| EDUCATION
Three Cardinal Principles
Excerpt from a statement made by Abdul-Baha to President Bliss of the American College of Beirut, Syria,, at Haifa,
The universities and colleges of the world must hold fast to three cardinal principles:
"First: Whole-hearted service to the cause of education, the unfolding of the mysteries of nature, the extension of the boundaries of science, the elimination of the causes of ignorance and social evils, a standard universal system of instruction, and. the diffusion of the lights of Knowledge and reality.
“Second: Service to the cause of morality, raising the moral tone of the students, inspiring them with the sublimest ethical ideals, teaching them altruism, inculcating in their lives the beauty of holiness and the excellency of virtue, and animating them with the graces and perfections of the religion of God.
"Third: -Service to the oneness of the world of humanity; so that each student may consciously realize that he is a brother' to all mankind irrespective of religion or race. The thoughts of universal peace must be instilled in the minds of all the scholars, in order that they may become the armies of peace, the real servants of the body politio-the world. God is the Father of all.. Mankind is His children. This globe is one home. Nations are the members of one family. The mothers in their homes, the teachers In the schools, the professors in the colleges, the presidents in the universities, must, teach these ideals to the young from the cradle to maturity | Be kind to all around and serve one another; love to be just and true in all your dealings; pray always and so live your life that sorrow cannot touch you. Look upon the people of your own race and those of other races as members of one organism; sons of the same Father; let it be known by your behavior that you are indeed the people of God......
The Disciples of Christ forgot themselves and all earthly things, forsook all their cares and belongings, purged themselves of self and passion and with absolute detachment scattered far and wide and engaged in calling the peoples pf the world to the Divine Guidance, till at last they made the world another world illuminated the surface of the earth and even to the last hour proved self-sacrificing in the pathway of that Beloved One of God. |