignorant ... Christ And Baha'u'llah
A friend asked how the teachings of Baha'u'llah contrasted with the teachings of Jesus Christ. The teachings are the same. declared 'Abdu'l-Baha; It is the same foundation and the same temple. Truth is one, and without division. The teachings of J... Consider The Doubts Which They Who Have
Consider the doubts which they who have joined partners with God have instilled into the hearts of the people of this land. "Is it ever possible," they ask, "for copper to be transmuted into gold?" Say, Yes, by my Lord, it is possible. Its secret,... Consider The Former Generations Witness
Consider the former generations. Witness how every time the Day Star of Divine bounty hath shed the light of His Revelation upon the world, the people of His Day have arisen against Him, and repudiated His truth. They who were regarded as the lead... Consider The Past How Many Both High And
Consider the past. How many, both high and low, have, at all times, yearningly awaited the advent of the Manifestations of God in the sanctified persons of His chosen Ones. How often have they expected His coming, how frequently have they prayed t... Consider The Pettiness Of Men's Minds They
Consider the pettiness of men's minds. They ask for that which injureth them, and cast away the thing that profiteth them. They are, indeed, of those that are far astray. We find some men desiring liberty, and priding themselves therein. Such men ... Consider The Rational Faculty With Which
Consider the rational faculty with which God hath endowed the essence of man. Examine thine own self, and behold how thy motion and stillness, thy will and purpose, thy sight and hearing, thy sense of smell and power of speech, and whatever else i... Consider, Likewise, How Numerous At This Time Are The
CONSIDER, likewise, how numerous at this time are the monks who have secluded themselves in their churches, in My name, and who, when the appointed time came, and We unveiled to them Our beauty, failed to recognize Me, notwithstanding that they ca... Contemplate With Thine Inward Eye The
Contemplate with thine inward eye the chain of successive Revelations that hath linked the Manifestation of Adam with that of the Bab. I testify before God that each one of these Manifestations hath been sent down through the operation of the Divi... Converse With Departed Persons
The question was asked if it were possible to establish communication with the dead, and whether it was wise or advisable to attend seances or to engage in table-turning, spirit-rapping, etc. The Master said these rappings, etc., were all materi... Create In Me A Pure Heart, O My God, And Renew
Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my Hope! Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved, and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my de... Czar Alexander Ii
O CZAR of Russia! Incline thine ear unto the voice of God, the King, the Holy, and turn thou unto Paradise, the Spot wherein abideth He Who, among the Concourse on high, beareth the most excellent titles, and Who, in the kingdom of creation, is ca... Days In London
During 'Abdu'l-Baha's stay in Cadogan Gardens people arrived all day and every day, from early morning to nightfall, hoping for the privilege of seeing him and of hearing him talk. Many were the gatherings round the board of that hospitable house ... Death
A friend asked: How should one look forward to death? 'Abdu'l-Baha answered: How does one look forward to the goal of any journey? With hope and with expectation. It is even so with the end of this earthly journey. In the next world, man will fi... Differences
God has created the world as one--the boundaries are marked out by man. God has not divided the lands, but each man has his house and meadow; horses and dogs do not divide the fields into parts. That is why Baha'u'llah says: Let not a man glory in... Discourse At Mrs Thornburgh-cropper's
September 13th, 1911. 'Abdu'l-Baha said:--Thanks be to God, this is a good meeting. It is very enlightened, it is spiritual. As a Persian Poet has written:--The Celestial Universe is so formed that the under world ... Discourse By 'abdu'l-baha Given At The Unity Meeting Of Misses Jack And Herrick
September 22nd, 1911. It is a cold and miserable day but as I was anxious to see you I came here. For a man who has love, effort is a rest. He will travel any distance to visit his friends. Thank God I see you spir... Discourse Given At Miss E J Rosenberg's Unity Meeting
September 8th, 1911. Praise be to God, that such a meeting of purity and steadfastness is being held in London. The hearts of those present are pure, and are turned towards the Kingdom of God. I hope that all that is... Discourse Of 'abdu'l-baha At St John's Westminster
September 17th, 1911. O Noble Friends! O Seekers for the Kingdom of God! Man all over the world is seeking for God. All that exists is God; but the Reality of Divinity is holy above all understanding. The pictures ... Discourse Of 'abdu'l-baha Given At The Theosophical Head Quarters
September 30th, 1911. O Respected Assembly! O friends of Truth! The inherent nature of fire is to burn, the inherent nature of electricity is to give light, the inherent nature of the sun is to shine, and the inherent... Discourse To An Assembly Of Theosophists London
September, 1911. These are wonderful days! We see an Eastern guest received with love and courtesy in the West. I have been drawn here, in spite of indisposition, by the magnet of your love and sympathy. Some ye... Dispel My Grief By Thy Bounty And Thy Generosity,
Dispel my grief by Thy bounty and Thy generosity, O God, my God, and banish mine anguish through Thy sovereignty and Thy might. Thou seest me, O my God, with my face set towards Thee at a time when sorrows have compassed me on every side. I implor... Divine Manifestations
Question.--What is 'Abdu'l-Baha's teaching concerning the different Divine manifestations? Answer.--The Reality of all is One. Truth is one. Religions are like the branches of one Tree. One branch is high, one is low and one in the centre, yet ...