The Trust of God

From: Portraits of ‘Abdu’l-Baha

"He is the Trust of God amongst you, His charge within you, His manifestation unto you and His appearance among His favoured servants ..." (Baha'u'llah, quoted by Shoghi Effendi in the World Order of Baha'u'llah)

Photograph taken in 1912 during 'Abdu'l-Baha's visit to the United States

No one should exalt himself over the other

From: Teachings of the Baha’i faith

O Children of Men! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory. 

(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Hidden Words of Bahá’u’lláh’)

1909 - The Chicago Baha'i Temple Committee

From: Worldwide Community of Baha’u’llah

August 1, 1909 - The committee of fifteen reviewing architects' plans for the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar. Standing left to right: Mr. Windust, Mr. Remey, Mrs. True, Mr. Lesch. Mrs Brush, Mr. Hall, Mr. Brush, Mr. Chase, Mr. Jacobsen, Mr. Currier. Seated, let to right: Mr. Scheffler, Mr. struven, Mr. Agnew, Mr. Woodworth, Mr. Fuller.

We can’t be too exemplary

From: Baha’i Points of Interest

The eyes of the people of the world are beginning to be focused on us; and, as humanity's plight goes from bad to worse, we will be watched ever more intently by non-Baha'is, to see whether we do uphold our own institutions whole-heartedly; whether we are the people of the new creation or not; whether we live up to our beliefs, principles and laws in deed as well as word. We cannot be too careful. We cannot be too exemplary. 

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, ‘Unfolding Destiny’)

One's vision

From: Memorizing Baha’i Writings

O Man of Two Visions! Close one eye and open the other. Close one to the world and all that is therein, and open the other to the hallowed beauty of the Beloved.

(Baha'u'llah, ‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’; included in Ruhi Book 2)

What it means to be a real Christian

From: Christian themes in Baha’i Literature

Therefore, to be a Christian is not merely to bear the name of Christ and say, "I belong to a Christian government." To be a real Christian is to be a servant in His Cause and Kingdom, to go forth under His banner of peace and love toward all mankind, to be self-sacrificing and obedient, to become quickened by the breaths of the Holy Spirit, to be mirrors reflecting the radiance of the divinity of Christ, to be fruitful trees in the garden of His planting, to refresh the world by the water of life of His teachings -- in all things to be like Him and filled with the spirit of His love. 

('Abdu'l-Baha, from a talk; ‘The Promulgation of Universal Peace’)

Followers’ Expectations of Fulfillment of Prophecies

From: Baha’i Scriptures concerning Jesus and Christianity

As the adherents of Jesus have never understood the hidden meaning of these words, and as the signs which they and the leaders of their Faith have expected have failed to appear, they therefore refused to acknowledge, even until now, the truth of those Manifestations of Holiness that have since the days of Jesus been made manifest. They have thus deprived themselves of the outpourings of God’s holy grace, and of the wonders of His divine utterance. Such is their low estate in this, the Day of Resurrection! They have even failed to perceive that were the signs of the Manifestation of God in every age to appear in the visible realm in accordance with the text of established traditions, none could possibly deny or turn away, nor would the blessed be distinguished from the miserable, and the transgressor from the God-fearing. Judge fairly: Were the prophecies recorded in the Gospel to be literally fulfilled; were Jesus, Son of Mary, accompanied by angels, to descend from the visible heaven upon the clouds; who would dare to disbelieve, who would dare to reject the truth, and wax disdainful? Nay, such consternation would immediately seize all the dwellers of the earth that no soul would feel able to utter a word, much less to reject or accept the truth. 

(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Book of Certitude’)

1922: Baha’is of Britain formed a National Council [1] – the Guardian delineates its duties

From: Insights from Messages to the Baha’i World Community – by Shoghi Effendi

I need hardly tell you how grateful and gratified I felt when I heard the news of the actual formation of a National Council whose main object is to guide, co-ordinate and harmonise the various activities of the friends, and when I learned of its satisfactory composition, its harmonious procedure and the splendid work it is achieving.

My earnest prayer is that the blessing of the Almighty may rest upon all its deliberations, that it may be divinely guided, inspired in its work, may smooth speedily and definitely all differences that may arise, may promote the all-important work of Teaching, may widen the sphere of its correspondence and exchange of news with the distant parts of the Bahá'í world, may secure through its publications a dignified and proper presentation of the Cause to the enlightened public, and may in every other respect prove itself capable of distinct and worthy achievements. 

(Shoghi Effendi, excerpt from a letter dated 16 December 1922 to Baha’is in Great Britain; 'The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha’i Community')

[1 Dr. Esselmont and E. T. Hall were "chosen" to represent Bournemouth and Manchester respectively and they met with seven others representing "The London Groups" to form the first "All-England Bahá'í Council" which met at the London home of Mrs. Thornburgh-Cropper 6 June, 1922. Mr. G. P. Simpson was elected Chairman.]

Quiz 11

From: Baha’i Knowledge Hunt

• What are some “divine susceptibilities” that according to the Master we need to “awaken and develop” in others?   Answer 

• How does the Bab explain the relation between the Manifestations of God and the “Primal Will of God”?    Answer
• Knowing that “archetype” is defined in the dictionary as “ a model, or original pattern from which all other things of the same kind are made, a prototype”, who does the Guardian identify as the “archetype of the people of Baha”?    Answer 
• The observance of the Day of the Covenant on November 26th of each year was the result of what request to ‘Abdu’l-Baha from the believers in the West?    Answer
• Which city was designated by Baha’u’llah as the “remote prison” and how long did He stay there?    Answer
• The Baha’i Dispensation is divided into three Ages. Can you name them and identify their corresponding dates?   Answer
• Is it true that according to Baha’i scriptures Jesus’ crucifixion should be viewed as a “ransom” for the “sins and iniquities” of “all the people of the earth”? Should the Bab’s martyrdom be viewed similarly?    Answer 

Resurrection of Jesus Christ

From: Baha’i Pilgrim Notes

'Abdu'l-Baha said:

Jesus Christ had two bodies -- one spiritual and one material.

The material body is of no importance; it changes and changes and changes always. An old person's body is not the same, as that of the same individual when young.

The visible world does nothing but change, and change leads to annihilation.

We must be sure that when the soul of man leaves his body, it never returns to that body again.

In the Gospel record, when Jesus Christ was crucified and ascended, Mary Magdalene and the other disciples had fallen into such a state of excitement and agitation, that during three days the cause of God was annihilated for them. After three days their agitation having abated, they realised that the cause of Jesus Christ, and His teaching was everlasting in the world. The disciples would not at first write to the other believers openly that Jesus was crucified till Mary Magdalene said to them what does it matter; His soul is with us. When Jesus was crucified, some said ‘His religion is annihilated and gone.’ Mary Magdalene said ‘Matter is gone, and flesh -- but the soul of the religion is forever.’

Read more …

Paragraph 1.7 of Surih of Temple in 'The Summons of the Lord of Hosts'

From: Reflecting on Baha’i Writings: The Summons of the Lord of Hosts

"O people of the Bayan! If ye aid Him not, God will assuredly assist Him with the powers of earth and heaven, and sustain Him with the hosts of the unseen through His command "Be", and it is! The day is approaching when God will have, by an act of His Will, raised up a race of men the nature of which is inscrutable to all save God, the All-Powerful, the Self-Subsisting. He shall purify them from the defilement of idle fancies and corrupt desires, shall lift them up to the heights of holiness, and shall cause them to manifest the signs of His sovereignty and might upon earth. Thus hath it been ordained by God, the All-Glorious, the All-Loving."

Comments:

· As we know, the “people of Bayan” is a reference to the followers of the Bab. It’s very sad that most of Baha’u’llah’s sufferings were caused by those followers of the Bab, albeit a very small group, that didn’t recognize Him as the Promised One of the Bab and did their best to discredit and harm Him. For example this reference from the beloved Master:

“…the people of Bayan who broke the Covenant of His Holiness, the Báb, and from six directions shot arrows of reproach and calumny at Thy Blessed Body.” (‘Abdu’l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 433)

· This paragraph also reminds us that the Manifestation of God has the full support of God and that God will “assist Him with the powers of earth and heaven, and sustain Him with the hosts of the unseen …” We may wonder, isn’t this obvious, since after all He is trying to do God’s Will. Maybe part of the wisdom of us being reminded of this point is to have absolute faith and confidence in the ability of the Manifestation of God to “assist” and “sustain” us when we are in need, since He has the full support of God.

Read more…

Dispensation

From: Baha’i Glossary

The period of time during which the laws and teachings of a Prophet or Manifestation of God have spiritual authority. A dispensation begins with the Manifestation's declaration of His mission and ends with the advent of the next Manifestation of God.

Dr. Edward Getsinger (1866-1935)

From: Baha’i Biographical Notes

Early American believer who had become a Baha’i by 1897. He and his wife Lua were the first American-born Baha'is to visit 'Abdu'l-Baha, remaining in the Holy Land from November 1898 to March 1899.

The re-opening to pilgrims Baha’u’llah’s Cell in the Most Great Prison – from a talk by Hartmut Grossman, 2003

From: Excerpts from Baha’i Talks (audio & transcripts), Messages and Articles

-- read the entire talk

The Universal House of Justice views the re-opening of the Cell of Baha’u’llah as being a very significant event, so much so that prior to the pilgrims’ visit, all of the members went to the Cell as a Body to say special prayers.

We should remember the suffering that occurred at this prison - the prison designated by Him as the Most Great Prison, which is deeply significant considering the conditions under which He suffered in the ‘Black-Pit’, the Siyah-Chal, in Tehran. He had just arrived when he was forced to sell His carpet, the carpet He used to sleep on, to pay for the funeral expenses of one of the members of His entourage. Even after paying the expenses, the body was still treated very disrespectfully, but He had to make the attempt. It was while confined to this Cell that He sacrificed His son. Many, many other afflictions were faced by Him there.

Read more …

October 1852

From: Baha’i Calendar -- this month in history

The 'Year Nine' is an abbreviation of 1269 A.H. The beginning of the Year Nine occurred about two months after His (Bahá'u'lláh's) imprisonment in that dungeon. We do not know the exact time He received this first intimation... We therefore regard the entire Year Nine as a Holy Year, and the emphasis should be placed ... on the entire year, which started in October, 1852. This means our Centenary Year of Celebration will be from October, 1952 to October, 1953. 

(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi, ‘Directives from the Guardian’)

Functioning of the Universal House of Justice – by ‘Abdu’l-Baha

From: Baha’i tablets – provisional translations

-- provisional translation by Moojan Momen

He is the All-Glorious!

O you who are clinging fast to the hem of Covenant, your letter was read and your detailed questions were noted. Although calamities, like deadly poison, have affected my limbs, my members and my joints, such that my pen is prevented from writing and my tongue from speaking, and my tasks are so many that it is not possible to describe them, yet nevertheless, out of the great love that this servant has for that gentleman, a spiritual answer will be given, which will be compatible with Divine wisdom, concise and illuminating, perfectly explaining the matter. It will be a comprehensive explanation concerning this question and will contain acceptable and sought-after insights such that by this explanation, clarification, analysis, allusion, commentary and spiritual interpretation, one hundred doors will be opened up by each of its doors. Otherwise, were the horizons to become pages, it would not be enough to encompass [this theme].

Read more…

song: Fort Tabarsi

From: Baha'i Songs and Poems

Fort Tabarsi, by Gordie Munro

Secret to happiness

From: Gems of Insight from ‘Abdu’l-Baha

“Human happiness is founded upon spiritual behaviour …”

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’)

Baha’u’llah demonstrates how one’s attitude towards the Manifestations of God should be

From: Baha’i Stories

One day the youthful Blessed Beauty [Baha'u'llah] was present at a gathering convened by Mirza Nazar-'Ali, the Sufi murshid (spiritual guide) who was more highly esteemed at the court of Muhammad Shah [the Persian reigning monarch] than the prime minister himself, Haji Mirza Aqasi. The discourse of Mirza Nazar-'Ali had developed to the point of claiming: 'I shall be the last to hold the seat of mystical learning; the succession of great occupants will end with me, for I have attained such a degree of resignation that should Jesus Christ Himself suddenly appear in the doorway, it would cause no change in my state.'

Everyone nodded and murmured assent except Baha'u'llah, Who addressed the speaker: 'Jinab-i-Hakim, [your honor, the wise one] I shall ask you a question, and I urge you to give a truthful reply. If, without your consent, the curtain should be raised and the royal executioner enter, sword in hand and advancing towards you, would this affect your composure?'

After a moment's reflection Mirza Nazar - 'Ali replied, 'Yes, it would affect me.'

‘In that case’, Baha’u’llah stated, ‘you should not have made such a claim.’

(Recorded by Nabil; Stories of Baha’u’llah, compiled by Ali-Akbar Furutan)