Sympathy
As to the souls who are born into this world radiant entities and who through excessive difficulty are deprived of great benefits and thus leave the world -- they are worthy of all sympathy, for in reality this is worthy of regret. It is for this purpose (that is, it is with regard to this wisdom) that the great Manifestations (of God) unveil themselves in this world, bear every difficulty and ordeal -- to make these ready souls dawnings of light and confer upon them eternal life. This is the real atonement that His holiness Christ made-He sacrificed Himself for the life of the world.
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá v3, p. 542
You should not consider yourself unfeeling because you see in this world agony the birth of a new and better world. This is just what the Bahá’ís should teach to others. However much pity and sympathy we may have for humanity, we nevertheless realize that people today are suffering for their own sins of omission and commission. We must help them to see this and to turn their thoughts and acts into the channels Divinely prescribed by Bahá’u’lláh.
- Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 129
The sick one must . . . be regarded with sympathy and affection and treated until he is healed.
- ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 433
He feels you should by all means show your husband the greatest love and sympathy; if we are ever in any doubts as to how we should conduct ourselves as Bahá’ís we should think of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and study His life and ask ourselves what would He have done, for He is our perfect example in every way. And you know how tender He was, and how His affection and kindness shone like sunlight on everyone.
- Shoghi Effendi, Lights of Guidance, p. 227
Quote of the Day
Jamal 7 Qudrat 182 B.E.
Lechery is clearly forbidden by Bahá’u’lláh (See Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 49) and Shoghi Effendi has stated that a 'chaste and holy life', according to the teachings of the Faith, implies a condemnation of 'all manner' of 'sexual vices'. (See Advent of Divine Justice, p. 25)
From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer – 5 June, 1983