The Seven Valleys of Bahá'u'lláh

 "In like manner, colors become visible in every object according to the nature of that object. For instance, in a yellow globe, the rays shine yellow; in a white the rays are white; and in a red, the red rays are manifest. Then these variations are from the object, not from the shining light. And if a place be shut away from the light, as by walls or a roof, it will be entirely bereft of the splendor of the light, nor will the sun shine thereon.


Thus it is that certain invalid souls have confined the lands of knowledge within the wall of self and passion, and clouded them with ignorance and blindness, and have been veiled from the light of the mystic sun and the mysteries of the Eternal Beloved; they have strayed afar from the jewelled wisdom of the lucid Faith of the Lord of Messengers, have been shut out of the sanctuary of the All-Beauteous One, and banished from the Ka'bih of splendor. Such is the worth of the people of this age!"

The Seven Valleys of Bahá'u'lláh

The third Taráz

The third Taráz concerneth good character. A good character is, verily, the best mantle for men from God. With it He adorneth the temples of His loved ones. By My life! The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof. Whoso attaineth unto it is accounted as a jewel among men. The glory and the upliftment of the world must needs depend upon it. A goodly character is a means whereby men are guided to the Straight Path and are led to the Great Announcement. Well is it with him who is adorned with the saintly attributes and character of the Concourse on High. 

It beseemeth you to fix your gaze under all conditions upon justice and fairness. In The Hidden Words this exalted utterance hath been revealed from Our Most August Pen:

‘O Son of Spirit! The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice; turn not away therefrom if thou desirest Me, and neglect it not that I may confide in thee. By its aid thou shalt see with thine own eyes and not through the eyes of others, and shalt know of thine own knowledge and not through the knowledge of thy neighbour. Ponder this in thy heart; how it behoveth thee to be. Verily justice is My gift to thee and the sign of My loving-kindness. Set it then before thine eyes.'

The second Taráz

The second Taráz is to consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship, to proclaim that which theSpeaker on Sinai hath set forth and to observe fairness in all matters.

They that are endued with sincerity and faithfulness should associate with all the peoples and kindreds of the earth with joy and radiance, inasmuch as consorting with people hath promoted and will continue to promote unity and concord, which in turn are conducive to the maintenance of order in the world and to the regeneration of nations. Blessed are such as hold fast to the cord of kindliness and tender mercy and are free from animosity and hatred.This Wronged One exhorteth the peoples of the world to observe tolerance and righteousness, which are two lights amidst the darkness of the world and two educators for the edification of mankind. Happy are they who have attained thereto and woe betide the heedless.

Bahá’u’lláh

The first Taráz

The first Taráz and the first effulgence which hath dawned from the horizon of the Mother Book is that man should know his own self and recognize that which leadeth unto loftiness or lowliness, glory or abasement, wealth or poverty. Having attained the stage of fulfilment and reached his maturity, man standeth in need of wealth, and such wealth as he acquireth through crafts or professions is commendable and praiseworthy in the estimation of men of wisdom, and especially in the eyes of servants who dedicate themselves to the education of the world and to the edification of its peoples. They are, in truth, cup-bearers of the life-giving water of knowledge and guides unto the ideal way. They direct the peoples of the world to the straight path and acquaint them with that which is conducive to human upliftment and exaltation. The straight path is the one which guideth man to the dayspring of perception and to the dawning-place of true understanding and leadeth him to that which will redound to glory, honour and greatness. 

 Bahá'u'lláh

“The Book of My Covenant,”

To direct and canalize these forces let loose by this Heaven-sent process, and to insure their harmonious and continuous operation after His ascension, an instrument divinely ordained, invested with indisputable authority, organically linked with the Author of the Revelation Himself, was clearly indispensable. That instrument Bahá’u’lláh had expressly provided through the institution of the Covenant, an institution which He had firmly established prior to His ascension. This same Covenant He had anticipated in His Kitáb-i-Aqdas, had alluded to it as He bade His last farewell to the members of His family, who had been summoned to His bed-side, in the days immediately preceding His ascension, and had incorporated it in a special document which He designated as “the Book of My Covenant,” and which He entrusted, during His last illness, to His eldest son ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.

 Shoghi Effendi

The Oneness of Religion

 "The fundamental principle enunciated by Bahá'u'lláh, the followers of His Faith firmly believe, is that religious truth is not absolute but relative, that Divine Revelation is a continuous and progressive process, that all the great religions of the world are divine in origin, that their basic principles are in complete harmony, that their aims and purposes are one and the same, that their teachings are but facets of one truth, that their functions are complementary, that they differ only in the nonessential aspects of their doctrines, and that their missions represent successive stages in the spiritual evolution of human society"

Shoghi Effendi

واکنش صحیح در مقابل ظلم

;«… واکنش صحیح در مقابل ظلم نه قبول خواسته‌‌های سرکوب‌گران است و نه پیروی از خوی و روش آنان. نفوسی که گرفتار جور و ستم هستند می‌توانند با اتّکا به قدرتی درونی که روح انسان را از آسیب کینه و نفرت محفوظ می‌دارد و موجب تداوم رفتار منطقی و اخلاقی می‌شود، ورای ظلم و عدوان بنگرند و بر آن فائق آیند.» —
 قسمتی از پیام تیر ماه ۸۸ بیت العدل اعظم به بهائیان ایران.

.... paving the way for its approaching victory.

 "The heart-rending details of that appalling tragedy which marked the birth-pangs of our beloved Faith, enacted in a land notorious for its unrestrained fanaticisms, its crass ignorance, its unbridled cruelty. Nor do I need to expatiate on the valor, the sublime fortitude, that defied the cruel torture-mongers of that race, or stress the number, or emphasize the purity of the lives, of those who died willingly that their Cause might live and prosper. Nor is it necessary to dwell upon the indignation which those atrocities evoked, and the feelings of unqualified admiration that surged, in the breasts of countless men and women, in regions remote from the scene of those indescribable cruelties. Suffice it to say that upon these heroes of Bahá’u’lláh’s native land was bestowed the inestimable privilege of sealing with their life-blood the early triumphs of their cherished Faith, and of paving the way for its approaching victory. In the blood of the unnumbered martyrs of Persia lay the seed of the Divinely-appointed Administration which, though transplanted from its native soil, is now budding out, under your loving care, into a new order, destined to overshadow all mankind.

The World Order of Bahá’u’lláh
Shoghi Effendi"

O King! I was but a man like others,

O King! I was but a man like others, asleep upon My couch, when lo, the breezes of the All-Glorious were wafted over Me, and taught Me the knowledge of all that hath been. This thing is not from Me, but from One Who is Almighty and All-Knowing. And He bade Me lift up My voice between earth and heaven, and for this there befell Me what hath caused the tears of every man of understanding to flow. The learning current amongst men I studied not; their schools I entered not. Ask of the city wherein I dwelt, that thou mayest be well assured that I am not of them who speak falsely. This is but a leaf which the winds of the will of thy Lord, the Almighty, the All-Praised, have stirred. Can it be still when the tempestuous winds are blowing? Nay, by Him Who is the Lord of all Names and Attributes! They move it as they list. The evanescent is as nothing before Him Who is the Ever-Abiding. His all-compelling summons hath reached Me, and caused Me to speak His praise amidst all people. I was indeed as one dead when His behest was uttered. The hand of the will of thy Lord, the Compassionate, the Merciful, transformed Me. Can anyone speak forth of his own accord that for which all men, both high and low, will protest against him? Nay, by Him Who taught the Pen the eternal mysteries, save him whom the grace of the Almighty, the All-Powerful, hath strengthened.

 Bahá’u’lláh

Lamp of utterance .....

"Say: He hath kindled the lamp of utterance, and feedeth it with the oil of wisdom and understanding. Too high is thy Lord, the All-Merciful, for aught in the universe to resist His Faith. He revealeth what He pleaseth through the power of His sovereign might, and protecteth it with a host of His well-favoured angels. He is supreme over His servants and exerciseth undisputed dominion over His creation. He, verily, is the All-Knowing, the All-Wise."


Bahá’u’lláh,The Summons of the Lord of Hosts

The responsibilities of the members of ......

"The responsibilities of the members of the Spiritual Assemblies that are engaged in teaching the Cause of God in Eastern lands have been clearly laid down in the holy Texts.

These bid them to work towards the improvement of morals and the spread of learning; to strive to eradicate ignorance and unenlightenment, eliminate prejudice, and reinforce the foundation of true faith in people's hearts and minds; to seek to develop self-reliance and avoidance of blind imitation; to aim to enhance the efficient management of their affairs, and observe purity and refinement in all circumstances; to show their commitment to truthfulness and honesty, and their ability to conduct themselves with frankness, courage and resolution.

They similarly enjoin them to lend their support to agricultural and industrial development, to consolidate the foundations of mutual assistance and co-operation, to promote the emancipation and advancement of women and support the compulsory education of both sexes, to encourage application of the principles of consultation among all classes, and to adhere in all dealings to a standard of scrupulous integrity.

Shoghi Effendi, 30 January 1926, to the Local Spiritual Assemblies of Iran,

The imperfect eye beholds imperfections.

This is the day when pure hearts have a portion of the everlasting bounties and sanctified souls are being illumined by the eternal manifestations. Praise be to God! You are believers in God, assured by the words of God and turning to the Kingdom of God. You have heard the divine call. Your hearts are moved by the breezes of the paradise of Abhá. You have good intentions; your purpose is the good pleasure of God; you desire to serve in the Kingdom of the Merciful One. Therefore, arise in the utmost power. Be in perfect unity. Never become angry with one another. Let your eyes be directed toward the kingdom of truth and not toward the world of creation. Love the creatures for the sake of God and not for themselves. You will never become angry or impatient if you love them for the sake of God. Humanity is not perfect. There are imperfections in every human being, and you will always become unhappy if you look toward the people themselves. But if you look toward God, you will love them and be kind to them, for the world of God is the world of perfection and complete mercy. Therefore, do not look at the shortcomings of anybody; see with the sight of forgiveness. The imperfect eye beholds imperfections. The eye that covers faults looks toward the Creator of souls. He created them, trains and provides for them, endows them with capacity and life, sight and hearing; therefore, they are the signs of His grandeur. You must love and be kind to everybody, care for the poor, protect the weak, heal the sick, teach and educate the ignorant.

`Abdu'l-Bahá

For a long time the religious world had been weakened and materialism had advanced; the spiritual forces of life were waning, moralities were becoming degraded, composure and peace had vanished from souls and satanic qualities were dominating hearts; strife and hatred overshadowed humanity, bloodshed and violence prevailed. God was neglected; the Sun of Reality seemed to have gone completely; deprivation of the bounties of heaven was a fact; and so the season of winter fell upon mankind.
But in the generosity of God a new springtime dawned, the lights of God shone forth, the effulgent Sun of Reality returned and became manifest, the realm of thoughts and kingdom of hearts became exhilarated, a new spirit of life breathed into the body of the world and continuous advancement became apparent.

  'Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith

My love is in thee ....

O SON OF SPIRIT!
There is no peace for thee save by renouncing thyself and turning unto Me; for it behoveth thee to glory in My name, not thine own; to put thy trust in Me and not in thyself, since I desire to be loved alone and above all that is.


O SON OF BEING!
My love is My stronghold; he that entereth therein is safe and secure, and he that turneth away shall surely stray and perish.




O SON OF UTTERANCE!
Thou art My stronghold; enter therein that thou mayest abide in safety. My love is in thee, know it, that thou mayest find Me near unto thee.


Baha'u'llah, Hidden Words

پیام ۲۲ اردیبهشت ۱۳۹۱

http://www.payamha-iran8.info/payam/2012-05-11.html

 ‌پیروان حضرت بهاءالله در کشور مقدّس ایران ملاحظه فرمایند

 نزدیک شدن سال‌گرد دست‌گیری غیر قانونی اعضای هیئت سابق یاران و کارکنان مؤسّسۀ علمی آزاد یادآور تضییقات وارده بر آن عزیزان و دیگر احبّای جان‌فشان مهد امر الله است. چهار سال از مسجونیّت اعضای هیئت سابق یاران می‌گذرد. مبارزۀ سرسختانه با تلاش آرام جوانان بهائی برای دسترسی به تحصیلات عالی هم‌چنان ادامه دارد و خادمان مؤسّسۀ علمی در واقع به جرم کمک به گسترش آموزش و پرورش و ترویج علم و دانش در زندان به سر می‌برند

 اگرچه وسعت این بی‌عدالتی‌ها حسّ هم‌دردی ناظران آگاه را در سراسر عالم برانگیخته ولی ستمی که همواره نسبت به اعضای جامعۀ بهائی ادامه داشته شدّت یافته و ابعاد موحش و غیر انسانی آن کودکان و نوجوانان را نیز در بر گرفته است. مردم جهان با تعجّب و تاٴثّر شاهد آن بودند که اخیراً طفلی دو ساله با مادر روانۀ زندان گشت و چند روزی را در بند ‌گذراند. فردی که نام مقدّس معلّم را بر خود نهاده در محیط مدرسه کودک معصومی را به جرم عدم شرکت در نماز جماعت بی‌رحمانه مورد ضرب و شتم قرار داد و دست‌ نحیف او را ‌سوزاند. مأمورین دولت به زور وارد منزلی شده درب اطاق را شکسته و در مقابل چشمان وحشت‌زدۀ کودک هفت ساله و خواهر نوجوانش مادرشان را با خود ‌بردند.
در حالی که محرومیّت بهائیان از استخدام در ادارات دولتی به قوّت خود باقی است محلّ کار آزاد عدّۀ کثیری از آنان مورد حمله و جستجو قرار می‌گیرد و با دلایلی بی‌اساس بسته می‌شود. معلّمین و اساتیدی که از داشتن شغل دولتی محرومند به بهانۀ امکان تبلیغ دیانت بهائی اجازۀ تدریس خصوصی را نیز ندارند. خدمات اجتماعی بهائیان حتّی اشتغال‌شان به امور عادی زندگی روزمرّه "اقدام علیه امنیّت کشور" تلقّی می‌گردد. دامنۀ شوم این بغض و عناد کریه مردگان را نیز در بر دارد. نه تنها حملات پیگیر و منظّم به قبرستان‌های بهائی و تخریب مراقد ادامه دارد بلکه در بعضی از مناطق به احبّا اجازۀ دفن اموات بر طبق احکام بهائی داده نمی‌شود. قطع درختان سرسبز این اماکن که با زحمت فراوان پرورش یافته نمونۀ دیگری از مساعی مسئولین امور برای وارد ساختن فشار‌های روحی بر احبّا و بی‌‌احترامی نسبت به رفتگان‌شان می‌باشد. بهائیان حتّی از گذاشتن گل بر آرام‌‌گاه عزیزان‌شان ممنوعند زیرا اولیای امور آن را نیز تبلیغ دیانت بهائی می‌دانند. عجبا که حتّی حیوان بی‌زبانی که یک بهائی در دام‌داری‌ خود پرورش می‌دهد نیز از مظالم اولوا البغضاء در امان نیست.
 مخالفت‌ها و سرکوبی‌ها‌یی که علیه جامعۀ بهائی صورت می‌گیرد به اشکال مختلف علیه طیف وسیعی از دیگر شهروندان مملکت نیز اعمال می‌شود، شهروندانی که تنها جرم‌شان خواستن آزادی و داشتن جامعه‌ای مبنی بر عدل و انصاف است.
 در برابر این ‌همه حقّ‌کشی‌های آشکار، دول و ملل کوچک و بزرگ جهان به پشتیبانی از حقوق احبّای ستم‌دیدۀ ایران و دیگر شهروندان مصیبت‌زدۀ آن سرزمین ادامه می‌دهند. سازمان ملل متّحد، مجامع معتبر بین‌المللی حقوق بشر، نهادهای دولتی و مدنی، پارلمان‌ها، دانشگاه‌ها، مروّجین عدالت، وکلا، قضات، اساتید، فلاسفه، دیپلمات‌ها، دولت‌مردان و مقامات رسمی در بسیاری از کشورها و شخصیّت‌های برجسته از جمله بعضی از سیاست‌مداران مسلمان از شرق و غرب در قطع‌نامه‌ها، گزارش‌ها و اظهارات رسمی خود، این تضییقات را ظالمانه خوانده خواهان توقّف آن می‌باشند. اقدامات اخیر عامّۀ مردم جهان نیز قابل توجّه است. به عنوان مثال مراسم برگزار شده در دوازده شهر بزرگ جهان به مناسبت ده هزار روز زندانی بودن اعضای سابق یاران و راهپیمایی ده‌ها هزار نفر از اهالی برزیل برای دفاع از آزادی مذهب در جهان و اعتراض به نقض حقوق بشر از جمله حقوق بهائیان در ایران را می‌توان نام برد.
 در بین ایرانیان شریف، هنرمندان نیز در حمایت از حقوق شهروندی بهائیان به صف سایر روشن‌فکران منصف و فرهیخته پیوسته‌اند. نکتۀ مهم آن است که استمرار این بی‌عدالتی‌ها که چندی قبل سبب شد صاحبان عدل و انصاف سکوت خود را در بارۀ نقض حقوق شهروندی بهائیان شکسته و رسماً پشتیبانی خویش را از حقوق بهائیان اظهار دارند حال حسّ کنج‌کاوی‌ آنان را بیدار کرده و مایلند بدانند دلیل شدّت یافتن مخالفت با جامعۀ بهائی چیست. با وقوف بیش از پیش ایرانیان عزیز به نقش سازنده‌ای که بهائیان در آبادانی وطن مقدّس خود داشته‌اند موانع بی‌شماری که در راه مشارکت شما در بنای ایرانی پیشرفته ایجاد شده است تدریجاً رفع می‌گردد و فرصت‌های ارزشمندی در این مسیر در مقابل دیدگان شما رخ می‌گشاید.
خشونت‌هایی که نسبت به بهائیان و سایر دگراندیشان ایرانی اعمال می‌شود در حقیقت زاییدۀ تمسّک به عقاید و اصول منسوخ و سنن و رسوم کهنه‌ای است که اثرات مستقیم و منفی‌اش در همۀ جنبه‌های حیات اجتماعی آن سرزمین دیده می‌شود. جوّی از تعصّبات جاهلیّه و گرایش‌های خرافی بر مملکت تحمیل شده و لطمات شدیدی به اعتبار دین و ایمان وارد آمده است. خواسته‌های جوانان عزیز نادیده گرفته می‌شود، علی‌رغم شرافتِ طبعِ ایرانیانِ پاک‌نهاد معنویّت و ارزش‌های اخلاقی در جامعه به حاشیه رانده شده، تباهی و فساد بسیاری از جوانب اجتماع را در بر گرفته، راستی و صداقت‌گویی از دوایر مدیریّت رخت بربسته و دروغ و تزویر جای‌گزین آن شده، پیوندهای همبستگی و اعتماد که لازمۀ بقا و پیشرفت یک جامعۀ زنده و پویاست ضعیف شده، ارکان نظم جامعه متزلزل گشته و گرداب مهیبی از مشکلات و نابسامانی‌ها همگان را در کام خود فرو برده است. ملاحظۀ این وضع اسف‌بار یادآور بیان مهیمن حضرت بهاءالله است که می‌فرمایند "...گیتی را دردهای بی‌کران فراگرفته و او را بر بستر ناکامی انداخته. مردمانی که از بادۀ خودبینی سرمست شده‌اند پزشک دانا را از او بازداشته‌اند اینست که خود و همۀ مردمان را گرفتار نموده‌اند. نه درد 
می‌دانند نه درمان می‌شناسند راست را کژ انگاشته‌اند و دوست را دشمن شمرده‌اند...."
 با وجود این شرایط نابسامان، شما طالبان ملکوت از مصائب شدیدۀ این جهان نومید نشده به
مدد اسم اعظم بر عهد و پیمان الهی استوار و در آرمان‌های شکوهمند و انسان‌دوستانۀ خود پایدارید و به تحقّق آن اطمینانی واثق دارید. به یقین مبین می‌دانید که عصر حاضر دوران دگرگونی‌های عظیم و تحوّلات بنیادین است. نظام‌های فرسودۀ جهان در حال فروپاشی است و در میان تشنّجات ناشی از آن، سلّول‌های پیکر نظمی نوین در بطن عالم به تدریج تکوین می‌یابد. یقیناً پیام رضوان ۲۰۱۲ را مطالعه فرموده‌ و از نشانه‌های جدید نفوذ و رسوخ این امر اعظم در تار و پود اجتماع در سراسر عالم آگاهی بیشتری یافته‌اید. ملاحظه فرمایید که پیروان دل‌باختۀ جمال جانان، به خصوص جوانان عزیز، چگونه با شور و ایمان فراوان در اقصی نقاط جهان به کمک دوستان، هم‌کاران، همسایگان و خویشاوندان در دهکده‌ها و شهر‌ها به ایجاد محیطی مشغولند که در آن مقدّر است یک مدنیّت روحانی جهانی شکوفا گردد و جوامعی را پرورش می‌دهند که حیاتی جدید را نوید می‌دهد و به عالم و عالمیان امید می‌بخشد. پس با ایمان و اتّکای همیشگی به الطاف بی‌پایان حضرت یزدان به خدمات خالصانۀ خود ادامه دهید و همواره بیانات تسلّی‌بخش حضرت ولیّ عزیز امر الله را به یاد آورید که خادمان جان‌فشان آیین جمال قدم را اطمینان می‌دهند که در این امر اعظم چنان قدرت شگرفی نهفته است که بر هر امتحان و افتتان فائق آید، از بروز مصائب و تضییقات قوّتی جدید ‌گیرد، و بر اثر هر ظلم و ستمی پیروانی تازه و نیرویی بی‌اندازه ‌یابد. به یاد شما عزیزان در اعتاب مقدّسۀ علیا با کمال محبّت و اشتیاق دعا می‌کنیم.

 [امضا: بیت العدل اعظم]

Difference of capacity

Difference of capacity in human individuals is fundamental. It is impossible for all to be alike, all to be equal, all to be wise. Bahá'u'lláh has revealed principles and laws which will accomplish the adjustment of varying human capacities. He has said that whatsoever is possible of accomplishment in human government will be effected through these principles. When the laws He has instituted are carried out, there will be no millionaires possible in the community and likewise no extremely poor. This will be effected and regulated by adjusting the different degrees of human capacity. The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil. All must be producers. Each person in the community whose need is equal to his individual producing capacity shall be exempt from taxation. But if his income is greater than his needs, he must pay a tax until an adjustment is effected. That is to say, a man's capacity for production and his needs will be equalized and reconciled through taxation. If his production exceeds, he will pay a tax; if his necessities exceed his production, he shall receive an amount sufficient to equalize or adjust. Therefore, taxation will be proportionate to capacity and production, and there will be no poor in the community.

‘Abdu’l-Baha,

Education Under Fire.

Published on 6 May 2012 by aeenebahai

Education Under Fire is produced by Single Arrow Productions and co-sponsored by Amnesty International. The 30-minute documentary profiles the growth, struggle, and inspiring spirit of the Baha´i Institute for Higher Education. Baha´is in Iran have been subjected to systematic persecution, including arrests, torture, and execution simply for refusing to recant their beliefs. They are also prohibited from going to college (and blocked from many professions).

In 1987, the semi-underground Baha´i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE) was formed to give young Baha´is their only chance for a university-level education. Despite repeated raids and arrests, volunteer teachers and administrators created an independent, decentralized university system that has lifted the lives of thousands of Baha´i students across Iran. In May, 2011, an organized assault was launched by the Iranian government in an attempt to shut down the BIHE. Over 30 homes were raided and over a dozen BIHE professors and administrators were detained. Several are still in prison for doing nothing more than trying to teach. The film connects a diverse audience to a grave human rights issue, a powerful story of resilience against oppression, and the need to respect human rights everywhere.

Erelong will God raise up the treasures .....

One night, in a dream, these exalted words were heard on every side: “Verily, We shall render Thee victorious by Thyself and by Thy Pen. Grieve Thou not for that which hath befallen Thee, neither be Thou afraid, for Thou art in safety. Erelong will God raise up the treasures of the earth—men who will aid Thee through Thyself and through Thy Name, wherewith God hath revived the hearts of such as have recognized Him.”.....
"During the days I lay in the prison of Ṭihrán, though the galling weight of the chains and the stench-filled air allowed Me but little sleep, still in those infrequent moments of slumber I felt as if something flowed from the crown of My head over My breast, even as a mighty torrent that precipitateth itself upon the earth from the summit of a lofty mountain. Every limb of My body would, as a result, be set afire. At such moments My tongue recited what no man could bear to hear."

Bahá'u'lláh, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf.

هفت شمع اتحاد

...عاقبت در انجمن عالم شمعهای روشنی بر افروزد و مانند بارقه صبح اين نورانيّت عظيمه آثارش از افق عالم نمودارگشته شمع اوّل وحدت سياسي است و جزئی اثری از آن ظاهر گرديده و شمع دوّم وحدت آراء در امور عظيمه است آن نيز عنقريب اثرش ظاهر گردد و شمع سوّم وحدت آزادي است آن نيز قطعيّا حاصل گردد و شمع چهارم وحدت ديني است اين اصل اساس است و شاهد اين وحدت در انجمن عالم به قوّت الهيّه جلوه نمايد و شمع پنجم وحدت وطن است در اين قرن اين اتّحاد و يگانگی نيز به نهايت قوّت ظاهر شود جميع ملل عالم عاقبت خود را اهل وطن واحد شمارند و شمع ششم وحدت جنس است جميع من علی الأرض مانند جنس واحد شوند و شمع هفتم وحدت لسان است يعنی لسانی ايجاد گردد که که عموم خلق تحصيل آن نمايند و با يکديگر مکالمه کنند اين امور که ذکر شد جميعاً قطعیّ الحصول است زيرا قوّتی ملکوتيّه مؤيّد آن ...

حضرت عبدالبهاء

Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts.

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity. Be worthy of the trust of thy neighbor, and look upon him with a bright and friendly face. Be a treasure to the poor, an admonisher to the rich, an answerer of the cry of the needy, a preserver of the sanctity of thy pledge. Be fair in thy judgment, and guarded in thy speech. Be unjust to no man, and show all meekness to all men. Be as a lamp unto them that walk in darkness, a joy to the sorrowful, a sea for the thirsty, a haven for the distressed, an upholder and defender of the victim of oppression. Let integrity and uprightness distinguish all thine acts. Be a home for the stranger, a balm to the suffering, a tower of strength for the fugitive. Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring. Be an ornament to the countenance of truth, a crown to the brow of fidelity, a pillar of the temple of righteousness, a breath of life to the body of mankind, an ensign of the hosts of justice, a luminary above the horizon of virtue, a dew to the soil of the human heart, an ark on the ocean of knowledge, a sun in the heaven of bounty, a gem on the diadem of wisdom, a shining light in the firmament of thy generation, a fruit upon the tree of humility.

'Abdu'l-Baha'

پرواز انسان

انسان هم وقتی به اعلی مرتبه خودش برسد پرواز کرده * اما پرواز انسان به ايمان است * پرواز انسان به فضائل عالم انسانيست * پرواز انسان به اکتساب کمالات انسانيست * پرواز انسان به موجب عمل به تعاليم الهی است * پرواز انسان خدمت به وحدت عالم انسانيست پرواز انسان انتباه به آيات الهی است * پرواز انسان به اينست که آيت هُدی بين خلق باشد * پرواز انسان اينست که رايت آسمانی باشد * پرواز انسان اينست که روشن به نور حقيقت باشد * پرواز انسان اينست که منقطع از مادون حق باشد * پرواز انسان اينست که توجه به ملکوت ابهی داشته باشد * پرواز انسان اينست که تعاليم بهاء اللّه را به تمامه اجرا دارد * اميدم اينست انشاءاللّه جميع شما ها پرواز کنيد روحتان قلبتان فکرتان پرواز کند جميع شئونتان پرواز کند*اينست آرزوی من ان شاء اللّه به آن موفق شويد

حضرت عبدالبهاء

Trustworthiness

"Trustworthiness and piety are even as two luminaries shining resplendent above the horizon of the heaven of the Tablet in which are inscribed the ordinances of God. Well is it with them that have discerned them and woe betide the heedless!"


"Thou hast ever been adorned with the fair robe of trustworthiness and piety. These twin qualities are as two companions for thee in whom thou mayest find solace. They are as two sentinels who shall stand watch over thee, and two guardians that shall, by God's leave, keep thee from harm."

The Bahá'í Faith

hidden springs of celestial strength

"That the Cause associated with the name of Bahá'u'lláh feeds itself upon those hidden springs of celestial strength which no force of human personality, whatever its glamour, can replace; that its reliance is solely upon that mystic Source with which no worldly advantage, be it wealth, fame, or learning can compare; that it propagates itself by ways mysterious and utterly at variance with the standards accepted by the generality of mankind, will, if not already apparent, become increasingly manifest as it forges ahead towards fresh conquests in its struggle for the spiritual regeneration of mankind.
Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah.

A simple slide show showing images from the life of Shoghi Effendi, The Guardian of the Baha'i Faith from 1921 to 1957, with the voice of "Hand of The Cause" Leroy Ioas. This presentation accompanied a talk about Shoghi Effendi at a Baha'i Summer School.

Desire is a flame ....

"For desire is a flame that has reduced to ashes uncounted lifetime harvests of the learned, a devouring fire that even the vast sea of their accumulated knowledge could never quench. How often has it happened that an individual who was graced with every attribute of humanity and wore the jewel of true understanding, nevertheless followed after his passions until his excellent qualities passed beyond moderation and he was forced into excess. His pure intentions changed to evil ones, his attributes were no longer put to uses worthy of them, and the power of his desires turned him aside from righteousness and its rewards into ways that were dangerous and dark. A good character is in the sight of God and His chosen ones and the possessors of insight, the most excellent and praiseworthy of all things, but always on condition that its centre of emanation should be reason and knowledge and its base should be true moderation....

 Abdu’l-Baha

Love is ....

"Know thou of a certainty that Love is the secret of God's holy Dispensation, the manifestation of the All-Merciful, the fountain of spiritual outpourings. Love is heaven's kindly light, the Holy Spirit's eternal breath that vivifieth the human soul. Love is the cause of God's revelation unto man, the vital bond inherent, in accordance with the divine creation, in the realities of things. Love is the one means that ensureth true felicity both in this world and the next. Love is the light that guideth in darkness, the living link that uniteth God with man, that assureth the progress of every illumined soul. Love is the most great law that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle, the unique power that bindeth together the divers elements of this material world, the supreme magnetic force that directeth the movements of the spheres in the celestial realms. Love revealeth with unfailing and limitless power the mysteries latent in the universe. Love is the spirit of life unto the adorned body of mankind, the establisher of true civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of imperishable glory upon every high-aiming race and nation.

'Abdu'l-Baha,"

The Hidden Words or Kalimát-i-Maknúnih (کلمات مکنونه)

The Hidden Words or Kalimát-i-Maknúnih (کلمات مکنونه) or The Book of Fatimah «صحیفه فاطمیّه» is a book written in Baghdad around 1857 by Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith.
 This work is written partly in Arabic and partly in Persian. Bahá'ís believe that The Hidden Words was revealed by Bahá'u'lláh in fulfillment of this tradition.
Indeed Bahá'u'lláh originally named the book The Book of Fatimah, though he later referred to it in its modern appellation. This aspect of fulfillment corresponds with the Bahá'í beliefs that end times prophesies of all the world's religions are to be interpreted mystically and metaphorically. This puts the Bahá'í understanding of what Gabriel revealed to Fatimah somewhat at odds with the Shi'a traditions.
Each passage begins with an invocation, many of which repeat. Some common invocations include "O Son of Spirit", "O Son of Man", and "O Son of Being".
Bahá'í prayers are written in the first person of humanity, so that the reader can feel like they are having a conversation with God. The Hidden Words are written in the first person of God, so that the reader feels like God is speaking to them.
 From the Arabic, the following is the introduction written by Bahá'u'lláh:"HE IS THE GLORY OF GLORIES. This is that which hath descended from the realm of glory, uttered by the tongue of power and might, and revealed unto the Prophets of old. We have taken the inner essence thereof and clothed it in the garment of brevity, as a token of grace unto the righteous, that they may stand faithful unto the Covenant of God, may fulfill in their lives His trust, and in the realm of spirit obtain the gem of Divine virtue."
 After the last passage, Bahá'u'lláh wrote:"The mystic and wondrous Bride, hidden ere this beneath the veiling of utterance, hath now, by the grace of God and His divine favor, been made manifest even as the resplendent light shed by the beauty of the Beloved. I bear witness, O friends! that the favor is complete, the argument fulfilled, the proof manifest and the evidence established. Let it now be seen what your endeavors in the path of detachment will reveal. In this wise hath the divine favor been fully vouchsafed unto you and unto them that are in heaven and on earth. All praise to God, the Lord of all Worlds."

..the flourishing of the community

..the flourishing of the community, especially at the local level, demands a significant enhancement in patterns of behaviour: those patterns by which the collective expression of the virtues of the individual members and the functioning of the Spiritual Assembly are manifest in the unity and fellowship of the community and the dynamism of its activity and growth. This calls for the integration of the component elements — adults, youth and children — in spiritual, social, educational and administrative activities; and their engagement in local plans of teaching and development. It implies a collective will and sense of purpose to perpetuate the Spiritual Assembly through annual elections. It involves the practice of collective worship of God. Hence, it is essential to the spiritual life of the community that the friends hold regular devotional meetings in local Bahá'í centres, where available, or elsewhere, including the homes of believers.

 The Universal House of Justice