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Spread Peace
Showing posts with label guardianship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guardianship. Show all posts
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Friday, August 14, 2015
Belief of Orthodox Bahá'ís
1) We are the "true Bahá'ís" We have not altered the true Faith of God. We believe just the same as all Bahá'ís believed before 1957 that the Covenant of Bahá'u'lláh requires obedience to the Guardian of the Cause of God. We believe the present Guardian is Nosrat’u’llah Bahremand.
2) Orthodox Bahá'ís have all of the Institutions of the Cause of God as set forth in the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, including the Hands of the Cause of God, and an international body with the Guardian at its head, the International Bahá'í Council, which is destined in time to become the Universal House of Justice.
3) The Orthodox Baha'is, being under the shade of the Tree of Covenant are divinely guided and blessed. The "table of heaven is prepared" for them, "the angels of heaven" are their "assistants and helpers", and "the life of the Holy Spirit is breathing upon" them (from `Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 214).
The Guardian's web page is at www.bahai-guardian.com.
2) Orthodox Bahá'ís have all of the Institutions of the Cause of God as set forth in the Will and Testament of `Abdu'l-Bahá, including the Hands of the Cause of God, and an international body with the Guardian at its head, the International Bahá'í Council, which is destined in time to become the Universal House of Justice.
3) The Orthodox Baha'is, being under the shade of the Tree of Covenant are divinely guided and blessed. The "table of heaven is prepared" for them, "the angels of heaven" are their "assistants and helpers", and "the life of the Holy Spirit is breathing upon" them (from `Abdu'l-Bahá, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 214).
The Guardian's web page is at www.bahai-guardian.com.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Mullá Husayn: A Student of Siyyid Kázim
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| Sword of Mulla Husayn |
One day Siyyid Kázim said to his followers, "I wish that one of you would go to the city of Isfahán, and deliver a message to a great man there named Hájí Siyyid Muhammad Báqir. If one of you can get him to support our teachings, it will greatly help to spread our Cause". Many times Siyyid Kázim repeated this rquest, but no one offered to make the journey.
At this time Mullá Husayn was only twenty-two years old. He was one of the youngest of Siyyid Kázim's students, but certainly one of his best. He sat in Siyyid Kázim's classes quietly and humbly. He was always the last one to arrive before each lecture, and the first one to leave after it was finished. He never stayed after the lecture to ask questions or argue as did many of the others. Ever since childhood he had studied to gain more knowledge--especially about religion and the subject of law.
One day, in 1840, Siyyid Kázim again repeated the question to his students: "Will someone arise and take this Message to Hájí Siyyid Muhammad Báqir in Isfahán?" Still, nobody offered to go, except a man whom Siyyid Kázim did not consider intelligent enough to do it properly. At that moment he turned to Mullá Husayn and said, "You are the one I have chosen. Arise and carry out this mission. With the help of God you will succeed."
Mullá Husayn was filled with joy! He had been too humble to offer himself, but when he was called upon to serve God in this way, he jumped to his feet, kissed the hem of Siyyid Kázim's coat, and immediately left on his journey to Isfahán.
In a few day' time, Siyyid Kázim received a letter from Mullá Husayn containing the Hájí's declaration of support. When the letter was handed to him, he was lecturing to his followers. However, he read the letter and the declaration to all the men present. He immediately wrote an answer to Mullá Husayn, and also read that to his students. In this letter he praised Mullá Husayn so highly for his service that a few of Siyyid Kázim's followers thought that Mullá Husayn must be the Promised One. The letter was written with such love and tenderness that it was clear that Siyyid Kázim was saying goodby to Mullá Husayn. He knew that he would never see him again on this earth. Siyyid Kázim died on the 31st of December 1843.
It was on the 22nd of January 1844, twenty-two days after the death of Siyyid Kázim, that Mullá Husayn returned to Karbilá. For three days he received visitors at his home, all of whom expressed their sorrow because of the passing of Siyyid Kázim. After listening to their cries he invited the most trusted and outstanding ones to tell him what Siyyid Kázim had told them to do before he died. They told him that Siyyid Kázim had said over and over, "You must leave your homes, travel far and wide, purify your hearts, and search for the Promised One. The only way you can find Him is to search. You must pray to make your hearts pure---and search." Read Full
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Center of the Covenant
Abdu'l-Bahá has received no greater hospitality than that accorded him by the clergy in America. Pulpits in so many churches have been opened to him that on account of the time it has been possible for him to accept comparatively few of these invitations to address religious congregations. The doors of various secular societies and associations have also been opened to Abdu'l-Bahá and in many conferences he has voiced the message of the peace of the Covenant of which his life of service is the Center.
Many people have been drawn to Abdu'l-Bahá by a spiritual force which they could not explain; a force which affected them so deeply as to make them observe that a change had been produced in their very souls. These people are now realizing the reason why Abdu'l-Bahá's presence and words have a spiritual effect that no other man's presence nor words have. This is because he stands in his mission, quite distinct from other men. In his life of service to mankind is centered the great power of the Divine covenant.
The Covenant of God has ever been the source of man's spiritual enlightenment in past ages; it is the source of his spiritual enlightenment in this present day, and it will be the source of his spiritual enlightenment during the ages to come. Read Full
Many people have been drawn to Abdu'l-Bahá by a spiritual force which they could not explain; a force which affected them so deeply as to make them observe that a change had been produced in their very souls. These people are now realizing the reason why Abdu'l-Bahá's presence and words have a spiritual effect that no other man's presence nor words have. This is because he stands in his mission, quite distinct from other men. In his life of service to mankind is centered the great power of the Divine covenant.
The Covenant of God has ever been the source of man's spiritual enlightenment in past ages; it is the source of his spiritual enlightenment in this present day, and it will be the source of his spiritual enlightenment during the ages to come. Read Full
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
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"
Source
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"
Source
Monday, June 15, 2015
Prayers for America
O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee.
These hearts are radiant with Thy Love.
These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings.
O God! Let this American demorcacy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees,
and render this just gov ernment victorious.
Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity,
to promulgate the Most Great Peace,
to become therby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the naitons of the world.
O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy.
Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and besowal.
`Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers Click for more prayers
These hearts are radiant with Thy Love.
These minds and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings.
O God! Let this American demorcacy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees,
and render this just gov ernment victorious.
Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity,
to promulgate the Most Great Peace,
to become therby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the naitons of the world.
O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy.
Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and besowal.
`Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'í Prayers Click for more prayers
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Saturday, June 13, 2015
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Knowledge is not Enough
On May 14, 1912, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá delivered a talk to the leaders of the peace movement at the Lake Mohonk Conference on International Arbitration in the Shawangunk Mountains outside of New York.
He laid out a number of principles necessary to peace, including the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty, and the need for harmony between the systems of science and religion.
The next day, to a group of youth, he noted: “It is very easy to come here, camp near this beautiful lake, on these charming hills, far away from everybody and deliver speeches on Universal Peace.
These ideals should be spread and put in action over there, [Europe] not here in the world’s most peaceful corner.”
Even as a prisoner under house arrest in ‘Akká, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá took action to provide solutions to the needs of the community.
He set up a school to educate children, helped feed the poor and find them jobs, and encouraged his fellow exiles to attend to the sick, crippled, and aged, regardless of their religion. In America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continued this pattern, making a point of visiting the Bowery Mission in New York.
On May 30, 1912, at the Theosophical Lodge in New York, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá pointed out that knowledge is not enough to solve the world’s problems.
“To admit that health is good does not constitute health,” he said. Knowledge must be applied, he said, “the remedy carried out.” read more
He laid out a number of principles necessary to peace, including the elimination of the extremes of wealth and poverty, and the need for harmony between the systems of science and religion.
The next day, to a group of youth, he noted: “It is very easy to come here, camp near this beautiful lake, on these charming hills, far away from everybody and deliver speeches on Universal Peace.
These ideals should be spread and put in action over there, [Europe] not here in the world’s most peaceful corner.”
Even as a prisoner under house arrest in ‘Akká, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá took action to provide solutions to the needs of the community.
He set up a school to educate children, helped feed the poor and find them jobs, and encouraged his fellow exiles to attend to the sick, crippled, and aged, regardless of their religion. In America, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá continued this pattern, making a point of visiting the Bowery Mission in New York.
On May 30, 1912, at the Theosophical Lodge in New York, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá pointed out that knowledge is not enough to solve the world’s problems.
“To admit that health is good does not constitute health,” he said. Knowledge must be applied, he said, “the remedy carried out.” read more
Friday, December 19, 2014
Saturday, December 13, 2014
World of Thought
The reality of man is his thought, not his material body. The thought force and the animal force are partners.
Although man is part of the animal creation, he possesses a power of thought superior to all other created beings.
If a man's thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects then does he become saintly; if on the other hand his thought does not soar, but is directed downwards to centre itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal.
Thoughts may be divided into two classes:
(1st) Thought that belongs to the world of thought alone.
(2nd) Thought that expresses itself in action.
Some men and women glory in their exalted thoughts, but if these thoughts never reach the plane of action they remain useless:
the power of thought is dependent on its manifestation in deeds.
A philosopher's thought may, however, in the world of progress and evolution, translate itself into the actions of other people, even when they themselves are unable or unwilling to show forth their grand ideals in their own lives.
To this class the majority of philosophers belong, their teachings being high above their actions.
This is the difference between philosophers who are Spiritual Teachers, and those who are mere philosophers:
the Spiritual Teacher is the first to follow His own teaching; He brings down into the world of action His spiritual conceptions and ideals. His Divine thoughts are made manifest to the world. His thought is Himself, from which He is inseparable.
When we find a philosopher emphasizing the importance and grandeur of justice, and then encouraging a rapacious monarch in his oppression and tyranny, we quickly realize that he belongs to the first class: for he thinks heavenly thoughts and does not practise the corresponding heavenly virtues.
This state is impossible with Spiritual Philosophers, for they ever express their high and noble thoughts in action. (Excerpt from "Paris Talks")
Although man is part of the animal creation, he possesses a power of thought superior to all other created beings.
If a man's thought is constantly aspiring towards heavenly subjects then does he become saintly; if on the other hand his thought does not soar, but is directed downwards to centre itself upon the things of this world, he grows more and more material until he arrives at a state little better than that of a mere animal.
Thoughts may be divided into two classes:
(1st) Thought that belongs to the world of thought alone.
(2nd) Thought that expresses itself in action.
Some men and women glory in their exalted thoughts, but if these thoughts never reach the plane of action they remain useless:
the power of thought is dependent on its manifestation in deeds.
A philosopher's thought may, however, in the world of progress and evolution, translate itself into the actions of other people, even when they themselves are unable or unwilling to show forth their grand ideals in their own lives.
To this class the majority of philosophers belong, their teachings being high above their actions.
This is the difference between philosophers who are Spiritual Teachers, and those who are mere philosophers:
the Spiritual Teacher is the first to follow His own teaching; He brings down into the world of action His spiritual conceptions and ideals. His Divine thoughts are made manifest to the world. His thought is Himself, from which He is inseparable.
When we find a philosopher emphasizing the importance and grandeur of justice, and then encouraging a rapacious monarch in his oppression and tyranny, we quickly realize that he belongs to the first class: for he thinks heavenly thoughts and does not practise the corresponding heavenly virtues.
This state is impossible with Spiritual Philosophers, for they ever express their high and noble thoughts in action. (Excerpt from "Paris Talks")
Monday, December 8, 2014
Doctrines of Orthodox Baha'i Faith
The Orthodox Bahá’í Faith has its early roots in that of Islam. A young Muhammadan Man announced in Persia on May 23rd, 1844, that He was the forerunner of the Promised One of all the previous religions. It created uproar in that area of the world. No less than 20,000 of His followers, known as Bábi’s, were martyred. In 1850, the Báb was publicly executed.
One of the Báb’s followers became known as Bahá’u’lláh. That title roughly translates as “the Glory of God”. Bahá’u’lláh announced that He was the One foretold by the Báb. He began his ministry in 1853, and publicly announced it in 1863. Bahá’u’lláh was banished successively from Persia to Baghdad to Constantinople, to Adrianople, and finally to the prison city of Akka located across the bay from Haifa, Israel. He later pitched His tent upon Mount Carmel. He passed away in 1892.
`Abdu’l-Bahá, another title meaning “Servant of Bahá’u’lláh”, was the appointed successor and Center of the Covenant and Interpreter of the Word. Released from imprisonment, He traveled to Europe and America in 1911 – 1912. He passed away in 1921.
Shoghi Effendi, the eldest grandson of `Abdu’l-Bahá, was appointed by Him to be Guardian of the Faith, and under his leadership the Faith expanded to over 250 different countries. Shoghi Effendi passed away in London in 1957.
Shoghi Effendi, in the only Proclamation he ever issued, appointed Charles Mason Remey as the Head of the International Bahá’í Council, the embryonic Universal House of Justice. Mason Remey remained silent until 1960, as he tried to preserve unity among the believers. In 1960 he publicly announced that Shoghi Effendi had appointed him second Guardian of the Faith. The appointment being in the known fact that only a Guardian can be the Head or President of the Universal House of Justice, whether fully formed or in embryonic condition. With the passing of Shoghi Effendi the embryonic House of Justice, provisionally designated as the International Bahá’í Council, which had never been activated, had immediately become the active organ, and Mason as its president, the Guardian.
Mason himself both appointed in writing, and by appointing to the second International Bahá’í Council as President, Joel Bray Marangella third Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith. When Mason activated the Council in 1965, Joel, as its President and Head, became the Guardian.
The Orthodox Bahá’í Faith teaches the unity of God and His Prophets, the unity of the human race, the independent investigation of the truth, elimination of all forms of prejudice, the fundamental agreement of science and religion, equal opportunities, rights, and privileges for both sexes, abolishes extremes of poverty and wealth, establishes the need for an international script and language, universal education, a universal system of currency, weights, and measures, and promotes the establishment of world peace. Read full article of "I'an RoeBuck."
One of the Báb’s followers became known as Bahá’u’lláh. That title roughly translates as “the Glory of God”. Bahá’u’lláh announced that He was the One foretold by the Báb. He began his ministry in 1853, and publicly announced it in 1863. Bahá’u’lláh was banished successively from Persia to Baghdad to Constantinople, to Adrianople, and finally to the prison city of Akka located across the bay from Haifa, Israel. He later pitched His tent upon Mount Carmel. He passed away in 1892.
`Abdu’l-Bahá, another title meaning “Servant of Bahá’u’lláh”, was the appointed successor and Center of the Covenant and Interpreter of the Word. Released from imprisonment, He traveled to Europe and America in 1911 – 1912. He passed away in 1921.
Shoghi Effendi, the eldest grandson of `Abdu’l-Bahá, was appointed by Him to be Guardian of the Faith, and under his leadership the Faith expanded to over 250 different countries. Shoghi Effendi passed away in London in 1957.
Shoghi Effendi, in the only Proclamation he ever issued, appointed Charles Mason Remey as the Head of the International Bahá’í Council, the embryonic Universal House of Justice. Mason Remey remained silent until 1960, as he tried to preserve unity among the believers. In 1960 he publicly announced that Shoghi Effendi had appointed him second Guardian of the Faith. The appointment being in the known fact that only a Guardian can be the Head or President of the Universal House of Justice, whether fully formed or in embryonic condition. With the passing of Shoghi Effendi the embryonic House of Justice, provisionally designated as the International Bahá’í Council, which had never been activated, had immediately become the active organ, and Mason as its president, the Guardian.
Mason himself both appointed in writing, and by appointing to the second International Bahá’í Council as President, Joel Bray Marangella third Guardian of the Bahá’í Faith. When Mason activated the Council in 1965, Joel, as its President and Head, became the Guardian.
The Orthodox Bahá’í Faith teaches the unity of God and His Prophets, the unity of the human race, the independent investigation of the truth, elimination of all forms of prejudice, the fundamental agreement of science and religion, equal opportunities, rights, and privileges for both sexes, abolishes extremes of poverty and wealth, establishes the need for an international script and language, universal education, a universal system of currency, weights, and measures, and promotes the establishment of world peace. Read full article of "I'an RoeBuck."
Thursday, December 4, 2014
‘Abdu’l-Baha’s Affection and Love for Mason Remey:
. . ."Praise be unto God, that the model of the Mashrekol-Askar [current transliteration: Mashriqu'l-Adhkár] made by Mr. [Louis J.] Bourgeois was approved by his honor, Mr. Remey, and selected by the Convention. His honor, Mr. Remey is, verily, of perfect sincerity. He is like 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."
(Star of the West, Volume 11, No. 9, 20 August 1920 p. 139):
Mason Remey’s attachment to the Cause was well known at the time. He travelled extensively to promote the Baha’i Faith during the ministry of ‘Abdu’l-Baha. Shoghi Effendi in “God Passes By” (1950 edition p261) recorded that Mason Remey and his Baha’i companion, Howard Struven, were the first Baha’is to circle the globe teaching the Faith. Mason Remey visited ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the Holy Land several times and received numerous Tablets from The Master. “Star of the West”, a Baha’i periodical, published many of these letters during the years 1913-1922. ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s high regard for Remey is evident in these letters. Samples of ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s greetings and words to him illustrate this affection.
"O thou illumined youth and my spiritual beloved!” (SOTW, April, 1913)
"O my dear son! Numerous letters have been received from you and their contents have all been conducive to happiness. Praise be to God, thou art confirmed in service to the Kingdom, art promulgating divine teachings, art raising the call of the oneness of mankind, art detaching the souls from ignorant racial prejudices, art summoning them to the investigation of truth, art showing forth unto them the light of guidance and art offering them the chalice of the wine of the love of God. This blessed purpose of thine is the magnet of the confirmations of the Abha Kingdom." (July 1919 – translation by Shoghi Effendi)
"O thou enlightened beloved son!" (November 1920)
"O thou herald of the Covenant! Thy letters have been received and an answer has been written. Verily thou art firm in the Covenant, art self-sacrificing, art the son of the Kingdom and dost deserve the confirmations of His Holiness Baha’u’llah." (December 1920 – translation by Shoghi Effendi)
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Friday, January 20, 2012
Action of the believers in Lucknow following the passing of Shoghi Effendi.
The State of Guardianship is the super most thing upon the Earth.
The second Guardian, Charles Mason Remey wrote in his dairy: “Daily Observations,”(written during the years he resided in Haifa) about the remarkable action taken by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Lucknow, India, following the passing of Shoghi Effendi:
“This afternoon (12 February 1959) there was a meeting of seven of us Custodian Hands of the Cause now here in the Holy Land at which there was a discussion of many things - details of comings and goings of pilgrims all of routine work, and a letter from the Local Assembly of Lucknow, India, was laid upon the table without remark, someone saying that it was a local problem – a matter that should be referred not to the Hands but to the National Assembly of India.
“Seeing the letter, as it lay there on the table, I glanced at it and was astonished indeed at its contents. It was a record of action of that local Assembly in which seven of the nine members had united to dissolve that local body until such time as the Guardianship be renewed and functioning again – this letter (copy of which was addressed to the Hands in the Holy Land, dated 18 November 1958) was being sent to the Indian National Assembly in New Delhi. This was indeed a most remarkable statement (in six short paragraphs) of the reasons why these friends cannot accept the present condition of the Cause without a Guardian.”
A summary of the original letter:. Gupta wrote the following letter on 18 November 1957 from 51 L
Resolution: Where as by a resolution passed in the presence of seven members of the Assembly on November 9, 1957, [five days after the passing of Shoghi Effendi] it was resolved that “the activities of this LSA be suspended till the appointment of the next Guardian of the Faith” and the same was intimated to the NSA, New Delhi, and whereas it comes under the purview of the Supreme Council, so therefore it behooves this assembly to place the following arguments without prejudice, before the aforementioned Supreme Council through Raffanian, Haifa (Israel):
From the above, it is clear that those who investigate the truth independently, find the truth but those who do not struggle for the truth, God seals their hearts.
The second Guardian, Charles Mason Remey wrote in his dairy: “Daily Observations,”(written during the years he resided in Haifa) about the remarkable action taken by the Local Spiritual Assembly of Lucknow, India, following the passing of Shoghi Effendi:
“This afternoon (12 February 1959) there was a meeting of seven of us Custodian Hands of the Cause now here in the Holy Land at which there was a discussion of many things - details of comings and goings of pilgrims all of routine work, and a letter from the Local Assembly of Lucknow, India, was laid upon the table without remark, someone saying that it was a local problem – a matter that should be referred not to the Hands but to the National Assembly of India.
“Seeing the letter, as it lay there on the table, I glanced at it and was astonished indeed at its contents. It was a record of action of that local Assembly in which seven of the nine members had united to dissolve that local body until such time as the Guardianship be renewed and functioning again – this letter (copy of which was addressed to the Hands in the Holy Land, dated 18 November 1958) was being sent to the Indian National Assembly in New Delhi. This was indeed a most remarkable statement (in six short paragraphs) of the reasons why these friends cannot accept the present condition of the Cause without a Guardian.”
A summary of the original letter:. Gupta wrote the following letter on 18 November 1957 from 51 L
Resolution: Where as by a resolution passed in the presence of seven members of the Assembly on November 9, 1957, [five days after the passing of Shoghi Effendi] it was resolved that “the activities of this LSA be suspended till the appointment of the next Guardian of the Faith” and the same was intimated to the NSA, New Delhi, and whereas it comes under the purview of the Supreme Council, so therefore it behooves this assembly to place the following arguments without prejudice, before the aforementioned Supreme Council through Raffanian, Haifa (Israel):
- Man’s nature is two-fold; he is spirit and body and therefore, at once, a citizen of this world and of the Heavenly City.
- The State of Guardianship is the super most thing upon the Earth.
- The Guardian ought to have no equal in his realm because this would nullify the rule that an equal cannot have authority over his equals.
- The Supremacy of the Guardian in spiritual matters is absolute under the God…The Guardian has full power to create Hands of the Cause and can do so without any of the customary forms of election.
- The unique power possessed by the Guardian alone is, therefore a “Divine Right”…In substance the Guardian alone is the head of entire legal system, not, indeed, as a universal executive but as a court of final authority which functions not in absentia but by presence.
- The present system is but conciliary and the concilliarists have set against it the ideal of harmony of powers cooperating by free and mutual consent. Such an argument is fraught with the implication that God had changed the mode of imposing His Divine Right according to the wishes of the few. Such a democratic conception is vitally opposed to the Spirit of the Faith.
From the above, it is clear that those who investigate the truth independently, find the truth but those who do not struggle for the truth, God seals their hearts.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
The Bahá'í Month of Honor
The Bahá'í Month of Honor is the nineteen day period beginning December 31.
“They who are the beloved of God, in whatever place they gather and whomsoever they may meet, must evince, in their attitude towards God, and in the manner of their celebration of His praise and glory, such humility and submissiveness that every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their devotion. The conversation carried by these holy souls should be informed with such power that these same atoms of dust will be thrilled by its influence. They should conduct themselves in such manner that the earth upon which they tread may never be allowed to address to them such words as these: "I am to be preferred above you. For witness, how patient I am in bearing the burden which the husbandman layeth upon me. I am the instrument that continually imparteth unto all beings the blessings with which He Who is the Source of all grace hath entrusted me. Notwithstanding the honor conferred upon me, and the unnumbered evidences of my wealth--a wealth that supplieth the needs of all creation--behold the measure of my humility, witness with what absolute submissiveness I allow myself to be trodden beneath the feet of men...."
-- Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 7, 8
Only the eloquence of Bahá'u'lláh could permeate the most basic platform of human life with such power and spirituality, to the degree of becoming a reality check for all who would listen. Do not the words of that quote give one pause? I should hope so, since we are living in an age of awareness that has already rallied many humans to recognize that we must alter our destructive and wasteful ways which currently do little to benefit our Planet. In fact, most of our actions have a negative result on the physical qualities of the world we depend upon for life itself. Bahá'ís recognize that the foremost contributing factor to the world’s pollution is humanity’s spiritual shortcomings. While many sound the alarm of global warming, pointing to material solutions as the answer to solve the problem, we know that a change in the hearts of men, as foretold by Bahá'u'lláh, is the only true solution to the physical maladies of global imbalance.
Although I may have read the above quote at some point in my Bahá'í life, I have no recollection of it. When finding it recently, I was struck with its elemental goodness. This very paragraph would be a wonderful place to start for all those who want to do something about their world and themselves. “The conversation carried by these holy souls (remember, it the Baha’is of the world to whom this is addressed) should be informed with such power that these same atoms of dust will be thrilled by its influence.” Did you ever consider that the very earth we trod upon might be thrilled by the spiritual power of our influence? I never had. To me, Bahá'u'lláh is admonishing us in the very basest of terms, the degree that we should all aspire to in our reflection of His Teachings.
Our World’s composure was radically changed by the vibrating influence of Bahá'u'lláh’s Message for this Day, altering the life processes that our fathers and fore-fathers had learned to rely upon. We, as citizens of this recently altered world have not a clue of the magnitude of that alteration. No doubt, many of the Baha’is would find fault with that assessment. But do we really have a clue? Do we really understand the nuances of this Revelation that is the result of the release of 25 Letters of (God’s) Knowledge upon a hapless society? According to Holy Writ, the entire Adamic Cycle had released only two of those Letters. Along with the release of those 25 remaining Letters, humans became endowed with the capacity to live within the bounds of the marvels of that new presentation. I would presently opine that although humans will eventually be able to handle the new guidelines, at this point we are in what may be described as an embryonic status of understanding; we will eventually understand the requirements, but only have a glimmering of it now. As children go through succeeding levels of learning before understanding the complexities of life, adults now have new lessons to learn as well.
And so it is with all of us; we must first overcome our fear of water in order to progressively learn how to swim. I submit that meditating upon the enormity of the above paragraph could eventually guide us in the direction of beginning to understand the magnitude of grandeur that has been presented to us, and more importantly, the role that we must all present, to the best of our ability, in our acceptance and furtherance of the principles of this New World Order.
Hand of the Cause of God, Nosrat Bahremand, recently reminded us that we need to understand that believers of Bahá'u'lláh and followers of Bahá'u'lláh are two distinct categories. Do I dare suggest that the above quoted paragraph provides a further distinction for us to be aware of in our quest: that is that we must additionally become students of Bahá'u'lláh, beginning with the most basic truths of This Revelation. Acceptance of Bahá'u'lláh is only the beginning of a completely new avenue of life for us, and we need to begin at the most basic level of understanding to be able to truly comprehend its magnitude.
Hand of the Cause of God David Maxwell
Friday, December 24, 2010
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
Sunday, December 19, 2010
A Humiliating Defeat at the Hand of the Faithful Followers of Baha'u'llah under the Guardianship of the third Guardian, Joel B. Marangella
It is really shameful on the part of the bogus UHJ to file a petition in the Court of Appeals to review the case. It looks like that the sans-Guardian organization has lost its mental balance and hence has failed to take any lesson from such a humiliating defeat at the band of the faithful followers of Baha'u'llah under the Guardianship of the third Guardian, Joel B. Marangella. The sans-Guardian organization is built on shifting sand, which with every passing day, is losing its stature.
The NSA-UHJ obviously knew that their case would not be worth anything if it was based on the 1966 trademark ruling so they blatantly attempted to have the previously applied injunction towards Remey’s organization applied to the Orthodox Baha’i Faith. But they failed to prove (twice) that the 1966 ruling applied to the Orthodox Baha’i Faith.
Instead of the bogus UHJ clarifying the matter of the continuation of the Guardianship for its followers, the bogus UHJ is trying to harass the faithful followers of Baha'u'llah with the might of money and power. This is exactly what Hand of Cause, Mr. David Maxwell predicted would occur in one of his letters addressed to the Third International Baha’i Council after our first court victory.
The Indian heterodox Baha’is are wondering how much this NSA-UHJ’s wrong doing is costing them? They are now realizing that the money that they have been paying in the name of Huququllah is being spent in a disastrously destructive manner which has not brought anything other than humiliation for them?
Honestly, the pursuance of this legal case has been obviously embarrassing for all the heterodox Baha’is throughout the world, and especially so for those in India. This unsuccessful outcome is not surprising at all and it has come at a great price to them, both financially and prestige wise. There is already considerable media attention covering the decision which naturally reflects against the heterodox organization. This recent verdict will further focus unfavorable media attention on them.
But the basic question remains and that is: was the sans-Guardian organization unaware:
1-That the law does not allow for terms employed in the public domain to be trademarked or copyrighted. This is why no one can lay claim to the word “Muslim”or “Christian” or the symbol of the Cross, etc. In view of this fact, it is astonishing that the NSA made such a foolish decision to go ahead and waste their time and the funds of the Faith in such a manner.
2-They either had most incompetent legal representation who failed to inform them of this very basic and fundamental legal fact, or they were informed and chose to ignore such advice and forged ahead nevertheless.
The obvious answer to the question is that the this new appeal has been filed by the bogus UHJ, due to compulsion and not by choice. Because they know that the orthodox Baha’is are continuing to ask their basic question about their refusal to accept the continuation of the Guardianship so clearly promised and provided for in the sacred and immutable provisions of the WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ABDU'L-BAHA. The UHJ is well aware that they cannot provide a valid answer to this question so, therefore, it is better to keep the Baha’is busy with the court case.
Y.H. Taylor
The NSA-UHJ obviously knew that their case would not be worth anything if it was based on the 1966 trademark ruling so they blatantly attempted to have the previously applied injunction towards Remey’s organization applied to the Orthodox Baha’i Faith. But they failed to prove (twice) that the 1966 ruling applied to the Orthodox Baha’i Faith.
Instead of the bogus UHJ clarifying the matter of the continuation of the Guardianship for its followers, the bogus UHJ is trying to harass the faithful followers of Baha'u'llah with the might of money and power. This is exactly what Hand of Cause, Mr. David Maxwell predicted would occur in one of his letters addressed to the Third International Baha’i Council after our first court victory.
The Indian heterodox Baha’is are wondering how much this NSA-UHJ’s wrong doing is costing them? They are now realizing that the money that they have been paying in the name of Huququllah is being spent in a disastrously destructive manner which has not brought anything other than humiliation for them?
Honestly, the pursuance of this legal case has been obviously embarrassing for all the heterodox Baha’is throughout the world, and especially so for those in India. This unsuccessful outcome is not surprising at all and it has come at a great price to them, both financially and prestige wise. There is already considerable media attention covering the decision which naturally reflects against the heterodox organization. This recent verdict will further focus unfavorable media attention on them.
But the basic question remains and that is: was the sans-Guardian organization unaware:
1-That the law does not allow for terms employed in the public domain to be trademarked or copyrighted. This is why no one can lay claim to the word “Muslim”or “Christian” or the symbol of the Cross, etc. In view of this fact, it is astonishing that the NSA made such a foolish decision to go ahead and waste their time and the funds of the Faith in such a manner.
2-They either had most incompetent legal representation who failed to inform them of this very basic and fundamental legal fact, or they were informed and chose to ignore such advice and forged ahead nevertheless.
The obvious answer to the question is that the this new appeal has been filed by the bogus UHJ, due to compulsion and not by choice. Because they know that the orthodox Baha’is are continuing to ask their basic question about their refusal to accept the continuation of the Guardianship so clearly promised and provided for in the sacred and immutable provisions of the WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ABDU'L-BAHA. The UHJ is well aware that they cannot provide a valid answer to this question so, therefore, it is better to keep the Baha’is busy with the court case.
Y.H. Taylor
Saturday, July 31, 2010
DOES THE RUHI BOOK CONVEY THE TRUE MEANING OF ABDU'L BAHA’S SACRED WORDS?
Do the authors of the manuscript, titled: The Covenant, Unit 2, fairly, completely and honestly teach the true meaning and significance of the Master’s sacred words?
Most certainly, they do not. Cunningly, they totally ignore the first realm of Divine guidance, the interpretation of Bahá'í Holy Writ and the Holy Text, (the “Law of God”), an authority divinely that has been assigned exclusively to the Guardians of the Bahá'í Faith, and, notwithstanding, have the temerity to insidiously pretend that a currently established illegitimate sans-Guardian and so-called Universal House of Justice provides an infallible source of divine guidance. Following is what they have writtten in support of this position on page 68 of the publication: The Covenant, Unit 2, on the same page in which the Master’s words are quoted.
Most certainly, they do not. Cunningly, they totally ignore the first realm of Divine guidance, the interpretation of Bahá'í Holy Writ and the Holy Text, (the “Law of God”), an authority divinely that has been assigned exclusively to the Guardians of the Bahá'í Faith, and, notwithstanding, have the temerity to insidiously pretend that a currently established illegitimate sans-Guardian and so-called Universal House of Justice provides an infallible source of divine guidance. Following is what they have writtten in support of this position on page 68 of the publication: The Covenant, Unit 2, on the same page in which the Master’s words are quoted.
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