Archive for September, 2016

Baha’i Sabbath: Mashiyyat 4, 173 B.E. (9/30/2016)

Friday, September 30th, 2016

It is incumbent upon every man, in this Day, to hold fast unto whatsoever will promote the interests, and exalt the station, of all nations and just governments. Through each and every one of the verses which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed, the doors of love and unity have been unlocked and flung open to the face of men. We have erewhile declared—and Our Word is the truth—: “Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship.” Whatsoever hath led the children of men to shun one another, and hath caused dissensions and divisions amongst them, hath, through the revelation of these words, been nullified and abolished. From the heaven of God’s Will, and for the purpose of ennobling the world of being and of elevating the minds and souls of men, hath been sent down that which is the most effective instrument for the education of the whole human race. The highest essence and most perfect expression of whatsoever the peoples of old have either said or written hath, through this most potent Revelation, been sent down from the heaven of the Will of the All-Possessing, the Ever-Abiding God. Of old it hath been revealed: “Love of one’s country is an element of the Faith of God.” The Tongue of Grandeur hath, however, in the day of His manifestation proclaimed: “It is not his to boast who loveth his country, but it is his who loveth the world.” Through the power released by these exalted words He hath lent a fresh impulse and set a new direction to the birds of men’s hearts, and hath obliterated every trace of restriction and limitation from God’s holy Book.

Baha’u’llah, Exc. Fr. Tablet of the World

 

Were men to strictly observe that which the Pen of the Most High hath revealed in the Crimson Book, they could then well afford to dispense with the regulations which prevail in the world. Certain exhortations have repeatedly streamed forth from the Pen of the Most High that perchance the manifestations of power and the dawning-places of might may, sometime, be enabled to enforce them. Indeed, were sincere seekers to be found, every emanation of God’s pervasive and irresistible Will would, for the sake of His love, be revealed. But where are to be found earnest seekers and inquiring minds? Whither are gone the equitable and the fair-minded? At present no day passeth without the fire of a fresh tyranny blazing fiercely, or the sword of a new aggression being unsheathed. Gracious God!

Baha’u’llah, Exc. Fr. Tablet of the World

 

Man is the supreme Talisman. Lack of a proper education hath, however, deprived him of that which he doth inherently possess. Through a word proceeding out of the mouth of God he was called into being; by one word more he was guided to recognize the Source of his education; by yet another word his station and destiny were safeguarded. The Great Being saith: Regard man as a mine rich in gems of inestimable value. Education can, alone, cause it to reveal its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom. If any man were to meditate on that which the Scriptures, sent down from the heaven of God’s holy Will, have revealed, he would readily recognize that their purpose is that all men shall be regarded as one soul, so that the seal bearing the words “The Kingdom shall be God’s” may be stamped on every heart, and the light of Divine bounty, of grace, and mercy may envelop all mankind. The One true God, exalted be His glory, hath wished nothing for Himself. The allegiance of mankind profiteth Him not, neither doth its perversity harm Him. The Bird of the Realm of Utterance voiceth continually this call: “All things have I willed for thee, and thee, too, for thine own sake.” If the learned and worldly-wise men of this age were to allow mankind to inhale the fragrance of fellowship and love, every understanding heart would apprehend the meaning of true liberty, and discover the secret of undisturbed peace and absolute composure. Were the earth to attain this station and be illumined with its light it could then be truly said of it: “Thou shall see in it no hollows or rising hills.”

Baha’u’llah, Exc. Fr. Tablet of Maqsud

 

Say: Nature in its essence is the embodiment of My Name, the Maker, the Creator. Its manifestations are diversified by varying causes, and in this diversity there are signs for men of discernment. Nature is God’s Will and is its expression in and through the contingent world. It is a dispensation of Providence ordained by the Ordainer, the All-Wise. Were anyone to affirm that it is the Will of God as manifested in the world of being, no one should question this assertion. It is endowed with a power whose reality men of learning fail to grasp. Indeed a man of insight can perceive naught therein save the effulgent splendor of Our Name, the Creator. Say: This is an existence which knoweth no decay, and Nature itself is lost in bewilderment before its revelations, its compelling evidences and its effulgent glory which have encompassed the universe.

Baha’u’llah, Exc. Fr. Tablet of Wisdom

 

 

Baha’i Month: Mashiyyat/Will 1, 173 B.E. (9/27/2016)

Tuesday, September 27th, 2016

FREE WILL

Question.–Is man a free agent in all his actions, or is he compelled and constrained?

Answer.–This question is one of the most important and abstruse of divine problems. If God wills, another day, at the beginning of dinner, we will undertake the explanation of this subject in detail; now we will explain it briefly, in a few words, as follows. Some things are subject to the free will of man, such as justice, equity, tyranny and injustice, in other words, good and evil actions; it is evident and clear that these actions are, for the most part, left to the will of man. But there are certain things to which man is forced and compelled, such as sleep, death, sickness, decline of power, injuries and misfortunes; these are not subject to the will of man, and he is not responsible for them, for he is compelled to endure them. But in the choice of good and bad actions he is free, and he commits them according to his own will.

For example, if he wishes, he can pass his time in praising God, or he can be occupied with other thoughts. He can be an enkindled light through the fire of the love of God, and a philanthropist loving the world, or he can be a hater of mankind, and engrossed with material things. He can be just or cruel. These actions and these deeds are subject to the control of the will of man himself; consequently, he is responsible for them.

Now another question arises. Man is absolutely helpless and dependent, since might and power belong especially to God. Both exaltation and humiliation depend upon the good pleasure and the will of the Most High.

It is said in the New Testament that God is like a potter who makes “one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour.” [Rom. 9:21.] Now the dishonored vessel has no right to find fault with the potter saying, “Why did you not make me a precious cup, which is passed from hand to hand?” The meaning of this verse is that the states of beings are different. That which is in the lowest state of existence, like the mineral, has no right to complain, saying, “O God, why have You not given me the vegetable perfections?” In the same way, the plant has no right to complain that it has been deprived of the perfections of the animal world. Also it is not befitting for the animal to complain of the want of the human perfections. No, all these things are perfect in their own degree, and they must strive after the perfections of their own degree. The inferior beings, as we have said, have neither the right to, nor the fitness for, the states of the superior perfections. No, their progress must be in their own state.

Also the inaction or the movement of man depend upon the assistance of God. If he is not aided, he is not able to do either good or evil. But when the help of existence comes from the Generous Lord, he is able to do both good and evil; but if the help is cut off, he remains absolutely helpless. This is why in the Holy Books they speak of the help and assistance of God. So this condition is like that of a ship which is moved by the power of the wind or steam; if this power ceases, the ship cannot move at all. Nevertheless, the rudder of the ship turns it to either side, and the power of the steam moves it in the desired direction. If it is directed to the east, it goes to the east; or if it is directed to the west, it goes to the west. This motion does not come from the ship; no, it comes from the wind or the steam.

In the same way, in all the action or inaction of man, he receives power from the help of God; but the choice of good or evil belongs to the man himself. So if a king should appoint someone to be the governor of a city, and should grant him the power of authority, and should show him the paths of justice and injustice according to the laws–if then this governor should commit injustice, although he should act by the authority and power of the king, the latter would be absolved from injustice. But if he should act with justice, he would do it also through the authority of the king, who would be pleased and satisfied.

That is to say, though the choice of good and evil belongs to man, under all circumstances he is dependent upon the sustaining help of life, which comes from the Omnipotent. The Kingdom of God is very great, and all are captives in the grasp of His Power. The servant cannot do anything by his own will; God is powerful, omnipotent, and the Helper of all beings.

This question has become clearly explained. Salutations!

Abdu’l-Baha’, Some Answered Questions, Part Four: On the Origin, Powers and Conditions of Man

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Some Answered Questions

THE ORIGINAL PRESERVED TEXT IN ENGLISH
Some Answered Questions
The original preserved text of Some Answered Questions (SAQ) is now available in hard copy format.

This book gives the answers of a great World Teacher to numerous questions which deeply trouble modern man in this post-modern Age of Transition. First published in London in 1908, Some Answered Questions is as timely now as it was then; the need for it has grown more acute with the years. The many questions which it considers remain either unanswered or misunderstood in the minds of the mass of humanity.

What is man? Is there a God? How can we know God? What of the Reality of the Unseen? Miracles, prophecy, predestination, immortality, free will, reincarnation, baptism, the Trinity, healing? Here, too, are commentaries on and explanations of Biblical passages and the metaphysical underpinnings of scientific worldviews suited to our age of increasing maturity.

Some Answered Questions is intended for the searcher with an open and independent mind. The answers are unorthodox. Religion and Spirituality, stripped of ritualism and tradition, become reasonable and alive. If the search for truth is coupled with a dream of justice for all and a world at peace, if the student is willing to receive an idea by which he or she may live meaningfully both for true-self and for others, then here you will find an authentic challenge to match that dream.

This is the original 1908 translation that preserves the prophecy of the coming of the “7th Angel” made by ‘Abdu’l-Baha in this volume (p. 66) in 1908 and approved by Him. Contrary to the Covenant-breakers assertions, Some Answered Questions is NOT “pilgrim’s notes”–but forms a collection of talks in the authenticity of the written Tablets of ‘Abdu’l-Baha approved and corrected by Him (with His own hand during His lifetime) in the potency of genuine Baha’i Holy Writ:

“Baha’u’llah has made it clear enough that only those things that have been revealed in the form of Tablets have a binding power over the friends… Those talks of the Master that were later reviewed by Him, corrected or in some other form considered authentic by Himself, such as Some Answered Questions, are considered as Tablets and therefore have the necessary binding power” (Shoghi Effendi, to the United States Publishing Committee, December 29, 1931).

This original re-print edition of Some Answered Questions combats the various changed false-text corrupted “editions” of the Covenant-breakers and contains a unique preface written by Dr. Leland Jensen and updated for current times along with a New Appendix including the Tablet of the Dichotomy and ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s the Tablet of Wood, Iron and Gold. The perfect teaching text (and required reading: the first 90 pages) for the full experience of the Baha’i Fireside series.

Baha’i Sabbath: Izzat 16, 173 B.E. (9/23/2016)

Friday, September 23rd, 2016

The ninth Glad-Tidings (Bisharat)

When the sinner findeth himself wholly detached and freed from all save God, he should beg forgiveness and pardon from Him. Confession of sins and transgressions before human beings is not permissible, as it hath never been nor will ever be conducive to divine forgiveness. Moreover such confession before people results in one’s humiliation and abasement, and God—exalted be His glory—wisheth not the humiliation of His servants. Verily He is the Compassionate, the Merciful. The sinner should, between himself and God, implore mercy from the Ocean of mercy, beg forgiveness from the Heaven of generosity and say:
O God, my God! I implore Thee by the blood of Thy true lovers who were so enraptured by Thy sweet utterance that they hastened unto the Pinnacle of Glory, the site of the most glorious martyrdom, and I beseech Thee by the mysteries which lie enshrined in Thy knowledge and by the pearls that are treasured in the ocean of Thy bounty to grant forgiveness unto me and unto my father and my mother. Of those who show forth mercy, Thou art in truth the Most Merciful. No God is there but Thee, the Ever-Forgiving, the All-Bountiful.
O Lord! Thou seest this essence of sinfulness turning unto the ocean of Thy favor and this feeble one seeking the kingdom of Thy divine power and this poor creature inclining himself towards the daystar of Thy wealth. By Thy mercy and Thy grace, disappoint him not, O Lord, nor debar him from the revelations of Thy bounty in Thy days, nor cast him away from Thy door which Thou hast opened wide to all that dwell in Thy heaven and on Thine earth.
Alas! Alas! My sins have prevented me from approaching the Court of Thy holiness and my trespasses have caused me to stray far from the Tabernacle of Thy majesty. I have committed that which Thou didst forbid me to do and have put away what Thou didst order me to observe.
I pray Thee by Him Who is the sovereign Lord of Names to write down for me with the Pen of Thy bounty that which will enable me to draw nigh unto Thee and will purge me from my trespasses which have intervened between me and Thy forgiveness and Thy pardon.
Verily, Thou art the Potent, the Bountiful. No God is there but Thee, the Mighty, the Gracious.

Baha’u’llah

Baha’i Sabbath: Izzat 9, 173 B.E. (9/16/2016)

Friday, September 16th, 2016

Three of the Basic Baha’i Principles Now in the Spotlight of Current Affairs, Daily News and Open Social and Political Discourse.

 

The First Basic Baha’i Principle-The Oneness Of Humanity:

1.wob-the-principle-of-oneness

 

 

2.wob-shoghi-effendi-oneness-of-mankind

 

The Sixth Basic Baha’i Principle-Equality Of Men And Women:

1.women-equal-1

 

 

2.women-equal-2

 

 

3.women-equal-3

 

 

4.women-the-first-teachers

 

http://uhj.net/justice-for-women.html

http://uhj.net/women-on-uhj.html

 

 

The Seventh Basic Baha’i Principle-The Elimination Of All Forms Of Prejudice:

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2.7thprin-2

 

 

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4.7thprin-4

 

 

5.black-white

 

http://www.bahaijustice.com/2015/04/30/bahai-open-epistle-on-lgbt-rights-womens-rights-prejudice-ridvan-172-b-e-421-522015/

 

 

Baha’i Month: Izzat/Might 1, 173 B.E. (9/8/2016)

Thursday, September 8th, 2016

TAQLID/BLIND IMITATION

In training in the arts and sciences–or even in children learning language–students, trainees, children tend to (at first) imitate their parents and teachers (and later they innovate for their own uniqueness of performance and expressions). But the Manifestations of God have commanded a direct and immediate experience of God for each and every individual;. In fact this is the second principle of the Baha’i Faith. Islam means to submit or surrender to the everlasting Covenant of God–which is the Will of God–which means NOT performing taqlid. Taqlid means to “collar yourself” to blind imitation (like a dog or animal–thus de-humanizing) which is forbidden. Those who collar/taqlid are not submissive in surrendering their will to God alone–and are NOT being independant of all save God. This is why the Kingdom of God is the government of God and not of man. No man shall govern or rule upon another–but God himself shall be their king and ruler–meaning that the people are in relationship with God and are AGAINST the Incarnate-Lie of mere men to whom they perform taqlid. It is forbidden to perform taqlid with the Manifestations of God, the Center of the Covenant, the Guardians, the UHJ or any one. Even God in our relationship with him prefers free will exercise of true love–and does not make puppets of us. Fealty and loyalty out of LOVE is NOT taqlid.

The only true religion in the world that preserves this fealty and loyalty of true love by informed consent and free will is the real faith under the provisions of the Covenant. The real guardian of the Baha’i faith guards us from taqlid, and allows the free people to live openly with God, in God, before God, after God and all in all of God. There is no time in the world of God. Everything is now. While this teaching may be found hidden and concealed in all of the Revelations to greater and lesser degrees–it is only practiced–and explicitly revealed as the “unsealed choice wine”– in the real world via the Kingdom now upon the earth (through the power of the Covenant of Baha’u’llah as delineated in the provisions of the sacred Will and Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Baha)–the sine qua non of which is the genuine authentic living Davidic king seated upon the throne of King David that is to last for ever.

This is different from religions, per se. The Jewish, Christian, Islamisms and Baha’i “religions” all preserve a place in their Holy Texts for the throne of King David and the one seated upon it as an important personage and welcomed member of their respective holy communities. In reality the Revelation of Baha’u’llah is NOT a religion per se, but the government from God for the earth–that is international for the globe. In this free and open society–God is ever present for the direct and immediate experience of the people. In the presence of God there is no crime, no poverty, no hurt, no disease, no ills, etc. The people are happy. They are uniquely themselves–and not in blind imitations of any others. They reflect God purely as they know and understand the divine and transcendent mind that immanently animates us all. They understand the relationship of the organic teachers of God–the primordial educators–who are the founders of the progressive civilization that naturally arise from the Will of God amongst us within the world of being. Not enough can be said about this All-Important Theme!. They are not coerced under the pressure of manmade “rulers” or manmade “over-lordships.” No! They are free people even as the Davidic King is a free man. They are enlightened and in contact with the divine even as each and everyone one of us has this capacity: for “in my soul I am free!” As God loves those who work in groups–they come together to form societies and projects. The throne of King David is the sign of international peace through real justice. It is not a taqlid–nor is it a lordship controlling or intimidating peoples as do the manmade governments “benevolent or malevolent dictatorships”, “One-man rule”, or “totalitarian states” of earth.

The Kitab-i-‘Ahd states that the “government of the earth is vouchsafed unto them”–The “THEM” are the current monarchies, kings, and rulerships of the world. This includes the monarchy (now as exilarchate) of King David’s throne-line as well. Baha’u’llah states however that the “hearts” of the kings and rulers “belong to God.” The “Baha’is” were never meant to rule or govern the material earth–it is the Covenant-breakers who lust for worldly earthly power and who have disseminated these LIES!!!. God has already allowed for the rulers and monarchs and kings and governments of the nations to be populated by the leaderships of the peoples and tribes. He vouchsafes their jurisdictions and confirms their authorities as contingent upon the Most Great Justice. If they go against God they will be subjected to troubles and punishments that naturally arise from wrong governances. If they accept the guidance of God and spiritualize they will undoubtedly prosper (as has the British monarchy that was fair to Baha’u’llah) and win the love of all the peoples. The Davidic Kingship is also one of these throne-lines promised and preserved by God that is subject to His laws, under His command, and should it deviate “a hair’s breath” (W&T, p. 9) from the natural Will of the Kind Lord, it and that one will see great suffering and ruin just as any other king (see Pslams 89 for more)–but to David the promise shall continue for ever.

I remain yours, your servant, Neal

 

Baha’i Sabbath: Asma 14, 173 B.E. (9/2/2016)

Friday, September 2nd, 2016

Prayer Of The Covenant

My God! My God! I ask Thee to forgive everything save my servitude to Thy Supreme Threshold, and I declare myself innocent of any proclamation or praise, save my adoration for Thy Merciful Presence. I deprive myself of every adornment, save that of humiliation and contrition and evanescence before Thy Oneness. I flee from every station save that of arrival in the court of Thy Divine Eternity. By Thy Power, verily, the sweetness of servitude is the food of my spirit; with the fragrance of servitude my breast will be dilated, my being refreshed, my heart delighted, my eyes brightened, my nostrils perfumed, and in it is the healing of my disease, the allaying of my burning thirst, the soothing of my pain.

Immerse me, O my God, in this most bounteous, rolling Ocean; give me to drink of this sweet, abundant Water; cause me to enter this Gateway of Righteousness; ordain me for this praiseworthy Station; cause me to obtain this Cup which is overflowing with the living water; light in the crystal of my heart this Lamp which is giving forth its illuminating, brilliant radiance; and strengthen me for the service of Thy Cause, O my Lord, the Forgiver! Accept my servitude in the court of Thy Holy Oneness, O Thou, the Manifestor of Mount Sinai. Assist me to abide in its conditions, O Thou, the Authority of Manifestation. Aid me to assist Thy Cause in the eastern and western parts of the earth, O Thou the Possessor of the Day of Resurrection. I ask Thee, by Thy written Book, dispersed writings — by Thy Hidden Mystery, and Thy firm proclamations — to cause me to be steadfast in servitude to Thee, O my Lord, the Forgiver! Verily, Thou art the powerful over that which Thou wishest; and verily, Thou art the Merciful, the Compassionate.

Abdu’l-Baha’, The Crimson Book: The Book Of The Covenant