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Paris Talks
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Pages 35-39
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THE UNIVERSAL LOVE
October 24th
An Indian said to `Abdu'l-Bahá:
`My aim in life is to transmit as far as in me lies
the message of Krishna to the world.'
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`Abdu'l-Bahá said: The Message of Krishna is the
message of love. All God's prophets have brought the
message of love. None has ever thought that war
and hate are good. Every one agrees in saying that
love and kindness are best.
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Love manifests its reality in deeds, not only in words
--these alone are without effect. In order that love
may manifest its power there must be an object, an
instrument, a motive.
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There are many ways of expressing the love principle;
there is love for the family, for the country, for the
race, there is political enthusiasm, there is also the love
of community of interest in service. These are all ways
and means of showing the power of love. Without
any such means, love would be unseen, unheard, unfelt
--altogether unexpressed, unmanifested! Water
shows its power in various ways, in quenching thirst,
causing seed to grow, etc. Coal expresses one of its
principles in gas-light, while one of the powers of
electricity is shown in the electric light. If there were
neither gas nor electricity, the nights of the world
would be darkness! So, it is necessary to have an
instrument, a motive for love's manifestation, an
object, a mode of expression.
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We must find a way of spreading love among the
sons of humanity.
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Love is unlimited, boundless, infinite! Material
things are limited, circumscribed, finite. You cannot
adequately express infinite love by limited means.
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The perfect love needs an unselfish instrument,
absolutely freed from fetters of every kind. The love
of family is limited; the tie of blood relationship is not
the strongest bond. Frequently members of the same
family disagree, and even hate each other.
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Patriotic love is finite; the love of one's country
causing hatred of all others, is not perfect love! Compatriots
also are not free from quarrels amongst
themselves.
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The love of race is limited; there is some union here,
but that is insufficient. Love must be free from
boundaries!
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To love our own race may mean hatred of all others,
and even people of the same race often dislike each
other.
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Political love also is much bound up with hatred of
one party for another; this love is very limited and
uncertain.
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The love of community of interest in service is likewise
fluctuating; frequently competitions arise, which
lead to jealousy, and at length hatred replaces love.
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A few years ago, Turkey and Italy had a friendly
political understanding; now they are at war!
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All these ties of love are imperfect. It is clear that
limited material ties are insufficient to adequately express
the universal love.
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The great unselfish love for humanity is bounded by
none of these imperfect, semi-selfish bonds; this is the
one perfect love, possible to all mankind, and can only
be achieved by the power of the Divine Spirit. No
worldly power can accomplish the universal love.
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Let all be united in this Divine power of love! Let
all strive to grow in the light of the Sun of Truth, and
reflecting this luminous love on all men, may their
hearts become so united that they may dwell evermore
in the radiance of the limitless love.
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Remember these words which I speak unto you
during the short time I am amongst you in Paris. I
earnestly exhort you: let not your hearts be fettered by
the material things of this world; I charge you not to
lie contentedly on the beds of negligence, prisoners of
matter, but to arise and free yourselves from its chains!
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The animal creation is captive to matter, God has
given freedom to man. The animal cannot escape the
law of nature, whereas man may control it, for he,
containing nature, can rise above it.
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The power of the Holy Spirit, enlightening man's
intelligence, has enabled him to discover means of
bending many natural laws to his will. He flies through
the air, floats on the sea, and even moves under the
waters.
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All this proves how man's intelligence has been
enabled to free him from the limitations of nature, and
to solve many of her mysteries. Man, to a certain
extent, has broken the chains of matter.
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The Holy Spirit will give to man greater powers
than these, if only he will strive after the things of the
spirit and endeavour to attune his heart to the Divine
infinite love.
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When you love a member of your family or a compatriot,
let it be with a ray of the Infinite Love! Let
it be in God, and for God! Wherever you find the
attributes of God love that person, whether he be of
your family or of another. Shed the light of a boundless
love on every human being whom you meet,
whether of your country, your race, your political
party, or of any other nation, colour or shade of
political opinion. Heaven will support you while you
work in this in-gathering of the scattered peoples of the
world beneath the shadow of the almighty tent of unity.
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You will be servants of God, who are dwelling
near to Him, His divine helpers in the service, ministering
to all Humanity. All Humanity! Every human
being! never forget this!
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Do not say, he is an Italian, or a Frenchman, or an
American, or an Englishman, remember only that he
is a son of God, a servant of the Most High, a man! All
are men! Forget nationalities; all are equal in the sight
of God!
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Remember not your own limitations; the help of
God will come to you. Forget yourself. God's help
will surely come!
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When you call on the Mercy of God waiting to
reinforce you, your strength will be tenfold.
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Look at me: I am so feeble, yet I have had the
strength given me to come amongst you: a poor
servant of God, who has been enabled to give you this
message! I shall not be with you long! One must never
consider one's own feebleness, it is the strength of the
Holy Spirit of Love, which gives the power to teach.
The thought of our own weakness could only bring
despair. We must look higher than all earthly thoughts;
detach ourselves from every material idea, crave for
the things of the spirit; fix our eyes on the everlasting
bountiful Mercy of the Almighty, who will fill our
souls with the gladness of joyful service to His command
`Love One Another'.
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