ha'u'llah has expanded and fulfilled the
teachings, and has applied them in detail to the whole world.

"There are no solitaries and no hermits among the Baha'is. Man must work
with his fellows. Everyone should have some trade, or art or profession,
be he rich or poor, and with this he must serve humanity. This service is
acceptable as the highest form of worship."

ART

A painter asked: "Is art a worthy vocation?" 'Abdu'l-Baha turning to her
impressively, said: "Art is worship."

An actor mentioned the drama, and its influence. "The drama is of the
utmost importance." said 'Abdu'l-Baha. "It has been a great educational
power in the past; it will be so again." He described how as a young boy
he witnessed the Mystery Play of 'Ali's Betrayal and Passion, and how it
affected him so deeply that he wept and could not sleep for many nights.

SYMBOLS

Someone wished to know if it were a good custom to wear a symbol, as, for
instance, a cross. He said: "You wear the cross for remembrance, it
concentrates your thoughts; it has no magical power. Baha'is often wear a
stone with the greatest name engraved on it: there is no magical influence
in the stone; it is a reminder, and companion. If you are about to do some
selfish or hasty action, and your glance falls on the ring on your hand,
you will remember and change your intention."

ESPERANTO

A friend enquired concerning Baha'u'llah's prophecy in the Words of
Paradise, that a universal language would be formed, and desired to know
if Esperanto would be the language chosen.

"The love and effort put into Esperanto will not be lost," he answered,
"but no one person can construct a Universal Language. It must be made by
a Council representing all countries, and must contain words from
different languages. It will be governed by the simplest rules, and there
will be no exceptions; neither will there be gender, nor extra and silent
letters. Everything indicated will have but one name. In Arabic there are
hundreds of names for the camel! In the schools of each nation the mother
tongue will be taught, as well as the revised Universal Language."

TOLSTOY

The same questioner said: "I have read much of Tolstoy and I see a
parallel between his teachings and yours. In one of his books he speaks of
the Enigma of Life, and describes how life is wasted in our endeavour to
find the Key. But Tolstoy goes on to say: 'There is a man in Persia who