Lessons from the Master: Living the Baha'i Life
Anise Rideout reported the following in The Baha`i Magazine: `It was my great privilege to be in New York during the last days spent by `Abdu'l-Baha in America. There was a question which I greatly longed to ask, but fearing the reply would be that I must talk to people, everywhere, I hesitated. Finally, on the last day, almost the last moment of my stay, it came to me that it was cowardly to hesitate. On that day, as I came into His presence, He immediately said, "Are there any questions?" At once I asked the question, "Which is the best way to give the Baha `i Message?"
` `Abdu'l-Baha's face became very serious, His voice loud as He answered in these words:
` "The first thing to do is to acquire a thirst for spirituality, then live the life! Live the life! Live the life! The way to acquire this thirst is to meditate upon the future life. Study the Holy Words, read your Bible, read the Holy Books, especially study the Holy utterances of Baha`u'llah; prayer and meditation, take much time for these two. Then will you know this great thirst, and then only can you begin to live the life!
` `To live the life you must be the very kindest woman, you must be the most pure, you must be absolutely truthful, and live a perfectly moral life.
` "Visit your neighbors when they are sick or in trouble, offer your services to them, try to show them that you are longing to serve them.
` "Feed the poor, divide what you have. Be contented to remain where God has placed you; be faithful in your care of those to whom He has trusted you, NEVER WAVER IN THIS - show by your life you have something different, so that all will see and say, `What has this person that I have not?'
` ` "Show the world that in spite of the utmost suffering, poverty, sickness, you have something which gives you comfort, strength and peace - that you are happy - serene - satisfied with all that is in your life.
` "Then they, too, will want what you possess - and will need no further teaching - after you tell them what it is." ' 127
` `Abdu'l-Baha's face became very serious, His voice loud as He answered in these words:
` "The first thing to do is to acquire a thirst for spirituality, then live the life! Live the life! Live the life! The way to acquire this thirst is to meditate upon the future life. Study the Holy Words, read your Bible, read the Holy Books, especially study the Holy utterances of Baha`u'llah; prayer and meditation, take much time for these two. Then will you know this great thirst, and then only can you begin to live the life!
` `To live the life you must be the very kindest woman, you must be the most pure, you must be absolutely truthful, and live a perfectly moral life.
` "Visit your neighbors when they are sick or in trouble, offer your services to them, try to show them that you are longing to serve them.
` "Feed the poor, divide what you have. Be contented to remain where God has placed you; be faithful in your care of those to whom He has trusted you, NEVER WAVER IN THIS - show by your life you have something different, so that all will see and say, `What has this person that I have not?'
` ` "Show the world that in spite of the utmost suffering, poverty, sickness, you have something which gives you comfort, strength and peace - that you are happy - serene - satisfied with all that is in your life.
` "Then they, too, will want what you possess - and will need no further teaching - after you tell them what it is." ' 127
[Annamarie Honnold, Vignettes from the Life of `Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 105-106, taken from Star of the West, vol. XIX, No. 3.]
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