“The state in which one should be to seriously search for the truth”

The state in which one should be to seriously search for the truth is the condition of the thirsty, burning soul desiring the water of life, of the fish struggling to reach the sea, of the sufferer seeking for the true doctor to obtain the divine cure, of the lost caravan endeavoring to find the right road, of the lost and wandering ship striving to reach the shore of salvation.

Therefore, the seeker must be endowed with certain qualities. First of all, he must be just and severed from all else save God; his heart must be entirely turned to the supreme horizon; he must be free from the bondage of self and passion, for all these are obstacles. Furthermore, he must be able to endure all hardships. He must be absolutely pure and sanctified, and free from the love or the hatred of the inhabitants of the world. Why? because the fact of his love for any person or thing might prevent him from recognizing the truth in another, and, in the same way, hatred for anything might be a hindrance in discerning truth. This is the condition of seeking, and the seeker must have these qualities and attributes. Until he reaches this condition, it is not possible for him to attain to the Sun of Reality. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Some Answered Questions’)

A prayer revealed and chanted by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in Montreal, Canada, September 1, 1912

O Thou kind Lord! These people have turned to Thee in prayer. With utmost humility and sincerity they have raised their voices to Thy Kingdom to beg Thy forgiveness.

O God! Make this assemblage noble and these persons holy. Enkindle the lights of guidance, illumine the hearts, bring joy to the souls, admit them into Thy Kingdom and enable them to attain felicity in both worlds.

O God! We are abased, glorify us; we are poor, make us rich from the treasury of Thy Kingdom; we are sick, grant us health; we are weak, give us power. O God, guide us to Thy good-pleasure and make us free from self and desire. O God, make us firm in Thy love and assist us to be kind to all creatures. Help us to render service to humanity so that we may serve all Thy servants, love all Thy creatures, be kind to all mankind. O God, verily Thou art the Powerful, the Merciful, the Forgiving and the Omnipotent. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Mahmud’s Diary’)

The Nature of God from the Baha’i perspective – from a memorandum of the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice

- the "Essence" of God is "unknowable".

- The "Reality of Divinity ... is invisible, incomprehensible, inaccessible, a pure essence which cannot be described ..."

- God is "exalted beyond every human attribute, such as corporeal existence..."

- "God is never flesh". The Godhead has no physical form and does not in any way resemble a human being, male or female.

- The "attributes" of the Manifestations of God are the means by which the "Divine characteristics and perfections" of God are made known to humanity. (From a Memorandum of the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, dated February 23, 1992)

How to view all the peoples of the world -- 'Abdu'l-Baha explains

The Blessed Beauty said: “All are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch.” He likened the world of existence to one tree and all the souls to leaves, blossoms and fruits. Therefore all the branches, leaves, blossoms and fruits must be in the utmost of freshness, and the bringing about of this delicacy and sweetness depends upon union and fellowship. Therefore they must assist each other with all their power and seek everlasting life. Thus the friends of God must manifest the mercy of the Compassionate Lord in the world of existence and must show forth the bounty of the visible and invisible King. They must purify their sight, and look upon mankind as the leaves, blossoms and fruits of the tree of creation, and must always be thinking of doing good to someone, of love, consideration, affection and assistance to somebody. They must see no enemy and count no one as an ill wisher. They must consider every one on the earth as a friend; regard the stranger as an intimate, and the alien as a companion. They must not be bound by any tie, nay, rather, they should be free from every bond. In this day the one who is favored in the threshold of grandeur is the one who offers the cup of faithfulness and bestows the pearl of gift to the enemies, even to the fallen oppressor, lends a helping hand, and considers every bitter foe as an affectionate friend. (‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Baha’i World Faith’)

The World Council of Youth, California, 1932

The World Council of Youth, California, 1932

 

Held in Pasadena, California, in August 1932. Many of the younger members of various Baha'i Communities were in attendance at the Conference and rendered valuable services in the interest of World Peace and World Understanding. (The Baha'i World 1932-1934)

The “fountain-head of all calamities”, and man’s “supreme affliction”

And among the teachings of His Holiness Bahá'u'lláh is man's freedom, that through the ideal power he should be free and emancipated from the captivity of the world of nature; for as long as man is captive to nature he is a ferocious animal, as the struggle for existence is one of the exigencies of the world of nature. This matter of the struggle for existence is the fountain-head of all calamities and is the supreme affliction. (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablet to the Hague)

Three types of marriage – a pilgrim’s recollection

There are three types of marriage being practiced in the world today. None of them conforms to the Baha’i principles of marriage. The first is the so-called “romantic” marriage of the west. This is the least successful type of marriage. The second is the marriage of convenience practiced in Europe – in which the marriage is intended to benefit the social or financial position of the partners and there is usually a mistress in the background. The third is the arranged marriage of the east – of which there are several kinds. In the Baha’i marriage the two people must choose each other, and the four parents must given their consent to the marriage. The two people study each other’s character before deciding to marry – to make sure that there are no character traits in the other person which would in time become intolerable and become the cause of separation. (Reported words of Shoghi Effendi to a Baha’i pilgrim: Isobel Sabri of Kampala Uganda, April 1957)

God’s redemptive grace is flowing through “His faithful servants”

God's redemptive grace, flowing through the small yet infinitely resourceful band of His faithful servants will, as in the days past, gradually permeate the world, and infuse into the consciousness of peoples and nations alike the realization that nothing short of the divine panacea He Himself has prescribed can cure the ills now so sadly afflicting the whole of mankind. What a higher privilege therefore than to be the instrument, the channel for the transmission of such divine grace. (The Universal House of Justice; from a letter to all pioneers, dated 29 November 1970; Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1963-1986) (To see the entire message please visit Messages to the Baha’i World Community – by the Universal House of Justice)

Examples of individual teaching goals

It is now imperative for every Bahá'í to set for himself individual teaching goals. The admonition of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to lead at least one new soul to the Faith each year and the exhortation of Shoghi Effendi to hold a Bahá'í fireside in one's home every Bahá'í month are examples of individual goals. (The Universal House of Justice, from a message to the Baha’is of the world dated 16 November 1969; Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986) (To see the entire message please visit Messages to the Baha’i World Community – by the Universal House of Justice)

The verse to say at the time of “the appearance of fearful and natural events”

On the appearance of fearful natural events call ye to mind the might and majesty of your Lord, He Who heareth and seeth all, and say “Dominion is God’s, the Lord of the seen and the unseen, the Lord of creation”. (Baha’u’llah, ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

January 2001: Special gathering in Holy Land

Hand of the Cause of God 'Ali-Akbar Furutan (front row, center) with members of the Universal House of Justice, International Teaching Centre, and Continental Counsellors standing on the stairs in front of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, January 2001 (The Baha'i World 2000-2001)

We should “consciously strive to be more loving, more united, more dedicated and prayerful than ever before in order to overcome the atmosphere of present-day society…”

We all know how often the Master and the beloved Guardian called upon the friends to consciously strive to be more loving, more united, more dedicated and prayerful than ever before in order to overcome the atmosphere of present-day society which is unloving, disunited, careless of right and wrong and heedless of God. "... when we see the increasing darkness in the world today," the Guardian's secretary wrote on his behalf, "we can fully realize that unless the Message of Bahá'u'lláh reaches into the hearts of men and transforms them, there can be no peace and no spiritual progress in the future." (The Universal House of Justice, from a message to the Baha’is of the world dated 16 November 1969; Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986) (To see the entire message please visit Messages to the Baha’i World Community – by the Universal House of Justice)

Each Baha’i is “a bearer of the Divine Message”

Every Bahá'í, however humble or inarticulate, must become intent on fulfilling his role as a bearer of the Divine Message. Indeed, how can a true believer remain silent while around us men cry out in anguish for truth, love and unity to descend upon this world? (The Universal House of Justice, from a message to the Baha’is of the world dated 16 November 1969; Messages from the Universal House of Justice, 1963-1986) (To see the entire message please visit Messages to the Baha’i World Community – by the Universal House of Justice)

Sutherland Maxwell's design submission for Chicago Baha'i Temple competion, 1919

Design submitted by Mr. Sutherland Maxwell, architect, Montreal Canada, for the competition for the Baha'i Temple, held in New York, 1919. (The Baha'i World 1938-1940)

Prayer for protection for the bearer, revealed by Baha’u’llah -- Originally written as "Du’á-yi Hifz"[1]

In His Name, the Exalted, the All-Highest, the Most Sublime!

Glorified art Thou, O Lord my God! O Thou Who art my God, and my Master, and my Lord, and my Support, and my Hope, and my Refuge, and my Light. I ask of Thee, by Thine Hidden and Treasured Name, that none knoweth save Thine own Self, to protect the bearer of this Tablet from every calamity and pestilence, and from every wicked man and woman; from the evil of the evil-doers, and from the scheming of the unbelievers. Preserve him, moreover, O my God, from every pain and vexation, O Thou Who holdest in Thy hand the empire of all things. Thou, truly, art powerful over all things. Thou doest as Thou willest, and ordainest as Thou pleasest.

O Thou King of Kings! O Thou kind Lord! O Thou Source of ancient bounty, of grace, of generosity and bestowal! O Thou Healer of sicknesses! O Thou Sufficer of needs! O Thou Light of Light! O Thou Light above all Lights! O Thou Revealer of every Manifestation! O Thou the Compassionate! O Thou the Merciful! Do Thou have mercy upon the bearer of this Tablet, through Thy most great mercy and Thine abundant grace, O Thou the Gracious, Thou the Bounteous. Guard him, moreover, through Thy protection, from whatsoever his heart and mind may find repugnant. Of those endued with power, Thou, verily, art the most powerful. The Glory of God rest upon thee, O thou rising sun! Do thou testify unto that which God hath testified of His own Self, that there is none other God besides Him, the Almighty, the Best-Beloved.(Baha’u’llah)

[1] This prayer was included with the following letter from the Universal House of Justice:

Characteristics of learning in action

The mode of operation adopted in the area of social and economic development, in common with other areas of Bahá’í activity, is one of learning in action. When efforts are carried out in a learning mode — characterized by constant action, reflection, consultation, and study —visions and strategies are re-examined time and again. As tasks are accomplished, obstacles removed, resources multiplied, and lessons learned, modifications are made in goals and methods. The learning process, which is given direction through appropriate institutional arrangements, unfolds in a way that resembles the growth and differentiation of a living organism. Haphazard change is avoided, and continuity of action maintained. (From a paper prepared by the Office of Social and Economic Development at the Bahá’í World Centre, 26 November 2012, approved by the Universal House of Justice for distribution)

Enhancing our understanding about Baha’i attitude towards divorce – a few passages from the Writings …

• General condition of the society

This great law [of parental consent] He has laid down to strengthen the social fabric, to knit closer the ties of the home, to place a certain gratitude and respect in the hearts of children for those who have given them life and sent their souls out on the eternal journey towards their Creator. We Bahá'ís must realize that in present-day society the exact opposite process is taking place: young people care less and less for their parents' wishes, divorce is considered a natural right, and obtained on the flimsiest and most unwarrantable and shabby pretexts. People separated from each other, especially if one of them has had full custody of the children, are only too willing to belittle the importance of the partner in marriage also responsible as a parent for bringing those children into this world. The Bahá'ís must, through rigid adherence to the Bahá'í laws and teachings, combat these corrosive forces which are so rapidly destroying home life and the beauty of family relationships, and tearing down the moral structure of society. (From a letter dated25 October 1947 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the United States; compilation ‘Consent of Parents to Marriage’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice)

• “…it is discouraged, deprecated and against the good pleasure of God.”

Regarding divorce, the Guardian stated that it is discouraged, deprecated and against the good pleasure of God. (From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to a National Spiritual Assembly, dated 7 July 1938; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Preserving Baha’i Marriages)

Certain prophecies from the Bible fulfilled by the Advent of the Báb – summarized by Shoghi Effendi

* The "Return of John the Baptist" expected by the Christians ..

* The "Return of Elijah" anticipated by the Jews, Whose Revelation was to show forth "the signs and tokens of all the Prophets", Who was to "manifest the perfection of Moses, the radiance of Jesus and the patience of Job"..

* The "Second Woe," spoken of in the Apocalypse of St. John the Divine ...

* The "cleansing of the Sanctuary," prophesied by Daniel and confirmed by Jesus Christ in His reference to "the abomination of desolation," had been accomplished.

* The "forty and two months," during which the "Holy City," as predicted by St. John the Divine, would be trodden under foot, had elapsed.

* The first of the "two Witnesses" into Whom, "after three days and a half the Spirit of Life from God" would enter, had arisen and had "ascended up to heaven in a cloud."

* The "time of the end" had been ushered in …

* The "Man Child," mentioned in the Book of Revelation, destined to "rule all nations with a rod of iron," had released, through His coming, the creative energies which, reinforced by the effusions of a swiftly succeeding and infinitely mightier Revelation, were to instill into the entire human race the capacity to achieve its organic unification, attain maturity and thereby reach the final stage in its age-long evolution. (Shoghi Effendi, God Passes By)

How to engage in a profession and be detached from worldly affairs

In the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh it is obligatory for the individual to engage in a trade or profession. For instance, I know mat weaving and you know another trade. The service we perform is equivalent to worship if we perform it with truth and trustworthiness; it is a cause of human advancement. If the heart is not bound and attached to the world, if it is unaffected by the vicissitudes of life, unhampered by worldly wealth from serving humanity and not dejected because of poverty, then this is a human perfection. Otherwise, to profess generosity if one is poor, or justice when one is powerless to extend it, is easy enough, but this will not establish one's spiritual education and awareness. (Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha, New York, June 11, 1912; Mahmud’s Diary)