The question was recently asked by Gilberto, what Baha'i teachings are
emphasized. I have done a brief scan of Ocean and found these quotes; far
from a complete list.
Brent
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)
So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.
The one true God, He Who knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the truth
of these words.
Exert yourselves that ye may attain this transcendent and most sublime
station, the station that can ensure the protection and security of all
mankind. This goal excelleth every other goal, and this aspiration is the
monarch of all aspirations.
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 288)
One righteous act is endowed with a potency that can so elevate the dust as
to cause it to pass beyond the heaven of heavens. It can tear every bond
asunder, and hath the power to restore the force that hath spent itself and
vanished...
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 286)
The first and foremost duty prescribed unto men, next to the recognition of
Him Who is the Eternal Truth, is the duty of steadfastness in His Cause.
Cleave thou unto it, and be of them whose minds are firmly fixed and
grounded in God. No act, however meritorious, did or can ever compare unto
it. It is the king of all acts, and to this thy Lord, the All-Highest, the
Most Powerful, will testify....
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 289)
The spirit that animateth the human heart is the knowledge of God, and its
truest adorning is the recognition of the truth that "He doeth whatsoever He
willeth, and ordaineth that which He pleaseth." Its raiment is the fear of
God, and its perfection steadfastness in His Faith. Thus God instructeth
whosoever seeketh Him. He, verily, loveth the one that turneth towards Him.
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 291)
Among the greatest of all services that can possibly be rendered by man to
Almighty God is the education and training of children, young plants of the
Abha Paradise, so that these children, fostered by grace in the way of
salvation, growing like pearls of divine bounty in the shell of education,
will one day bejewel the crown of abiding glory.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 133)
This divine image betokeneth all the qualities of perfection whose lights,
emanating from the Sun of Truth, illumine the realities of men. And among
the greatest of these attributes of perfection are wisdom and knowledge.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 140)
Today the greatest of all affairs in the Cause is firmness and
steadfastness. A tree will not give fruit unless it be firmly rooted. A
foundation will not last unless it be firm. There is nothing in this world
of man greater than firmness. A soul who is firm will become a son of the
Kingdom of God and will be confirmed with the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 343)
No attribute is more commendable than faithfulness. It is of the greatest of
the virtues in the world of humanity.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v3, p. 634)
O ye beloved of the Lord! The greatest of all things is the protection of
the True Faith of God, the preservation of His Law, the safeguarding of His
Cause and service unto His Word.
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Will and Testament, p. 3)
In these days, the most important of all things is the guidance of the
nations and peoples of the world. Teaching the Cause is of utmost importance
for it is the head corner-stone of the foundation itself.
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Will and Testament, p. 10)
They that have forsaken their country for the purpose of teaching Our
Cause -- these shall the Faithful Spirit strengthen through its power. A
company of Our chosen angels shall go forth with them, as bidden by Him Who
is the Almighty, the All-Wise. How great the blessedness that awaiteth him
that hath attained the honor of serving the Almighty! By My life! No act,
however great, can compare with it, except such deeds as have been ordained
by God, the All-Powerful, the Most Mighty. Such a service is, indeed, the
prince of all goodly deeds, and the ornament of every goodly act. Thus hath
it been ordained by Him Who is the Sovereign Revealer, the Ancient of Days.
(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 334)
Service to the friends is service to the Kingdom of God, and consideration
shown to the poor is one of the greatest teachings of God.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 27)
Charity is pleasing and praiseworthy in the sight of God and is regarded as
a prince among goodly deeds. Consider ye and call to mind that which the
All-Merciful hath revealed in the Qur'án: 'They prefer them before
themselves, though poverty be their own lot. And with such as are preserved
from their own covetousness shall it be well.'[Qur'án 59:9] Viewed in this
light, the blessed utterance above is, in truth, the day-star of utterances.
Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself. Verily, such a man
is reckoned, by virtue of the Will of God, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise,
with the people of Baha who dwell in the Crimson Ark. (Baha'u'llah,
Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 71)
The fruits that best befit the tree of
human life are trustworthiness and godliness,
truthfulness and sincerity; but greater than all,
after recognition of the unity of God, praised and
glorified be He, is regard for the rights that are
due to one's parents. This teaching hath been
mentioned in all the Books of God, and reaffirmed
by the Most Exalted Pen. Consider that which the
Merciful Lord hath revealed in the Qur'án, exalted
are His words: "Worship ye God, join with Him
no peer or likeness; and show forth kindliness and
charity towards your parents..." Observe how
loving-kindness to one's parents hath been linked
to recognition of the one true God! Happy they
who are endued with true wisdom and understanding,
who see and perceive, who read and understand,
and who observe that which God hath
revealed in the Holy Books of old, and in this
incomparable and wondrous Tablet.
(The Most Holy Book p. 139)
The fruits of the tree of existence are trustworthiness, loyalty,
truthfulness and purity. After the recognition of the oneness of the Lord,
exalted be He, the most important of all duties is to have due regard for
the rights of one's parents. This matter hath been mentioned in all the
Books of God... (From an Arabic Tablet by Baha'u'llah, The Compilation of
Compilations vol. I, p. 385)
The education and training of children is among the most meritorious acts of
humankind and draweth down the grace and favour of the All-Merciful, for
education is the indispensable foundation of all human excellence and
alloweth man to work his way to the heights of abiding glory.
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 129)
Shouldst thou step into the realm of complete detachment, thou wilt readily
testify that no day is mightier than this Day, and that no resurrection more
awful than this Resurrection can ever be conceived. One righteous work
performed in this Day, equalleth all the virtuous acts which for myriads of
centuries men have practised -- nay, We ask forgiveness of God for such a
comparison! For verily the reward which such a deed deserveth is immensely
beyond and above the estimate of men. Inasmuch as these undiscerning and
wretched souls have failed to apprehend the true meaning of "Resurrection"
and of the "attainment unto the divine Presence," they therefore have
remained utterly deprived of the grace thereof. (Baha'u'llah, The
Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 144)
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