Difficulties Experienced by Each Manifestation of God

From: Baha’i Scriptures concerning Jesus & Christianity

Judge thou fairly, I adjure thee by God. What proof did the Jewish doctors adduce wherewith to condemn Him Who was the Spirit of God (Jesus Christ), when He came unto them with truth? What could have been the evidence produced by the Pharisees and the idolatrous priests to justify their denial of Muhammad, the Apostle of God when He came unto them with a Book that judged between truth and falsehood with a justice which turned into light the darkness of the earth, and enraptured the hearts of such as had known Him? (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 81) 

Consider and call thou to mind the days whereon the Spirit of God (Jesus Christ) appeared, and Herod gave judgment against Him. God, however, aided Him with the hosts of the unseen, and protected Him with truth, and sent Him down unto another land, according to His promise. He, verily, ordaineth what He pleaseth. Thy Lord truly preserveth whom He willeth, be he in the midst of the seas or in the maw of the serpent, or beneath the sword of the oppressor." (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 57)

He that married not (Jesus Christ) could find no place wherein to abide, nor where to lay His head, by reason of what the hands of the treacherous had wrought. His holiness consisted not in the things ye have believed and imagined, but rather in the things which belong unto Us. Ask, that ye may be made aware of His station which hath been exalted above the vain imaginings of all the peoples of the earth. Blessed are they that understand. (Baha'u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 49)

The Constitution of the Universal House of Justice

From: Introduction to Baha’i Books

The Constitution of the Universal House of Justice is referred to by the beloved Guardian as the “Most Great Law of the Faith of Baha’u’llah” (The Universal House of Justice, Ridvan 130, 1973). It contains 16 pages and is divided into two sections:

1. Declaration of Trust; and

2. By-Laws

For an inspiring and informative review of its contents, please see the transcript of a talk given by Mr. Ali Nakhjavani, a member of the House of Justice. A copy is posted at Baha’i Talks

Divine Lote-Tree

From: Baha’i Glossary

A reference to the tree beyond which there is no passing - in ancient times, the tree that Arabs planted to mark the end of a road. In Islam, the term symbolizes the point in the heavens beyond which neither humans nor angels can pass in their approach to God, thus delimiting the bounds of divine knowledge as revealed to humankind. In Baha’i usage it is a reference to the Messenger of God - i.e., Baha’u’llah.

Quiz 10

From: Baha’i Knowledge Hunt

• Is it true that the spiritual world is a “counterpart” of this physical world?    Answer 

• ‘Abdu’l-Baha is reported to have said that one’s “faith embodies three degrees”. Can you name them?   Answer

• Baha’u’llah’s vision of a “Maiden”, which the Guardian explains in God Passes By as the representation of the “Most Great Spirit” is compared to the “sacred fire, the Burning Bush, the Dove and the Angel Gabriel” in which religions, respectively?    Answer 

• Which Baha’i sacred tombs lie at the center of the arc on Mount Carmel that accommodates the buildings of the Universal House of Justice, the International Teaching Center, the Center for the study of the Text, and the International Archives?    Answer 

• How was Baha’u’llah related to Abraham?    Answer 

• How old is the seaport of Akka?    Answer

• It is the first time in known history that a Messenger of God is known to be on this continent. Which continent is it?    Answer

Baha'u'llah Sought Justice as a Child

From: Baha’i Stories

While still a child, the Blessed Beauty (Baha'u'llah) watched as a government tax-collector, on three separate occasions, accosted His father and demanded, in cruel and unjust manner, the payment of taxes. Unable to bear the injustice of it all, He, though in early childhood, mounted His horse and rode fpr two days until He arrived in Tihran (the capital of Persia). There He sought the dismissal of this unjust and tyrannical tax-collectot. He succeeded in obtaining the necessary papers ordering the dismissal, and returned to His parents. 

(Mr. Furutan, ‘Story of Baha'u'llah’)

Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga with his family

From: We are Baha’is

Hand of the Cause Enoch Olinga (second from left) with members of his family; to his left, his daughter, Florence, to his right, his wife, Elizabeth, and extreme right, his son, George. (Baha'i News July 1972)

Each believer should “pattern his life according to the Teachings” – no “set of rigid regulations”

From: Daily Spiritual Food for Thought

It is neither possible nor desirable for the Universal House of Justice to set forth a set of rules covering every situation. Rather is it the task of the individual believer to determine, according to his own prayerful understanding of the Writings, precisely what his course of conduct should be in relation to situations which he encounters in his daily life. If he is to fulfil his true mission in life as a follower of the Blessed Perfection, he will pattern his life according to the Teachings. The believer cannot attain this objective merely by living according to a set of rigid regulations. When his life is oriented toward service to Bahá'u'lláh, and when every conscious act is performed within this frame of reference, he will not fail to achieve the true purpose of his life.

Therefore, every believer must continually study the sacred Writings and the instructions of the beloved Guardian, striving always to attain a new and better understanding of their import to him and to his society. He should pray fervently for Divine Guidance, wisdom and strength to do what is pleasing to God, and to serve Him at all times and to the best of his ability. 

(From a letter dated 17 October 1968 written by the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, a Chase and Holy Life)

Going to Mashriqu'l-Adhkár at dawn

From: Daily Verses of God

Blessed is he who, at the hour of dawn, centering his thoughts on God, occupied with His remembrance, and supplicating His forgiveness, directeth his steps to the Mashriqu'l-Adhkár and, entering therein, seateth himself in silence to listen to the verses of God, the Sovereign, the Mighty, the All-Praised. Say: The Mashriqu'l-Adhkár is each and every building which hath been erected in cities and villages for the celebration of My praise. Such is the name by which it hath been designated before the throne of glory, were ye of those who understand. 

(Baha’u’llah, the Kitab-i-Aqdas)

1913: Baha’i students at Beirut School

From: Worldwide Community of Baha’u’llah

1913 - Some Baha’i students with their teachers at Beirut School. Shoghi Effendi is indicated by an “x”.

October 27, 1957: Shoghi Effendi caught Asiatic influenza in London and a doctor prescribed medicine

From: Baha’i Calendar – this month in history

On Sunday afternoon[while in London], October 27th, Shoghi Effendi told Ruhiyyih Khanum that he had a pain across his knuckles in both hands; she asked him if he had any other pains, and he said no, that just his fingers pained him and were stir He added: "I feel so tired, so tired." She begged him to rest, saying that if he did not wish to go to bed, at least he should rest quietly because the probability was that he was getting the influenza which was sweeping through Europe and indeed all over the world. (She herself had been in bed with fever since Thursday night.) That night he had a fever and by the following day his temperature had risen to thirty-nine degrees. Ruhiyyih Khanum succeeded in finding an excellent doctor who had taken over the practice of a well-known Harley Street physician who had retired. This doctor was contacted and immediately prescribed medicine for the beloved Guardian and came to see him early in the evening when he was able to get away from his hospital. He examined his patient very carefully; heart, chest, temperature, pulse, etc., and said that he considered that both the Guardian and Ruhiyyih Khanum had cases of Asiatic influenza, the beloved Guardian's case being the more severe.

(Ruhiyyih Khanum, ‘The Passing of Shoghi Effendi’)

To train our soul in this life so that “at the hour of death, [it will] ascend, in the utmost purity and sanctity and with absolute detachment.”

From: Human Soul and Its Eternal Journey

The Prophets and Messengers of God have been sent down for the sole purpose of guiding mankind to the straight Path of Truth. The purpose underlying Their revelation hath been to educate all men, that they may, at the hour of death, ascend, in the utmost purity and sanctity and with absolute detachment, to the throne of the Most High. 

(Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah)

‘Abdu’l-Baha with children

From: ‘Abdu’l-Baha Visits the West

‘Abdu’l-Baha with children in Chicago, May 1912

“Arise from the corporeal beds (bodies) and ask for the divine favors…

From: Counsels and Explanations by ‘Abdu’l-Baha – Daily Readings

O thou who art attracted by the Fragrances of God! 

Verily I say unto thee the truth, that I am with you in spirit and in heart, that I rejoice by your joy and am happy by your happiness; and hear with the ear of spirit your calling and scent with the spiritual nostrils the fragrances of your garden. 

O ye friends of God! Arise from the corporeal beds (bodies) and ask for the divine favors, so that ye become revived by the Holy Spirit through the breath which the Spirit breathes into the souls. 

By the glory of my Lord, there will be for your brilliant assemblage an evident sign and great effects in the spirits and the hearts. Therefore, gladden the friends of the Merciful with the glad-tidings of thy Lord in this time, and convey to them greeting from ‘Abdu’l-Baha in this promised century, so that they may arise with me in servitude to the Threshold of El-Baha. 

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, vol. 1)

Marriage should be viewed as a “fortress for well-being and salvation”

From: Teachings of the Baha’i Faith

And when He [God] desired to manifest grace and beneficence to men, and to set the world in order, He revealed observances and created laws; among them He established the law of marriage, made it as a fortress for well-being and salvation, and enjoined it upon us in that which was sent down out of the heaven of sanctity in His Most Holy Book. He saith, great is His glory: "Marry, O people, that from you may appear he who will remember Me amongst My servants; this is one of My commandments unto you; obey it as an assistance to yourselves." 

(Baha’u’llah, ‘Baha'i Prayers’)

One of Baha’u’llah’s Seals

From: Baha’i Sacred Relics

Illumined Seal of Baha’u’llah

Teaching the Cause

From: Vision and Insight – daily gems

O thou maid-servant of God! Whenever thou art intending to deliver a speech, turn thy face toward the Kingdom of Abha and, with a heart detached, begin to talk. The breaths of the Holy Spirit will assist thee. 

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, ‘Tablets of 'Abdu'l-Baha, vol. 2’) 

God is the Great Compassionate Physician Who Alone Gives Healing - a talk by 'Abdu'l-Baha

From: Talks of ‘Abdu’l-Baha      

October 19th, 1911, Paris

All true healing comes from God! There are two causes for sickness, one is material, the other spiritual. If the sickness is of the body, a material remedy is needed, if of the soul, a spiritual remedy.

If the heavenly benediction be upon us while we are being healed then only can we be made whole, for medicine is but the outward and visible means through which we obtain the heavenly healing. Unless the spirit be healed, the cure of the body is worth nothing. All is in the hands of God, and without Him there can be no health in us!

There have been many men who have died at last of the very disease of which they have made a special study. Aristotle, for instance, who made a special study of the digestion, died of a gastronomic malady. Aviseu was a specialist of the heart, but he died of heart disease. God is the great compassionate Physician who alone has the power to give true healing.

All creatures are dependent upon God, however great may seem their knowledge, power and independence.

Read more…

London: ‘Abdu’l-Baha used “the power of Baha’u’llah” -- an incident witnessed by Lady Blomfield

From: Vignettes about ‘Abdu’l-Baha

One day after a meeting when, as usual, many people had crowded round Him, 'Abdu'l-Bahá arrived home very tired. We were sad at heart that He should be so fatigued, and bewailed the many steps to be ascended to the flat. Suddenly, to our amazement, the Master ran up the stairs to the top very quickly without stopping.

He looked down at us as we walked up after Him, saying with a bright smile, from which all traces of fatigue had vanished:

"You are all very old! I am very young!"

Seeing me full of wonder, 'Abdu'l-Bahá said: "Through the power of Bahá'u'lláh all things can be done. I have just used that power."

That was the only time we had ever seen Him use that power for Himself, and I feel that He did so then to cheer and comfort us, as we were really sad concerning His fatigue.

Might it not also have been to show us an example of the great Reserve of Divine Force always available for those of us who are working in various ways in the "Path of the Love of God and of Mankind." A celestial strength which reinforces us when our human strength fails. 
(Lady Blomfield, ‘The Chosen Highway’)

Ye are Drops – lyrics of a Baha’i song

From: Baha’i Songs & Poems

Ye are drops (ye are drops) echo voice

Of one ocean (of one ocean)

Ye are leaves (ye are leaves)

Of one tree (of one tree)

Come and join us (come and join us)

In our quest for unity

It’s a way of life for you and me.

All the earth is (all the earth is)

But one country (but one country)

Man is one (man is one)

Can’t you see (can’t you see)

Come and join us (come and join us)