A man from India said to 'Abdu'l-Baha: "My aim in life is to transmit as far as in me lies the message of Krishna to the world".
'Abdu'l-Baha said: "The message of Krishna is the message of love. All God's prophets have brought the message of love. None have ever thought that war and hate are good. Every one agrees in saying that love and kindness are best". Love manifests its reality in deeds, not just in words. For love to manifest its power there must be an object, an instrument, a motive.
There are many ways of expressing the love principle; there is love for the family, for the country, for the race, there is political enthusiasm, there is also the love of commu-nity of interest in service. These are all ways and means of showing the power of love. Otherwise love would be unseen, unheard, unfelt and would remain altoge-ther unexpressed, and unmani-fested. Love is unlimited, whereas material things are limited. You cannot adequately express infinite love by limited means. Perfect love needs an unselfish instrument, absolutely free of fetters. The love of family is limited. Often members of a family disagree; they might even hate each other. Patriotic love is finite; the love of one's country causing hatred of all others, is not perfect love. Compatriots also are not free from quarrels amongst themselves. The love of race is limited; so is the love of country. Love must be free from boundaries. To love your own race may mean hatred of all others, and even people of the same race often dislike each other.
Political love is bound with hatred of one party for another, so this love is limited and uncertain.
The great unselfish love is bound by none of these imperfect, semi-selfish bonds; this is one perfect love, accessible to all and can only be achieved by power of the Divine Spirit.
No worldly power can accomplish love that is universal in nature. Animal creation is captive to matter, but to man, God has given freedom.
Animals cannot escape the law of nature, whereas man may control it, for he, containing nature, can rise above it. The power of the Divine Spirit, enlightening man's intelligence, has enabled him to discover means of bending natural laws to his will. He flies through the air, floats on the sea, and even moves under water. Man's intellect has enabled him to overcome limitations of nature, and to discover her mysteries. The Divine Spirit will give to man greater powers than these, if only he will strive after the spiritual and endeavour to attune his heart to Divine infinite love. When you love family members or compatriots, let it be with a ray of Infinite Love. Let it be in God, and for God. Wherever you find the attributes of God — love that person — whether he be of your family or of another, of your country, faith, colour, race or another.
The underlying goal of achieving universal love should motivate you to accept everyone as your own and love them unconditionally.
'Abdu'l-Baha, son of the Prophet Founder of the Baha'i faith, on the occasion of Naw Ruz, the Baha'i New Year.
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