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Hello again friends,
Today when people are turning their disappointed faces towards the shrinking finances all over the world, let us turn heavenwards and see what blessings the Lord has bestowed upon mankind in a new revelation, let us look at NEWS FROM HEAVEN.
Let us see what He reveals concerning the old questions about finances and economy. For as Abdu'l-Bahá the son of Bahaullah says,
"O thou seeker after the Kingdom! Every divine Manifestation is the very life of the world, and the skilled physician of each ailing soul. The world of man is sick, and the competent Physician knoweth the cure, arising as He doth with teachings, counsels and admonitions that are the remedy of each pain, the healing balm to every wound". This time I'll touch upon economy and public finance." It is certain that the wise physician can diagnose his patient's needs at any season, and apply the cure. Wherefore, relate thou the Teachings of the Abhá Beauty to the urgent needs of this present day, and thou wilt see that they provide an instant remedy for the ailing body of the world....The treatment ordered by the wise physicians of the past, and by those that follow after, is not one and the same, rather doth it depend on what aileth the patient; and although the remedy may change, the aim is always to bring back the patient back to health. In the dispensations gone before, the feeble body of the world could not withstand a rigorous and powerful cure. For this reason did Christ(The Holy Spirit) say: "I have yet many things to say unto you, matters needing to be told, but ye cannot bear to hear them now. Howbeit when that Comforting Spirit, Whom the Father will send, shall come, He will make plain unto you the whole truth.
Abdu'l-Bahá says:"The arrangements of the circumstances of the people must be such that poverty shall disappear, that everyone, as far as possible, according to his rank and position, shall share in comfort and wellbeing. We see among us men who are overburdened with riches on the one hand, and on the other those unfortunate ones who starve with nothing...This condition of affairs is wrong, and must be remedied.
...Certainly, some being enormously rich and others lamentably poor, an organisation is necessary to control and improve this state of affairs. It is important to limit riches, as it is also important to limit poverty.
Public finace.( Bahaullah and the New Era quoted).
'Abdu'l-Bahá suggests that each town and village or district should be entrusted as far as possible with the administration of fiscal matters within in own area and should contribute its due proportion for the expenses of the general government. One of the principal sources of revenue should be graduated income tax. If a man's income does not exceed his necessary expenditure he should not be required to pay tax, but in all cases where income exceeds the necessary expenditure a tax should be levied, the percentage of tax increasing as the surplus of income over necessary expenditure increases.
On the other hand, if a person, through illness, poor crops, or other cause for which he is not responsible, is unable to earn an income sufficient to meet his necessary expenses for the year, then what he lacks for the maintenance of himself and his family should be supplied out of public fonds. There will also be other sources of public revenue, e.g. from intestate estates, mines, treasure trove and volontary contributions;while among the expenditures will be grants for the support of the infirm, of orphans, of schools, of the deaf and blind, and for the maintenance of public health. Thus the welfare and comfort of all will be provided for".
Abdu'l-Bahá has given many public addresses especially in the US concerning particulars of this matter.
I'll just ask, what has the bank folks done in the US? certainly not followed the above counsels, but one day they will. Certainly.
One thing is well pursued in the US, I have heard and that is voluntarily sharing.
In a letter to the Central Organization for a Durable Peace, written in 1919, Abdu'l-Bahá says:-
"Among the teachings of Bahaullah is voluntarily sharing of one's property with others among mankind. This volontarily sharing is greater than (legally imposed) equality, and consists in this, that one should not prefer oneself to others, but rather should sacrifice one's life and property for others. But this should not be induced by coersion so that it becomes a law which man is compelled to follow. Nay, rather, man should voluntarily and of his own choice sacrifice his property and life for others, and spend willingly for the poor, just as is done in Persia among the Bahais."
So what do you think?
Kind regards fronm Laila
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