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In the teaching of Bahá'u'lláh,
it is written: 'By the Power of the Holy Spirit alone is man able to progress,
for the power of man is limited and the Divine Power is boundless.' The
reading of history brings us to the conclusion that all truly great men,
the benefactors of the human race, those who have moved men to love the
right and hate the wrong and who have caused real progress, all these
have been inspired by the force of the Holy Spirit.
The Prophets of God
have not all graduated in the schools of learned philosophy; indeed they
were often men of humble birth, to all appearance ignorant, unknown men
of no importance in the eyes of the world; sometimes even lacking the
knowledge of reading and writing.
That which raised these
great ones above men, and by which they were able to become Teachers of
the truth, was the power of the Holy Spirit. Their influence on humanity,
by virtue of this mighty inspiration, was great and penetrating.
Shrine of the Báb.
The influence of the
wisest philosophers, without this Spirit Divine, has been comparatively
unimportant, however extensive their learning and deep their scholarship.
The unusual intellects,
for instance, of Plato, Aristotle, Pliny and Socrates, have not influenced
men so greatly that they have been anxious to sacrifice their lives for
their teachings; whilst some of those simple men so moved humanity that
thousands of men have become willing martyrs to uphold their words; for
these words were inspired by the Divine Spirit of God! The prophets of
Judah and Israel, Elijah, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel, were humble men,
as were also the apostles of Jesus Christ.
Peter, the chief of
the apostles, used to divide the proceeds of his fishing into seven parts,
and when, having taken one part for each day's use, he arrived at the
seventh portion, he knew it was the Sabbath day. Consider this! and then
think of his future position; to what glory he attained because the Holy
Spirit wrought great works through him.
We understand that the
Holy Spirit is the energizing factor in the life of man. Whosoever receives
this power is able to influence all with whom he comes into contact.
Both teams in prayer before the beginning of the game.
The greatest philosophers
without this Spirit are powerless, their souls lifeless, their hearts
dead! Unless the Holy Spirit breathes into their souls, they can do no
good work. No system of philosophy has ever been able to change the manners
and customs of a people for the better. Learned philosophers, unenlightened
by the Divine Spirit, have often been men of inferior morality; they have
not proclaimed in their actions the reality of their beautiful phrases.
The difference between
spiritual philosophers and others is shown by their lives. The Spiritual
Teacher shows His belief in His own teaching, by Himself being what He
recommends to others.
An humble man without
learning, but filled with the Holy Spirit, is more powerful than the most
nobly-born profound scholar without that inspiration. He who is educated
by the Divine Spirit can, in his time, lead others to receive the same
Spirit.
I pray for you that
you may be informed by the life of the Divine Spirit, so that you may
be the means of educating others. The life and morals of a spiritual man
are, in themselves, an education to those who know him.
Think not of your own
limitations, dwell only on the welfare of the Kingdom of Glory. Consider
the influence of Jesus Christ on His apostles, then think of their effect
upon the world. These simple men were enabled by the power of the Holy
Spirit to spread the glad tidings!
So may you all receive
Divine assistance! No capacity is limited when led by the Spirit of God!
The Shrine of the Báb, Bahá'í World Centre, Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Israel.
The earth of itself
has no properties of life, it is barren and dry, until fertilized by the
sun and the rain; still the earth need not bewail its own limitations.
May you be given life!
May the rain of the Divine Mercy and the warmth of the Sun of Truth make
your gardens fruitful, so that many beautiful flowers of exquisite fragrance
and love may blossom in abundance. Turn your faces away from the contemplation
of your own finite selves and fix your eyes upon the Everlasting Radiance;
then will your souls receive in full measure the Divine Power of the Spirit
and the Blessings of the Infinite Bounty.
If you thus keep yourselves
in readiness, you will become to the world of humanity a burning flame,
a star of guidance, and a fruitful tree, changing all its darkness and
woe into light and joy by the shining of the Sun of Mercy and the infinite
blessings of the Glad Tidings.
This is the meaning
of the power of the Holy Spirit, which I pray may be bountifully showered
upon you.
('Abdu'l-Bahá:
Paris Talks, Pages: 163-166)
      
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29 September 2009, Singing was the draw at a festival of choirs in the Congo, while in Venezuela, both plastic arts and music played a key role at the annual Baha'i summer school.
In the United Kingdom, the long-running Academy for the Arts gave 300 people the opportunity to focus on art, music, writing, or dance at a summer retreat. And in the United States, renowned Baha'i singer Narges and the Unity Bluegrass Band were among the performers who added an artistic element to the 50th year of the popular Green Lake conference.
All four events are sponsored by Baha'is and took place in August. Other seasonal events in a host of countries also featured the arts, including an annual Arts Week in both Bulgaria and the Netherlands.
The choir festival in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was the second such gathering since the annual event resumed after a 12-year hiatus caused by war and unrest in the eastern part of the country.
"Before the war, every year there was the festival," said Ahmad Parsa, a resident of neighboring Rwanda who attended part of the three-day event.
Some 16 choirs – mostly youth – presented original songs focusing on the life of Baha'u'llah and of the Bab. Each year, a theme is announced beforehand, and singers prepare new material.
Read the entire story.
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