Grade 2-4 Homework Assignment 3.

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4/11/2021 Bahá’í beliefs & practices - Review
Teacher: Cindy Van Kley 630-4504 cindyvankley@gmail.com
If you need help understanding your homework, please call or email me!

Remember: How do you act like a Bahá’í?

The Baha'i standard is very high, more particularly when compared with the thoroughly rotten morals of the present world.
But this standard of ours will produce healthier, happier, nobler people, and induce stabler marriages.... (Shoghi Effendi: A
Chaste and Holy Life, Page: 49)
‘Abdu’l-Bahá said:
“If he is a Bahá’í in reality, his deeds and actions will be decisive proofs of it. What are the requirements? Love for mankind,
sincerity toward all, reflecting the oneness of the world of humanity, philanthropy, becoming enkindled with the fire of the
love of God, attainment to the knowledge of God and that which is conducive to human welfare.”

Memory Verse: Practice every day. Say it in class next time.

1The honor of man is through the attainment of the knowledge of God; his happiness is from the love of God; his joy is in the glad
tidings of God; his greatness is dependent upon his servitude to God. 4The highest development of man is his entrance into the divine
Kingdom, and the outcome of this human existence is the nucleus and essence of eternal life. 2If man is bereft of the divine bestowals
and if his enjoyment and happiness are restricted to his material inclinations, what distinction or difference is there between the
animal and himself? In fact, the animal’s happiness is greater, for its wants are fewer and its means of livelihood easier to acquire.
3Although it is necessary for man to strive for material needs and comforts, his real need is the acquisition of the bounties of God. If

he is bereft of divine bounties, spiritual susceptibilities and heavenly glad tidings, the life of man in this world has not yielded any
worthy fruit. 5While possessing physical life, he should lay hold of the life spiritual, and together with bodily comforts and happiness,
he should enjoy divine pleasures and content. 6Then is man worthy of the title man; then will he be after the image and likeness of
God, for the image of the Merciful consists of the attributes of the heavenly Kingdom. 7If no fruits of the Kingdom appear in the garden
of his soul, man is not in the image and likeness of God, but if those fruits are forthcoming, he becomes the recipient of ideal
bestowals and is enkindled with the fire of the love of God. 8If his morals become spiritual in character, his aspirations heavenly and
his actions conformable to the Will of God, man has attained the image and likeness of his Creator… Therefore, Christ hath said, “Ye
shall know them by their fruits.” 9What are the fruits of the human world? They are the spiritual attributes which appear in man. If
man is bereft of those attributes, he is like a fruitless tree. 10One whose aspiration is lofty and who has developed self-reliance
will not be content with a mere animal existence. He will seek the divine Kingdom; 11You must thank God that your
efforts are high and noble, that your endeavors are worthy, that your intentions are centered upon the Kingdom of God
and that your supreme desire is the acquisition of eternal virtues. 12You must act in accordance with these
requirements. A man may be a Bahá’í in name only. If he is a Bahá’í in reality, his deeds and actions will be decisive
proofs of it. 13What are the requirements? Love for mankind, sincerity toward all, reflecting the oneness of
the world of humanity, philanthropy, 14becoming enkindled with the fire of the love of God,
attainment to the knowledge of God and that which is conducive to human welfare.

`Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, 2d ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 334-335

Practice the new verse for 10-15 minutes, and the WHOLE memory verse at least once every
day, and answer these questions. Write your answers in your Journal.

1. What is an example of a lofty aspiration?

2. If you become self-reliant, would you need to wait for parents or others to push you to study, practice or
do chores?
3. Can a pig or a cat or a hyena or a bear choose to be courteous?
4. Name 4 spiritual attributes that humans can develop that animals can NOT develop.
5. What do you think the “divine Kingdom” is?

PARENTS: please initial ONLY each day the student practices the memory verse (especially
the new part at least 10-15 minutes that day) and works on homework questions:

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

 BONUS QUESTIONS! 5 EXTRA POINTS EACH

1. What do you think it means that a man could be a Bahá’í “in name only”?
2. Who was a perfect Example of how to act like a Bahá’í?
3. How could you find out if your deeds and actions prove you are really a
Bahá’í?
4. According to which requirements must we act?
5. If we learn more about ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s actions and try to be like Him, would we
be better Bahá’ís?
6. What is an example of a worthy endeavor?
7. Practice the WHOLE memory verse for 20 minutes every night, spending
extra time on the parts that you always get stuck on.
8. Trace the Light Lilac, Yellow, and Teal portions of the verse neatly on the lined
paper.
9. Write the Dark Purple and Black portions of the verse neatly on the decorated
lined paper.
10. What kinds of actions would show that your intentions are centered upon
the Kingdom of God?
11. If your supreme desire is the acquisition of eternal virtues, would you put off
working on your memory verse till it’s too late and then make excuses, or
would you practice your verse first thing every day or night so you could
truthfully say you did your best?
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You/must/thank/God/that/your/efforts/are/
high/and/noble,/that/your/endeavors/are/
worthy,/that/your/intentions/are/centered
/upon/the/Kingdom/of/God/and/that/y
our/supreme/desire/is/the/acquisition/of
/eternal/virtues.
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1The honor of man is through the attainment of the
knowledge of God; his happiness is from the love of God;
his joy is in the glad tidings of God; his greatness is
dependent upon his servitude to God. 4The highest
development of man is his entrance into the divine
Kingdom, and the outcome of this human existence is the
nucleus and essence of eternal life. 2If man is bereft of the
divine bestowals and if his enjoyment and happiness are
restricted to his material inclinations, what distinction or
difference is there between the animal and himself? In
fact, the animal’s happiness is greater, for its wants are
fewer and its means of livelihood easier to acquire.
3Although it is necessary for man to strive for material

needs and comforts, his real need is the acquisition of the

bounties of God. If he is bereft of divine bounties, spiritual
susceptibilities and heavenly glad tidings, the life of man
in this world has not yielded any worthy fruit. 5While
possessing physical life, he should lay hold of the life
spiritual, and together with bodily comforts and
happiness, he should enjoy divine pleasures and content.
6Then is man worthy of the title man; then will he be after

the image and likeness of God, for the image of the

Merciful consists of the attributes of the heavenly
Kingdom. 7If no fruits of the Kingdom appear in the
garden of his soul, man is not in the image and likeness of
God, but if those fruits are forthcoming, he becomes the
recipient of ideal bestowals and is enkindled with the fire
of the love of God. 8If his morals become spiritual in
character, his aspirations heavenly and his actions
conformable to the Will of God, man has attained the
image and likeness of his Creator… Therefore, Christ hath
said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” 9What are the
fruits of the human world? They are the spiritual
attributes which appear in man. If man is bereft of those
attributes, he is like a fruitless tree. 10One whose
aspiration is lofty and who has developed self-
reliance will not be content with a mere animal
existence. He will seek the divine Kingdom; 11You
must thank God that your efforts are high and
noble, that your endeavors are worthy, that your
intentions are centered upon the Kingdom of God
and that your supreme desire is the acquisition of
eternal virtues. 12You must act in accordance with
these requirements. A man may be a Bahá’í in name
only. If he is a Bahá’í in reality, his deeds and
actions will be decisive proofs of it. 13What are the
requirements? Love for mankind, sincerity
toward all, reflecting the oneness of the world
of humanity, philanthropy, 14becoming
enkindled with the fire of the love of God,
attainment to the knowledge of God and that
which is conducive to human welfare.
`Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, 2d ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 334-335
 whose aspiration 10One

is lofty and
who has
developed
self-
reliance will not be content with
a mere animal

existence.
He will seek the divine
Kingdom;
‘Abdu’l-Baha, Sept. 24, 1912, from a talk given at the home of Mrs. Roberts in Denver, Colorado – recorded in Promulgation
of Universal Peace P. 335

Aspiration As – pih - RAY – shun A will to succeed; a strong desire to achieve or to succeed;
ambition; a drive for excellence; an admirable goal.
Lofty LOFF - tee Exalted or noble in character or nature; elevated, eminent, or
superior

Self-reliance Self – rih-LIE - ans Developing and depending on one's own capabilities, judgment,
or life skills; motivated by one’s own desire to excel;
independence.
Existence Ex – ISS - tense Life; way of living; state of being.
 must 11You

thank God that

your efforts
are high and noble, that
your endeavors are
worthy, that your
intentions
are centered
upon the
Kingdom of
God and that
your supreme
desire is the acquisition
of eternal virtues.
‘Abdu’l-Baha, Sept. 24, 1912, from a talk given at the home of Mrs. Roberts in Denver, Colorado – recorded in Promulgation
of Universal Peace P. 335

Noble NO - bull Having excellent qualities; Grand or impressive; Best known for showing a
superior mind or character.

Endeavors En – DEH - verz Effort or work done to try to reach a special goal; Tries or attempts.

Worthy WUR - thee Valuable; Honorable; Having enough value or excellence.

Intentions In - TEN - shunz Aim or goal; the purpose of one’s actions;

Supreme Soo - PREEM Highest in rank or degree; Greatest in importance.

Acquisition Ack - wuh – ZISH - un To get by one’s own efforts; Getting or obtaining something.

Eternal It – URN - ull Lasting forever; Without end or beginning; Valid for all time.
 12You must act
in accordance
with these
requirements.
A man may be a
Bahá’í in name
only.
If he is a Bahá’í in reality,
his deeds and
actions will be
decisive proofs of
it.
‘Abdu’l-Baha, Sept. 24, 1912, from a talk given at the home of Mrs. Roberts in Denver, Colorado – recorded in Promulgation
of Universal Peace P. 335

Accordance Uh – CORD - uns Agreement

Requirements Rick – WIRE - ments Needs. Necessary things.

Decisive Deh – SIH - ziv Beyond doubt. Unmistakable.

 13What are the
requirements?
Love for
mankind,
sincerity toward all,
reflecting the
oneness of the
world of
humanity,
philanthropy…
‘Abdu’l-Baha, Sept. 24, 1912, from a talk given at the home of Mrs. Roberts in Denver, Colorado – recorded in Promulgation
of Universal Peace P. 335

Sincerity Sinn – SAIR – uh - tee Trustworthiness, honesty, truthfulness, candidness. Genuineness.

Oneness WUHN - ness A condition of perfect harmony or accord. Unity of thought, feeling,
belief, aim. A strong feeling of closeness or agreement.

Oneness of Equality and harmony of all humans, regardless of gender, race,

religion, nationality, class or level of education
humanity
Philanthropy Fill – ANN – thruh -pee A spirit of goodwill toward all people, especially when expressed in
ACTIVE and generous EFFORTS to help others. A charitable act or gift.