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Extracts from the Letters and Messages of Shoghi Effendi For E!"#$%&'() W#&*+ E!"#$%&'() W#&*+ E,-&./-+ 0&#! -1% L%--%&+ .(* M%++.)%+ #0 S1#)1' E00%(*' 0#& I(+"'&.-'#(, G2'*.(/% .(* V'+'#( Had we a thousand lives to live, we could never fully repay Shoghi E!endi with enough love and gratitude for the beauty, inspiration and perfection of his literary work. Ugo Giachery, Shoghi E!endi: Recollections, p. 42 Photograph by Nayyirih G. de Koning-Tahzib In loving memory of Hand of the Cause of God Ugo Giachery and Lovingly dedicated to my husband Nosrat. 3rough listening to Dr. Giachery speak about Shoghi E4endi and his writings, my great love for Shoghi E4endi and his writings was born and was deepened. Shoghi Effendi (3 March 1896 – 4 November 1957) Behold he is this blest and sacred bough that has branched out from the twin holy trees. Well is it with him that seeketh the shelter of his shade that shadoweth all mankind. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá C#(-%(-+ Preface ............................................................................................ 17 Acknowledgements ......................................................................... 21 Short Biography of Shoghi E4endi ................................................. 23 Understanding Shoghi E4endi’s Work ............................................ 25 Playing Our Part ............................................................................ 29 1. Bury Our Cares and Teach the Cause .......................................30 2. Our Mission Is Most Urgent ....................................................31 3. Keep Our Vision Clear .............................................................32 4. Live the Life of a True Bahá’í ....................................................33 5. 3e Responsibilities It Is Our Privilege to Shoulder ..................36 6. Remodel Our Lives ..................................................................38 7. Work Towards Universal Redemption ......................................39 8. Consciousness of World Citizenship.........................................40 9. Direct Our Immediate and Anxious Attention .........................42 10. 3e Requirements of the Present Hour ..................................44 11. 3e Blessings 3at Will Be Conferred ....................................45 12. What We Have to Manifest ....................................................46 13. 3e Vital, Ever-Present Need of Deepening in the Faith .........48 14. Momentous Possibilities .........................................................50 15. Contribute to Spiritualization and Material Progress ..............52 16. Set an Example.......................................................................53 17. Seize Every Opportunity ........................................................54 18. Distinguish Ourselves by Deeds of Heroism...........................55 19. All Must Arise ........................................................................56 Our Path of Service ........................................................................ 59 20. 3e Foundation 3at Must Be Firmly Laid in Our Hearts .....60 21. E4ectiveness in Serving ..........................................................62 22. What We Need to Demonstrate to Our Fellow-Countrymen .63 23. How to Ensure Success ...........................................................65 24. 3e Object of Our Constant Endeavor ..................................66 25. To Teach the Cause Is the Ultimate Purpose ...........................67 26. Be Lovers of Mankind ............................................................68 27. Concentrate Our Energies on the Teaching Work ..................70 28. Empower the Bahá’í Youth .....................................................71 29. Be Ambassadors of the Message of Bahá’u’lláh ........................72 30. Extend Our Range of Activities ..............................................74 31. 3e Magnet 3at Will Attract the Promised Blessings ............75 32. We Owe a Debt of Gratitude 3at No One Can Describe .....77 33. What Must Have Precedence over All Other Considerations ..79 34. 3e Universal Recognition of the Cause .................................81 35. We Must Distinguish Our Record of Stewardship ..................83 36. 3e Spiritual Potentialities 3at Will Empower Us .................84 37. Let Us Place Our Share on the Altar of Sacri5ce .....................85 38. Our Concerted Exertions Must Be Adequate in Range and Quality .86 Coping with Tests and Di6culties ................................................89 39. Severe Mental Tests Will Sweep over the West ........................90 40. 3e Plight of Mankind ...........................................................91 41. Problems Will Gradually Be Solved ........................................93 42. Be Undismayed ......................................................................94 43. 3e Promise ...........................................................................95 44. Pursue the Present Plan ..........................................................97 45. Be Not Afraid of Any Criticism ..............................................98 46. No Sacri5ce Can Be Regarded As Too Great ........................100 47. Face the Trials of the Present Hour .......................................101 48. Adversity Prepares the Hearts of Men ...................................103 49. Arise Without Fear ...............................................................104 50. So Much Depends Upon Us ................................................105 51. Trials and Disappointments May Tax Our Patience ..............107 52. We Must Encounter Critical Stages with Unswerving Resolution 109 53. So Much Hangs on the Fortunes of the Present Plan ............110 54. 3e Birth of the World Order ..............................................112 55. We Are Never to Hesitate .....................................................113 56. 3e Tribulations Su4ered by 3eir Co-Religionists ...............115 57. Our Faith Must Be Indomitable ...........................................116 3e Course of Change .................................................................. 121 58. Looking Towards the Future .................................................122 59. If We Fail To Play Our Part ..................................................123 60. 3e Signi5cance of Our Undertaking ...................................125 61. 3e Goal of a New World Order ..........................................127 62. 3e Bedrock on Which 3is Administrative Order Is Founded 129 63. Evidences of a Splendid Power .............................................131 64. A New Stage in Concentrated Teaching Activity ..................133 65. 3e Leaven that Must Leaven the Lump ..............................135 66. Undreamt of Opportunities O4ered ....................................137 67. 3e One Refuge ...................................................................138 68. We are Destined to Achieve Memorable Victories ................140 69. Great Work To Be Undertaken in the Future ........................141 70. 3e Champion-Builders of Bahá’u’lláh’s Embryonic Order ...143 71. Torch-Bearers of the Light of Divine Guidance ....................145 72. Reap the Full Harvest ..........................................................147 73. Carry on the Torch ..............................................................148 74. A Still More Convincing Demonstration of Spirit ................150 75. A Dedication Reminiscent of the Pledges of the Dawn-Breakers .152 76. Not To Be De7ected for a Moment ......................................153 Abbreviations ............................................................................... 157 Bibliography ................................................................................. 159 P&%0./% T host of letters and messages that Shoghi E4endi wrote to various parts of the Bahá’í World during his thirty-six years as Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith inspired, praised, advised and guided the Bahá’ís in their endeavors. His words, written in eloquent, excellent language, so rich in beauty of style, empowered the Bahá’ís to carry out their mission with con5dence, courage and perseverance. “Empowerment is about engaging both the hearts and minds of people so that they can take the opportunities made available to them for increased responsibility.”1 Without his constant support and encouragement, the believers would never have been able to accomplish what they did. 3is compilation features extracts that have been selected from a great variety of letters and messages which Shoghi E4endi wrote to various parts of the globe. 3e extracts highlight how his words empowered the Bahá’ís to carry out and accomplish what was being asked of them with increased capacity, vision and enthusiasm. 3ey also assist those who have not read Shoghi E4endi’s writings at any great length to become more familiar with his writings and pen. 3e extracts illustrate how enlightening the words of Shoghi E4endi are in giving us a greater understanding of world events, clarifying the goal of humanity, the signi5cance of the mission entrusted to the Bahá’ís, the destiny of certain Bahá’í communities and an increased awareness of the role each individual plays in bringing about what is destined for this age. 3e compilation is divided into four sections relevant to our daily lives as Bahá’ís and our services to the Faith: Playing Our Part, Our Path of Service, Coping with Tests and Di6culties and 3e Course of Change. 3e extracts are arranged chronologically.
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