The principles of the Teachings of Bahá’u'lláh should be carefully studied, one by one, until they are realized and understood by mind and heart

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 22

I LOVE this quote.  There is something very special to me about the way that we are encouraged to slow down and focus on the meaning of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings—not to rush through, but to reflect.  However, there is encouragement that we can actually understood them by mind and heart by doing so.

The fact that we imagine ourselves to be right and everybody else wrong is the greatest of all obstacles in the path towards unity, and unity is necessary if we would reach truth, for truth is one.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 136

Many of the greatest discoveries and advancements in history came from someone considering, even if just for a moment, if what we had always believed and accepted as fact were wrong.  Sometimes we must consider that there are alternatives to what we know to be right; that sometimes it is possible for multiple viewpoints to all be correct.  When we reach that point we may begin to understand not just the truth, but each other.

If actions took the place of words, the world’s misery would very soon be changed into comfort.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 16

While watching a video about a Baha’i friend who decided to take some action instead of just speaking, I was reminded of this quote from a speech Abdu’l-Baha gave nearly 100 years ago on another continent.  I also thought about how many people will hear about a tragedy in other nation, or even of someone in need in their own community, have the thought “Somebody really should do something…” and then go about their regular life.  This is not the way that God in mind when we were created in His image.  Rather, he planned for us to help each other and to take action rather than just talk about doing something.  If we did, perhaps we could cure some of the world’s ills.

…Speech is not needed. Our actions will help on the world, will spread civilization, will help the progress of science, and cause the arts to develop. Without action nothing in the material world can be accomplished, neither can words unaided advance a man in the spiritual Kingdom. It is not through lip-service only that the elect of God have attained to holiness, but by patient lives of active service they have brought light into the world.

Therefore strive that your actions day by day may be beautiful prayers. Turn towards God, and seek always to do that which is right and noble. Enrich the poor, raise the fallen, comfort the sorrowful, bring healing to the sick, reassure the fearful, rescue the oppressed, bring hope to the hopeless, shelter the destitute!

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 80

A life of service is perhaps more important than anything else.  I cringe when I see evangelists or believers who think that prayer and prayer alone will be sufficient to heal, solve social ills, lift people out of poverty, build new homes for the displaced, or bring education to the neglected.  What is needed is for us all to be active.  Not everyone has the means, knowledge or comfort level to move to a third-world nation to build schools, or to rescue people in flood-damaged cities, but this is not always necessary.  Becoming a part of a neighborhood organization that provides kids with afterschool internships rather than allowing them to be on the streets, donating used goods to the local soup kitchen, or simply being kind to your neighbors and getting to know them are examples of actions that anyone could take.

Actions will go much farther than speech alone.

The Spirit breathing through the Holy Scriptures is food for all who hunger. God Who has given the revelation to His Prophets will surely give of His abundance daily bread to all those who ask Him faithfully.

~ Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 57

Hunger is a natural feeling that we have all experienced.  It is how our body tells us we must find some food for sustenance we cannot live without.  Our souls, too, can have hunger—a hunger for truth, wisdom and a purpose in life.  The scripture can fulfill those needs and God has provided it for us.  All we must do is ask to partake of it; to read, to investigate on our own, is how we fulfill that hunger.  Just as it is necessary to eat daily, Baha’is are instructed to read of the scriptures every day, thus, our daily bread.

Jesus Christ also made allusions to bread by telling his disciples at the Last Supper, that it represented his body and to eat it in remembrance of him.  Perhaps the most popular Christian prayer is the Lord’s Prayer (Pater Noster), which contains the line:

Give us this day our daily bread.

~ Matthew 6:11 (KJV)

In the Gospel of John (6:1-15) Jesus fed 5,000 men (no record of how many women and children were also present) with just two loaves of bread and two fish.  Everyone took as much as he (or she) wanted and was satisfied and fed.  It is my belief that these both serve as analogies to the spiritual bread that is provided to us, if only we would partake of it.