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Unit 1: The Joy of Teaching

Section 1

"O wayfarer in the path of God! Take thou thy portion of the ocean of His grace, and deprive not thyself of the things that lie hidden in its depths. Be thou of them that have partaken of its treasures. A dewdrop out of this ocean would, if shed upon all that are in the heavens and on the earth, suffice to enrich them with the bounty of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. With the hands of renunciation draw forth from its life-giving waters, and sprinkle therewith all created things, that they may be cleansed from all man-made limitations and may approach the mighty seat of God, this hallowed and resplendent Spot."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 279)

Section 6

"O MAN OF TWO VISIONS!  Close one eye and open the other. Close one to the world and all that is therein, and open the other to the hallowed beauty of the Beloved."    (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

"O FRIENDS!  Abandon not the everlasting beauty for a beauty that must die, and set not your affections on this mortal world of dust."     (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

"O SON OF UTTERANCE!  Turn thy face unto Mine and renounce all save Me; for My sovereignty endureth and My dominion perisheth not. If thou seekest another than Me, yea, if thou searchest the universe for evermore, thy quest will be in vain."    (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

"O BEFRIENDED STRANGER!  The candle of thine heart is lighted by the hand of My power, quench it not with the contrary winds of self and passion. The healer of all thine ills is remembrance of Me, forget it not. Make My love thy treasure and cherish it even as thy very sight and life."     (Baha'u'llah, The Persian Hidden Words)

"Detachment is as the sun; in whatsoever heart it doth shine it quencheth the fire of covetousness and self.  He whose sight is illumined with the light of understanding will assuredly detach himself from the world and the vanities thereof ....Let not the world and its vileness grieve you.  Happy is he whom riches fill not with vain-glory, nor poverty with sorrow." (Baha'u'llah, cited in The Baha'i World)

Section 9

"Gird up the loins of thine endeavor, that haply thou mayest guide thy neighbor to the law of God, the Most Merciful. Such an act, verily, excelleth all other acts in the sight of God, the All-Possessing, the Most High."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 339)

"By the righteousness of God! Whoso openeth his lips in this Day and maketh mention of the name of his Lord, the hosts of Divine inspiration shall descend upon him from the heaven of My name, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 280)

"Whoso ariseth to teach Our Cause must needs detach himself from all earthly things, and regard, at all times, the triumph of Our Faith as his supreme objective."    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 334)

"Be unrestrained as the wind, while carrying the Message of Him Who hath caused the Dawn of Divine Guidance to break."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 339)

"When the victory arriveth, every man shall profess himself as believer and shall hasten to the shelter of God's Faith. Happy are they who in the days of world-encompassing trials have stood fast in the Cause and refused to swerve from its truth."    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 319)

"O SON OF BEING!  Make mention of Me on My earth, that in My heaven I may remember thee, thus shall Mine eyes and thine be solaced."     (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

Unit 2:  Deepening Themes

Section 2

"Illumine our hearts, grant us discerning eyes and attentive ears."     (Baha'i Prayers, p. 82 )

"Grant Thine infinite bestowals, and let the light of Thy guidance shine."     (Baha'i Prayers, p. 101 )

"Unlock the gates of true understanding and let the light of faith shine resplendent."    (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 116 )

"Illumine, O Lord, the faces of Thy servants, that they may behold Thee..."    (Baha'u'llah, Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 95 )

"O our Lord! Turn our faces unto Thy merciful countenance..."     (Baha'i Prayers, p. 139 )

Section 3

"They who are the beloved of God, in whatever place they gather and whomsoever they may meet, must evince, in their attitude towards God, and in the manner of their celebration of His praise and glory, such humility and submissiveness that every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their devotion. The conversation carried by these holy souls should be informed with such power that these same atoms of dust will be thrilled by its influence. They should conduct themselves in such manner that the earth upon which they tread may never be allowed to address to them such words as these: 'I am to be preferred above you. For witness, how patient I am in bearing the burden which the husbandman layeth upon me. I am the instrument that continually imparteth unto all beings the blessings with which He Who is the Source of all grace hath entrusted me. Notwithstanding the honor conferred upon me, and the unnumbered evidences of my wealth -- a wealth that supplieth the needs of all creation -- behold the measure of my humility, witness with what absolute submissiveness I allow myself to be trodden beneath the feet of men....' "    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 7)

Unit 3:  Introducing Baha'i Beliefs

Section 2

"My name is Abdu'l-Baha. My qualification is Abdu'l-Baha. My reality is Abdu'l-Baha. My praise is Abdu'l-Baha. Thraldom to the Blessed Perfection is my glorious and refulgent diadem, and servitude to all the human race my perpetual religion... No name, no title, no mention, no commendation have I, nor will ever have, except Abdu'l-Baha. This is my longing. This is my greatest yearning. This is my eternal life. This is my everlasting glory."    (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 139)

Section 3

"All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization."

"The Purpose of the one true God, exalted be His glory, in revealing Himself unto men is to lay bare those gems that lie hidden within the mine of their true and inmost selves." (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 287)

"God's purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquillity of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 79)

"Men at all times and under all conditions stand in need of one to exhort them, guide them and to instruct and teach them."     (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 161)

Section 4

"There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God." (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 217)

"Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship."    (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 22)

"The fundamental purpose animating the Faith of God and His Religion is to safeguard the interests and promote the unity of the human race.."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 215)

"The religion of God is for love and unity; make it not the cause of enmity or dissension."    (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 220)

Section 5

"The knowledge of Him, Who is the Origin of all things, and attainment unto Him, are impossible save through knowledge of, and attainment unto, these luminous Beings who proceed from the Sun of Truth."     (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 142)

"No man, however acute his perception, can ever hope to reach the heights which the wisdom and understanding of the Divine Physician have attained."    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 80)

"The Person of the Manifestation hath ever been the representative and mouthpiece of God. He, in truth, is the Day Spring of God's most excellent Titles, and the Dawning-Place of His exalted Attributes."      (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 70)

"Be ye assured, moreover, that the works and acts of each and every one of these Manifestations of God, nay whatever pertaineth unto them, and whatsoever they may manifest in the future, are all ordained by God, and are a reflection of His Will and Purpose."    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 59)

Section 6

"The Eternal Truth is now come. He hath lifted up the Ensign of Power, and is now shedding upon the world the unclouded splendor of His Revelation"    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 60)

"He it is Who is the Manifestation of Him Who is the Unknowable, the Invisible of the Invisibles, could ye but perceive it." (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 30)

"This is the Day whereon the All-Merciful hath come down in the clouds of knowledge, clothed with manifest sovereignty."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 45)

Section 7

"Every age hath its own problem, and every soul its particular aspiration. The remedy the world needeth in its present-day afflictions can never be the same as that which a subsequent age may require."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 213)

"Be anxiously concerned with the needs of the age ye live in, and center your deliberations on its exigencies and requirements."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 213)

"A new life is, in this age, stirring within all the peoples of the earth; and yet none hath discovered its cause or perceived its motive."    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 196)

Section 8

"The progress of the world, the development of nations, the tranquillity of peoples, and the peace of all who dwell on earth are among the principles and ordinances of God."    (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 130)

"Religion is, verily, the chief instrument for the establishment of order in the wotrld, and of tranquillity amongst its peoples."     (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 28)

"The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established."     (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 286)

Section 9

"The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch."    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 218)

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 14)

"Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you. Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you."    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 217)

"It behoveth man to adhere tenaciously unto that which will promote fellowship, kindliness and unity."  (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 90)

Section 10

"The light of men is Justice. Quench it not with the contrary winds of oppression and tyranny. The purpose of justice is the appearance of unity among men."    (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 66)

"No radiance can compare with that of justice. The organization of the world and the tranquillity of mankind depend upon it."  (Baha'u'llah, cited in The Advent of Divine Justice, p. 28)

"That which traineth the world is Justice, for it is upheld by two pillars, reward and punishment. These two pillars are the sources of life to the world."    (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 27)

Section 11

"Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God."  (Baha'u'llah, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 379)

"Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other."    (Baha'u'llah, The Arabic Hidden Words)

"In this Day the Hand of divine grace hath removed all distinctions. The servants of God and His handmaidens are regarded on the same plane."    (Compilations, The Compilation of Compilations vol II, p. 358)

Section 12

"It is not desirable that a man be left without knowledge or skills, for he is then but a barren tree."     (Baha'u'llah, cited in  NSA USA - Developing Distinctive Baha'i Communities)

"Bend your minds and wills to the education of the peoples and kindreds of the earth..."    (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 333)

"Arts, crafts and sciences uplift the world of being, and are conducive to its exaltation. Knowledge is as wings to man's life, and a ladder for his ascent."   (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 26)

"In truth, knowledge is a veritable treasure for man, and a source of glory, of bounty, of joy, of exaltation, of cheer and gladness unto him."    (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 27)