“灵性是上帝给与人最伟大的礼物。”
“Spirituality is the greatest of God's gifts”
“唯一真神显示自己的意图时，召唤人类顺从上帝的意愿，做到诚实和真挚，虔诚和可信，忍耐和仁爱，正直和智慧。他的[上帝的]目的是给每个人披上圣洁品格之装。”（《巴哈欧拉圣典选集》，299 页）
“The purpose of the one true God in manifesting Himself is to summon all mankind to truthfulness and sincerity, to piety and trustworthiness, to resignation and submissiveness to the Will of God, to forbearance and kindliness, to uprightness and wisdom. His object is to array every man with the mantle of a saintly character, and to adorn him with the ornament of holy and goodly deeds.” (“Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah”, p. 299)
在宇宙中所存在的和谐与一体性，我们的统一和警醒的符合更与比我们自己有限的存在更大的，即无限 存在之源，明确地反映世界上万物的一体和创造界的一致性。祈祷就是这种理解和实现的手段与表示；由于它的影响扩大而伸展我们有限的力量和致命的能力 ，并将它们连接到宇宙来源的无限辅助力量。如果与洞察力和有自由的思想，以真诚和纯洁的心灵说，祈祷将吸引神圣力量的辅助， 因而将滋养我们的期望与能力，并将给于我们做出的努力和行动支持。不过， 祈祷本身是足不够的---为了神圣的力量和帮助达到我们，我们需要做出努力，必须发挥我们的作用和贡献。我们尽力的这行为是对我们自己的发展；还有，为了改善全世界和人类文明的前进给不间断的、值得称赞的服务和努力。祈祷和实行与行动是相辅相成的。
Harmony and oneness, unity and vigilant conformity with something far greater than our own limited self, is a reflection of the true coherence and actual oneness that exists in the world of creation. Prayer is a testimony to such understanding and realization; it is the way of expanding our mortal abilities and stretching our limited forces to reach and connect with the Source of power and might in the universe. Prayer, a communion between our limited self and its limitless Source, attracts divine forces and powers, awakens and uplifts our beings, expands our limits and nourishes our abilities, empowers our minds and fills them with high aspirations; and it supports and sustains our actions and endeavors. Of course, prayer alone is not enough; in order for the spiritual forces and divine powers to reach us, and to support and assist us, we need to make the effort, attracting the blessings through rendering our share and playing our part well. This effort, this exertion on our part is the praiseworthy deed and the continuous action that we perform in developing ourselves and in bettering the world and its people around us. Prayer and action go hand in hand.
“上帝啊！望你畅奋而畅快我的精神，净化我的心田，启发我的智能。我托付所有我的事情在你的手中。你是我的向导，我的庇护。我将不再忧愁悲伤；我将作一个快乐喜悦的人。上帝啊！我将不再满怀焦虑，也不会让困难来烦扰我。人生不愉快的事情，我将不会记在心上。上帝啊！你对我比我对自己更为亲善。主啊！我立志为你献身尽瘁。” （阿博都.巴哈；《巴哈伊祷文》，页141）
“O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life. O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord!”
(`Abdu'l-Baha, “Baha'i Prayers”, p. 141)
如果有兴趣的话,欢迎您访问以下我两个英文的博客：
If interested you are welcome to visit my two other blogs in English:
Learning Felicityhttp://learningfelicity.blogspot.ca/
Inked ThinkPenhttp://inkedthinkpen.blogspot.ca/
Inked ThinkPenhttp://inkedthinkpen.blogspot.ca/
