# Excellence in all Things

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Bahá'u'lláh, Excellence in all Things, bahai-library.com.
> ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
> 
> Excellence in all Things
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh
> 
> Abdu'l-Bahá
> 
> Shoghi Effendi
> 
> published in
> 
> Compilation of Compilations
> 
> Volume 1,  pp. 367-384
> 
> 1991
> 
> I. From the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
> 
> Say: Beware, O people of Bahá, lest ye walk in the
> ways of them whose words differ from their deeds. Strive that ye may be
> enabled to manifest to the peoples of the earth the signs of God, and to
> mirror forth His commandments. Let your acts be a guide unto all mankind,
> for the professions of most men, be they high or low, differ from their
> conduct. It is through your deeds that ye can distinguish yourselves from
> others. Through them the brightness of your light can be shed upon the
> whole earth. Happy is the man that heedeth My counsel, and keepeth the
> precepts prescribed by Him Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
> 
> ("Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh",
> rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1984), sec.
> 
> 139
> , p.
> 305
> )
> 
> Let each morn be better than its eve and each morrow richer
> than its yesterday. Man's merit lieth in service and virtue and not in
> the pageantry of wealth and riches.... Guard against idleness and sloth,
> and cling unto that which profiteth mankind, whether young or old, whether
> high or low....
> 
> ("Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh Revealed
> after the Kitáb-i-Aqdas", (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
> Trust, 1988), p.
> 138
> )
> 
> The companions of God are, in this day, the lump that must
> leaven the peoples of the world. They must show forth such trustworthiness,
> such truthfulness and perseverance, such deeds and character that all mankind
> may profit by their example.
> 
> (Bahá'u'lláh, cited in Shoghi Effendi,
> "The Advent of Divine Justice" (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
> Trust, 1984), p.
> 23
> )
> 
> Tell him, no one in this world can claim any relationship
> to Me except those who, in all their deeds and in their conduct, follow
> My example, in such wise that all the peoples of the earth would be powerless
> to prevent them from doing and saying that which is meet and seemly.
> 
> (Bahá'u'lláh, cited in Shoghi Effendi,
> "God Passes By", rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust,
> 1987), p.
> 133
> )
> 
> Strain every nerve to acquire both inner and outer perfections,
> for the fruit of the human tree hath ever been and will ever be perfections
> both within and without. It is not desirable that a man be left without
> knowledge or skills, for he is then but a barren tree. Then, so much as
> capacity and capability allow, ye needs must deck the tree of being with
> fruits such as knowledge, wisdom, spiritual perception and eloquent speech.
> 
> (Bahá'u'lláh, from a Tablet-translated
> from the Persian)
> 
> It is incumbent upon the children to exert themselves to
> the utmost in acquiring the art of reading and writing.... Writing skills
> that will provide for urgent needs will be enough for some; and then it
> is better and more fitting that they should spend their time in studying
> those branches of knowledge which are of use. As for what the Supreme Pen
> hath previously set down, the reason is that in every art and skill, God
> loveth the highest perfection.
> 
> (Bahá'u'lláh, from a Tablet-translated
> from the Persian)
> 
> II. From the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá
> 
> From amongst all mankind hath He chosen you, and your eyes
> have been opened to the light of guidance and your ears attuned to the
> music of the Company above; and blessed by abounding grace, your hearts
> and souls have been born into new life. Thank ye and praise ye God that
> the hand of infinite bestowals hath set upon your heads this gem-studded
> crown, this crown whose lustrous jewels will forever flash and sparkle
> down all the reaches of time.
> 
> To thank Him for this, make ye a mighty effort, and
> choose for yourselves a noble goal. Through the power of faith, obey ye
> the teachings of God, and let all your actions conform to His laws....
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá"
> [rev. ed.], (Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre, 1982), sec.
> 17
> ,
> p.
> 35
> )
> 
> O army of God! Through the protection and help vouchsafed
> by the Blessed Beauty  —  may my life be a sacrifice to His loved ones  —
> ye must conduct yourselves in such a manner that ye may stand out distinguished
> and brilliant as the sun among other souls. Should any one of you enter
> a city, he should become a centre of attraction by reason of his sincerity,
> his faithfulness and love, his honesty and fidelity, his truthfulness and
> loving-kindness towards all the peoples of the world, so that the people
> of that city may cry out and say: "This man is unquestionably a Bahá'í,
> for his manners, his behaviour, his conduct, his morals, his nature, and
> disposition reflect the attributes of the Bahá'ís." Not until
> ye attain this station can ye be said to have been faithful to the Covenant
> and Testament of God....
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
> sec.
> 35
> , pp.
> 70
> -
> 71
> )
> 
> O true companions! All humankind are as children in a school,
> and the Dawning-Points of Light, the Sources of divine revelation, are
> the teachers, wondrous and without peer. In the school of realities they
> educate these sons and daughters, according to teachings from God, and
> foster them in the bosom of grace, so that they may develop along every
> line, show forth the excellent gifts and blessings of the Lord, and combine
> human perfections; that they may advance in all aspects of human endeavour,
> whether outward or inward, hidden or visible, material or spiritual, until
> they make of this mortal world a widespread mirror, to reflect that other
> world which dieth not.
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
> sec.
> 102
> , p.
> 128
> )
> 
> Wherefore, O loved ones of God! Make ye a mighty effort till
> you yourselves betoken this advancement in all these confirmations, and
> become focal centres of God's blessings, daysprings of the light of His
> unity, promoters of the gifts and graces of civilized life. Be ye in that
> land vanguards of the perfections of humankind; carry forward the various
> branches of knowledge, be active and progressive in the field of inventions
> and the arts. Endeavour to rectify the conduct of men, and seek to excel
> the whole world in moral character. While the children are yet in their
> infancy feed them from the breast of heavenly grace, foster them in the
> cradle of all excellence, rear them in the embrace of bounty. Give them
> the advantage of every useful kind of knowledge. Let them share in every
> new and rare and wondrous craft and art. Bring them up to work and strive,
> and accustom them to hardship. Teach them to dedicate their lives to matters
> of great import, and inspire them to undertake studies that will benefit
> mankind.
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
> sec.
> 102
> , p.
> 129
> )
> 
> They must be constantly encouraged and made eager to gain
> all the summits of human accomplishment, so that from their earliest years
> they will be taught to have high aims, to conduct themselves well, to be
> chaste, pure, and undefiled, and will learn to be of powerful resolve and
> firm of purpose in all things....
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
> sec.
> 110
> , p.
> 135
> )
> 
> It is incumbent upon Bahá'í children to surpass
> other children in the acquisition of sciences and arts, for they have been
> cradled in the grace of God.
> 
> Whatever other children learn in a year, let Bahá'í
> children learn in a month. The heart of `Abdu'l-Bahá longeth, in
> its love, to find that Bahá'í young people, each and all,
> are known throughout the world for their intellectual attainments. There
> is no question but that they will exert all their efforts, their energies,
> their sense of pride, to acquire the sciences and arts.
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá"
> sec.
> 119
> , p.
> 141
> )
> 
> The instruction of these children is even as the work of
> a loving gardener who tendeth his young plants in the flowering fields
> of the All-Glorious. There is no doubt that it will yield the desired results;
> especially is this true of instruction as to Bahá'í obligations
> and Bahá'í conduct, for the little children must needs be
> made aware in their very heart and soul that "Bahá'í" is
> not just a name but a truth. Every child must be trained in the things
> of the spirit, so that he may embody all the virtues and become a source
> of glory to the Cause of God. Otherwise, the mere word "Bahá'í",
> if it yield no fruit, will come to nothing.
> 
> Strive then to the best of thine ability to let these
> children know that a Bahá'í is one who embodieth all the
> perfections, that he must shine out like a lighted taper  —  not be darkness
> upon darkness and yet bear the name "Bahá'í".
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
> sec.
> 123
> , p.
> 143
> )
> 
> It behoveth the craftsmen of the world at each moment to
> offer a thousand tokens of gratitude at the Sacred Threshold, and to exert
> their highest endeavour and diligently pursue their professions so that
> their efforts may produce that which will manifest the greatest beauty
> and perfection before the eyes of all men.
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
> sec.
> 127
> , p.
> 145
> )
> 
> Make ye then a mighty effort, that the purity and sanctity
> which, above all else, are cherished by `Abdu'l-Bahá, shall distinguish
> the people of Bahá; that in every kind of excellence the people
> of God shall surpass all other human beings; that both outwardly and inwardly
> they shall prove superior to the rest; that for purity, immaculacy, refinement,
> and the preservation of health, they shall be leaders in the vanguard of
> those who know. And that by their freedom from enslavement, their knowledge,
> their self-control, they shall be first among the pure, the free and the
> wise.
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
> sec.
> 129
> , p.
> 150
> )
> 
> Let God's beloved, each and every one, be the essence of
> purity, the very life of holiness, so that in every country they may become
> famed for their sanctity, independence of spirit, and meekness. Let them
> be cheered by draughts from the eternal cup of love for God, and make merry
> as they drink from the wine-vaults of Heaven. Let them behold the Blessed
> Beauty, and feel the flame and rapture of that meeting, and be struck dumb
> with awe and wonder. This is the station of the sincere; this is the way
> of the loyal; this is the brightness that shineth on the faces of those
> nigh unto God.
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
> sec.
> 174
> , p.
> 203
> )
> 
> Now amidst all the peoples of the world must the beloved
> arise, with a heart even as the day-star, a strong inward urge, a shining
> brow, a musk-scented breath, a tongue speaking ever of God, an exposition
> crystal-clear, a high resolve, a power born of heaven, a spiritual character,
> a confirmation nothing short of the divine. Let them one and all become
> as a splendour on the horizon of heaven, and in the skies of the world
> a dazzling star. Let them be fruitful trees in the celestial bowers, sweet-scented
> blooms in the divine gardens; let them be verses of perfection on the page
> of the universe, words of oneness in the Book of Life. This is the first
> age, and the early beginnings of the dispensation of the Most Great light,
> wherefore, within this century, virtues must be acquired, goodly qualities
> must be perfected within this span of time. In these very days the Abhá
> Paradise must pitch its pavilions on the plains of the world. The lights
> of reality must now be revealed, and the secrets of God's bestowals must
> now be made known, and now must the olden grace shine forth and this world
> change into the pleasure-ground of heaven, the garden of God. And out of
> pure hearts, and through heavenly bounties, all the perfections, qualities
> and attributes of the divine must now be made manifest.
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá"
> sec.
> 193
> , p.
> 232
> )
> 
> I beg of Him to bestow His confirmations upon those loved
> ones, dwellers in that pure and holy land, and to grant them successful
> outcomes in all things: that in their character, their behaviour, their
> words, their way of life, in all they are and do, He will make them to
> achieve distinction among men; that He will gather them into the world
> community, their hearts filled with ecstasy and fervour and yearning love,
> with knowledge and certitude, with steadfastness and unity, their faces
> beauteous and bright.
> 
> ("Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá",
> sec.
> 207
> , p.
> 260
> )
> 
> ...they should exemplify in every aspect of their lives those
> attributes and virtues that are born of God and should arise to distinguish
> themselves by their goodly behaviour. They should justify their claim to
> be Bahá'ís by deeds and not by name. He is a true Bahá'í
> who strives by day and by night to progress and advance along the path
> of human endeavor, whose most cherished desire is so to live and act as
> to enrich and illuminate the world, whose source of inspiration is the
> essence of Divine virtue, whose aim in life is so to conduct himself as
> to be the cause of infinite progress. Only when he attains unto such perfect
> gifts can it be said of him that he is a true Bahá'í. For
> in this holy Dispensation, the crowning glory of bygone ages and cycles,
> true Faith is no mere acknowledgement of the Unity of God, but rather the
> living of a life that will manifest all the perfections and virtues implied
> in such belief....
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, in "Bahá'í
> Year Book" ["The Bahá'í World"], vol. 1 (New York: Bahá'í
> Publishing Committee, 1926), p. 12)
> 
> So, O beloved of God, endeavor with your hearts and souls,
> that ye may be qualified with the morals and attributes of the Blessed
> Perfection, and partake of the bounties of His sanctity; that ye may become
> signs of unity and standards of oneness, discover the essence of singleness
> and sing harmonies and lays in this divine garden, in merciful melodies;
> that ye may become as thankful birds, and sing a song in the rose-garden
> of existence which may astonish minds and senses; that ye may hoist a standard
> on the apex of the universe which may flutter in the winds of favor, and
> plant a tree in the field of the visible world which may bring forth fruits
> of the utmost delicacy and freshness.
> 
> ("Tablets of Abdul-Bahá Abbas", vol. 2 (Chicago:
> Bahá'í Publishing Society, 1915), p.
> 374
> )
> 
> O ye friends of God! Show ye an endeavor that all the nations
> and communities of the world, even the enemies, put their trust, assurance
> and hope in you; that if a person falls into errors for a hundred-thousand
> times he may yet turn his face to you, hopeful that you will forgive his
> sins; for he must not become hopeless, neither grieved nor despondent.
> This is the conduct and the manner of the people of Bahá'. This
> is the foundation of the most high pathway! Ye should conform your conduct
> and manners with the advices of 'Abdu'l-Bahá.
> 
> ("Tablets of Abdul-Bahá Abbas", vol. 2, p.
> 436
> )
> 
> Then know thou that, verily, the people of Bahá' must
> needs be distinguished from others in all respects, until they become the
> lamps of the True One among the creatures and the stars of guidance shining
> from the Supreme Concourse.
> 
> ("Tablets of Abdul-Bahá Abbas, vol. 3 (Chicago:
> Bahá'í Publishing Society, 1916), p.
> 682
> )
> 
> The most vital duty, in this day, is to purify your characters,
> to correct your manners, and improve your conduct. The beloved of the Merciful
> must show forth such character and conduct among His creatures, that the
> fragrance of their holiness may be shed upon the whole world, and may quicken
> the dead, inasmuch as the purpose of the Manifestation of God and the dawning
> of the limitless lights of the Invisible is to educate the souls of men,
> and refine the character of every living man  —  so that blessed individuals,
> who have freed themselves from the murk of the animal world, shall rise
> up with those qualities which are the adornings of the reality of man....
> 
> (From a Tablet, published in "Selections from the
> Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá", p.
> 10
> and cited in Shoghi Effendi, "The
> Advent of Divine Justice", p.
> 26
> )
> 
> At this time, likewise, 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.
> Whensoever they gather in their meetings let their conversation be confined
> to learned subjects and to information on the knowledge of the day.
> 
> If they do thus, they will flood the world with the
> Manifest Light, and change this dusty earth into gardens of the Realm of
> Glory.
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, from a Tablet-translated from
> the Arabic)
> 
> It is clear that learning is the greatest bestowal of God;
> that knowledge and the acquirement thereof is a blessing from Heaven. Thus
> is it incumbent upon the friends of God to exert such an effort and strive
> with such eagerness to promote divine knowledge, culture and the sciences,
> that erelong those who are schoolchildren today will become the most erudite
> of all the fraternity of the wise. This is a service rendered unto God
> Himself, and it is one of His inescapable commandments.
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, from a Tablet-translated
> from the Persian)
> 
> O loving friends! Exert every effort to acquire the various
> branches of knowledge and true understanding. Strain every nerve to achieve
> both material and spiritual accomplishments.
> 
> Encourage the children from their earliest years to
> master every kind of learning, and make them eager to become skilled in
> every art  —  the aim being that through the favouring grace of God, the
> heart of each one may become even as a mirror disclosing the secrets of
> the universe, penetrating the innermost reality of all things; and that
> each may earn world-wide fame in all branches of knowledge, science and
> the arts.
> 
> Certainly, certainly, neglect not the education of the
> children. Rear them to be possessed of spiritual qualities, and be assured
> of the gifts and favours of the Lord.
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, from a Tablet-translated from
> the Persian)
> 
> Utilize every means to make this School a garden of the All-Merciful,
> from which the lights of learning will cast their beams, and wherein the
> children, whether Bahá'í or other, will be educated to such
> a degree as to become God's gifts to man, and the pride of the human race.
> Let them make the greatest progress in the shortest span of time, let them
> open wide their eyes and uncover the inner realities of all things, become
> proficient in every art and skill, and learn to comprehend the secrets
> of all things even as they are  —  this faculty being one of the clearly
> evident effects of servitude to the Holy Threshold.
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, from a Tablet-translated
> from the Persian)
> 
> III. From the Utterances of `Abdu'l-Bahá
> 
> I give you my advice, and it is this: Train these children
> with divine exhortations. From their childhood instill in their hearts
> the love of God so they may manifest in their lives the fear of God and
> have confidence in the bestowals of God. Teach them to free themselves
> from human imperfections and to acquire the divine perfections latent in
> the heart of man. The life of man is useful if he attains the perfections
> of man. If he becomes the center of the imperfections of the world of humanity,
> death is better than life, and nonexistence better than existence. Therefore,
> make ye an effort in order that these children may be rightly trained and
> educated and that each one of them may attain perfection in the world of
> humanity. Know ye the value of these children, for they are all my children.
> 
> ("The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered
> by `Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada
> in 1912", 2nd. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1982),
> pp.
> 53
> -
> 54
> )
> 
> I desire distinction for you. The Bahá'ís must
> be distinguished from others of humanity. But this distinction must not
> depend upon wealth  —  that they should become more affluent than other people.
> I do not desire for you financial distinction. It is not an ordinary distinction
> I desire; not scientific, commercial, industrial distinction. For you I
> desire spiritual distinction  —  that is, you must become eminent and distinguished
> in morals. In the love of God you must become distinguished from all else.
> You must become distinguished for loving humanity, for unity and accord,
> for love and justice. In brief, you must become distinguished in all the
> virtues of the human world  —  for faithfulness and sincerity, for justice
> and fidelity, for firmness and steadfastness, for philanthropic deeds and
> service to the human world, for love toward every human being, for unity
> and accord with all people, for removing prejudices and promoting international
> peace. Finally, you must become distinguished for heavenly illumination
> and for acquiring the bestowals of God. I desire this distinction for you.
> This must be the point of distinction among you.
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, "The Promulgation of Universal
> Peace", p.
> 190
> )
> 
> Therefore I say that man must travel in the way of God. Day
> by day he must endeavor to become better, his belief must increase and
> become firmer, his good qualities and his turning to God must be greater,
> the fire of his love must flame more brightly; then day by day he will
> make progress, for to stop advancing is the means of going back. The bird
> when he flies soars ever higher and higher, for as soon as he stops flying
> he will come down. Every day, in the morning when arising you should compare
> today with yesterday and see in what condition you are. If you see your
> belief is stronger and your heart more occupied with God and your love
> increased and your freedom from the world greater then thank God and ask
> for the increase of these qualities. You must begin to pray and repent
> for all that you have done which is wrong and you must implore and ask
> for help and assistance that you may become better than yesterday so that
> you may continue to make progress.
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, in "Star of the West", vol.
> 8, no. 6 (24 June 1917), p. 68)
> 
> You must become the shining candles of moral precepts and
> spiritual ideals and be the means of the illumination of others. Clothe
> your bodies with the robes of virtues. Characterize yourselves with the
> characteristics of the people of divine morality. Shun all manner of vices
> as you shun a poisonous snake or a leper. Let the corps of professors and
> the students be impressed with the purity and holiness of your lives so
> that they may take you as paragons of worthiness, examples of nobility
> of nature, observers of the moral laws, holding in subordination the lower
> element by the higher spirit, the conquerors of self and the masters of
> wholesome, vital forces in all the avenues of life. Strive always to be
> at the head of your classes through hard study and true merit. Be always
> in a prayerful state and appreciate the value of everything. Entertain
> high ideals and stimulate your intellectual and constructive forces.
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, in "Star of the West", vol.
> 9, no. 9 (20 August 1918), p. 98)
> 
> I hope that while you are studying in this college you may
> so excel all other students in the various branches of knowledge taught
> therein that all of them may testify that the Bahá'í students
> have another power, are inspired with another effort, are imbued with a
> nobler ambition, are stimulated by higher motives and make wider and deeper
> exertions than others. If you do not surpass the others, then what distinction
> will there remain for you? Therefore, you must strive to be superior to
> them, so that everyone may bear testimony to this fact....
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, in "Star of the West", vol.
> 9, no. 9 (20 August 1918), pp. 98-99)
> 
> I hope that through the favor and bounty of the Blessed Beauty,
> his holiness the Báb, and the ineffable blessings which hallow this
> holy shrine, the confirmations of the Kingdom of Abhá may encircle
> you, and that you may be characterized with the shining qualities and brilliant
> attributes of the Bahá'í life. May your morality become more
> defined day by day! May your faith and assurance be increased day by day!
> May your attraction to the Kingdom of Abhá be intensified day by
> day! May your attainment in sciences and arts become more universal day
> by day! Perchance, God willing, you may become perfect and accomplished
> from every standpoint and be the means of the enlightenment of Persia.
> 
> ('Abdu'l-Bahá, in "Star of the West", vol.
> 9, no. 9 (20 August 1918), pp. 99-100)
> 
> IV. From letters written by Shoghi Effendi
> 
> One thing would lessen appreciably the heavy burden that
> weighs upon my heart and mind and that is the extent to which the Bahá'ís
> conform in their private life and character to the high code established
> by Bahá'u'lláh. It is an infinitely high standard and anything
> short of it will in the eyes of those who really count prove piteously
> negligible and utterly futile.
> 
> (In a letter written by Shoghi Effendi, 12 October
> 1924 to an individual believer)
> 
> Let every believer, desirous to witness the swift and healthy
> progress of the Cause of God, realize the twofold nature of his task. Let
> him first turn his eyes inwardly and search his own heart and satisfy himself
> that in his relations with his fellow-believers, irrespective of colour
> and class, he is proving himself increasingly loyal to the spirit of his
> beloved Faith. Assured and content that he is exerting his utmost in a
> conscious effort to approach nearer every day the lofty station to which
> his gracious Master summons him, let him turn to his second task, and,
> with befitting confidence and vigour, assail the devastating power of those
> forces which in his own heart he has already succeeded in subduing. Fully
> alive to the unfailing efficacy of the power of Bahá'u'lláh,
> and armed with the essential weapons of wise restraint and inflexible resolve,
> let him wage a constant fight against the inherited tendencies, the corruptive
> instincts, the fluctuating fashions, the false pretences of the society
> in which he lives and moves.
> 
> (In a letter written by Shoghi Effendi, 12 April
> 1927 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada,
> published in "Bahá'í Administration: Selected Messages 1922-1932"
> [rev. ed.], (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1980), p.
> 
> 130
> )
> 
> We can prove ourselves worthy of our Cause only if in our
> individual conduct and corporate life we sedulously imitate the example
> of our beloved Master, Whom the terrors of tyranny, the storms of incessant
> abuse, the oppressiveness of humiliation, never caused to deviate a hair's
> breadth from the revealed Law of Bahá'u'lláh.
> 
> Such is the path of servitude, such is the way of
> holiness He chose to tread to the very end of His life. Nothing short of
> the strictest adherence to His glorious example can safely steer our course
> amid the pitfalls of this perilous age, and lead us on to fulfil our high
> destiny.
> 
> (In a letter written by Shoghi Effendi, 12 April 1927,
> published in "Bahá'í Administration: Selected Messages 1922-1932",
> p.
> 132
> )
> 
> In philanthropic enterprises and acts of charity, in promotion
> of the general welfare and furtherance of the public good including that
> of every group without any exceptions whatever, let the beloved of God
> attract the favourable attention of all, and lead all the rest.
> 
> (In a letter written by Shoghi Effendi, January
> 1929 addressed to the Bahá'ís of the East-translated from
> the Persian)
> 
> The work in which you are engaged is dear and near to my
> heart and constitutes one of the most vital aspects of the manifold activities
> of our beloved Faith. The highest standards of purity, of integrity, of
> detachment and sacrifice must be maintained by the members of your group
> in order to enable you to play a decisive part in the spread and consolidation
> of the Faith. A tremendous responsibility has been laid upon you, and nothing
> short of a pure, a virtuous, an active and truly exemplary life can enable
> you to fulfil your high destiny....
> 
> (In the handwriting of Shoghi Effendi, appended
> to a letter dated 6 September 1934 written on his behalf to the Youth Council
> of the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada)
> 
> Such a rectitude of conduct must manifest itself, with ever-increasing
> potency, in every verdict which the elected representatives of the Bahá'í
> community, in whatever capacity they may find themselves, may be called
> upon to pronounce. It must be constantly reflected in the business dealings
> of all its members, in their domestic lives, in all manner of employment,
> and in any service they may, in the future, render their government or
> people. It must be exemplified in the conduct of all Bahá'í
> electors, when exercising their sacred rights and functions. It must characterize
> the attitude of every loyal believer towards nonacceptance of political
> posts, nonidentification with political parties, nonparticipation in political
> controversies, and nonmembership in political organizations and ecclesiastical
> institutions. It must reveal itself in the uncompromising adherence of
> all, whether young or old, to the clearly enunciated and fundamental principles
> laid down by `Abdu'l-Bahá in His addresses, and to the laws and
> ordinances revealed by Bahá'u'lláh in His Most Holy Book.
> It must be demonstrated in the impartiality of every defender of the Faith
> against its enemies, in his fair-mindedness in recognizing any merits that
> enemy may possess, and in his honesty in discharging any obligations he
> may have towards him. It must constitute the brightest ornament of the
> life, the pursuits, the exertions, and the utterances of every Bahá'í
> teacher, whether laboring at home or abroad, whether in the front ranks
> of the teaching force, or occupying a less active and responsible position.
> It must be made the hallmark of that numerically small, yet intensely dynamic
> and highly responsible body of the elected national representatives of
> every Bahá'í community, which constitutes the sustaining
> pillar, and the sole instrument for the election, in every community, of
> that Universal House whose very name and title, as ordained by Bahá'u'lláh,
> symbolizes that rectitude of conduct which is its highest mission to safeguard
> and enforce.
> 
> (In a letter written by Shoghi Effendi, 25 December
> 1938 to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada, published
> in "The Advent of Divine Justice" pp.
> 26
> -
> 27
> )
> 
> A chaste and holy life must be made the controlling principle
> in the behavior and conduct of all Bahá'ís, both in their
> social relations with the members of their own community, and in their
> contact with the world at large. It must adorn and reinforce the ceaseless
> labors and meritorious exertions of those whose enviable position is to
> propagate the Message, and to administer the affairs, of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh.
> It must be upheld, in all its integrity and implications, in every phase
> of the life of those who fill the ranks of that Faith, whether in their
> homes, their travels, their clubs, their societies, their entertainments,
> their schools, and their universities. It must be accorded special consideration
> in the conduct of the social activities of every Bahá'í summer
> school and any other occasions on which Bahá'í community
> life is organized and fostered. It must be closely and continually identified
> with the mission of the Bahá'í youth, both as an element
> in the life of the Bahá'í community, and as a factor in the
> future progress and orientation of the youth of their own country.
> 
> (In a letter written by Shoghi Effendi, 25 December
> 1938, published in "The Advent of Divine Justice", pp.
> 29
> -
> 30
> )
> 
> V. From letters written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi
> 
> The responsibility of young believers is very great, as they
> must not only fit themselves to inherit the work of the older Bahá'ís
> and carry on the affairs of the Cause in general, but the world which lies
> ahead of them  —  as promised by Bahá'u'lláh  —  will be a world
> chastened by its sufferings, ready to listen to His Divine Message at last;
> and consequently a very high character will be expected of the exponents
> of such a religion. To deepen their knowledge, to perfect themselves in
> the Bahá'í standards of virtue and upright conduct, should
> be the paramount duty of every young Bahá'í.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 6 June 1941 to the Bahá'í youth of Bombay, India, published
> in "Dawn of a New Day" (New Delhi: Bahá'í Publishing Trust,
> [1970]), pp.
> 179
> -
> 80
> )
> 
> The Guardian was delighted to hear of your youth group. The
> children who are trained in the world-embracing teachings of Bahá'u'lláh
> cannot but grow up to be a truly new race of men. He hopes these young
> people will prepare themselves for the great task which will face them
> in the future, that of helping to rebuild the world with the aid and inspiration
> of the Bahá'í teachings.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 25 December 1941 to the Bahá'ís of Hobart, Tasmania)
> 
> If we could perceive the true reality of things we would
> see that the greatest of all battles raging in the world today is the spiritual
> battle. If the believers like yourself, young and eager and full of life,
> desire to win laurels for true and undying heroism, then let them join
> in the spiritual battle  —  whatever their physical occupation may be  —  which
> involves the very soul of man. The hardest and the noblest task in the
> world today is to be a true Bahá'í; this requires that we
> defeat not only the current evils prevailing all over the world, but the
> weaknesses, attachments to the past, prejudices, and selfishnesses that
> may be inherited and acquired within our own characters; that we give forth
> a shining and incorruptible example to our fellow-men.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 5 April 1942 to an individual believer)
> 
> He hopes that you will develop into Bahá'ís
> in character as well as in belief. The whole purpose of Bahá'u'lláh
> is that we should become a new kind of people, people who are upright,
> kind, intelligent, truthful, and honest and who live according to His great
> laws laid down for this new epoch in man's development. To call ourselves
> Bahá'ís is not enough, our inmost being must become ennobled
> and enlightened through living a Bahá'í life.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 25 August 1944 to the Youth Session, Louhelen School)
> 
> Indeed if the friends could seek, and exert themselves, to
> become 100 per cent Bahá'ís they would see how greatly their
> influence over others would be increased, and how rapidly the Cause would
> spread. The world is seeking not a compromise but the embodiment of a high
> and shining ideal. The more the friends live up to our teachings in every
> aspect of their lives, in their homes, in business, in their social relationships,
> the greater will be the attraction they exercise over the hearts of others.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 23 January 1945 to an individual believer)
> 
> The believers, as we all know, should endeavour to set such
> an example in their personal lives and conduct that others will feel impelled
> to embrace a Faith which reforms human character. However, unfortunately,
> not everyone achieves easily and rapidly the victory over self. What every
> believer, new or old, should realize is that the Cause has the spiritual
> power to re-create us if we make the effort to let that power influence
> us, and the greatest help in this respect is prayer. We must supplicate
> Bahá'u'lláh to assist us to overcome the failings in our
> own characters, and also exert our own will-power in mastering ourselves.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 27 January 1945 to an individual believer)
> 
> His constant hope is that the believers will conduct themselves,
> individually and in their Bahá'í Community life, in such
> a manner as to attract the attention of others to the Cause. The world
> is not only starving for lofty principles and ideals, it is, above all,
> starving for a shining example which the Bahá'ís can and
> must provide.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 22 February 1945 to an individual believer)
> 
> ...the young Bahá'ís in every city should make
> a point of keeping in touch with local youth activities and clubs, and
> endeavouring to make their views known to as many young people in as many
> ways as possible. Above all they should set a high example to them; chastity,
> politeness, friendliness, hospitality, joyous optimism about the ultimate
> future happiness and well-being of mankind, should distinguish them and
> win over to them the love and admiration of their fellow youth. The thing
> which is most conspicuously lacking in modern life is a high standard of
> conduct and good character; the young Bahá'ís must demonstrate
> both, if they hope to seriously win over to the Faith members of their
> own generation, so sorely disillusioned and so contaminated by the laxity
> war gives rise to.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 20 October 1945 to the National Youth Committee of the National Spiritual
> Assembly of the United States and Canada)
> 
> We must be patient with each other's shortcomings, and always
> strive to create love and unity among the believers, who, after all, are
> still immature in many ways and far from perfect. The Faith itself is the
> great thing, and the Bahá'ís must strive to become ever more
> perfect instruments for Bahá'u'lláh to use and to accomplish
> His purpose through.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 26 May 1946 to an individual believer)
> 
> The Guardian has urged, over and over again, the paramount
> necessity for Bahá'í Youth to exemplify the Teachings, most
> particularly the moral aspect of them. If they are not distinguished for
> their high conduct they cannot expect other young people to take the Cause
> very seriously.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 6 September 1946 to an individual believer)
> 
> He feels that the youth, in particular, must constantly and
> determinedly strive to exemplify a Bahá'í life. In the world
> around us we see moral decay, promiscuity, indecency, vulgarity, bad manners
> —  the Bahá'í young people must be the opposite of these things,
> and, by their chastity, their uprightness, their decency, their consideration
> and good manners, attract others, old and young, to the Faith. The world
> is tired of words; it wants example, and it is up to the Bahá'í
> youth to furnish it.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 19 September 1946 to the Green Acre Summer School)
> 
> The eyes of the people of the world are beginning to be focused
> on us; and, as humanity's plight goes from bad to worse, we will be watched
> ever more intently by non-Bahá'ís, to see whether we do uphold
> our own institutions whole-heartedly; whether we are the people of the
> new creation or not; whether we live up to our beliefs, principles and
> laws in deed as well as word. We cannot be too careful. We cannot be too
> exemplary.
> 
> (In a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi,
> 5 August 1955 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles,
> published in "Unfolding Destiny: The Messages from the Guardian of the
> Bahá'í Faith to the Bahá'í Community of the
> British Isles" (London: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1981), p.
> 
> 350
> )
> 
> Endnote
> 
> i       The students were visiting the
> tomb of the Bab.
> 
> METADATA
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