I say unto you that ye should strive to follow the counsels of
these Blessed Books, and so order your lives that ye may, following the
examples set before you, become yourselves the saints of the Most High!

MATERIAL AND SPIRITUAL PROGRESS

November 2nd

'Abdu'l-Baha said:

How beautiful the weather is today, the sky is clear, the sun shines, and
the heart of man is made glad thereby!

Such bright and beautiful weather gives new life and strength to man, and
if he has been sick, he feels once more in his heart the joyous hope of
health renewed. All these gifts of nature concern the physical side of
man, for it is only his body that can receive material benefits.

If a man is successful in his business, art, or profession he is thereby
enabled to increase his physical wellbeing and to give his body the amount
of ease and comfort in which it delights. All around us today we see how
man surrounds himself with every modern convenience and luxury, and denies
nothing to the physical and material side of his nature. But, take heed,
lest in thinking too earnestly of the things of the body you forget the
things of the soul: for material advantages do not elevate the spirit of a
man. Perfection in worldly things is a joy to the body of a man but in no
wise does it glorify his soul.

It may be that a man who has every material benefit, and who lives
surrounded by all the greatest comfort modern civilization can give him,
is denied the all important gift of the Holy Spirit.

It is indeed a good and praiseworthy thing to progress materially, but in
so doing, let us not neglect the more important spiritual progress, and
close our eyes to the Divine light shining in our midst.

Only by improving spiritually as well as materially can we make any real
progress, and become perfect beings. It was in order to bring this
spiritual life and light into the world that all the great Teachers have
appeared. They came so that the Sun of Truth might be manifested, and
shine in the hearts of men, and that through its wondrous power men might
attain unto Everlasting Light.

When the Lord Christ came He spread the light of the Holy Spirit on all
around Him, and His disciples and all who received His illumination became
enlightened, spiritual beings.

It was to manifest this light that Baha'u'llah was born, and came into the
world. He taught Eternal Truth to men, and shed the rays of Divine Light
in all lands.

Alas! behold how m