New Site: Insights from God Passes By

Sequential excerpts from the book: ‘God Passes By’, written in 1944 by Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith

“love amongst the believers is the magnet which will, above all else, attract the hearts and bring new souls into the Cause”

He was very happy to hear from you, and to learn that Green Acre this year was pervaded with a love and harmony that was instrumental in confirming many new souls in the Faith. This love amongst the believers is the magnet which will, above all else, attract the hearts and bring new souls into the Cause. Because obviously the teachings - however wonderful - cannot change the world unless the Spirit of Bahá'u'lláh's love is mirrored in the Bahá'í Communities.

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 27 October 1944 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)

Facsimile of Tahirih's handwriting

(The Dawn-Breakers)

Baha’i requirements for a “chase and holy life”

Such a chaste and holy life, with its implications of modesty, purity, temperance, decency, and clean-mindedness, involves

• no less than the exercise of moderation in all that pertains to dress, language, amusements, and all artistic and literary avocations.
• It demands daily vigilance in the control of one's carnal desires and corrupt inclinations·        
• It calls for the abandonment of a frivolous conduct, with its excessive attachment to
• trivial and often
• misdirected pleasures.
• It requires total abstinence from all alcoholic drinks, from opium, and from similar habit-forming drugs.
• It condemns
• the prostitution of art and of literature,
• the practices of nudism and of
• companionate marriage,
• infidelity in marital relationships, and
• all manner of promiscuity,
• of easy familiarity, and
• of sexual vices.
• It can tolerate no compromise with
• the theories,
• the standards,
• the habits, and
• the excesses of a decadent age.
• Nay rather it seeks to demonstrate, through the dynamic force of its example,
• the pernicious character of such theories,
• the falsity of such standards,
• the hollowness of such claims,
• the perversity of such habits, and
• the sacrilegious character of such excesses.

-Shoghi Effendi  (‘The Advent of Divine Justice’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, A Chase and Holy Life)

The effect of meeting the Manifestation of God...

Adib Taherzadeh explains the effect Baha'u'llah had on those believers who came into His presence.

Indications of Baha’i “rectitude of conduct”

Such a rectitude of conduct must manifest itself, with ever-increasing potency,

• in every verdict which the elected representatives of the Bahá'í community, in whatever capacity they may find themselves, may be called upon to pronounce.
• It must be constantly reflected in the business dealings of all its members,
• in their domestic lives,
• in all manner of employment, and
• in any service they may, in the future, render their government or people.
• It must be exemplified in the conduct of all Bahá'í electors, when exercising their sacred rights and functions.
• It must characterize the attitude of every loyal believer towards
• nonacceptance of political posts,
• nonidentification with political parties,
• nonparticipation in political controversies, and
• nonmembership in political organizations and ecclesiastical institutions.
• It must reveal itself in the uncompromising adherence of all, whether young or old,
• to the clearly enunciated and fundamental principles laid down by `Abdu'l-Bahá in His addresses, and
• to the laws and ordinances revealed by Bahá'u'lláh in His Most Holy Book.
• It must be demonstrated in the impartiality of every defender of the Faith against its enemies,
• in his fair-mindedness
• in recognizing any merits that enemy may possess, and
• in his honesty in discharging any obligations he may have towards him.
• It must constitute the brightest ornament of the life, the pursuits, the exertions, and the utterances of every Bahá'í teacher,
• whether laboring at home or abroad,
• whether in the front ranks of the teaching force, or
• occupying a less active and responsible position.
• It must be made the hallmark of that numerically small, yet intensely dynamic and highly responsible body of the elected national representatives of every Bahá'í community, which constitutes the sustaining pillar, and the sole instrument for the election, in every community, of that Universal House whose very name and title, as ordained by Bahá'u'lláh, symbolizes that rectitude of conduct which is its highest mission to safeguard and enforce.

 - Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 25 December 1938 to the Bahá'ís of the United States and Canada, published in ‘The Advent of Divine Justice’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Excellence in All Things)

The Prisoner of 'Akka - video

'Abdu’l-Baha, The Center of the Covenant – by Juliet Thompson

A remarkable, inspiring, and heart-warming article by Juliet Thompson that rekindles one’s love and admiration for ‘Abdu’l-Baha.

Limitations of “the application of logical analysis” in individual interpretation of the Writings

As to the question of individual interpretation, while individual interpretation is the fruit of man's rational power and conducive to a better understanding of the teachings, the application of logical analysis has inherent limitations. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá stated:

Therefore, if the criterion of reason or intellect constituted a correct and infallible standard of judgment, those who tested and applied it should have arrived at the same conclusions. As they differ and are contradictory in conclusions, it is an evidence that the method and standard of test must have been faulty and insufficient. (The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in 1912, p. 254)

Understanding of the Writings requires belief in the Manifestation of God, for, as the Master states:

. . . the knowledge of God is the cause of spiritual progress and attraction, and through it the perception of truth, the exaltation of humanity, divine civilization, rightness of morals and illumination are obtained. (Some Answered Questions, p. 300)

Other important components in this process include an attitude of prayerful humility, acceptance of the statements of the Manifestation, confidence in the knowledge that understanding of their meaning will emerge with meditation, study of the texts and the passage of time, willingness to acknowledge that one's views may be erroneous, and, courage to follow in the direction defined by the authentic sacred texts. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 26 November 1986 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to a National Spiritual Assembly; ‘Messages from the Universal House of justice 1986-2001’)

Shoghi Effendi’s humility and selflessness – a kind not yet known elsewhere

Colorized Photo of Shoghi Effendi

Humility of a kind not yet known elsewhere was one of Shoghi Effendi's many unique virtues, a humility which came from the conviction that man's faculties are not self-created but are a precious trust from God, not to be displayed or used overbearingly or with vanity. And yet he emanated true pride and dignity, such a regal dignity that raised him far above any man I have yet met or known.

When conversing with him, one could strongly sense this feeling of humility, while his ample brow and penetrating eyes reflected an inner light born of faith, courage and determination. One could feel an awareness that was amazing and rendered one speechless.

Shoghi Effendi's selflessness was not only outstanding but exemplary. He never placed his personal interests or desires ahead of his functions as Guardian. Those who were near to him inevitably felt that his life was something to be fully expended in the service of God and humanity, in a dedication unlike that of any other human being. When close to him I always felt the powerful process of his sublimation to the reality of the unseen world, while his body was there, near to me, like a visible, finely-tuned musical instrument whose melodies, imperceptible to the human ear, vibrated unseen through the ether.

He was always ready to give comfort, verbally or in writing, to encourage, to praise and to stimulate to such a degree that one felt the urge to place at his disposal life, time and possessions within the range of one's capacity and emotional exaltation. This was the essence of his detachment from worldly things. The less he thought of himself, the higher he soared in the sphere of spiritual authority and prestige. This was perhaps the secret of his tremendous attraction and influence upon those who came close to him.

- Hand of the Cause Ugo Giachery  (‘Shoghi Effendi – Recollections’)

Four things we “must concentrate on”

We must concentrate

• on perfecting our characters as individual Bahá'ís, and
• on maturing our still embryonic, and as yet improperly understood, World Order;
• on spreading the Message, according to the provisions of the Divine Plan; and
• on building a tightly knit world-wide Bahá'í Community.

We are relatively few in numbers, and have such a precious, unique and responsible task to carry out. We must concentrate our full forces upon it.

- Shoghi Effendi  (From a letter dated 9 May 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States and Canada) – The Compilation of Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)

Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel, Israel: - Prophet and Herald of the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh

The “double task of simultaneously building an ideal society and perfecting the behavior of individuals”

At the very core of the aims of the Faith are the establishment of justice and unity in the world, the removal of prejudice and enmity from among all people, the awakening of compassion and understanding in the hearts of all men and women, and the raising of all souls to a new level of spirituality and behavior through the vitalizing influence of divine Revelation. The course set forth by Baha'u'llah for the attainment of these aims is the double task of simultaneously building an ideal society and perfecting the behavior of individuals. For this dual and reciprocal transformation He has not only revealed laws, principles and truths attuned to the needs of this age, but has established the very nucleus and pattern of those institutions which are to evolve into the structure of the divinely purposed world society. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 2 July 1996 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)

Prayer to be recited by visitors to the resting-place of Baha’u’llah’s wife, “the saintly Navváb”

O faithful ones! Should ye visit the resting-place of the Most Exalted Leaf, who hath ascended unto the Glorious Companion, stand ye and say: ‘Salutation and blessing and glory upon thee, O Holy Leaf that hath sprung from the Divine Lote-Tree! I bear witness that thou hast believed in God and in His signs, and answered His Call, and turned unto Him, and held fast unto His cord, and clung to the hem of His grace, and fled thy home in His path, and chosen to live as a stranger, out of love for His presence and in thy longing to serve Him. May God have mercy upon him that draweth nigh unto thee, and remembereth thee through the things which My Pen hath voiced in this, the most great station. We pray God that He may forgive us, and forgive them that have turned unto thee, and grant their desires, and bestow upon them, through His wondrous grace, whatever be their wish. He, verily, is the Bountiful, the Generous. Praise be to God, He Who is the Desire of all worlds; and the Beloved of all who recognize Him.

- Baha’u’llah  (Quoted by Shoghi Effendi in a letter dated December 21, 1939; ‘Messages to America’)

The eulogy of Baha’u’llah by Quddús “assumed the dimensions of five hundred thousand verses”

…Quddús, although besieged within the fort of Shaykh Tabarsí by the battalions and fire of a relentless enemy, engaged, both in the daytime and in the night-season, in the completion of his eulogy of Bahá’u’lláh—that immortal commentary on the Sád of Samad which had already assumed the dimensions of five hundred thousand verses? 

- Nabil  (‘The Dawn-Breakers’, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi)

Please note:

The combined number of verses in the Qur'an+New Testament+Old Testament is slightly more than 37,000. 

A New Site: Love...Compassion...Forgiveness

Excerpts from the Writings of the Baha’i Faith…

Shaykh Ahmad – a forerunner of the Báb

Descriptive list of sequential excerpts from chapter 1 of ‘The Dawn-Breakers’, by Nabil, translated and edited by Shoghi Effendi

Traditions from Prophet Muhammad concerning the city of ‘Akka – quoted by Baha’u’llah

Recent aerial view of 'Akka

• “Akká is a city in Syria to which God hath shown His special mercy.”
• “Of all shores the best is the shore of Askelon, and Akká is, verily, better than Askelon, and the merit of Akká above that of Askelon and all other shores is as the merit of Muhammad above that of all other Prophets. I bring you tidings of a city betwixt two mountains in Syria, in the middle of a meadow, which is called Akká. Verily, he that entereth therein, longing for it and eager to visit it, God will forgive his sins, both of the past and of the future. And he that departeth from it, other than as a pilgrim, God will not bless his departure. In it is a spring called the Spring of the Cow. Whoso drinketh a draught therefrom, God will fill his heart with light, and will protect him from the most great terror on the Day of Resurrection.” 
• “By the shore of the sea is a city, suspended beneath the Throne, and named Akká. He that dwelleth therein, firm and expecting a reward from God—exalted be He—God will write down for him, until the Day of Resurrection, the recompense of such as have been patient, and have stood up, and knelt down, and prostrated themselves, before Him.”
• “I announce unto you a city, on the shores of the sea, white, whose whiteness is pleasing unto God—exalted be He! It is called Akká. He that hath been bitten by one of its fleas is better, in the estimation of God, than he who hath received a grievous blow in the path of God. And he that raiseth therein the call to prayer, his voice will be lifted up unto Paradise. And he that remaineth therein for seven days in the face of the enemy, God will gather him with Khidr—peace be upon Him—and God will protect him from the most great terror on the Day of Resurrection.”
• “There are kings and princes in Paradise. The poor of Akká are the kings of Paradise and the princes thereof. A month in Akká is better than a thousand years elsewhere.”

Meaning of firmness in the Covenant

Firmness in the Covenant means obedience, so that no one may say, 'this is my opinion,' nay rather he must obey that which proceeds from the Pen and Tongue of the Covenant. 

- 'Abdu'l-Baha  (From a Tablet, Star of West, Vol. 8, no. 17, January 19, 1918)