Developing Community

Consider the flowers of the rose garden. Although they are of different kinds, various colors and diverse forms and appearances, yet as they drink from one water, are swayed by one breeze and grow by the warmth and light of one sun, this variation and this difference cause each to enhance the beauty and splendor of the others. The differences in manners, in customs, in habits, in thoughts, opinions and in temperaments is the cause of the adornment of the world of mankind.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 295)

May you be filled with loving kindness.
May you be well.
May you be peaceful and at ease.
May you be happy.

(ancient - tibetan buddhist – blessing)

Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

(Bible: Malachai 2:10 (KJV))

Seek a true friend,
for a friend seeks the benefit of a friend,
Do good to the people for the sake of God
or for the peace of your own soul
that you may always see what is pure
and save your heart from the darkness of hate.
(Rumi, "Mathnawi" )

“He who experiences the unity of life, sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye…”

(Bhagavad-Gita VI, 29)

O ye lovers of this wronged one! Cleanse ye your eyes, so that ye behold no man as different from yourselves. See ye no strangers; rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness.

(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 23)

For our human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation,
our capacity to work for peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression: We give thanks this day.

(O. Eugene Pickett)

If they seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth and knoweth all things. [Koran, 8:61]

Assist the world of humanity as much as possible. Be the source of consolation to every sad one, assist every weak one, be helpful to every indigent one, care for every sick one, be the cause of glorification to every lowly one, and shelter those who are overshadowed by fear. In brief, let each one of you be as a lamp shining forth with the light of the virtues of the world of humanity.

(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 452)