109: Woman must endeavour then to attain greater perfection, to be man’s equal…
|
Woman must endeavour then to attain greater perfection, to be man’s equal
in every respect, to make progress in all in which she has been backward, so
that man will be compelled to acknowledge her equality of capacity and
attainment.
|
In Europe women have made greater progress than in the East, but there is
still much to be done! When students have arrived at the end of their school
term an examination takes place, and the result thereof determines the
knowledge and capacity of each student. So will it be with woman; her actions
will show her power, there will no longer be any need to proclaim it by words.
|
It is my hope that women of the East, as well as their Western sisters,
will progress rapidly until humanity shall reach perfection.
|
God’s Bounty is for all and gives power for all progress. When men own
the equality of women there will be no need for them to struggle for their
rights! One of the principles then of Bahá’u’lláh is the equality of sex.
|
Women must make the greatest effort to acquire spiritual power and to
increase in the virtue of wisdom and holiness until their enlightenment and
striving succeeds in bringing about the unity of mankind. They must work with
a burning enthusiasm to spread the Teaching of Bahá’u’lláh among the peoples,
so that the radiant light of the Divine Bounty may envelop the souls of all the
nations of the world!
(“Paris Talks: Addresses given by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in Paris in
1911–1912”, pp. 162–63) [109]
|