"Concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity"

Association with other people

Good deeds and service to humanity is the most important elements of spiritual training and progress.

“Associate with all the peoples and kindreds of the earth with joy and radiance” (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 35)       

“Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship”  (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 14)

“A soul grows by the exercise of human virtues and the observance of human morals.” (Abdu’l-Baha SOW - Star of the West, Star of the West -  5)

Therefore developing a good and healthy relationship with others is essential for our spiritual growth and progress. In order to have better relationship with other people we need to:

Use Gentle Speech

“A harsh word is like unto a sword, but gentle speech is like unto milk. The children of the world attain to knowledge and better themselves through this.” (Baha’u’llah - Compilations, Baha'i Scriptures, p. 132)

“For the tongue is a smouldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century.”  (Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 264)

“A kindly tongue is the lodestone of the hearts of men” (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 288)

“Henceforward everyone should utter that which is meet and seemly, and should refrain from slander, abuse and whatever causeth sadness in men.” (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 219)

Find a point of agreement

“The purpose of these new laws is to destroy antagonism by finding a point of agreement. We cannot induce men to lay down their arms by fighting with them. If two individuals dispute about religion both are wrong.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 84)

Postpone discussion when necessary

“When you notice that a stage has been reached when enmity and threats are about to occur, you should immediately postpone discussion of the subject, until wrangling, disputations, and loud talk vanish, and a propitious time is at hand.”  (Abdu’l-Baha - Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 178)

Not to be hurt by short comings of others

“Trust in God and be unmoved by either the praise or the false accusations declared by people towards thee, depend entirely on God and exert thyself to serve His holy vineyard. All else save this is but imagination, though it be the praises of all people in thy behalf; because all else is of no result and bears no fruit.”  (Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of Abdu’l-Bahá v1, p. 158)

“Gird up thy loins, strengthen thy back, be not discouraged or grieved if people are pouring the arrows of scorn and blame thee, in so much as in this thou wilt follow the example of those who have endured every tribulation and calamity.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 281)

Remember that mostly our battle is with our own lower nature (when feelings of resentment, anger, hate etc. takes over) and not with other people

“Let your thoughts dwell on your own spiritual development, and close your eyes to the deficiencies of other souls. Act ye in such wise, showing forth pure and goodly deeds, and modesty and humility, that ye will cause others to be awakened.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 203)

Don’t give thoughts of bitterness any importance, Change Thoughts.  When we think negative thoughts towards others, it is an act of war and disunity

“I charge you all that each one of you concentrate all the thoughts of your heart on love and unity. When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony.. Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.”   (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 29)

Avoid strife and conflict

“Verily I say, strife and dissension, and whatsoever the mind of man abhorreth are entirely unworthy of his station.”  (Baha’u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u'llah, p. 196)

“Be not the cause of grief, much less of discord and strife.” (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 27)

 “Strife, antagonism . . . a spirit of hostility and hatred, . . . is contrary to the good pleasure of God.” (Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 397)

“Do not allow difference of opinion, or diversity of thought to separate you from your fellow-men, or to be the cause of dispute, hatred and strife in your hearts.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 53)

Be vigilant to not hurt anyone by action or words

“Incline your hearts to the counsels given by the Most Exalted Pen and beware lest your hands or tongues cause harm unto anyone among mankind.” (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p. 85)

“Beware lest ye harm any soul, or make any heart to sorrow; lest ye wound any man with your words, be he known to you or a stranger, be he friend or foe. Pray ye for all; ask ye that all be blessed, all be forgiven.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 73)

When we give advice, offer support and help or share learnings, we should accept the respond we get from people and should not force our ideas and methods on others.

“Consort with all men, O people of Baha, in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship. If ye be aware of a certain truth, if ye possess a jewel, of which others are deprived, share it with them in a language of utmost kindliness and goodwill. If it be accepted, if it fulfill its purpose, your object is attained. If anyone should refuse it, leave him unto himself, and beseech God to guide him. Beware lest ye deal unkindly with him.” (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 15)

“The children of men are all brothers, and the prerequisites of brotherhood are manifold. Among them is that one should wish for one's brother that which one wisheth for oneself. Therefore, it behoveth him who is the recipient of an inward or outward gift or who partaketh of the bread of heaven to inform and invite his friends with the utmost love and kindness. If they respond favourably, his object is attained; otherwise he should leave them to themselves without contending with them or uttering a word that would cause the least sadness. This is the undoubted truth, and aught else is unworthy and unbecoming.” (Baha'u'llah, Tabernacle of Unity)

“Wholly for the sake of God he should proclaim His Message, and with that same spirit accept whatever response his words may evoke in his hearer.” (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 339)

We should not compete but cooperate with others. Each individual has been bestowed with a unique destiny by God--a destiny which unfolds in accordance with the free exercise of the choices and opportunities presented in life. Different talents and capacities in human beings are for the purpose of establishing unity and every individual capacity is praiseworthy and positive, if it is used for the betterment of humanity and service towards greater good:

 “All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization.” (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 214)

 “Although the degrees of being are various, yet all are good. Observe the human body, its limbs, its members, the eye, the ear, the organs of smell, of taste, the hands, the fingernails. Notwithstanding the differences among all these parts, each one within the limitations of its own being participateth in a coherent whole.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 190)

“..The community needs financier, farmer merchant and labourer just as an army must be composed of commander, officers and privates. All cannot be commanders; all cannot be officers or privates. Each in his station in the social fabric must be competent…” (Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 36)

 “The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 53)

"Not all of us are capable of serving in the same way, but the one way every Baha’i can spread the Faith is by example. This moves the hearts of people far more deeply than words ever can.”  (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, October 14, 1943)

“A soul grows by the exercise of human virtues and the observance of human morals.”