Without Blame -The Song by Amer Darling
ON 29 AND 30 OCTOBER 2019, IN COUNTLESS SETTINGS AND PLACES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, PEOPLE WILL CELEBRATE THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF THE BÁB, WHOSE REVITALIZING MESSAGE PREPARED THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, THE FOUNDER OF THE BAHÁ’Í FAITH
Dawn of The Light
A FEATURE FILM commissioned for the bicentenary
It is worthy. Have a look and see what you think.
https://bicentenary.bahai.org/the-bab/
Selection of central Bahá’í beliefs into a few thematic areas
The Life of the Spirit
Wert thou to attain to but a dewdrop of the crystal waters of divine knowledge, thou wouldst readily realize that true life is not the life of the flesh but the life of the spirit…”— Bahá’u’lláh
Baha’u’llah’s Revelation affirms that the purpose of our lives is to know God and to attain His presence. Our true identity is our rational soul, whose free will and powers of understanding enable us to continually better ourselves and our society. Walking a path of service to God and to humanity gives life meaning and prepares us for the moment the soul separates from the body and continues on its eternal journey towards its Maker.
The Human Soul
“The pathway of life is the road which leads to divine knowledge and attainment.” –‘Abdu’l-Bahá
The essential identity of every human being is a rational and immortal soul, which is “entirely out of the order of the physical creation.” Bahá’u’lláh uses the metaphor of the sun to explain the relationship between the soul and the body: “The soul of man is the sun by which his body is illumined, and from which it draweth its sustenance, and should be so regarded.”
It is through the exercise of the powers of the soul that human progress is achieved. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has said that the soul “can discover the realities of things, comprehend the peculiarities of beings, and penetrate the mysteries of existence. All sciences, knowledge, arts, wonders, institutions, discoveries and enterprises come from the exercised intelligence of the rational soul.”
We are able to reflect divine attributes to the extent that we cleanse the mirrors of our hearts and minds through prayer, the study and application of the Sacred Scriptures, the acquisition of knowledge, efforts to improve our conduct and to overcome tests and difficulties, and service to humanity.
When death occurs in this world, the soul is separated from the body, and continues to progress in an eternal journey towards perfection.
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/human-soul/
The Human Soul »
“When a soul has in it the life of the spirit, then does it bring forth good fruit and become a Divine tree.”
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/human-soul/
— ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Every human being possesses an immortal, rational soul that passes through this world for a brief time and continues for eternity to advance towards God. Our life’s purpose is to progress spiritually by serving our fellow human beings. In doing so, we acquire the divine qualities we will need in the life to come.
Devotion »
“Gather ye together with the utmost joy and fellowship and recite the verses revealed by the merciful Lord. By so doing the doors to true knowledge will be opened to your inner beings, and ye will then feel your souls endowed with steadfastness and your hearts filled with radiant joy.”
— Bahá’u’lláh
Acts of devotion such as prayer, meditation, fasting, pilgrimage, and service to others are inherent to religious life. Through them, individuals and communities are able to continually reinforce the unique bond that exists between God and humanity.
Acts of devotion are inherent to religious life. Through them, individuals and communities continually reinforce the unique bond that exists between God and humanity. This bond vitalizes the relationships that sustain society—between individuals and among the various elements of the community and its institutions.
Prayer is essential for our spiritual sustenance and growth. Through it we may praise God and express our love for Him, as well as beseech Him for assistance. The capacity to meditate is a distinguishing feature of the human being. Indeed, the Bahá’í writings suggest that human progress would be impossible without reflection and contemplation. Fasting and pilgrimage are two other acts of devotion that have played an important part in religious life over the course of human history. Work may be also seen as an act of worship when it is performed in a spirit of service.
“Gather ye together with the utmost joy and fellowship and recite the verses revealed by the merciful Lord. By so doing the doors to true knowledge will be opened to your inner beings, and ye will then feel your souls endowed with steadfastness and your hearts filled with radiant joy.”
— Bahá’u’lláh
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/devotion/
A Life of Generous Giving »
“To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues.”
— Bahá’u’lláh
Just as a candle’s purpose is to provide light, the human soul was created to give generously. We fulfil our highest purpose in a life of service in which, with humility and detachment, we offer our time, energy, knowledge, and financial resources.
A Life of Generous Giving
Just as a candle’s purpose is to provide light, the human soul was created to give generously. We fulfil our highest purpose in a life of service, in which we offer our time, energy, knowledge, and financial resources.
The impulse to give springs forth from the love of God. As this love fills our hearts, generosity comes to characterize the pattern of our conduct; when we serve others for the love of God, we are neither motivated by the hope of recognition and reward nor by fear of punishment. A life of service to humanity implies humility and detachment, not self-interest and ostentation.
Shoghi Effendi has written: “We must be like the fountain or spring that is continually emptying itself of all that it has and is continually being refilled from an invisible source. To be continually giving out for the good of our fellows undeterred by fear of poverty and reliant on the unfailing bounty of the Source of all wealth and all good–this is the secret of right living.”
“To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues.”
— Bahá’u’lláh
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/life-generous-giving/
Character and Conduct »
The cultivation of spiritual qualities in this world is inseparable from an ongoing refinement of our conduct in which our actions increasingly come to reflect the nobility and integrity with which every human being is endowed. Such spiritual qualities are not acquired through focusing on the self; they are developed in service to others.
Central to the spiritual life is the development of spiritual qualities that assist each of us in our eternal journey towards God. In this world, the cultivation of such qualities is inseparable from an ongoing refinement of our conduct in which our actions increasingly come to reflect the nobility and integrity with which every human being is endowed. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá states:
“We must strive unceasingly and without rest to accomplish the development of the spiritual nature in man, and endeavor with tireless energy to advance humanity toward the nobility of its true and intended station.”
Spiritual qualities develop in a matrix of growing love and knowledge, and in accordance with divine law. As we allow the knowledge of God to increase in our minds and hearts, the qualities of our higher nature begin to flourish. With greater and greater clarity, we discern between that which is conducive to loftiness and that which leads to abasement, and we advance in our understanding of the physical universe, the human being, society, and the life of the spirit. Love grows with knowledge and true understanding is enhanced by love. A false dichotomy between heart and mind is avoided.
There are many factors that contribute to this development, among them prayer, reflection, willingness to learn, and constant daily effort—particularly in service to humanity. In striving to live a spiritual life, too much focus on oneself can be counterproductive. Bahá’u’lláh writes that we should fix our thoughts on “that which will sanctify…the hearts and souls of men.” “This,” He continues, “can best be achieved through pure and holy deeds, through a virtuous life and a goodly behavior.” ‘Abdu’l-Bahá has written: “How excellent, how honorable is man if he arises to fulfill his responsibilities; how wretched and contemptible, if he shuts his eyes to the welfare of society and wastes his precious life in pursuing his own selfish interests and personal advantages.”
We may think of our efforts to develop spiritual qualities in terms of walking humbly with our Lord, persevering and learning, free from guilt, accepting the inevitability of error, but never losing sight of what is potentially within us. Although difficulties and setbacks are unavoidable, this is a joyful pursuit, full of happiness.
Among the greatest dangers in this lifelong process, in this gradual refinement of character, are self-righteousness, superiority and pride—traits which distort the entire spiritual enterprise and undermine its foundation. Bahá’u’lláh has written:
“O CHILDREN OF MEN! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. Ponder at all times in your hearts how ye were created. Since We have created you all from one same substance it is incumbent on you to be even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land, that from your inmost being, by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness and the essence of detachment may be made manifest. Such is My counsel to you, O concourse of light! Heed ye this counsel that ye may obtain the fruit of holiness from the tree of wondrous glory.”
Owing to the nature of the subject being considered, this topic collection assumes a different form than others in this part of the website. It consists of one article on the subject of divine law, followed by extracts from the Writings of the Bahá’í Faith arranged into four topics: love and knowledge; truthfulness, trustworthiness, and justice; purity of heart; and humility and trust in God. As is the case with other topic collections, however, a selection of relevant articles and resources is included.
The Bahá’í Faith
“Let your vision be world embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh
Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine Educators—known as Manifestations of God—whose teachings have provided the basis for the advancement of civilization. These Manifestations have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Messengers, explained that the religions of the world come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God.
Bahá’ís believe the crucial need facing humanity is to find a unifying vision of the future of society and of the nature and purpose of life. Such a vision unfolds in the writings of Bahá’u’lláh.
What Bahá’ís Believe
“He Who is your Lord, the All-Merciful, cherisheth in His heart the desire of beholding the entire human race as one soul and one body.”— Bahá’u’lláh
In thousands upon thousands of locations around the world, the teachings of the Bahá’í Faith inspire individuals and communities as they work to improve their own lives and contribute to the advancement of civilization. Bahá’í beliefs address such essential themes as the oneness of God and religion, the oneness of humanity and freedom from prejudice, the inherent nobility of the human being, the progressive revelation of religious truth, the development of spiritual qualities, the integration of worship and service, the fundamental equality of the sexes, the harmony between religion and science, the centrality of justice to all human endeavours, the importance of education, and the dynamics of the relationships that are to bind together individuals, communities, and institutions as humanity advances towards its collective maturity.
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Universal Peace
“The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” — Bahá’u’lláh
The teachings of Baha’u’llah are vast in their scope, exploring as they do such themes as the nature and purpose of Revelation, the inherent nobility of the human being, the cultivation of spiritual qualities, and humanity’s interactions with the natural world. The Bahá’í Writings are also replete with references to universal peace—“the supreme goal of all mankind”—as well as explanations of the social principles with which this peace is associated.
Among these principles are the independent search after truth; the oneness of the entire human race, which is the pivotal principle of the Bahá’í Faith; the abolition of all forms of prejudice; the harmony which must exist between religion and science; the equality of men and women, the two wings on which the bird of humankind 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; and the confirmation of justice as the ruling principle in human affairs. Bahá’ís do not view these principles as mere statements of vague aspiration—they are understood as matters of immediate and practical concern for individuals, communities, and institutions alike.
In October 1985, the Universal House of Justice announced the publication of a letter addressed to the generality of humankind on the subject of universal peace, titled “The Promise of World Peace”. Explaining the reasons underlying the Bahá’í community’s confidence in the advent of international peace as the next stage in the evolution of society, it stated plainly:
The Great Peace towards which people of goodwill throughout the centuries have inclined their hearts, of which seers and poets for countless generations have expressed their vision, and for which from age to age the sacred scriptures of mankind have constantly held the promise, is now at long last within the reach of the nations. For the first time in history it is possible for everyone to view the entire planet, with all its myriad diversified peoples, in one perspective. World peace is not only possible but inevitable.
Exploring this topic
This section of the website presents the entire text from the statement, The Promise of World Peace, divided into a number of sections. It also includes a selection of relevant quotations from the Bahá’í writings, focused particularly on the social teachings of the Bahá’í Faith, such as the equality of women and men, universal education, and the elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty, as well as a number of related statements, essays, and other resources.
The Promise of World Peace – The full text of a letter of the Universal House of Justice, addressed to the Peoples of the World.
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/universal-peace/promise-world-peace/
Quotations – An introductory selection of extracts from the Bahá’í writings on the theme of universal peace.
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/universal-peace/quotations
Articles and Resources – Essays, articles, and resource materials offering further thoughts on this subject.
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/universal-peace/articles-resources/
Exploring this topic
This collection of pages consists of an article on the subject of divine law followed by several pages containing extracts from the writings of the Bahá’í Faith.
Divine Law
bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/character-conduct/divine-law
Love and Knowledge
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/character-conduct/love-knowledge
“The fruits of the tree of man have ever been and are goodly deeds and a praiseworthy character.” –Bahá’u’lláh
Truthfulness, Trustworthiness and Justice
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/character-conduct/truthfulness-trustworthiness-justice
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/character-conduct/purity-heart
Humility and Trust
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/character-conduct/humility-trust
Quotations – An introductory selection of extracts from the Bahá’í writings on the overarching theme of divine law.
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/character-conduct/quotations
Articles and Resources – A selection of readings, essays, and resource materials offering further thoughts on this subject.
https://www.bahai.org/beliefs/life-spirit/character-conduct/articles-resources/
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