BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY 2

Behold a beautiful garden full of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Each flower has a different charm, a peculiar beauty, its own delicious perfume and beautiful colour. The trees too, how varied are they in size, in growth, in foliage—and what different fruits they bear! Yet all these flowers, shrubs and trees spring from the self-same earth, the same sun shines upon them and the same clouds give them rain.
So it is with humanity. It is made up of many races, and its peoples are of different colour, white, black, yellow, brown and red—but they all come from the same God, and all are servants to Him. This diversity among the children of men has unhappily not the same effect as it has among the vegetable creation, where the spirit shown is more harmonious. Among men exists the diversity of animosity, and it is this that causes war and hatred among the different nations of the world.

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks

BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY

The Creator of all is One God.
From this same God all creation sprang into existence, and He is the one goal, towards which everything in nature yearns. This conception was embodied in the words of Christ, when He said, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end’. Man is the sum of Creation, and the Perfect Man is the expression of the complete thought of the Creator—the Word of God.
Consider the world of created beings, how varied  and diverse they are in species, yet with one sole origin. All the differences that appear are those of outward form and colour. This diversity of type is apparent throughout the whole of nature....

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks

Tests ...

And now, consider and reflect a moment upon the waywardness of this people. What could have been the reason for such denial and avoidance on their part? What could have induced them to refuse to put off the garment of denial, and to adorn themselves with the robe of acceptance? Moreover, what could have caused the nonfulfilment of the divine promise which led the seekers to reject that which they had accepted? Meditate profoundly, that the secret of things unseen may be revealed unto you, that you may inhale the sweetness of a spiritual and imperishable fragrance, and that you may acknowledge the truth that from time immemorial even unto eternity the Almighty hath tried, and will continue to try, His servants, so that light may be distinguished from darkness, truth from falsehood, right from wrong, guidance from error, happiness from misery, and roses from thorns. Even as He hath revealed:
“Do men think when they say ‘We believe’ they shall be let alone and not be put to proof?” Qur’án 29:2.

Bahá'u'lláh, The Kitáb-i-Íqán

پيروان آئين بهائی اعتقاد راسخ دارند که ....

   پيروان آئين بهائی اعتقاد راسخ دارند که جوهر تعاليمی که حضرت بهاءاللّه بعالم ابلاغ فرموده اين است که : حقائق دينی امری است نسبی نه مطلق . ظهورات الهيّه تسلسل دارد و تجدّد يابد . جميع اديان بزرگ عالم اساسشان الهی است . مبادی و اصولشان کاملاً با يکديگر موافق است . آمال و مقاصدشان يکی است . تعاليمشان جلوه هائی متنوّع از حقيقت واحد است . وظائف و اجرائاتشان مکمّل يکديگر است . تفاوتشان فقط در تعاليم فرعی و غير اساسی است . رسالتشان هر يک نماينده مراحلی متتابع در تکامل جامعه انسانی است.

هدف حضرت بهاءاللّه پيامبر اين عصر جديد و عظيم عالم انسانی چنين است ... که ظهورات سابقه را باتمام رساند نه آنکه آنها را مضمحل سازد . سبب آشتی بين اديان شود نه آنکه بر اختلافات معتقدات متضادّشان که سبب انشقاق جامعه کنونی گشته دامن زند .

    مقصد حضرت بهاءاللّه هرگز آن نيست که انبياء گذشته را تحقير نمايد و تعاليمشان را تخطئه کند بلکه آن است که

حقائق اصليّه ای که در تعاليمشان مکنون است از نو اظهار داشته بنحوی بازگو نمايد که با حوائج اين زمان موافق و با استعداد مردمان مطابق و با مشکلات و علل و سرگردانی های عصر حاضر متناسب و مربوط باشد .

حضرت ولی امرالله, ندا باهل عالم

This is the answer that history will give to ...

Every fire is seen to be extinguishable except for the fire of the Love of God that is manifest and ablaze in the hearts. Every mighty tree will be uprooted by tempestuous winds except for the trees of the Divine orchard, and every lamp is quenched except for the lamp of the Cause of God, which shineth in the heart of the world. Winds will add to its brightness, and it will never be extinguished.
This is the answer that history will give to those who enquire of your secret. Your lives are the fruit of that Divine orchard, the handiwork of the Creative Word to which you have surrendered your hearts. "O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of unity hath been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers. Ye are the fruits of one tree and the leaves of one branch." "...love is light, no matter in what abode it dwelleth; and hate is darkness, no matter where it may make its nest." "Were man to appreciate the greatness of his station and the loftiness of his destiny he would manifest naught save goodly character, pure deeds, and a seemly and praiseworthy conduct." "In this day, all must cling to whatever is the cause of the betterment of the world and the promotion of knowledge amongst its peoples." "...the tongue is for mentioning what is good, defile it not with unseemly talk." "Women and men have been and will always be equal in the sight of God." "One speck of chastity is greater than a hundred thousand years of worship and a sea of knowledge." "We have enjoined upon all to engage in crafts and trades and have accounted it as an act of worship." "Trustworthiness is the greatest of doors leading to the tranquility and security of the people of the world." "Knowledge is the cause of exaltation and advancement. It enableth man to pass beyond the world of dust to the realms above and leadeth him out of darkness into light. It is the redeemer and the bestower of life. It conferreth the living waters of immortality and imparteth heavenly food."


Day of the Covenant 26 November 2003:
To the Followers of Baha'u'llah in the Cradle of the Faith.
Universal House of Justice

The Bahá’í Faith upholds the unity of God,..

The Bahá’í Faith upholds the unity of God, recognizes the unity of His
Prophets, and inculcates the principle of the oneness and wholeness of the entire human race. It proclaims the necessity and the inevitability of the unification of mankind, asserts that it is gradually approaching, and claims that nothing short of the transmuting spirit of God, working through His chosen Mouthpiece in this day, can ultimately succeed in vi bringing it about. It, moreover, enjoins upon its followers the primary duty of an unfettered search after truth, condemns all manner of prejudice and superstition, declares the purpose of religion to be the promotion of amity and concord, proclaims its essential harmony with science, and recognizes it as the foremost agency for the pacification and the orderly progress of human society….

Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day Is Come

Justice must be sacred ...

Oh, friends of God, be living examples of justice! So that by the Mercy of God, the world may see in your actions that you manifest the attributes of justice and mercy. Justice is not limited, it is a universal quality.
Its operation must be carried out in all classes, from the highest to the lowest.
 Justice must be sacred, and the rights of all the people must be considered. Desire for others only that which you desire for yourselves. Then shall we rejoice in the Sun of Justice, which shines from the Horizon of God. Each man has been placed in a post of honour, which he must not desert.
 A humble workman who commits an injustice is as much to blame as a renowned tyrant. Thus we all have our choice between justice and injustice.

`Abdu'l-Bahá, Paris Talks

راهى براى زندگى

حضرت بهاءاللّه به ما چنین تعلیم داده اند که انسان همانند معدنی است دارای گوهرهای گران بها، انسان، خود، گاه از این گنج شایگان درون خویشتن بی خبر است. مقصد از زندگی بشر آن است که استعدادهای نهفته اش را پرورش دهد تا هم خود از آن بهره مند گردد و هم در خدمت عالم انسانی به کارش برد. حضرت بهاءاللّه فرموده اند که زندگی در این جهان مانند زندگی جنین در رحم مادر است، اعضای بدن انسان در عالم رحم رشد می کند امّا هرچند آن اعضا در دوران جنینی كار آمد نیست ولی رشد و نموّش لازمۀ دوران پس از تولد است تا با نقص متولد نشود. بدین گونه، نیروهای اخلاقی و عقلی و روحانی که فرد با هدایت خداوند در عالم ماده پرورش می دهد، اعضاء و جوارح معنوی ماست كه پیشرفت و ترقی روح در عوالم پس از مرگ را موجب می شود.
 بنابراین روش زندگی باید منجر به رشد و نموّ معنوی شود. به فرمودۀ حضرت بهاءالله ، نماز و مناجات روزانه روح را از قیود این جهان محدود ، آزاد می سازد و درهای جدیدی را به روی ما می گشاید. همکاری در برنامه های مفید با مردمی از اقشار مختلف، تعصّبات دیرینه را نابود می سازد. الکل و موادّ مخدّر که عقل را زائل می نمایند جز به تجویز پزشك حاذق، حرام است؛ غیبت و افترا که اعتماد بین مردمان را سست می کند و روح اتّحاد و كمال انسانی را از میان می برد حرام است و باید از آن احتراز نمود. حضرت بهاءالله در آثارشان برای خانواده، به عنوان بنیان جامعۀ بشری، اهمیت بسیاری قائل شده اند. تقدّس ازدواج، به رسمیت شناختن برابری زن و شوهر و بهره مندی از مشورت را به طور خاص مورد تأکید قرار داده اند.

راهى براى زندگى

This is your task.

Eternal grace is never interrupted, and a fruit of that everlasting grace is universal peace. Rest thou assured that in this era of the spirit, the Kingdom of Peace will raise up its tabernacle on the summits of the world, and the commandments of the Prince of Peace will so dominate the arteries and nerves of every people as to draw into His sheltering shade all the nations on earth. From springs of love and truth and unity will the true Shepherd give His sheep to drink.
O handmaid of God, peace must first be established among individuals, until it leadeth in the end to peace among nations. Wherefore, O ye Bahá’ís, strive ye with all your might to create, through the power of the Word of God, genuine love, spiritual communion and durable bonds among individuals. This is your task.

Selections From the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

To whatever place We may be banished,...

To whatever place We may be banished, however great the tribulation We may suffer, they who are the people of God must, with fixed resolve and perfect confidence, keep their eyes directed towards the Day Spring of Glory, and be busied in whatever may be conducive to the betterment of the world and the education of its peoples. All that hath befallen Us in the past hath advanced the interests of Our Revelation and blazoned its fame; and all that may befall Us in the future will have a like result...
They who are the people of God have no ambition except to revive the world, to ennoble its life, and regenerate its peoples. Truthfulness and good-will have, at all times, marked their relations with all men. Their outward conduct is but a reflection of their inward life, and their inward life a mirror of their outward conduct. No veil hideth or obscureth the verities on which their Faith is established. Before the eyes of all men these verities have been laid bare, and can be unmistakably recognized. Their very acts attest the truth of these words.

Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

THOU knowest full well, O my God, ...

THOU knowest full well, O my God, that tribulations have showered upon me from all directions and that no one can dispel or transmute them except Thee. I know of a certainty, by virtue of my love for Thee, that Thou wilt never cause tribulations to befall any soul unless Thou desirest to exalt his station in Thy celestial Paradise and to buttress his heart in this earthly life with the bulwark of Thine all-compelling power, that it may not become inclined toward the vanities of this world. Indeed Thou art well aware that under all conditions I would cherish the remembrance of Thee far more than the ownership of all that is in the heavens and on the earth.
Strengthen my heart, O my God, in Thine obedience and in Thy love and grant that I may be clear of the entire company of Thine adversaries. Verily I swear by Thy glory that I yearn for naught besides Thyself, nor do I desire anything except Thy mercy, nor am I apprehensive of aught save Thy justice. I beg Thee to forgive me as well as those whom Thou lovest, howsoever Thou pleasest.
Verily Thou art the Almighty, the Bountiful. Immensely exalted art Thou, O Lord of the heavens and earth, above the praise of all men, and may peace be upon Thy faithful servants and glory be unto God, the Lord of all the worlds.

Selections From the Writings of the Báb