Whoso Rejects You, Him Will God Reject

The Bab addressed Mulla Husayn these words: 

"Grieve not that you have not been chosen to accompany Me on My pilgrimage to Hijaz. I shall, instead, direct your steps to that city which enshrines a Mystery of such transcendent holiness as neither Hijaz nor Shiraz can hope to rival. My hope is that you may, by the aid of God, be enabled to remove the veils from the eyes of the wayward and to cleanse the minds of the malevolent. Visit, on your way, Isfahan, Kashan, Tihran, and Khurasan. Proceed thence to Iraq, and there await the summons of your Lord, who will keep watch over you and will direct you to whatsoever is His will and desire. As to Myself, I shall, accompanied by Quddus and My Ethiopian servant, proceed on My pilgrimage to Hijaz. I shall join the company of the pilgrims of Fars, who will shortly be sailing for that land. I shall visit Mecca and Medina, and there fulfil the mission with which God has entrusted Me. God willing, I shall return hither by the way of Kufih, in which place I hope to meet you. If it be decreed otherwise, I shall ask you to join Me in Shiraz. The hosts of the invisible Kingdom, be assured, will sustain and reinforce your efforts. The essence of power is now dwelling in you, and the company of His chosen angels revolves around you. His almighty arms will surround you, and His unfailing Spirit will ever continue to guide your steps. He that loves you, loves God; and whoever opposes you, has opposed God. Whoso befriends you, him will God befriend; and whoso rejects you, him will God reject."

(Dawn Breakers)

Tablet to Mr. Charles Mason Remey

STAR OF THE WEST, Vol III, No. 7,  07/13/1912, page 16-17

The Twin Pillars of Baha'i Faith

Charles Mason Remey

Heartiest Greetings to the Baha'i World

Grand Celebration of the Birth of Baha’u’llah

Birth Date   : 12^th November 1817 AD (2^nd Moharram 1233 AH)

Name         : Mirza Husain Ali Nuri

Father        : Mirza Abbas Nuri (Mirza Buzurg)

Mother       : Khadijih Khanum

“All of the Manifestations have prophesied the coming of the "Day of God," a Day when mankind would be united in one Fold with one Shepherd under the Fatherhood of the one God, a Day in which God's Kingdom would be established on earth as it is in Heaven.

The Bahá'í Faith proclaims that God has fulfilled His ancient promise and that this great Day dawned with the coming of Bahá'u'lláh, the Promised one of all ages.

Bahá'ís recognize Bahá'u'lláh as the mouthpiece of the Laws of God for this Day and the Revealer of Precepts which they believe will recreate and unite mankind spiritually and establish God's long-promised Kingdom on earth – a world civilization, representing the culminating stage and most glorious age of mankind's ordered life on this planet”. (A summary of the aims, teachings and history of the Baha’i Faith by Joel Bray Marangella)
Orthodox Baha’i Community of India congratulates to all the Bahai’s of the world on this very joyous occasion and announces to celebrate the birth of the Baha’u’llah on 12 November 2014 at Tungareshwar.

We extend our heartiest greetings to the living guardian of Baha’i Faith NOSRAT’U’LLAH BAHREMAND.

Ascension of Baha’u’llah

On 29th May the Orthodox Baha’is of the world mark the Ascension of Baha'u'llah.

About a year prior to His passing, Baha’u’llah revealed His Will and Testament, which named His eldest son, Abdu’l-Baha, as His successor and constitutes the Covenant of Baha’u'llah.

Baha’u'llah’s ministry came to an end in 1892. He left to humanity a priceless heritage of spiritual and social teachings.

Now this priceless heritage of spiritual and social teachings are continuing under the living Guardian of Baha’i Faith, Joel Bray Marangella.

Indian Orthodox Baha'is pay homage to all the Baha'is of the world on the Ascension of Baha u llah and pray for all the Baha'is to turn their faces towards the real successor of Baha u llah, The Guardian of Baha'i Faith.

 “That one indeed is a man who, today, dedicated himself to the service of the entire human race. The Great Being saith: Blessed and happy is he that ariseth to promote the best interests of the peoples and kindreds of the earth. It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”  (Baha’u’llah)

National Baha'i Council of India

Behold the Evidences of His Power and Paramount Influence

"Consider at all times the sovereignty exercised by the Ideal King, and behold the evidences of His power and paramount influence.
Sanctify your ears from the idle talk of them that are the symbols of denial and the exponents of violence and anger. The hour is approaching when ye will witness the power of the one true God triumphing over all created things and the signs of His sovereignty encompassing all creation. On that day ye will discover how all else besides Him will have been forgotten and come to be regarded as utter nothingness.

It should, however, be borne in mind that God and His Manifestation can, under no circumstances, be dissociated from the loftiness and sublimity which They inherently possess. Nay, loftiness and sublimity
are themselves the creations of His Word, if ye choose to see with My sight not with yours.

(-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 72 - 73)

To Live............The Life

"To be no cause of grief to anyone.

To be kind to all people and to love them with a pure spirit.

Should opposition or injury happen to us, to bear it, to be as kind as ever can be, and through all, to love the people.   Should calamity exist in the greatest degree, to rejoice, for these things are the gifts and favors of God.

To be silent concerning the faults of others, to pray for them, and to help them, through kindness, to correct their faults.

To look always at the good and not at the bad.  If a man has ten good qualities and one bad one, look at the ten and forget the one. And if a man has ten bad qualities and one good one, to look at the one and forget the ten.

Never to allow ourselves to speak one unkind word about another, even though that other be our enemy.

To do all of our deeds in kindness.

To cut our hearts from ourselves and from the world.

To be humble.

To be servants of each other, and to know that we are less than anyone else.

To be as one soul in many bodies, for the more we love each other, the nearer we shall be to God; but to know that our love, our unity, our obedience must not be by confession, but of reality.

To act with cautiousness and wisdom.

To be truthful.

To be hospitable.

To be reverent.

To be the cause of healing for every sick one,
          a comforter for every sorrowful one,
          a pleasant water for every thirsty one.
          a heavenly table for every hungry one,
          a star to every horizon,
          a light for every lamp,
          a herald to everyone who yearns for the kingdom of God"

Abdu'l-Baha

Celebrating Declaration of the Bab

On the evening of May 22, we Baha’is throughout the world commemorate the Declaration of the Bab, which took place in the Persian city of Shiraz in 1844.
The Báb declared, that the Promised One is destined to usher in the age of justice, unity and peace promised in Judaism, Christianity, Islam and all the other great religions. Bahá’u'lláh, one of the Báb’s leading advocates, announced in April 1863 that He was the Divine Messenger the Báb had promised.
The Báb’s announcement in the middle of the 19th century came at a time when many Christians were expecting the return of Christ based on their reading of Biblical prophecy.
Simultaneously, half way around the world, in the Middle East, many followers of Islam were also expecting their Promised One to appear irrespective of their sectarian beliefs.
Bab attracted thousands of followers in Iran in a very short time. His followers were persecuted by the religious and political heads. Thousands were tortured and put to death.
We celebrate the anniversary of the Báb’s declaration through prayers and programs. Suspend our mechandise and work on this day as it is one of the nine holy days in the Bahá’í calendar.
We appeal to the Baha'is of the world to celebrate this day in full vigour and effective force.

Baha'i House of Worship

In all religions, irrespective of them being divine or otherwise, temples and houses of worship enjoy great importance. India is the best example of having different temples and houses of worship like Hindu temples, Muslim mosques, Sikh Gurdwaras, Christian Churches, Budha Vihars and the Baha’i Temple.


In the Baha’i Faith also, temples have an important role. Please read the following quotes of beloved Master Abdu’l Baha and commandment of Baha’u’llah:
“In brief, the original purpose of temples and houses of worship is simply that of unity -- places of meeting where various peoples, different races and souls of every capacity may come together in order that love and agreement should be manifest between them. That is why Bahá'u'lláh has commanded that a place of worship be built for all the religionists of the world; that all religions, races and sects may come together within its universal shelter; that the proclamation of the oneness of mankind shall go forth from its open courts of holiness -- the announcement that humanity is the servant of God and that all are submerged in the ocean of His mercy. It is the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar.
The world of existence may be likened to this temple and place of worship. For, just as the external world is a place where the people of all races and colors, varying faiths, denominations and conditions come together -- just as they are submerged in the same sea of divine favors -- so, likewise, all may meet under the dome of the Mashriqu'l-Adhkar and adore the one God in the same spirit of truth... We must now realize that we are the servants of one God, that we turn to one Beneficent Father, live under one divine law, seek one reality and have one desire. Thus, may we live in the utmost friendship and love, and in return the favors and bounties of God shall surround us.”
(Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 65)


Please pay attention
Belief in the “Living Guardian” is essential in the Baha’i Faith. Thus, all the Houses of Worship should be under the control and care of the Guardian of Baha’i Faith.


What about the Holy Shrines in Haifa and Akka?
Since at the moment the sacred places of the Faith are under the care and control of the bogus Universal House of Justice, it would be difficult or impossible for the Orthodox Baha’is to visit them because of the animosity and hostility that will be shown to us. However, there are public sightseeing tours which guide tourists to visit the shrines. The true shrine to the Manifestation of God rests in the hearts of the faithful. No doubt the shrines and sacred sites hold great importance and significance, but in the end it is the faith of the believer that matters. The true shrine to the Manifestation of God rests in the hearts of the faithful. 


Mason Remey - the Chief Architect of the Temples and House of Worships:
Let us consider the role of the architect, Mason Remey, who was destined to be appointed by the first Guardian of the Baha'i Faith as his successor, in his development of designs for future Baha'i Temples that would be built, in the light of statements of Abdu'l-Baha.


All of the Baha’i friends in India, irrespective of their identification as orthodox or heterodox Baha'is, should be particularly aware that the beloved Master Abdu’l Baha specifically appointed Mason Remey as the architect of the Mashriqu’l Adhkar to be built in the future on Mount Carmel and he was also identified by the first Guardian, Shoghi Effendi as the architect of the Baha'i Temple to be built in Iran when circumstances permitted. And he is the architect of the Temple already built in Sydney, Australia, as well as the Western Pilgrim House in Haifa, Israel, also built pursuant to the instructions of Abdu'l-Baha.


Baha’i Temples around the world:
The main architect and the appointed President of the Executive Board overseeing all plans for the construction of Baha’i Temples was Mason Remey, who later would become the second guardian of the Baha’i Faith. For the information of the reader, quoted below are applicable historical communications including the Tablet of Abdu’l Baha, written to or about Mason Remey concerning the Pilgrim House to be built in Haifa and the Mashriqu’l Adhkar (House of Worship) to be built in the future on Mount Carmel.
On 7 October 1921, Abdu’l Baha wrote the following to Mason Remey: “Some time ago I wrote thee a letter the content of which was that, praise be to God, thou hast become confirmed in drawing a plan for the Pilgrims House in Haifa. It is my hope that this Pilgrims House may be built under your supervision. Also, in the future, a Mashriqu’l Adhkar will be established on Mount Carmel. Thou wilt be its architect and founder. I give thee this glad tiding.” Star of the West, Vol. 13, No.8, November 1922.


The following acknowledgement of the approval given by Mason Remey to the Temple design of Mr. Bourgeois for the Temple to be built in Wilmette, Illinois, (outside of Chicago) appears in the following Tablet from Abdu’l Baha addressed to Mr. A. W. Randall, published in United States Baha’i News (Vol.11, No.7, p.112, 13 July 1919):


“The Model [of the House of Worship to be built in Wilmette, Illinois] of Mr. Bourgeois, praise be to God, has become acceptable to the friends, especially that it has proved approvable to his honor, Mr. Remey.”


The following Tablet from Abdu’l-Baha addressed to Corinne True appears on 20 August 1920 in the Baha’i News of the United States (Vol.11, No.9, p.139):
“Praise be unto God, that the model of the Mashriqu’l Adhkar made by Mr. Bourgeois was approved by his honor, and selected by the Convention. His honor, Mr. Remey is, verily, of perfect sincerity. He is likened unto transparent water, filtered, lucid and without any impurity. He worked earnestly for several years, but he did not have any personal motive. He has not attachment to anything except to the Cause of God. This is the spirit of the firm and this is the characteristic of the sincere.”


The style and general lines of future Temples to be built in Persia, Arabia and India:
 In the Star of the West, (Vol.17, No.2, May 1926) appears a long article written by Charles Mason Remey about the Mashriqu’l Adhkar of Ashqabad, Russia. In the introduction the editor wrote:
“The following article describing the first Baha’i religious edifice that has been constructed is written by an Architect who has traveled much among the Baha’is of Persia and the Orient. He has himself given much attention to the religious architecture, and has made a series of designs for Baha’i Temples based on religious architecture of Persia, India and Arabia.”


Mason Remey has also stated:
“Abdu’l Baha Himself established the style and the general lines upon which the Temple was to be built – namely, that it should be built upon the plan of a regular nine-sided polygon surrounded by loggias and in the midst of a garden at the intersection of nine avenues, with its principal entrance facing the direction of the Holy Land—the composition of the building being similar to that of some of the great temples of Persia and India.”
[This being the reason, no doubt, why the Lotus Temple in India was so conceived]


Eyes of Master ‘Abdu’l Baha on Indian Baha’is:
The eyes of the Master ‘Abdu’l Baha were certainly on the Indian Baha’is, for based on the above text, it is crystal clear that Abdu’l Baha foresaw the extensive embracement of the Baha’i Faith by the Indians and that is why he directed Mason Remey, in his development of future designs for Temples to consider the architectural features of some of the great temples of India.
I feel certain that He foresaw that India would be the first country in the future that would embrace the Guardianship of the Baha’i Faith, en masse.
At the end, I would like to draw the attention of all Baha’is, especially Indian Baha’is that any house of worship which is not in the control and care of Guardian of Baha’i Faith, prayers are invalid in it.

Investigate the truth independently.
A.  Parikh.
Secretary,
National Baha’i Council of Orthodox Baha’is of India.
23rd October, 2011

Bogus Universal House of Justice has illegitimately and erroneously altered and interpreted Verse 42 of Aqdas

We have received the Comment and its reply by anonymous readers. We are posting it for our friends. The Comment is posted on 9th May and replied on 12th May 2011.
Rajendra Upadhyaye.
 
Anonymous said...
Has the Guardian interpreted verse 42 of the Aqdas? If so I would like to know his interpretation.
 
Anonymous said...
“Has the Guardian interpreted verse 42 of the Aqdas? If so I would like to know his interpretation.”
If you mean the Verse regarding the “Endowments dedicated to charity” the answer is no, none of the Guardians have interpreted that Verse. If it was necessary they would have done it.
Unfortunately bogus UHJ has illegitimately and erroneously altered and interpreted this passage of Aqdas disregarding the following warning of Baha’u’llah in The most Holy Book and by doing so has transgressed against the Aqdas, violated this most Holy Book and has confused majority of the Baha’is.

“Whoso interpreteth what hath been sent down from the heaven of Revelation, and altereth its evident meaning, he, verily, is of them that have perverted the Sublime Word of God, and is of the lost ones in the Lucid Book.” (The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 57)

For further information please read this  article:
Specially refer to parts 3 and 4 of this article:

Living Guardian's Message in Asian Age Newspaper

Guardian's Message for the Indian Baha'is appeared in Asian Age Mumbai edition on 27February 2011 on the occasion of Ayyam-i-ha

The month of Mulk (Dominion)

The month of Mulk (Dominion) is the nineteen day period beginning February 7.

“Strive then, O My brother, to apprehend this matter, that the veils may be lifted from the face of thy heart and that thou mayest be reckoned among them whom God hath graced with such penetrating vision as to behold the most subtle realities of His dominion, to fathom the mysteries of His kingdom, to perceive the signs of His transcendent Essence in this mortal world, and to attain a station wherein one seeth no distinction amongst His creatures and findeth no flaw in the creation of the heavens and the earth.” 

--Bahá'u'lláh, Gems of Divine Mysteries 

“…that the veils may be lifted from the face of thy heart…” Now, isn’t that interesting? Bahá'u'lláh is asking that we strive to lift the veils from the face of our hearts. I expect that very few of us consider that our hearts have a face. But in spiritual terms, apparently they do. We must remember that all of Bahá'u'lláh’s admonishments and instructions deal with the spirit within. We should also consider that upon leaving this world, as is our destiny, the world beyond is based upon a spiritual existence, a dimension that none of us has the capacity to comprehend or understand while we dwell in our temporal body. There can be no doubt about the existence of another world beyond this one since all the Messengers of the past have told us so, although in the limited terms that humans were able to comprehend at the time. And now, with the Message of Bahá'u'lláh, humans have received a full measure of His knowledge. We may partake of that knowledge by aligning ourselves within an aura of spirituality, a spirituality of God’s definition, not our own.   

So, we must strive to lift the veils from the face of our hearts in order that we may begin an alignment that allows us to behold the most subtle realities of His dominion. According to His message, we may then proceed with the (no doubt lifetime) adventure of grasping His attributes and finally to find no flaw in the creation of the heavens and the earth. Doesn’t the reality of that assignment make your head spin? The words in that sentence from His “Gems of Divine Mystery” could form the basis for a discovery of the Truths that Bahá'u'lláh wants us to understand in order that we may more fully appreciate and enjoy the fruits to be found within His Dominion. If that seems too much for one to accomplish, we need to remind ourselves that His pathway is available to all, whether they come to His Message as an infant, or have already lived several decades.

I expect that the veils of our heart-face are developed from the prejudices we allow into our lives over a period of time. Even if we were fortunate enough to be raised in a Bahá'í family relationship we have prejudices to overcome since we are all fallible creatures. If it were not so there would have been no reason for any of God‘s Messengers to appear. As humans we know that the heart is used as a metaphor when feelings of love, compassion or good deeds is considered, even though it is physically the organ that continuously propels the lifeblood through our bodies. This is a concept that each of us is aware of, whether we consider God in our lives or not. All of us, whether a hardened criminal or the most praiseworthy, follows her heart in most matters, whether they be emotional or materialistic. How often do you reference your heart on a daily basis?

We should also consider the mission of our striving, to “…apprehend this matter…that thou mayest be reckoned among them whom God hath graced with such penetrating vision as to behold the most subtle realities of His dominion…” Bahá'u'lláh may be telling us that the matter at hand is elusive. It must be apprehended. Hmm. Like a thief in the night? Many of us may have already have found that spiritual growth is indeed elusive, something to be apprehended. We all want a spiritual connection with God, that feeling of being personally connected with His will by the thread from His Kingdom to our very souls. Although He does not use the word perfection in this example, He is providing a process that may lead to our realizing the utmost of our spiritual capacity.

And from that may we assume that our striving will provide the beginnings of building a stronger foundation toward understanding His Dominion? The American Heritage dictionary defines dominion as a territory or sphere of influence or control; a realm. Bahá'u'lláh proclaimed that every fixed star has its planets and every planet its creatures. That gives a hint, within human understanding, of the size of His dominion. But I submit that that is probably just the beginning, for when we enter the next world and begin to use the criteria of a more advanced spirituality than we can ever imagine in this life, the mind boggles at what we may encounter there. 

So while we pass through the days of this nineteen day period it is an opportunity for us to turn our hearts toward thoughts of the realm of His Dominion. There is probably a special potency during this month that will allow us to gain a greater insight of His vastness, if we but strive to remove the veils from the face of our hearts, and venture unafraid along newly-brightened spiritual avenues. We may pray with loving thoughts for His assistance during this time, and await with keen anticipation for the love He will extend to us all.

Hand of the Cause of God David Maxwell  

Bahá’í Faith: Under the Guardianship

The Bahá’í Faith, under the Guardianship, is distinguished by the acceptance of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the Son of the Founder of the Faith, as a divinely-conceived, sacred, immutable and immortal Document which delineates the essential Institutions of an unique Administrative Order which, together with the application of the Laws and Principles revealed by Bahá’u’lláh, constitutes the basis for the establishment of the World Order of Bahá’u’lláh and a future World Civilization.

This Order was established in embryonic form by Shoghi Effendi, the first Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith during a 36 year ministry. He had been appointed by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in His Will and Testament, a Document which also provided for the continuity of this Institution as long as the Dispensation of Bahá’u’lláh endured through a succession of Guardians of the Faith each appointed by his predecessor "in his own lifetime." Sole interpretative authority of Bahá’í Holy Writ has been vested by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in the Guardians who also serve as the "sacred head and the distinguished member for life" of the Universal House of Justice, the highest legislative organ of the Administrative Order and in this capacity provide "the necessary guidance to define the sphere of the legislative action" of this institution and insure that such subsidiary laws as are enacted by this body are in conformity with the immutable Laws revealed by Bahá’u’lláh in His Most Holy Book. Shoghi Effendi stated that the twin institutions of the Guardianship and the Universal House of Justice "supplement each other’s authority and functions" are inseparable and are "the twin pillars that support this mighty Administrative Structure."

Unlike sans-Guardian Bahá’ís who believe that the Guardianship ended with the passing of Shoghi Effendi, the Bahá’ís under the living Guardian believe that Shoghi Effendi appointed his successor, Mason Remey, in faithful compliance with the sacred provisions of the Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and that only complete acceptance of him as the second Guardian and the "Center of the Cause"and, in turn, his appointed successor, constitutes fidelity to the Covenant of Bahá’u’lláh.

Wilmette NSA's Petition Rejected

The Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit DENIED the Wilmette NSA's petition for rehearing.  The next step, if the NSA decides to take it, is to file a petition for certiorari with the US Supreme Court.  They have 90 days. After that, the decision is final.

Such stupid petitions puts the Justice of the Baha'i Faith in a ridiculous position. The so-called House of Justice's approval for such actions, questions the sans-guardian's administrative legitimacy.

Claims of Neal Chase to the Guardianship of the Bahá'í Faith

Few things are so confusing as the situation of having multiple claimants to the Guardianship of the Bahá'í Faith.  It is straightforward enough to understand that the larger Bahá'í organization has done away with the Guardianship after the death of the first Guardian.  It is very confusing, however, for those who believe that Shoghi Effendi did not fail in his duty, under the explicit provisions of `Abdu'l-Bahá's Will and Testament, to appoint his successor during his lifetime. There are a number of present claimants to the Guardianship. The only thing to do is to carefully consider and assess the arguments put forth by these claimants in a reasonable and rational manner. Read Full Article

Visit of Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand to India - 2

Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand

Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand’s response to the Questions raised by the Orthodox Baha’i Friends during his visit to Mumbai and Vasai on 15th and 16th September 2010. 

4. Why Poverty and caste differences?

He rightly pointed out the reason for poverty and suffering – it being the differences between people in the name of caste, creed, race and color. He said that if people were to recognize humanity as a single unit, equality for mankind as stated in the true sense by the Baha’i’ Faith, then the problems of poverty and suffering would disappear. The second point directed was that education lifts humans to new heights; illiteracy was a disease which affected the people.

5. Please give some information about the court case in USA.

 He briefly gave some information about the Contempt Motion by Wilmette NSA

against Orthodox Baha’i Faith, the ruling of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division and existing situation that the parties are waiting for the decision of Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in NSA's appeal of decision finding Orthodox Baha’is were not in contempt, and asked the friends to find the complete information presented by the Hand of the Cause Jeffrey Goldberg at True Baha’i Blog:

http://www.truebahai.com/court_case.html

6. Mr. Datta goes to the Ganpati pandal and tries to make the youth aware of the  Baha’i’ Faith.

He replied to this saying that this was a laudatory act. But it should not be in the guise of telling the others that he is Hindu and had come to pray and then trying to convert them. Rather he should never renounce his Faith and when he is questioned about his Faith he should firmly announce his belief in Baha’i Faith. He also pointed out that praying in any form is a way to nearness to God and this does not take one away from the Faith as long as one does not deny his true belief. Beloved Master Abdu’l Baha prayed with the Muslims in the mosques.

November 28: Anniversary of the Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá

Born on May 23, 1844, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was the oldest son of Baha’u’llah.

He passed away in Haifa, Israel, on November 28, 1921.

"O Thou Who art the apple of Mine eye!" Baha’u’llah, in His own handwriting, thus addresses 'Abdu'l-Bahá, "My glory, the ocean of My loving-kindness, the sun of My bounty, the heaven of My mercy rest upon Thee. We pray God to illumine the world through Thy knowledge and wisdom, to ordain for Thee that which will gladden Thine heart and impart consolation to Thine eyes." "The glory of God rest upon Thee," He writes in another Tablet, "and upon whosoever serveth Thee and circleth around Thee. Woe, great woe, betide him that opposeth and injureth Thee. Well is it with him that sweareth fealty to Thee; the fire of hell torment him who is Thine enemy." "We have made Thee a shelter for all mankind," He, in yet another Tablet, affirms, "a shield unto all who are in heaven and on earth, a stronghold for whosoever hath believed in God, the Incomparable, the All-Knowing. God grant that through Thee He may protect them, may enrich and sustain them, that He may inspire Thee with that which shall be a wellspring of wealth unto all created things, an ocean of bounty unto all men, and the dayspring of mercy unto all peoples."

            (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 135)

 ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who is the Center of Baha’u’llah’s Covenant  “incarnates an institution for which we can find no parallel whatsoever in any of the world's recognized religious systems, may be said to have closed the Age to which He Himself belonged and opened the one in which we are now laboring. His Will and Testament should thus be regarded as the perpetual, the indissoluble link which the mind of Him Who is the Mystery of God has conceived in order to insure the continuity of the three ages that constitute the component parts of the Baha’i Dispensation.”

                    (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 143)

“It would, however, be helpful and instructive to bear in mind certain basic principles with reference to the Will and Testament of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, which, together with the Kitab-i-Aqdas, constitutes the chief depository wherein are enshrined those priceless elements of that Divine Civilization, the establishment of which is the primary mission of the Baha’i Faith.”

                      (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 3)

In His Will and Testament `Abdu'l-Bahá established the institution of the Guardianship as a hereditary office and outlines one of its essential functions as the Interpreter of the Baha’i writings.

We Baha’is pay homage to our living guardian on the day of passing away of our beloved Master, `Abdu'l-Bahá.

A programme is organised at Vasai, Thane district on Sunday 28th November 2010 at 10.00 AM. Mr. Trivedi will be giving a short talk on the life of `Abdu'l-Bahá.

26th November, Blessed Day of the Covenant

“In a letter dictated by Baha’u’llah and addressed by Mirza Aqa Jan, His amanuensis, to 'Abdu'l-Bahá while the latter was on a visit to Beirut, we read the following: 

"Praise be to Him Who hath honored the Land of Ba (Beirut) through the presence of Him round Whom all names revolve. All the atoms of the earth have announced unto all created things that from behind the gate of the Prison-city there hath appeared and above its horizon there hath shone forth the Orb of the beauty of the great, the Most Mighty Branch of God -- His ancient and immutable Mystery -- proceeding on its way to another land. Sorrow, thereby, hath enveloped this Prison-city, whilst another land rejoiceth... Blessed, doubly blessed, is the ground which His footsteps have trodden, the eye that hath been cheered by the beauty of His countenance, the ear that hath been honored by hearkening to His call, the heart that hath tasted the sweetness of His love, the breast that hath dilated through His remembrance, the pen that hath voiced His praise, the scroll that hath borne the testimony of His writings."

“Abdu'l-Bahá, writing in confirmation of the authority conferred upon Him by Baha’u’llah, makes the following statement: 

"In accordance with the explicit text of the Kitab-i-Aqdas Baha’u’llah hath made the Center of the Covenant the Interpreter of His Word -- a Covenant so firm and mighty that from the beginning of time until the present day no religious Dispensation hath produced its like."

               (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 136)

During the Visit of Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand to India

Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand

Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand’s response to the Questions raised by the Orthodox Baha’i Friends during his visit to Mumbai and Vasai on 15th and 16th September 2010.

1. Can we go for the pilgrimage of the Hallowed Shrines in Haifa and Akka?

 Since at the moment the sacred places of the Faith are under the care and control of the bogus UHJ, it would be difficult or impossible for Orthodox Baha’is to visit there because of the animosity and hostility they would show to us. However, there are public sightseeing tours which guide tourists to visit the shrines. No doubt the shrines and sacred sites hold great importance and significance, but in the end it is the faith of the believer that matters. The true shrine to the Manifestation of God rests in the hearts of the faithful.

2. How we can achieve unity of mankind and love amongst people?

 Man started his material journey from a life of savagery to gradual progress in an industrial environment. During the course of this progress, the Manifestations of God appeared to guide humanity to a higher level of spirituality until the appearance of the most complete Manifestation, Baha’u’llah. Baha’u’llah’s Teachings are the mechanisms that make the accomplishment of these objectives become possible.

3.  How to combat stress in every day modern life?

 This was lauded by the Hand of Cause Nosrat’u’llah as a contemporary issue affecting a majority of lives of urban populace. The problem mostly is the result of focusing on material wealth and possessions. The fight to achieve it caused stress and pain, breaking of relations and decrease of love in humanity. However, the solution was simple and as old as time. We had to return to our spiritual roots, look inwards to the soul and understand the superficial cover of material society. To turn towards the Manifestation is surely an antidote to present afflictions. He guided the believers towards the prayer of Baha’u’llah. This enlightened the hearts of the gathering present and was discussed by the faithful after his leaving.