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This is an abbreviated and edited version of a series of six talks presented by Tom Price at various summer schools around the world in summer 2012, including Florida, Tennessee, Sweden, Scotland, Holland, Denmark, Slovakia, Greece, and Romania. This recording was made at the Tennessee Baha'i School, August 31 to September 3. The program discusses how we can become more like 'Abdu'l-Bahá in our daily lives. 'Abdu'l-Bahá was the son of the Founder of the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'u'lláh, and the appointed head of that faith from 1892 to 1921. The visual images were not part of the original presentations, but were added later by Elham Nia, with the permission of the speaker. The talks in their entirety can be heard at the following link: http://global-music.org/tom%20price%20talks.htm

All of the Baha'i writings, in regards to the  spiritual path, should be able to fit into the following categories.

A Baha'is Utterances- Commandments and Guidance 

1.  Words are the property of everyone

2.  Verily I say, the tongue is for mentioning what is good, defile it not with unseemly talk.

3.  Purify the tongue from all but his remembrance.   

4.  The tongue is a smoldering fire. 

5.  The fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul and its effects last a century. 

6.  The worst human quality and the most great sin is backbiting. 

7.  Backbiting quencheth the light of the heart.

8.  It is particularly important to refrain from making unfavorable remarks or statements concerning the friends and the loved ones of God, inasmuch as any expression of grievance, of complaint or backbiting is incompatible with the requirements of unity and harmony and would dampen the spirit of love, fellowship and nobility.

9.  Never allow ourselves to speak one unkind word about another, even though the other be our enemy. 

10.  Breath not the sins of others. 

11.  Those, however, who have been trained and educated in the school of God, even when coming to such a pass, are resignation itself, and to the brutal aggressor they are as the living waters of Heaven. They are rivers of pure mercy and peace. Though powerful and well able to defend themselves, they never raise a hand to strike, nor do they open their lips to protest. They confront the others’ taunts and curses with prayers that God will forgive them, and their reply to the wounds of bullet and sword is to offer milk and honey. They kiss the murderer’s hand; as intoxicated lovers, they drain the martyr’s cup.

12.  Do not confess your sins to anyone but God, to do so leads to ones humiliation and abasement. 

13.  Do not speak falsely, speak the truth.

14.  Refrain from reprimanding others.

15.  Give admonition or advice without burdening the heart of others.

16.  Speak to strangers as a friend. 

17.  Observe silence.

18.  Unseal ones lips in praise of others. 

19.  Praise without distinction.

20.  Promote the word of God.

21.  Mention God.

22. Proclaim nothing but God. 

23.  Speak of things that are feasible. 

24.  Speak no words of politics.

25.  Except to speak well of them make no mention of earths kings and worldly governments. Confine thine utterance to speaking the blissful tidings of the Kingdom of God. 

26.  In meetings speak with courtesy, with the satisfaction and permission of those present, and do it with eloquence and fluency. 

27.  Speak with justice. 

28.  The wise are they that do not speak not unless they have a hearing ear. 

29.  Adduce convincing arguments and proofs. Lead those who thirst to the fountain of life

30.  When you find one with capacity, convey to him the fragrances of life. 

31.  No man can sing that which he understandeth not, nor recount that unto which he can not attain. 

32.  Speak with humility, kindliness and lowliness. Such speech exerteth influence and educateth the souls. 

33.  Excess of speech is a deadly poison.

34.  When thou art about to begin thine address, turn first to Bahá’u’lláh, and ask for the confirmations of the Holy Spirit, then open thy lips and say whatever is suggested to thy heart; this, however, with the utmost courage, dignity and conviction.

35.  Rest assured that the breathings of the Holy Spirit will loosen thy tongue. 

36.  Supplicate to God, pray to Him and invoke Him at midnight and at dawn. Be humble and submissive to God and chant the verses of thanksgiving at morn and eve, for that He guided thee unto the Manifest Light and showed to thee the straight Path and destined to thee the station of nearness in His wonderful Kingdom

37.  Prayer is conversation with God. 

38.  Higher spiritual truths can be communicated only by means of the spiritual language of the heart. 

39.  The heart alone can communicate to heart the state of the knower. 

40.  In our hearts we hear without words, the voice of God. 

41.  Invoke God with perfect joy and fragrance sing the verses, glorifications and praises of the self-subsistent Lord. 

42.  O ye sons and daughters of the Kingdom! Thankful, the birds of the spirit seek only to fly in the high heavens and to sing out their songs with wondrous art. But the pitiable earthworms love only to tunnel into the ground, and what a mighty struggle they make to get themselves down into its depths! Even so are the sons of earth

43.  Let not your tongue pay lip service to God while your heart be not attuned to the Exalted Summit of Glory.

44.  Thou must warble, like the nightingale of significances, in the rose garden so that thou mayest inspire all the birds of the meadow to chant and sing. 

45.  When the children are ready for bed, let the mother read or sing them the Odes of the Blessed Beauty. 

46.  Loose thy tongue at all times in gratitude. 

47.  Sing the praise of God and fellow man. 

48.  Sing, chant, and celebrate the name of thy Lord. 

49.  Sing the melodies of realities and significances.

50.  Sing the best tunes, the praise and the excellences of the Lord of Names and Attributes. 

51.  Speak in the language of heaven, which is the language of the spirit and heart.

52.  It is the language of the spirit which speaks of God. 

53.  The heart of man is open to inspiration; this is spiritual communication. 

54.  My God grant that the bird of love and understanding sing within your heart. 

55.  The essence of all beings may sing thy praise before the vision of thy grandeur.

56.  The Blessed Perfection appeared so that all of humanity my under the shadow of one tree sing one melody.

 

 

 

Baha'i Social Commandments

1.     From the depths of your heart manifest complete love and affection towards everyone

2.     Do not exalt oneself above others

3.     Consider all as equals

4.     Prefer all religionist to yourself

5.     Praise without distinction

6.     View enemies as friends

7.     Consider those who wish you evil as the wishers of good

8.     Act in a way to free your heart from hatred

9.     Let your heart not be offended by anyone

10. Forgive others that had done wrong to you instantly

11. Do not complain of others

12. Refrain from reprimanding others

13. Give admonition or advice without burdening the heart of others

14. Turn all your thoughts towards bringing joy to hearts

15. Beware you offend any heart

16. Assist every weak one

17. Assist the destitute and disposed

18. Be helpful to every indigent one

19. Be the source of consolation to every sad one

20. Be the cause of glorification to every lowly one

21. Be a shelter to those who are overshadowed by fear

22. Vaunt not thyself over the poor

23. Be trustworthy

24. Be sincere

25. Be affectionate

26. Be replete with chastity

27. Be kind to everyone

28. Be honest

29. Do not back bite

30. Observe silence

31. Refrain from idle talk

32. Do not wish for others what you do not wish for yourself

33. Never despise the low state of others

34. Forget your own selves and turn your eyes towards your neighbor

35. Bend your energies to whatever may foster the education of men

36. Show benevolence

37. Show forbearance to one another

38. Do not consider the weakness of the people, but observe the power of attainment of this manifest day

39. Share the truth without, esteeming yourself to be, in the least, superior or possessing greater endowments

40. Avoid dissension

41. Avoid strife

42. Avoid contention

43. Avoid estrangement

44. Avoid apathy

45. Speak not of the sins of others

46. Do not dispute idly

47. Magnify Gods Cause

48. Make mention of God

49. Guard the pearls of Gods mysteries and the gems of His knowledge from the strangers and the ungodly

50. Never allow the censure of the people to turn you away from the truth

51. Show extreme kindliness and good-will when sharing truths with one another

52. Assist the world of humanity as much as possible

53. Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the poor

54. Strive to knit together the hearts of men

55. Treasure the companionship of the righteous

56. Eschew all fellowship with the ungodly

57. Do not enter the house of others save his pleasure

58. Do not lay hands on another’s treasure save his pleasure

59. Do not prefer ones own will to ones friends

60. Do not seek an advantage over ones friend

61. Wish not the abasement of anyone

62. Divest yourselves of the attire of haughtiness

63. Be not ashamed of abasement

64. Be not disloyal to the true friend

65. Be forbearing one with another

66. Treat each other with honor and respect

67. Distinguish yourselves through deeds that are pure and holy

68. Be content with God and seek no other helper

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The Strength of Being Clean Part 3

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