Man is unable to comprehend the essence of God – ‘Abdu’l-Baha explains

All the people have formed a god in the world of thought and they worship that form of their own imagination, while the act is that the imagined concept is comprehended by the mind Which is comprehensive. Surely that which comprehends is greater than the comprehended, for imagination is accidental (non-essential) while the mind is essential. Surely the essential is greater than the accidental. 

Therefore consider: all the sects and peoples worship their own thought. They create a god in their own minds and acknowledge him to be the creator of all things, while that form is a superstition. Thus people adore and worship imagination (or illusion). 

That Essence of the Divine Reality and Unseen of the Unseen is holy above the imagination, and is beyond thought. Consciousness does not reach it. In the capacity of every produced (created) reality that Ancient Reality can not be contained. That is a different world; from it there is no information; arrival thereat is impossible; attainment thereto is prohibited and inaccessible.  This much is known--that it exists, and its existence is certain and proved, but the condition is unknown. 

All the philosophers and doctors knew that It is, but they were perplexed as to the comprehension of Its existence, and at last despaired, and in great despair they left this world. For the comprehension of the condition and mysteries of that Reality of realities and Mystery of mysteries there is need for another power and another sense. That power and sense are not possessed by men; therefore they have not found any information. For example--if a man possess the power of hearing, the power of tasting, the power of smelling, and the power of feeling, but not the power of seeing he cannot see. Hence, through the powers and senses present in man, the realization of that Unseen Reality, which is pure and holy above the reach of doubts, is impossible. Other powers are needed, and other senses are required. If these powers and senses be obtained, then information can be had, otherwise not. 

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Baha’i World Faith’)

‘The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah’: a letter by Shoghi Effendi, dated February 8, 1934 -- comments by David Hofman

…‘The Dispensation of Baha'u'llah’, a letter which the Guardian himself described as a statement of “certain fundamental verities”, “certain truths which lie at the basis of our Faith”. It has been referred to as Shoghi Effendi's own confession of faith. It is the appointed Expounder's presentation of the stations of Baha'u'llah, the Bab and 'Abdu'l‑Baha, of the transition from 'the Heroic and Apostolic Age' of the Faith to its Formative Age through the 'indissoluble link' of the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l‑Baha, a summation of the spirit and chief provisions of that historic document and a marvellous presentation of the unique and distinguishing features of this Supreme Revelation, which make it 'unlike the dispensations of the past'. He emphasizes the twin institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice 'permanently and fundamentally united in their aims'. Without deep study of this basic document, no Baha'i can claim to be truly knowledgeable of his Faith. 

(David Hofman, the late member of the Universal House of Justice, from an essay: ‘Shoghi Effendi, Expounder of the Word of God’; published in ‘Studying the Writings of Shoghi Effendi’, by George Ronald)

How one can change oneself

He wishes again to assure you he will pray for your spiritual advancement in the Holy Shrines. The power of God can entirely transmute our characters and make of us beings entirely unlike our previous selves. Through prayer and supplication, obedience to the divine laws Bahá'u'lláh has revealed, and ever-increasing service to His Faith, we can change ourselves.  

(From a letter dated 22 November 1941 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, The Importance of Prayer, Meditation and the Devotional Attitude)

Assignment to Spiritual Assemblies – by Baha’u’llah

Spiritual Assembly members are called upon by Baha’u’llah to:

• “regard themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth”,
• “take counsel together”,
• “have regard for the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard their own interests”, and
• “choose that which is meet and seemly.”

"The Lord hath ordained that in every city a House of Justice be established wherein shall gather counsellors to the number of Bahá, and should it exceed this number it does not matter. It behooveth them to be the trusted ones of the Merciful among men and to regard themselves as the guardians appointed of God for all that dwell on earth. It is incumbent upon them to take counsel together and to have regard for the interests of the servants of God, for His sake, even as they regard their own interests, and to choose that which is meet and seemly. Thus hath the Lord your God commanded you. Beware lest ye put away that which is clearly revealed in His Tablet. Fear God, O ye that perceive.” 

(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)

Baha'u'llah's room in the house of Abbud

The room Baha’u’llah occupied in the House of Abbud

Meaning of invocation: “Yá Iláha’l-Mustagháth” or “Yá Alláhu’l- Mustagháth” – explanation by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice

The Research Department has studied the questions about the invocation “Yá Alláhu’l- Mustagháth” presented by Mr. …in his email message dated 2 October 2001 to Mr. ‘Alí Nakhjavání. Mr. … states that a Bahá’í friend of his has asked him to “transcribe” the phrase in question, and Mr. … would like to know its original source, the correct transliteration, and whether there is an English translation of it. The following is our response.

As Mr. … is no doubt well aware, the phrase in question was revealed by the Báb and has been associated with a variety of instructions for its recitation. It seems to us that his questions are answered in a letter dated 25 November 1999 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice, as follows:

Concerning the phrase “Yá Alláhu’l-Mustagháth”, this is an invocation revealed by the Báb. He prescribed it for recitation by His followers in times of trouble and difficulty. Shoghi Effendi has translated the word “Mustagháth” as “He Who is invoked for help”. This phrase can be correctly transliterated in two ways, as set out below:

“Yá Iláha’l-Mustagháth”, which has been translated as “O Lord of the time of ‘Mustagháth’”

“Yá Alláhu’l-Mustagháth”, which has been translated as “O Thou God Who art invoked”

Need for a “deepening of comprehension” to take place among Baha’is when discussing the Teachings

It is not surprising that individual Bahá'ís hold and express different and sometimes defective understandings of the Teachings; this is but an evidence of the magnitude of the change that this Revelation is to effect in human consciousness. As believers with various insights into the Teachings converse -- with patience, tolerance and open and unbiased minds -- a deepening of comprehension should take place. The strident insistence on individual views, however, can lead to contention, which is detrimental not only to the spirit of Bahá'í association and collaboration but to the search for truth itself. 

(From a letter dated 8 February 1998 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual believer)

The “basic and distinguishing principles” of the Baha’i Faith – the Guardian summarizes

• “The independent search after truth, unfettered by superstition or tradition;
•  the oneness of the entire human race, the pivotal principle and fundamental doctrine of the Faith;
• the basic unity of all religions;
• the condemnation of all forms of prejudice, whether religious, racial, class or national;
• the harmony which must exist between religion and science;
• the equality of men and women, the two wings on which the bird of human kind is able to soar;
• the introduction of compulsory education;
• the adoption of a universal auxiliary language;
• the abolition of the extremes of wealth and poverty;
• the institution of a world tribunal for the adjudication of disputes between nations;
• the exaltation of work, performed in the spirit of service, to the rank of worship;
• the glorification of justice as the ruling principle in human society, and of religion as a bulwark for the protection of all peoples and nations; and
• the establishment of a permanent and universal peace as the supreme goal of all mankind.”

Among the factors that contribute to the “peace and tranquility” of each individual is: -- not to take “…undue pleasure in one’s own words and deeds…” – advice from Baha’u’llah

Say: O children of dust! He Who is the Spirit of Purity saith: In this glorious Day whatsoever can purge you from defilement and ensure your peace and tranquillity, that indeed is the straight Path, the Path that leadeth unto Me. To be purged from defilement is to be cleansed of that which is injurious to man and detracteth from his high station—among which is to take undue pleasure in one’s own words and deeds, notwithstanding their unworthiness. True peace and tranquillity will only be realized when every soul will have become the well-wisher of all mankind. He Who is the All-Knowing beareth Me witness: were the peoples of the world to grasp the true significance of the words of God, they would never be deprived of their portion of the ocean of His bounty. In the firmament of truth there hath never been, nor will there ever be, a brighter star than this. 

(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Tabernacle of Unity, Bahá’u’lláh’s Responses to Mánikchí Sáhib and Other Writings’)

We are called upon to teach the Cause of God with humility...

You must teach the Cause of God with great humility. Just as I feel myself humble before all, even before children, so must you be. 

(Words of ‘Abdu’l-Baha quoted in Mahmud’s Diary, June 16, 1912)

Hand of the Cause Bill Sears with some children

‘Abdu’l-Baha’s hope for the city of Isfahan, Iran

I trust that you [members of the Spiritual Assembly of Isfahan] may make the land of Isfahan a salubrious fountain, so that the cool water of knowledge and the flowing river of assurance may make that region the envy of the green garden of Paradise. That city was illumined with the presence of His Highness, the Bab, after He left Shiraz; the Word of God was promulgated; many blessed souls became believers; a number of them hastened toward the arena of martyrdom; his highness, the leader of the righteous ones, the "King of the Martyrs," and the master of the friends, the "Beloved of Martyrs," gave up their lives at the altar of love. His Highness, Ashraf, and many other martyrs drank the cup of trials and sacrificed their lives with the utmost severance. Therefore, it is the hope of ‘Abdu’l-Baha that that region may become the Green Garden and that city the delectable Paradise. 

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a Tablet; Star of the West vol. 1, no. 14, November 23, 1910) 

Baha’i House of Worship in Chicago “marks the inception of the Kingdom of God on earth.”

“A most wonderful and thrilling motion will appear in the world of existence,” are ‘Abdu’l-Bahá’s own words, predicting the release of spiritual forces that must accompany the completion of this most hallowed House of Worship [Baha’i House of Worship in Chicago]. “From that point of light,” He, further glorifying that edifice, has written, “the spirit of teaching ... will permeate to all parts of the world.” And again: “Out of this Mashriqu’l-Adhkár, without doubt, thousands of Mashriqu’l-Adhkárs will be born.” “It marks the inception of the Kingdom of God on earth.” 

(Shoghi Effendi, from a letter dated April 11, 1949; ‘Citadel of Faith’)

circa 1960: Hands of the Cause of God

Hands of the Cause of God, circa 1960 (Andalib, no. 74)

Traces of prejudice that every human being should blot out from his/her life

Let us strive to blot out from our lives every last trace of prejudice -- racial, religious, political, economic, national, tribal, class, cultural, and that which is based on differences of education or age. 

(The Universal House of Justice, from a message dated 13 July 1972, addressed to all National Spiritual Assemblies; Messages from the Universal House of Justice 1968-1973)

The Book of Certitude - “the cynosure of all books”

…the Book of Certitude, which is indeed the cynosure of all books, and which streamed from the Pen of Glory in the early years of this Most Great Revelation. Blessed is he that hath beheld it and pondered its contents for the love of God, the Lord of creation. 

(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Tabernacle of Unity, Bahá’u’lláh’s Responses to Mánikchí Sáhib and Other Writings’) 

The “administrative portion of the Feast should not be laborious”

Second, the administrative portion of the Feast should not be laborious or burdensome. It can become so because too many reports by too many local Bahá'í committees are presented at one Feast. Such reports could perhaps be conveyed in bulletins. Also, there can be too many messages from agencies of the national administration. While it lies within the discretion of the National Spiritual Assembly to send a message or items of information to be shared at the Feast, care must be taken not to overburden these events with a multiplicity of items from the National Assembly and its auxiliary agencies. Some National Assemblies have developed the practice of sending a message to every Feast; this is, of course, not wrong in principle, but they may need to examine their methods of communicating with the believers and see whether occasional messages might not be sufficient. The idea is that the local Bahá'í communities should exercise control over the Feast and not be made to feel that they are being overrun by messages, instructions and assignments from the national administration of the Faith. This whole matter needs to be studied by the National Spiritual Assembly with a balanced perspective, so that while important national issues are not ignored, the potentialities of the Feast for development of the local community are fully realized. 

(The Universal House of Justice, 1989 Aug 28, Issues Related to the Nineteen Day Feast)

“To sum up, let all the lessons be entirely devoted to the acquisition of human perfections.” -- 'Abdu'l-Baha describes a curriculum for children’s school

The subjects to be taught in children's school are many, and for lack of time We can touch on only a few: First and most important is training in behaviour and good character; the rectification of qualities; arousing the desire to become accomplished and acquire perfections, and to cleave unto the religion of God and stand firm in His Laws, to accord total obedience to every just government, to show forth loyalty and trustworthiness to the ruler of the time, to be well-wishers of mankind, to be kind to all.

And further, as well as in the ideals of character, instruction in such arts and sciences as are of benefit, and in foreign tongues. Also, the repeating of prayers for the well-being of ruler and ruled; and the avoidance of materialistic works that are current among those who see only natural causation, and tales of love, and books that arouse the passions.

To sum up, let all the lessons be entirely devoted to the acquisition of human perfections.

Here, then, in brief are directions for the curriculum of these schools.

Greetings be unto you, and praise.

(‘Abdu’l-Baha, from a Tablet to an individual believer, published in "The Baha'i World", vol. 16, p. 37; included in a memorandum by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, dated July 1980)

The “balance wheel of all behavior”

The third element of the utterance under discussion is, “opposes his passions.” How wonderful are the implications of this deceptively easy, all-inclusive phrase. This is the very foundation of every laudable human quality; indeed, these few words embody the light of the world, the impregnable basis of all the spiritual attributes of human beings. This is the balance wheel of all behavior, the means of keeping all man’s good qualities in equilibrium. 
('Abdu'l-Bahá, The Secret of Divine Civilization)

Destiny of America – the Guardian highlights

… a nation that has achieved undisputed ascendancy in the entire Western Hemisphere, whose rulers have been uniquely honored by being collectively addressed by the Author of the Bahá’í Revelation in His Kitáb-i-Aqdas; which has been acclaimed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the “home of the righteous and the gathering-place of the free,” where the “splendors of His light shall be revealed, where the mysteries of His Faith shall be unveiled” and belonging to a continent which, as recorded by that same pen, “giveth signs and evidences of very great advancement,” whose “future is even more promising,” whose “influence and illumination are far-reaching,” and which “will lead all nations spiritually.” Moreover, it is to this great republic of the West that the Center of the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh has referred as the nation that has “developed powers and capacities greater and more wonderful than other nations,” and which “is equipped and empowered to accomplish that which will adorn the pages of history, to become the envy of the world, and be blest in both the East and the West for the triumph of its people.” It is for this same American democracy that He expressed His fervent hope that it might be “the first nation to establish the foundation of international agreement,” “to proclaim the unity of mankind,” and “to unfurl the Standard of the Most Great Peace,” that it might become “the distributing center of spiritual enlightenment, and all the world receive this heavenly blessing,” and that its inhabitants might “rise from their present material attainments to such a height that heavenly illumination may stream from this center to all the peoples of the world.” It is in connection with its people that He has affirmed that they are “indeed worthy of being the first to build the Tabernacle of the Great Peace and proclaim the oneness of mankind.” 

(Shoghi Effendi, from a letter dated June 5, 1947; ‘Citadel of Faith’)