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)

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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)

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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