s character. This eternal bond should be made secure by a firm
covenant, and the intention should be to foster harmony, fellowship and
unity and to attain everlasting life...

In a true Baha'i marriage the two parties must become fully united both
spiritually and physically, so that they may attain eternal union
throughout all the worlds of God, and improve the spiritual life of each
other. This is Baha'i matrimony.

Among the majority of the people marriage consists of physical
relationship and this union and relationship is temporary for at the end
physical separation is destined and ordained. But the marriage of the
people of Baha must consist of both physical and spiritual relationship
for both of them are intoxicated with the wine of one cup, are attracted
by one Peerless Countenance, are quickened with one Life and are illumined
with one Light. This is the spiritual relationship and everlasting union.
Likewise in the physical world they are bound together with strong and
unbreakable ties.

When relationship, union and concord exist between the two from a physical
and spiritual standpoint, that is the real union, therefore everlasting.
But if the union is merely from the physical point of view, unquestionably
it is temporal and at the end separation is inevitable.

Consequently when the people of Baha desire to enter the sacred union of
marriage, eternal connection and ideal relationship, spiritual and
physical association of thoughts and conceptions of life must exist
between them, so that in all the grades of existence and all the worlds of
God this union may continue forever and ever for this real union is a
splendor of the light of the love of God.

Likewise if the souls become real believers they will find themselves
ushered into this exalted state of relationship, becoming the manifestors
of the love of the Merciful and exhilarated with the cup of the love of
God. Undoubtedly that union and relationship is eternal.

The souls who sacrifice self, become detached from the imperfections of
the realm of man and free from the shackles of this ephemeral world,
assuredly the splendors of the rays of divine union shall shine in their
hearts and in the eternal paradise they shall find ideal relationship,
union and happiness.

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS

Then, O ye friends of God! Ye must not only have kind and merciful
feelings for mankind, but ye should also exercise the utmost kindness
towards every living