To be a source of joy and wash away sadness from hearts
Baha’u’llah and Abdul-Baha constantly emphasized that there is no greater happiness than being a source of joy to the hearts.
“..The honour and distinction of the individual consist in this, that he among all the world's multitudes should become a source of social good. Is any larger bounty conceivable than this, that an individual, looking within himself, should find that by the confirming grace of God he has become the cause of peace and well-being, of happiness and advantage to his fellow men? No, by the one true God, there is no greater bliss, no more complete delight.” (Abdu'l-Baha, The Secret of Divine Civilization, p. 2)
“I hope that thou mayest become a source of joy to the hearts.”(Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v1, p. 62)
“Turn all your thoughts toward bringing joy to hearts.” ― Abdu'l-Bahá
"...Man can receive no greater gift than this, that he rejoices another's heart." ― Abdu'l-Bahá
“I want you to be happy, to laugh, smile and rejoice in order that others may be made happy by you.” ― Abdu’l-Baha
“When a man has found the joy of life in one place, he returns to that same spot to find more joy..” ―‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, page 33.
“…Gladden and cheer every heart with the utmost loving-kindness, show forth your love to the strangers just as you show forth to your relations.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 353)
“It is a blessed thing to gladden the hearts of men, and wrong to be the cause of pain.” (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 79)
"The more we make others happy the greater will be our own happiness." - Shoghi Effendi, The Light of Divine Guidance v I, p. 45
Stories of Abdu'l-Baha
- Abdu’l-Baha loved to laugh, and those around him found solace herein because it was a laughter that embraced each one of them and brought about unity and peace. Numerous stories attest of how “He will charm with His guest with happy and humorous stories”. Many of these stories have a profound message: During a luncheon, while the Master was in New Hampshire, everyone was having polite conversation. In order to break the ice, ‘Abdu’l-Baha related an Oriental tale and made everyone laugh. At that same gathering He shared that it is good to laugh. Laughter is a spiritual relaxation. When they were in prison, He said, and under the utmost deprivation and difficulties, each of them at the close of the day would relate the most ludicrous event which had happened. Sometimes it was a little difficult to find one but always they would laugh until the tears would run down their cheeks. Happiness, He said, is never dependent upon material surroundings, otherwise how sad those years would have been. As it was they were always in the utmost state of joy and happiness. What a blessing to have laughter! It enables us to make friends, create unity and it even helps us to overcome the tests that we encounter in our lives.
- Abdu’l-Baha loved laughter and His laughter was often a source of solace. One writer observed that once He laughed so heartily at the observations and questions directed to Him that ‘His turban became disarranged. As He lifted His hands to straighten it, He smiled as though we had a little joke between us.
- This philosophy of joy was the keynote of all of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s teaching. “Are you happy?” was His frequent greeting to His visitors. “Be happy!”Those who were unhappy (and who of us is not at times!) would weep at this. And ‘Abdu’l-Baha would smile as if to say, “Yes, weep on. Beyond the tears is sunshine.”And sometimes He would wipe away with His own hands the tears from their wet cheeks, and they would leave His presence transfigured. (By Stanwood Cobb – Some warm memories of Abdu’l-Baha)
- Once ‘Abdu’l-Baha was asked, ‘Why do all the guests who visit you come away with shining countenances?’. He said with his beautiful smile: “I cannot tell you, but in all those upon whom I look, I see only my Father’s Face.” (Honnold, Annamarie, Vignettes from the Life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 96)
- “Mrs True, when you go back I want you to look at every human being and say to yourself, “you are a letter from my Beloved, and I must love you because of the Beloved Who wrote you. The letter may be torn, it may be blurred, but because the Beloved wrote the letter, you must love it.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, from the book, Corinne True)