To “be born again”

Jesus Christ said ‘Ye must be born again’ so that divine Life may spring anew within you. Be kind to all around and serve one another; love to be just and true in all your dealings; pray always and so live your life that sorrow cannot touch you. Look upon the people of your own race and those of other races as members of one organism; sons of the same Father; let it be known by your behaviour that you are indeed the people of God. Then wars and disputes shall cease and over the world will spread the Most Great Peace. 

- ‘Abdu’l-Baha  (From a talk, September 24th, Clifton, Bristol; ‘London Talks’)

Some guiding spiritual principles for Spiritual Assembly members – also helpful for LSA’s own periodic reflections

The duties of those whom the friends have freely and conscientiously elected as their representatives are no less vital and binding than the obligations of those who have chosen them.

• Their function is not to dictate, but to consult, and consult not only among themselves, but as much as possible with the friends whom they represent.
• They must regard themselves in no other light but that of chosen instruments for a more efficient and dignified presentation of the Cause of God.
• They should never be led to suppose that they are the central ornaments of the body of the Cause, intrinsically superior to others in capacity or merit, and sole promoters of its teachings and principles.
• They should approach their task
• with extreme humility, and
• endeavour, by their open-mindedness,
• their high sense of justice and duty,
• their candour,
• their modesty,
• their entire devotion to the welfare and interests of the friends, the Cause, and humanity,
• to win,
• not only the confidence and the genuine support and respect of those whom they serve, but
• also their esteem and real affection.
• They must, at all times,
• avoid the spirit of exclusiveness,
• the atmosphere of secrecy,
• free themselves from a domineering attitude, and
• banish all forms of prejudice and passion from their deliberations.
• They should, within the limits of wise discretion,
• take the friends into their confidence,
• acquaint them with their plans,
• share with them their problems and anxieties, and
• seek their advice and counsel.
• And, when they are called upon to arrive at a certain decision,
• they should, after dispassionate, anxious and cordial consultation,
• turn to God in prayer, and
• with earnestness and conviction and courage record their vote
• and abide by the voice of the majority, which we are told by our Master to be the voice of truth, never to be challenged, and always to be whole-heartedly enforced. To this voice the friends must heartily respond, and regard it as the only means that can ensure the protection and advancement of the Cause.

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 18 July 2000, written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)

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To “discern with the eye of oneness His [God’s] glorious handiwork, and look into all things with a searching eye.” (Baha'u'llah, ‘Tablets of Baha'u'llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

1952: First Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of The Hague, Netherlands

(The Baha'i World 1950-1954)

Salient objectives of the Local Spiritual Assembly

Among the more salient objectives to be attained by the Local Spiritual Assembly in its process of development to full maturity are

• to act as a loving shepherd to the Baha'i flock,
• promote unity and concord among the friends,
• direct the teaching work,
• protect the Cause of God,
• arrange for
• Feasts,
• anniversaries and
• regular meetings of the community,
• familiarize the Baha'is with its plans,
• invite the community to offer its recommendations,
• promote the welfare of youth and children, and
• participate, as circumstances permit, in humanitarian activities. 
• In its relationship to the individual believer, the Assembly should
• continuously invite and encourage him to study the Faith,
• to deliver its glorious message,
• to live in accordance with its teachings,
• to contribute freely and regularly to the Fund,
• to participate in community activities, and
• to seek refuge in the Assembly for advice and help, when needed.

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 30 July 1972 to the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Bolivia; ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986’)

1957: Hands of the Cause residing in the Holy Land

Bahji 1957: The nine Hands of the Cause who resided in the Holy Land after the passing of Shoghi Effendi

The “two great processes...at work in the world”

We are told by Shoghi Effendi that two great processes are at work in the world: the great Plan of God, tumultuous in its progress, working through mankind as a whole, tearing down barriers to world unity and forging humankind into a unified body in the fires of suffering and experience. This process will produce, in God's due time, the Lesser Peace, the political unification of the world. Mankind at that time can be likened to a body that is unified but without life. The second process, the task of breathing life into this unified body of creating true unity and spirituality culminating in the Most Great Peace is that of the Bahá'ís, who are labouring consciously, with detailed instructions and continuing divine guidance, to erect the fabric of the Kingdom of God on earth, into which they call their fellow-men, thus conferring upon them eternal life.

The working out of God's Major Plan proceeds mysteriously in ways directed by Him alone, but the Minor Plan that He has given us to execute, as our part in His grand design for the redemption of mankind, is clearly delineated. 

- The Universal House of Justice  (From a letter dated 8 December 1967 to an individual believer; compilation ’Holocaust, the Greater Plan of God, and the Destiny of the Jewish People’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice; also in ‘Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986)

The Báb “revealed no less than nine commentaries on the whole of the Qur’án”

It was during His incarceration in the fortress of Máh-Kú that He, according to the testimony of Shaykh Hasan-i-Zunúzí, who transcribed during those nine months the verses dictated by the Báb to His amanuensis, revealed no less than nine commentaries on the whole of the Qur’án—commentaries whose fate, alas, is unknown, and one of which, at least the Author Himself affirmed, surpassed in some respects a book as deservedly famous as the Qayyúmu’l-Asmá. 

- Shoghi Effendi  (‘God Passes By’)