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Studying these virtues and quotations will support the practice element of Book 2, when Study Circle participants visit new believers and share with them deepening themes. This is a wonderful listing of all the virtues outlined in Book 7 (p. 64) that contribute to our ability to nurture others. The virtues are accompanied by quotations from the Baha'i Writings.

Please note: The space under each virtue can be used to identify the places in Book 2 Section 2 where these attributes are being modeled by the tutor in the text as she deepens the Sanchez family. 

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Generosity

"Be ye the trustees of God amongst His creatures, and the emblems of His generosity amidst His people." Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 297.

Humility

"Show forbearance and benevolence and love to one another. Should any one among you be incapable of grasping a certain truth, or be striving to comprehend it, show forth, when conversing with him, a spirit of extreme kindliness and good-will. Help him to see and recognize the truth, without esteeming yourself to be, in the least, superior to him, or to be possessed of greater endowments."  Baha'u'llah, Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 8.

Sincerity and Purity of Motive

"The prime requisites for them that take counsel together are purity of motive, radiance of spirit, detachment from all else save God, attraction to His Divine Fragrances, humility and lowliness amongst His loved ones, patience and long-suffering in difficulties and servitude to His exalted Threshold. Should they be graciously aided to acquire these attributes, victory from the unseen Kingdom of Bahá shall be vouchsafed to them." Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 87.

 "The human resources of the Cause are being augmented in two ways. People of capacity are being moved to embrace the Faith, reinforcing the ranks of those who are already serving.... In the year ahead these two complementary processes -- attracting people of capacity and increasing our own abilities -- must be further advanced, stimulating individual action and the harmonious development of a wide range of activities for the promotion of the Faith."  Universal House of Justice Ridvan 1994 to the Bahá'ís of the World, also in  Compilation, Unlocking the Power of Action).

Trustworthiness

"The virtues and attributes pertaining unto God are all evident and manifest, and have been mentioned and described in all the heavenly Books. Among them are trustworthiness, truthfulness, purity of heart while communing with God, forbearance, resignation to whatever the Almighty hath decreed, contentment with the things His Will hath provided, patience, nay, thankfulness in the midst of tribulation, and complete reliance, in all circumstances, upon Him. These rank, according to the estimate of God, among the highest and most laudable of all acts. All other acts are, and will ever remain, secondary and subordinate unto them...." Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 290.

Patience

"Especially to those whose thoughts are material and retrograde show the utmost love and patience, thereby winning them into the unity of fellowship by the radiance of your kindness."  Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 27.    

"Anybody can be happy in the state of comfort, ease, health, success, pleasure and joy; but if one will be happy and contented in the time of trouble, hardship and prevailing disease, it is the proof of nobility. Thanks be to God   that that dear servant of God is extremely patient under the disastrous circumstances, and in the place of complaining gives thanks."  Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 363.

Kindness

"Let them at all times concern themselves with doing a kindly thing for one of their fellows, offering to someone love, consideration, thoughtful help."  Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Bahá, p. 3.

Optimism and Hopefulness

"My hope is that through the zeal and ardour of the pure of heart, the darkness of hatred and difference will be entirely abolished, and the light of love and unity shall shine; this world shall become a new world; things material shall become the mirror of the divine; human hearts shall meet and embrace each other; the whole world become as a man's native country and the different races be counted as one race."  Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 38.

Faith in People's Ability

"If only the friends could realize it, the glory of our Faith is not that people with unique abilities do the work of the Cause, but that it is done by the sacrifice of loving and devoted souls who arise selflessly to undertake work they feel themselves incompetent, sometimes, to achieve. God works through them and endows them with gifts they did not dream they could ever possess."  From a letter dated December 12, 1943 written by Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer p. 17 Compilations, Quickeners of Mankind, p. 67.

Appreciation for Diversity

"The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord. If you meet those of different race and color from yourself, do not mistrust them and withdraw yourself into your shell of conventionality, but rather be glad and show them kindness. Think of them as different colored roses growing in the beautiful garden of humanity, and rejoice to be among them." Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 53.

Lack of Prejudice

"The words, the deeds, the attitudes, the lack of prejudice, the nobility of character, the high sense of service to others -- in a word, those qualities an actions which distinguish a Bahá'í must unfailingly characterize their inner life an outer behaviour, and their interactions with friend or foe." Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 637.

Willingness to accept imperfection and errors

"The holy Manifestations of God come into the world to dispel the darkness of the animal or physical nature of man, to purify him from his imperfections in order that his heavenly and spiritual nature may become quickened, his divine qualities awakened, his perfections visible, his potential powers revealed and all the virtues of the world of humanity latent within him may come to life." Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 110.

 

Ability to encourage others

We love to see you at all times consorting in amity and concord within the paradise of My good-pleasure, and to inhale from your acts the fragrance of friendliness and unity, of loving-kindness and fellowship. Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 315.

Ability to listen to others

"In this Cause consultation is of vital importance, but spiritual conference and not the mere voicing of personal views is intended." Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 72.

Ability to see where a person's capacities lie

"The whole duty of man in this Day is to attain that share of the flood of grace which God poureth forth for him. Let none, therefore, consider the largeness or smallness of the receptacle. The portion of some might lie in the palm of a man's hand, the portion of others might fill a cup, and of others even a gallon-measure." Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 8.

Ability to communicate love

"Address yourselves to the promotion of the well-being and tranquillity of the children of men... Ye dwell in one world, and have been created through the operation of one Will. Blessed is he who mingleth with all men in a spirit of utmost kindliness and love."   Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 334.

 Ability to communicate assurance

"Do not despair! Work steadily. Sincerity and love will conquer hate. How many seemingly impossible events are coming to pass in these days! Set your faces steadily towards the Light of the World. Show love to all; 'Love is the breath of the Holy Spirit in the heart of Man'. Take courage! God never forsakes His children who strive and work and pray! Let your hearts be filled with the strenuous desire that tranquility and harmony may encircle all this warring world. So will success crown your efforts, and with the universal brotherhood will come the Kingdom of God in peace and goodwill." Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 29.