Larry asked: Any thoughts on what constitutes a pure and sanctified heart?
Dear Larry, Following are a few quotes which seem to point us in the right direction. While there is always some element of risk involved in referencing quotes out-of-context, for me such compilations or research on a particular topic opens windows of insight. The tread strings them together like "gems of wisdom" and enables one to recognize the continuity of meaning. "The heart must be sanctified from every form of selfishness and lust, for the weapons of the unitarians and the saints were and are the fear of God. That is the buckler which guardeth man from the arrows of hatred and abomination." (Abdu'l-Baha, A Traveller's Narrative, p. 45) "Only the keenest insight will detect the fact that if the hearts of these individuals were really impelled by righteousness and the fear of God, the fragrance of it would, like musk, be spreading everywhere. Nothing in the world can ever be supported by words alone." (Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 57) "The spiritually learned must be characterized by both inward and outward perfections; they must possess a good character, an enlightened nature, a pure intent, as well as intellectual power, brilliance and discernment, intuition, discretion and foresight, temperance, reverence, and a heartfelt fear of God." (Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 33) "Other attributes of perfection are to fear God, to love God by loving His servants, to exercise mildness and forbearance and calm, to be sincere, amenable, clement and compassionate; to have resolution and courage, trustworthiness and energy, to strive and struggle, to be generous, loyal, without malice, to have zeal and a sense of honor, to be high-minded and magnanimous, and to have regard for the rights of others. Whoever is lacking in these excellent human qualities is defective." (Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 40) You can find these quotes and many more in the Compilation on the "Fear of God" by Ehsan Bayat here: http://bahai-library.com/unpubl.compilations/fear.god.html Lovingly, Sandra __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
