天道以一个新的名号出现

Humanity, whether viewed in the light of man’s individual conduct or in the existing relationships between organized communities and nations, has, alas, strayed too far and suffered too great a decline to be redeemed through the unaided efforts of the best among its recognized rulers and statesmen—however disinterested their motives, however concerted their action, however unsparing in their zeal and devotion to its cause. No scheme which the calculations of the highest statesmanship  may yet devise; no doctrine which the most distinguished exponents of economic theory may hope to advance; no principle which the most ardent of moralists may strive to inculcate, can provide, in the last resort, adequate foundations upon which the future of a distracted world can be built. ——Shoghi Effendi.

不管从个人的道德品行，还是从有组织的团体和国家之间的既存关系上来看，唉！人类已误入沉沦之路太远，堕落太深了。以致人间最优秀的统治者或政治家，不管动机多么纯洁，行动多么坚韧，热情多么昂扬，献身精神多么彻底，在缺乏上天的匡助之下，皆无力挽救沉沦的趋势。最先进的政治思想所可以设计出来的计划，最杰出的经济学者所可以发表的理论，最热心的道德家所可以赘述的原理，作为最后的拯救方案，亦无法提供足够的基础，让这支离破碎的世界建立它未来的希望。——守基‧阿芬第。

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…… the Spirit breathed by Baha’u’llah upon the world . . . can never permeate and exercise an abiding influence upon mankind unless and until it incarnates itself in a visible order, which would bear His name, wholly identify itself with His principles and function in conformity with His laws. ——Shoghi Effendi.

……巴哈欧拉朝这世界呼出的气息……不可能弥漫各地，及发挥永久的作用，除非，并且直到，它化成了一个可见的、带着祂的名号、完全认同于祂的原则、根据祂的律法来处事的制度。——守基‧阿芬第。

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 ….The administration of the Cause is to be conceived as an instrument and not a substitute for the Faith of Baha’u’llah, . . . it should be regarded as a channel through which His promised blessings may flow . . . . ——Shoghi Effendi.

……应把圣道的行政管理当作一个工具，而非巴哈欧拉信仰的替代品……它是输送巴哈欧拉应诺的恩典之管道……——守基‧阿芬第。

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……The machinery of the Cause has been so fashioned, that whatever is deemed necessary to incorporate into it in order to keep it in the forefront of all progressive movements can, according to the provisions made by Baha’u’llah, be safely embodied therein. ——Shoghi Effendi.

……圣道的运作机器设计十分美妙。任何事物都可以根据巴哈欧拉所规定的条款安全地加插进去。唯这些加插进去的事物，需使圣道的机器保持在一切先进运动的最前线。——守基‧阿芬第。

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. . . Personalities should not be made centers around which the community may  revolve but . . . they should be subordinated under all conditions and however great their merits to the properly  constituted Assemblies. ——Shoghi Effendi. 

……不管个人在灵理会内显得多麽举足轻重，在任何情况下，都不可将他视为社众必须环绕的中心，而只是一种从属的关系。——守基‧阿芬第。

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