Tag: purity

Daily Frameworks for 01 September 2026

Fidál, 13 Asmá’ (Names), 183 B.E.

Quotes for Reflection

Every one of the friends should highly praise the other and each should regard himself as evanescent and as naught in the presence of others. All matters should be consulted upon in the meeting and whatever is the majority vote should be carried out. I swear by the one true God, it is better that all should agree on a wrong decision, than for one right vote to be singled out, inasmuch as single votes can be sources of dissension, which lead to ruin. Whereas, if in one case they take a wrong decision, in a hundred other cases they will adopt right decisions, and concord and unity are preserved. This will offset any deficiency, and will eventually lead to the righting of the wrong. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá [1]

Question for Consideration

What personal qualities contribute to productive Bahá’í consultation? [2] [3]

Perplexity Computer Response:

Productive Bahá’í consultation depends less on debate skill than on spiritual and moral qualities that make a group genuinely able to discover truth together. The central posture is to offer one’s view frankly, but hold it lightly—seeking the best understanding and the unity of the group rather than personal victory. [4]

Core qualities

‘Abdu’l‑Bahá identifies these as the “prime requisites” for people who consult:

  • Purity of motive: entering the discussion to serve the common good, not to advance status, defend a faction, or prevail personally.
  • Radiance of spirit: bringing encouragement, hope, warmth, and goodwill rather than cynicism, hostility, or gloom.
  • Detachment: separating oneself from one’s own idea, preferences, fears, and ego. A proposal can be expressed fully, then released for the group to examine.
  • Spiritual orientation: in Bahá’í terms, turning toward God and being motivated by devotion to divine principles rather than self-interest.
  • Humility and lowliness: recognizing that no one person possesses the whole truth; being ready to learn from every participant.
  • Patience and long-suffering: enduring difficulty, disagreement, delay, and imperfect outcomes without resentment or withdrawal.
  • A spirit of service: treating consultation as a responsibility to contribute to the welfare of the community, family, institution, or project—not as an arena for self-expression alone. [4]

How those qualities appear in practice

These inner dispositions show up as concrete habits:

  • Courtesy and dignity: speaking respectfully even when one strongly disagrees.
  • Care and moderation: expressing views clearly and candidly, but without exaggeration, pressure, sarcasm, or personal attack.
  • Truth-seeking: treating differing views as resources for investigation rather than threats to be defeated.
  • Frankness with calmness: contributing one’s actual judgment instead of remaining silent merely to avoid discomfort, while avoiding passion and rancor.
  • Deep listening: giving others’ ideas a fair hearing; not interrupting, belittling, or taking criticism of an idea as criticism of oneself.
  • Freedom from stubbornness: refusing to cling to a position once better insight emerges. The guidance explicitly warns that persistence in one’s own view can create discord and conceal truth.
  • Restraint and self-discipline: speaking to the point, avoiding impulsive comments, and not turning remarks toward individuals [4] [5]

The distinctive shift: idea over ownership

A particularly important quality is detachment from one’s own proposal. In a productive consultative setting, a person may say, “Here is a possible way to understand the problem,” rather than “This is my position and I must win.”

That shift allows the idea to become the group’s shared object of inquiry. Others can improve it, challenge it, combine it with another insight, or set it aside without diminishing the person who originally offered it. This is why humility, courage, and love work together: humility permits learning; courage permits honest speech; love protects unity amid difference. [6]

After a decision

Consultation also calls for maturity after the group reaches a decision. Participants are asked to support the result rather than continue campaigning for their preferred option. In the cited guidance, when differences remain, a majority decision is to be followed by all—preserving unity and enabling the group to learn from action rather than becoming paralyzed by continuing contention. [5]

A concise checklist

Before joining a consultation, someone might ask:

  • Am I here to serve the truth and the group, or to prove that I am right?
  • Can I state my real view clearly and courteously?
  • Can I listen without defensiveness or offense?
  • Can I revise or release my opinion if the evidence or collective insight points elsewhere?
  • Can I support the group’s decision sincerely, including when it was not my preference?

Those questions capture the personal discipline that turns consultation from ordinary argument into a collaborative search for wiser action.

Footnotes

[1] Research Department of the Universal House of Justice. CONSULTATION: A COMPILATION. February 1978, Revised November 1990. Bahá’í Reference Library. https://www.bahai.org/r/435036250

[2] Perplexity Computer. “Personal qualities that contribute to effective Bahá’í consultation.” Edited by Steve Bosserman. August 31, 2026. https://www.perplexity.ai/search/450d8a96-43ac-48ca-8bd3-0c6c7d9fe953

[3] Transformative Leadership Education Staff. “Unite, Decide, Thrive: Using Consultation to Improve Decisions” (Free Online Course). Transformative Leadership Education. https://tinyurl.com/courseconsultation

[4] The Bahá’í Faith Staff. “Consultation Quotes.” Bahá’í International Community. https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/universal-peace/articles-resources/consultation-quotes

[5] National Teaching Committee-Youth and Student Activities Staff. “A New World Order: Deepening Portfolio #1.” Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1970. https://bahai.works/index.php?title=File:A_New_World_Order.pdf&page=37

[6] Bahai9 Wiki Contributors. “Consultation.” Bahai9. https://bahai9.com/wiki/Consultation

Be the Voice of…

Therefore, all souls should consider it incumbent upon them to investigate reality. Reality is one; and when found, it will unify all mankind. Reality is the love of God. Reality is the knowledge of God. Reality is justice. Reality is the oneness or solidarity of mankind. Reality is international peace. Reality is the knowledge of verities. Reality unifies humanity. — ‘Abdu’l-Bahá The Promulgation of Universal Peace | Bahá’í Reference Library.

239 Days in America, Day 138: August 26, 1912 | Boston

August 26, 1912: The Week Ahead 1

‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ HAS SETTLED in at Maria Wilson’s home in Malden, Massachusetts — a woman he first met when she visited him in the Ottoman penal colony of ‘Akká in 1900, along with her best friend Sarah J. Farmer.

In the week ahead: ‘Abdu’l-Bahá speaks to a group of working women at Franklin Square House; a humorous yet poignant look at Bostonian Harry Randall; and Abdu’l-Bahá crosses the border into Canada.

Talk at Franklin Square House, Boston, Massachusetts 2

Among the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is the principle of equality of man and woman. Bahá’u’lláh has said that both belong to humankind and that in the estimation of God they are equal, for each is the complement of the other in the divine creative plan. The only distinction between them in the sight of God is the purity and righteousness of their deeds and actions, for that one is preferred by God who is most nearly in the spiritual image and likeness of the Creator. Throughout the kingdoms of living organisms there is sex differentiation in function, but no preference or distinction is made in favor of either male or female. In the animal kingdom individual sex exists, but rights are equal and without distinction. Likewise, in the plane or kingdom of the vegetable sex appears, but equality of function and right is evident. Inasmuch as sex distinction and preference are not observed in these kingdoms of inferior intelligence, is it befitting the superior station of man that he should make such differentiation and estimate, when as a matter of fact there is no difference indicated in the law of creation?

Monday, August 26, 1912 3

At the invitation of Mrs Breed, the Master went for an automobile ride along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean through a wide thoroughfare about nine miles long and guarded on the ocean side with iron rails. It is a recreation spot, very green and clean, and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá praised it highly.

Some of the firm believers came to visit the Master. He spoke to them about love and faithfulness:

“This visit is a proof of faithfulness, proof that we have not forgotten one another. In the world of existence nothing is greater than faithfulness, for it allows love to remain unimpaired in spite of the length of time. Behold how faithful were those blessed souls in Persia who, when under the sword, praised the Blessed Beauty. No affliction or persecution could turn them from faithfulness. On the altar of sacrifice they raised cries of ‘Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá’ from their hearts and souls. This is real faithfulness.”

In the evening at the girls’ school [Franklin Square House] He spoke about the rights and education of women. At the conclusion, everyone came to shake His hand with sincerity and gratitude.

Because ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was tired and it was too far to go back to Malden, He stayed at a hotel in Boston and went to sleep without supper.

’Abdu’l-Bahá in America, 1912-2012: Calling America to It’s Spiritual Destiny

“In the world of existence nothing is greater than faithfulness …”

Celebrating the Centenary: The Master in America

Curated by Anne Perry

August 26 1912

  1. Sockett, Robert. “August 26, 1912: The Week Ahead.” 239 Days in America, 26 Aug. 2012, http://stagingtwo39.wpengine.com/2012/08/26/august-26-1912-the-week-ahead/. ↩
  2. ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Edited by Howard MacNutt. 2nd ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1982, 280-281. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/20#466775381 ↩
  3. ’Abdu’l-Bahá, and Mirza Mahmud-i-Zarqani. Mahmúd’s Diary: The Diary of Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání Chronicling ’Abdu’l-Bahá’s Journey to America. Edited by Shirley Macias. Translated by Mohi Sobhani. Oxford: George Ronald, 1998. https://bahai-library.com/zarqani_mahmuds_diary&chapter=6#section155 ↩

239 Days in America, Day 85: July 04, 1912 | New York

Happy Fourth of July! 1

“THERE WERE CELEBRATIONS EVERYWHERE,” Mahmúd wrote on July 4, in his chronicle of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s trip to America.

Mahmúd-i-Zarqání had traveled to America with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá on the Cedric from Egypt, and accompanied him on his journey across the country as one of his secretaries. On July 4, 1912, Mahmúd was about to get his first taste of a good old-fashioned American celebration: a Fourth of July parade in New York.

New York Mayor William J. Gaynor had sent ‘Abdu’l-Bahá an invitation the week before while he was still in Montclair, New Jersey. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, who was recovering from exhaustion, replied that he would come if time permitted. His schedule in America involved periods of intense activity where he greeted guests from 7:00 a.m. to well after midnight, or spoke at five gatherings in a single day, alternating with shorter periods of rest. He didn’t say yes to every invitation.

New York City 2

And then came July 4. The mayor of New York asked Abdu’l-Bahá to be with him on the parade reviewing stand. Abdu’l-Bahá did not go, but sent the other Persian friends to represent Him.

After an evening meal in Abdu’l-Bahá’s house honoring the birthday of Juliet Thompson’s mother, the Master spoke of tests. “Even the sword is no test to the Persian believers. They are given a chance to recant they cry out instead: ‘Ya Bahá’u’l-Abhá!’ Then the sword is raised. They cry out all the more, ‘Ya Bahá’u’l-Abhá!’ But some of the people here are tested if I don’t say, ‘How do you do.’” 3

Thursday, July 4, 1912

A number of people met ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the morning. He spoke to them about divine knowledge and the spiritual stations which lead to eternal life — the ultimate goal of human existence. A black youth was there, to whom the Master gave the name ‘Mubárak’ [’happy’], and to a black woman He gave the name ‘Khush Ghadam’ [a person who brings good fortune, welcome news, good omen]. He spoke to them about the importance of harmony between the white and black races of America and described the various meetings attended by both blacks and whites and the talks given at them which dealt with this question.

Mrs Kaufman asked about the influence of heavenly bodies on the affairs of humanity. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá replied:

The words of the astrologers are for the most part doubtful and unreliable. But the whole of creation is interrelated like the different parts of the human body which have a complete affinity from the toenail to the hair on the head. Every part is perfectly connected with the other. Similarly, the whole of creation forms a chain composed, as it were, of many links connected with each other. It is therefore obvious that they all greatly influence each other and are part of organized, regular cycles.

He was then asked about the connection between the soul and the body. He replied, ‘It has the same connection as the sun has with the mirror. Death consists of the severance of this connection.’

‘Some say that your prayers and promises for us have come true and are being completely fulfilled.’

‘I always pray with complete self-effacement and humbly implore confirmations from the Kingdom of Abhá.’

‘Do you feel the excessive heat? Does it affect your health?’

‘I am so absorbed that I feel neither the heat nor the cold. It is all the same to me.’

Today the Master was occupied in revealing Tablets for the Eastern friends. Notwithstanding the heavy pressure of work, He does not delay His answers to important questions.

There was a large crowd in the evening to whom He spoke about the various kingdoms of creation and the virtues of the world of existence. After the meeting several seekers visited the Master in His room. He answered their questions regarding the stations of divinity and the journey in the path of knowledge and servitude. Everyone was pleased and delighted and joined us in offering praise and glory to God. 4

Talk at Fourth Annual Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Handel Hall, Chicago, Illinois, 30 April 1912

Each kingdom of creation is endowed with its necessary complement of attributes and powers. The mineral possesses inherent virtues of its own kingdom in the scale of existence. The vegetable possesses the qualities of the mineral plus an augmentative virtue, or power of growth. The animal is endowed with the virtues of both the mineral and vegetable plane plus the power of intellect. The human kingdom is replete with the perfections of all the kingdoms below it with the addition of powers peculiar to man alone. Man is, therefore, superior to all the creatures below him, the loftiest and most glorious being of creation. Man is the microcosm; and the infinite universe, the macrocosm. The mysteries of the greater world, or macrocosm, are expressed or revealed in the lesser world, the microcosm. The tree, so to speak, is the greater world, and the seed in its relation to the tree is the lesser world. But the whole of the great tree is potentially latent and hidden in the little seed. When this seed is planted and cultivated, the tree is revealed. Likewise, the greater world, the macrocosm, is latent and miniatured in the lesser world, or microcosm, of man. This constitutes the universality or perfection of virtues potential in mankind. Therefore, it is said that man has been created in the image and likeness of God.

Let us now discover more specifically how he is the image and likeness of God and what is the standard or criterion by which he can be measured and estimated. This standard can be no other than the divine virtues which are revealed in him. Therefore, every man imbued with divine qualities, who reflects heavenly moralities and perfections, who is the expression of ideal and praiseworthy attributes, is, verily, in the image and likeness of God. If a man possesses wealth, can we call him an image and likeness of God? Or is human honor and notoriety the criterion of divine nearness? Can we apply the test of racial color and say that man of a certain hue—white, black, brown, yellow, red—is the true image of his Creator? We must conclude that color is not the standard and estimate of judgment and that it is of no importance, for color is accidental in nature. The spirit and intelligence of man is essential, and that is the manifestation of divine virtues, the merciful bestowals of God, the eternal life and baptism through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, be it known that color or race is of no importance. He who is the image and likeness of God, who is the manifestation of the bestowals of God, is acceptable at the threshold of God—whether his color be white, black or brown; it matters not. Man is not man simply because of bodily attributes. The standard of divine measure and judgment is his intelligence and spirit.

Therefore, let this be the only criterion and estimate, for this is the image and likeness of God. A man’s heart may be pure and white though his outer skin be black; or his heart be dark and sinful though his racial color is white. The character and purity of the heart is of all importance. The heart illumined by the light of God is nearest and dearest to God, and inasmuch as God has endowed man with such favor that he is called the image of God, this is truly a supreme perfection of attainment, a divine station which is not to be sacrificed by the mere accident of color. 5

’Abdu’l-Bahá in America, 1912-2012: Calling America to It’s Spiritual Destiny

‘Abdu’l-Bahá showers Juliet’s mother with kindness on her birthday

Celebrating the Centenary: The Master in America

Curated by Anne Perry

July 04, 1912

  1. Jones, Caitlin Shayda. “Happy Fourth of July!” 239 Days in America, 4 July 2012, https://239days.com/2012/07/04/on-the-fourth-of-july/. ↩
  2. Ward, Allan L. 239 Days: ʻAbdu’l-Bahá’s Journey in America. Wilmette, Ill: Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1979, 108. ↩
  3. Thompson, Juliet. The Diary of Juliet Thompson. Edited by Marzieh Gail. 1st ed. 1947. Reprint, Los Angeles: Kalimát Press, 1983, 326-327. https://archive.org/details/diaryofjuliettho0000thom/page/326/mode/2up. ↩
  4. ’Abdu’l-Bahá, and Mirza Mahmud-i-Zarqani. Mahmúd’s Diary: The Diary of Mírzá Mahmúd-i-Zarqání Chronicling ’Abdu’l-Bahá’s Journey to America. Edited by Shirley Macias. Translated by Mohi Sobhani. Oxford: George Ronald, 1998. https://bahai-library.com/zarqani_mahmuds_diary&chapter=5#section102 ↩
  5. ʻAbduʼl-Bahá. The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912. Edited by Howard MacNutt. 2nd ed. Wilmette, Ill: Baháʼí Publishing Trust, 1982, 69-70. https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/abdul-baha/promulgation-universal-peace/4#517138722 ↩