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A new version of the Bahá’í Reference Library is now available. This ‘old version’ of the Bahá’í Reference Library will be replaced at a later date.
The new version of the Bahá’i Reference Library can be accessed here »
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“147: The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and…” |
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The art of music is divine and effective. It is the food of the soul and
spirit. Through the power and charm of music the spirit of man is uplifted.
It has wonderful sway and effect in the hearts of children, for their hearts
are pure and melodies have great influence in them. The latent talents with
which the hearts of these children are endowed will find expression through the
medium of music. Therefore, you must exert yourselves to make them proficient;
teach them to sing with excellence and effect. It is incumbent upon each child
to know something of music, for without knowledge of this art the melodies of
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instrument and voice cannot be rightly enjoyed. Likewise, it is necessary that
the schools teach it in order that the souls and hearts of the pupils may
become vivified and exhilarated and their lives be brightened with enjoyment.
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Today illumined and spiritual children are gathered in this meeting. They
are the children of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of heaven is for such souls as
these, for they are near to God. They have pure hearts. They have spiritual
faces. The effect of the divine teachings is manifest in the perfect purity of
their hearts. That is why Christ has addressed the world, saying, “Except ye
be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven”—that is, men must become pure in heart to know God. The
teachings have had great effect. Spiritual souls! Tender souls! The hearts
of all children are of the utmost purity. They are mirrors upon which no dust
has fallen. But this purity is on account of weakness and innocence, not on
account of any strength and testing, for as this is the early period of their
childhood, their hearts and minds are unsullied by the world. They cannot
display any great intelligence. They have neither hypocrisy nor deceit. This
is on account of the child’s weakness, whereas the man becomes pure through his
strength. Through the power of intelligence he becomes simple; through the
great power of reason and understanding and not through the power of weakness
he becomes sincere. When he attains to the state of perfection, he will
receive these qualities; his heart becomes purified, his spirit enlightened,
his soul is sensitized and tender—all through his great strength. This is
the difference between the perfect man and the child. Both have the underlying
qualities of simplicity and sincerity—the child through the power of
weakness and the man through the power of strength.
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I give you my advice, and it is this: Train these children with divine
exhortations. From their childhood instill in their hearts the love of God so
they may manifest in their lives the fear of God and have confidence in the
bestowals of God. Teach them to free themselves from human imperfections and
to acquire the divine perfections latent in the heart of man. The life of man
is useful if he attains the perfections of man. If he becomes the center of
the imperfections of the world of humanity, death is better than life, and
nonexistence better than existence. Therefore, make ye an effort in order
that these children may be rightly trained and educated and that each of them
may attain perfection in the world of humanity. Know ye the value of these
children for they are all my children.
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