376. The Great Thing is to "Live the Life"
"The great thing is to 'Live the Life'—to have our lives so saturated with the Divine teachings and the Bahá’í Spirit that people cannot fail to see a joy, a power, a love, a purity, a radiance, an efficiency in our character and work that will distinguish us from worldly-minded people and make people wonder what is the secret of this new life in us. We must become entirely selfless and devoted to God so that every day and every moment we seek to do only what God would have us do and in the way He would have us do it. If we do this sincerely then we shall have perfect unity and harmony with each other. Where there is want of harmony there is lack of the true Bahá’í Spirit. Unless we can show this transformation in our lives, this new power, this mutual love and harmony, then the Bahá’í teachings are but a name to us."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, February 2, 1925)
377. If Health is Spent in Sensual Desires, Death Preferable to Such a Life
"If the health and well-being of the body be expended in the path of the Kingdom, this is very acceptable and praiseworthy; and if it be expended to the benefit of the human world in general—even though it be to their material (or bodily) benefit—and be a means of doing good, that is also acceptable. But if the health and welfare of man be spent in sensual desires, in a life on the animal plane, and in devilish pursuits—then disease were better than such health, nay, death itself were preferable to such a life. If thou art desirous of health, wish thou health for serving the Kingdom…."
- (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: From a Tablet to the Bahá’ís of Washington: Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, pp. 114-115)
378. To Attract the Hearts of Others it is Necessary to Live up to the Teachings
"Indeed if the friends could seek, and exert themselves, to become 100 percent 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.
"He is pleased to see you have naturally, with conviction and good will towards all, been mingling with and teaching the colored people. When the Bahá’ís live up to their teachings as they should, although it may arouse the opposition of some it will arouse still more the admiration of fair-minded people."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, January 23, 1945)
379. Bahá’ís Must Cling to their Faith and to Each Other
"In these days when the forces of inharmony and disunity are rampant throughout the world, the Bahá’ís must cling to their Faith and to each other and, in spite of every difficulty and suffering, protect the unity of the Cause. Often the first efforts at getting the administration of the Faith to work harmoniously are painful because the individual must learn to subject his will to the whole—but these are all minor details, and the friends must all concentrate on constructive work for the Cause."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to a group of believers, May 7, 1941)
380. The Advertisements for the Faith Are Love, Hospitality, Understanding and the Will to Help
"He is very pleased to see with what love and devotion you have accepted our beloved Faith and long to serve it.
"Not all of us are capable of serving in the same way, but the one way every Bahá’í can spread the Faith is by example. This moves the hearts of people far more deeply than words ever can.
"The love we show others, the hospitality and understanding, the willingness to help them, these are the very best advertisements of the Faith. They will want to hear about it when they see these things in our lives.
"The Guardian will pray that Bahá’u’lláh will aid you and strengthen you to teach His Cause to many souls."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 14, 1943)
381. How to Acquire Peace of Mind
"… Peace of mind is gained by the centering of the spiritual consciousness on the Prophet of God; therefore you should study the spiritual Teachings, and receive the Water of Life from the Holy Utterances. Then by translating these high ideals into action, your entire character will be changed, and your mind will not only find peace, but your entire being will find joy and enthusiasm."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 15, 1952)
382. One Should not Give the Impression of Being Fanatic—Seek to be Many-Sided, Normal and Well-Balanced
"You ask about 'spiritual indigestion': Bahá’ís should seek to be many-sided, normal and well-balanced, mentally and spiritually. We must not give the impression of being fanatics but at the same time we must live up to our principles."
- (A letter written from the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer, March 19, 1973: Bahá’í Journal of the United Kingdom, No.217, p. 7, June 1973)
383. The Inner Life of the Spirit is What Counts
"If people only realized it, the inner life of the spirit is that which counts, but they are so blinded by desires and so misled that they have brought upon themselves all the suffering we see at present in the world. The Bahá’ís seek to lead people back to a knowledge of their true selves and the purpose for which they were created, and thus to their greatest happiness and highest good."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, July 24, 1943)
384. Through Deep Study and Living the Life to Become Like Firm Rocks
"He hopes that these receptive souls you have succeeded to attract into the movement will through deep study and living the life become like firm rocks upon which the Cause can build its future spiritual temple—the temple of the hearts. In one of His very beautiful and stirring poems written in the early days of His Mission Bahá’u’lláh bids us stay away and not become an encumbrance if we desire to live and have our well-being. In case, however, we are ready to sacrifice our all in the path of God then we should hasten to Him and follow His way.
"What the Cause needs is such ardent and self-sacrificing servants and not lukewarm followers who are ready to reap the fruit but unwilling to take a part in winning that victory. Shoghi Effendi, therefore, hopes that you will endeavour to make of your spiritual children of the type Bahá’u’lláh sought to have and create not passive admirers but active servants of the new world order."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 6, 1932)
385. Evolution of the Soul
"Regarding your questions concerning the condition of the soul during illness. The passages in the "Gleanings" make it quite clear that physical ailments, no matter how severe, cannot bring any change in the inherent condition of the soul. As Bahá’u’lláh says: 'The spirit is permanent and steadfast in its station'. The veil or hindrance that interposes between soul and body during physical disease is sickness itself. Sickness reveals a lack of balance in human organism, an absence of equilibrium in the forces essential for the normal functioning of the human body."
- (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, March 8, 1936)
