undeveloped. If he is selfish, the
evil is not in his love of self--all love, even self-love, is good, is
divine. The evil is that he has such a poor, inadequate, misguided love of
self and such a lack of love for others and for God. He looks upon himself
as only a superior sort of animal, and foolishly pampers his lower nature
as he might pamper a pet dog--with worse results in his own case than in
that of the dog.

In one of His letters 'Abdu'l-Baha says:--

As to thy remark, that 'Abdu'l-Baha hath said to some of the
believers that evil never exists, nay rather, it is a nonexistent
thing, this is but truth, inasmuch as the greatest evil is man's
going astray and being veiled from truth. Error is lack of
guidance; darkness is absence of light; ignorance is lack of
knowledge; falsehood is lack of truthfulness; blindness is lack of
sight; and deafness is lack of hearing. Therefore, error,
blindness, deafness and ignorance are nonexistent things.

Again He says:--

In creation there is no evil; all is good. Certain qualities and
natures innate in some men and apparently blameworthy are not so
in reality. For example, from the beginning of his life you can
see in a nursing child the signs of desire, of anger, and of
temper. Then, it may be said, good and evil are innate in the
reality of man, and this is contrary to the pure goodness of
nature and creation. The answer to this is that desire, which is
to ask for something more, is a praiseworthy quality provided that
it is used suitably. So, if a man has the desire to acquire
science and knowledge, or to become compassionate, generous and
just, it is most praiseworthy. If he exercises his anger and wrath
against the bloodthirsty tyrants who are like ferocious beasts, it
is very praiseworthy; but if he does not use these qualities in a
right way, they are blameworthy....

... It is the same with all the natural qualities of man, which
constitute the capital of life; if they be used and displayed in
an unlawful way, they become blameworthy. Therefore it is clear
that creation is purely good.--Some Answered Questions, pp. 250,
251.

Evil is always lack of life. If the lower side of man's nature is
disproportionately developed, the remedy is not less life for that side,
but more life for the higher side, so that the balance may be restored. "I
am come,