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Paris Talks
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Pages 112-114
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THE PERFECT HUMAN SENTIMENTS AND VIRTUES
November 23rd
`Abdu'l-Bahá said:
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You should all be very happy and thankful to
God for the great privilege that is yours.
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This is purely a spiritual meeting! Praise be to God,
your hearts are turned to Him, your souls are attracted
to the Kingdom, you have spiritual aspirations, and
your thoughts soar above the world of dust.
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You belong to the world of purity, and are not content
to live the life of the animal, spending your days in
eating, drinking, and sleeping. You are indeed men!
Your thoughts and ambitions are set to acquire human
perfection. You live to do good and to bring happiness
to others. Your greatest longing is to comfort those
who mourn, to strengthen the weak, and to be the
cause of hope to the despairing soul. Day and night
your thoughts are turned to the Kingdom, and your
hearts are full of the Love of God.
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Thus you know neither opposition, dislike, nor
hatred, for every living creature is dear to you and the
good of each is sought.
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These are perfect human sentiments and virtues.
If a man has none of these, he had better cease to exist.
If a lamp has ceased to give light, it had better be destroyed.
If a tree bear no fruit, it had better be cut down,
for it only cumbereth the ground.
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Verily, it is better a thousand times for a man to die
than to continue living without virtue.
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We have eyes wherewith to see, but if we do not use
them how do they profit us? We have ears wherewith
to hear, but if we are deaf of what use are they?
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We have a tongue wherewith to praise God and
proclaim the good tidings, but if we are dumb how
useless it is!
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The All-loving God created man to radiate the
Divine light and to illumine the world by his words,
action and life. If he is without virtue he becomes no
better than a mere animal, and an animal devoid of
intelligence is a vile thing.
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The Heavenly Father gave the priceless gift of intelligence
to man so that he might become a spiritual
light, piercing the darkness of materiality, and bringing
goodness and truth into the world. If ye will follow
earnestly the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, ye shall indeed
become the light of the world, the soul for the body of
the world, the comfort and help for humanity, and the
source of salvation for the whole universe. Strive therefore,
with heart and soul, to follow the precepts of the
Blessed Perfection, and rest assured that if ye succeed
in living the life he marks out for you, Eternal Life and
everlasting joy in the Heavenly Kingdom will be yours,
and celestial sustenance will be sent to strengthen you
all your days.
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It is my heartfelt prayer that each one of you may
attain to this perfect joy!
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