rt yourselves with heart and
soul so that, perchance, through your efforts the light of universal peace
may shine and this darkness of estrangement and enmity may be dispelled
from amongst men, that all men may become as one family and consort
together in love and kindness, that the East may assist the West and the
West give help to the East, for all are the inhabitants of one planet, the
people of one original native land and the flocks of one Shepherd.

Consider how the Prophets Who have been sent, the great souls who have
appeared and the sages who have arisen in the world have exhorted mankind
to unity and love. This has been the essence of their mission and
teaching. This has been the goal of their guidance and message. The
Prophets, saints, seers and philosophers have sacrificed their lives in
order to establish these principles and teachings amongst men. Consider
the heedlessness of the world, for notwithstanding the efforts and
sufferings of the Prophets of God, the nations and peoples are still
engaged in hostility and fighting. Notwithstanding the heavenly
commandments to love one another, they are still shedding each other's
blood. How heedless and ignorant are the people of the world! How gross
the darkness which envelops them! Although they are the children of a
compassionate God, they continue to live and act in opposition to His will
and good pleasure. God is loving and kind to all men, and yet they show
the utmost enmity and hatred toward each other. God is the Giver of life
to them, and yet they constantly seek to destroy life. God blesses and
protects their homes; they rage, sack and destroy each other's homes.
Consider their ignorance and heedlessness!

Your duty is of another kind, for you are informed of the mysteries of
God. Your eyes are illumined; your ears are quickened with hearing. You
must, therefore, look toward each other and then toward mankind with the
utmost love and kindness. You have no excuse to bring before God if you
fail to live according to His command, for you are informed of that which
constitutes the good pleasure of God. You have heard His commandments and
precepts. You must, therefore, be kind to all men; you must even treat
your enemies as your friends. You must consider your evil-wishers as your
well-wishers. Those who are not agreeable toward you must be regarded as
those who are congenial and pleasant so that, perchance, this darkness of
disagreement and conflict may disa