The Baha’i Faith

The Baha’i faith is the most recent independent world religion.

The Baha'i Faith has between 6 and 8 million believers worldwide.

The Baha'i Faith is the second most geographically widespread religion in the

world.

Baha’is Believe In:

The Oneness of God

The Oneness of Religion

The Oneness of Humanity

To Baha’is, the Manifestation of God

is a term that refers to the Divine Teachers:

those Great Spiritual Leaders who

reveal the Word of God

to humanity.

These are some of the Manifestations of God referred to by Baha’u’llah:

Adam

Abraham

Moses

Krishna

Buddha

Zoroaster

Christ

Muhammad

It is also understood that there were many Manifestations who have not been specifically mentioned by Baha’u’llah in His Writings, in particular,

the founders of the oral traditions in North and South America, and Australia. Examples of these Manifestations may be The Peacemaker, White Buffalo Calf Woman, Quetzalcoatl, and The Rainbow Serpent.

According to Baha’u’llah, the continual

appearance of the Manifestations of God on

earth fulfills God’s Covenant with mankind.

This covenant is illustrated in the story of Noah and the

flood, in which a rainbow appears signifying God’s

promise to Noah and his descendants that He will never

again send a flood.

Baha’is understand the Covenant to be God’s promise

to send spiritual guidance and training to humanity,

furthering our process of maturity, and enabling us to

grow in understanding our innermost reality.

This is the changeless Faith of God,

eternal in the past,

eternal in the future.

-Baha’u’llah

However, God remains an unknowable Essence,

and the Manifestation of God is not, in fact, God

incarnate:

All the Prophets of God and their chosen Ones, all the divines, the sages, and the wise of every generation, unanimously recognize their inability to attain unto the comprehension of that Quintessence of all truth, and

confess their incapacity to grasp Him, Who is the inmost Reality of all things.

-Baha’u’llah, The Book of Certitude

“We find God only through the Intermediary of His Prophet. We see the Perfection of God in His Prophets … God is

never flesh, but mirrored in the attributes of His Prophets, we see His Divine characteristics and perfections.” -Shoghi

Effendi, Lights of Guidance

To understand Progressive Revelation this simple

analogy is often used:

Just as foundational concepts in math and science

become more and more advanced throughout our

years of schooling, the Religion of God is revealed to

humanity in a progressive manner, so that it never

exceeds the capacity of human understanding at the

time at which it is given. The teachers of different

grades in school all have the same training, but their

teaching methods have to be adapted to meet the

needs of their students. In this way the Manifestations

of God bring the same spiritual Truth in each

revelation, but the language and the social teachings

are different in order to suit the time in which they

come.

Another common analogy is to liken the Religion of

God to the chapters in a book:

Each chapter is different and builds on the one that

comes before it in order to convey the story in its

entirety. Each chapter tells the same story, but not

each chapter is the same. No chapter is better

than another, but there is a progression to the

story.

The Human Being

In the Baha'i writings, Man

(as in mankind, which is inclusive of women)

is described as being inherently noble:

“From among all created things He hath singled

out for His special favor the pure, the gem-like

reality of man, and invested it with a unique

capacity of knowing Him and of reflecting the

greatness of His glory.”

-Baha’u’llah, Gleanings

The Baha'i writings state that humanity was created

out of God’s love for us:

“O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created

thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy

name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.”

-Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words

Therefore, the ultimate purpose of human life is to develop

those latent attributes through the assistance and guidance

we receive from the Manifestations of God:

O My Servant!

Thou art even as a finely tempered sword concealed in the darkness of its sheath and its value hidden from the artificer’s knowledge. Wherefore come forth from the sheath of self and desire that thy worth may be made resplendent and manifest unto all the world.

O My Friend!

Thou art the day-star of the heavens of My holiness, let not the defilement of the world eclipse thy splendor. Rend asunder the veil of heedlessness, that from behind the clouds thou mayest emerge resplendent and array all things with the apparel of life.

-Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words

The attributes of God can also be understood as

virtues, or spiritual qualities.

• Loving-kindness

• Patience

• Humility

• Compassion

• Strength

• Wisdom

• Gratitude

• Hope

• Beauty

• Charity

• Confidence

• Unity

• Mercy

• Perseverance

• Forgiveness

• Understanding

• Detachment

• Joyfulness

• Awe

• Service

• Generosity

• Creativity

• Mindfulness

For a comprehensive list visit www.virtuesproject.com/virtueslist.html

The Purpose of Religion

Baha’u’llah wrote that the purpose of religion is twofold: to

educate humanity about their spiritual reality, and to

provide a framework for the evolution and unity of mankind.

“The religion of God and His divine law are the most potent

instruments and the surest of all means for the dawning of the

light of unity amongst men. The progress of the world, the

development of nations, the tranquility of peoples, and the peace

of all who dwell on earth are among the principles and

ordinances of God. Religion bestoweth upon man the most

precious of all gifts, offereth the cup of prosperity, imparteth

eternal life, and showereth imperishable benefits upon mankind.”

-Baha’u’llah, The Tablet of Splendours

Baha’u’llah

Baha’u’llah means “The Glory of God”.

Baha’u’llah was born in 1817 to Persian nobility. It is said that His family’s ancestry could be traced back to Abraham through Abraham’s wife Keturah.

His given name was Mirza Husayn Ali, but Baha’u’llah is His title as a Manifestation of God.

In 1863 Baha’u’llah announced His mission to a small group of His fellow Babis, and within a few years His station had been recognized by the generality of His fellow believers. Consequently the Babi faith became the Baha'i faith, and Baha’u’llah the center of a new world religion.

For 40 years Baha’u’llah and His family were subject to exile, imprisonment and persecution. His followers continued to grow in number – responding to His message of the dawning of a new revelation that would usher in an age of unity, peace, and justice.

The prison of Akka, where

Baha’u’llah and his family were

imprisoned for five years

Other Central Figures in the

Baha'i Faith

Abdu’l-Baha

Abdu’l-Baha was the eldest son of Baha’u’llah and

shared in His Father’s suffering. As a young man He

took as His title Abdu’l-Baha, which means the “Servant

of Baha”, and true to His name, Abdu’l-Baha was the

dedicated supporter of His father, as well as His closest

companion. As an adult, Abdu’l-Baha lived his life in

service to Baha’u’llah’s Faith and its followers, functioning

as His father’s deputy.

His compassion and loving-kindness made him beloved

wherever He lived or visited, and there are countless

stories about his devotion to the poor and the sick. He

was also greatly respected for his spiritual understanding.

In Baha’u’llah’s Will and Testament He designated Abdu’l-

Baha the Head of the Baha'i Faith, and the authorized

interpreter of the spiritual meaning of Baha’u’llah’s Writings.

This marks a departure from all previous religions as the

Baha'i community was left with a clearly authenticated

leader and interpreter. This provision ensured the unity of

the Baha'i community after the death of the Manifestation.

There are many pictures of Abdu’l-Baha, and very often

Baha’is will display His picture in their homes.

Current Baha’i Administration

There is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. Baha’u’llah

made it the responsibility of each individual to

pursue their spiritual education. Accordingly, there

is no hierarchy within the Baha'i community, and

no individual believer has spiritual authority over

another.

The Baha'i writings state that when the vast

majority of people were illiterate a priesthood was

necessary, but that now education is a universal

right and responsibility. As a result the individual

Baha'i is asked to take ownership of developing

their own knowledge and spiritual growth, as well

as fostering a personal relationship with God.

In fact, one of the great principles of the Baha'i Faith

is

The Independent Investigation of Truth,

wherein each individual acquires knowledge with their

“own eyes and not through the eyes of others”. -

Baha’u’llah

“Another new principle revealed by… Baha’u’llah is the

injunction to investigate truth; that is to say, no man

should blindly follow his ancestors and forefathers. Nay,

each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own

ears, and investigate the truth himself in order that he

may follow the truth instead of blind acquiescence and

imitation of ancestral beliefs.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

Democratic Elections

Since there is no clergy the Baha'i faith is

organized democratically. Elections are made

through secret ballot, and nominations or

canvasing are strictly forbidden. In fact, Baha’is

are admonished not to discuss who they vote for

with another person.

The decision-making process is one of prayer and

meditation, with the criteria of one’s selection

founded on the character and understanding of the

eligible individuals.

ConsultationThe decision making process within the Baha'i Faith is founded on consultation. The process of consultation was carefully outlined by

Abdu’l-Baha, and consists of these elements:

-A condition of love and harmony that is mindful of the absolute unity of the participants.

-Reliance on God

-A courteous, dignified, careful and moderate expression of one’s views

-Detachment from one’s own opinion, so as to not be stubborn or insistent.

-The free expression of opinion, and a respect for divergent thoughts.

-If a consensus cannot be reached, the majority of voices prevail, and all must voluntarily submit to the majority decision.

Abdu’l-Baha explains that it is absolutely necessary for all participants to submit to the majority because if a decision happens to be wrong, the consequences of that decision will be recognized much more quickly if all the participants are working together, and the problem can be remedied quickly and with clarity. If some do not act in accord with the decision of the majority, it will obscure the source of the problem and will slow the remedial process considerably.

Baha’i Scripture

The Writings of The Bab and Baha’u’llah are

considered by Baha’is to be divine

revelation.

Baha’u’llah wrote thousands of compositions, often in

his own hand. Baha’u’llah wrote in many styles,

sometimes using simple language, but often in a highly

mystical and poetic manner.

It is helpful to note that in His writings, Baha’u’llah

speaks as God’s Servant, expressing His devotion and

unconditioned submission to God, and as the

mouthpiece of God, addressing humanity with

unconditioned authority.

Some Central Texts of Baha'i

Scripture:(All of the following are Baha’u’llah’s writings)The Kitab-i-Aqdas

Translated, this title means The Book of Laws. This book is also referred to as The Most Holy Book, and as such has foremost importance in the Baha’i canon.

The Kitab-i-IqanThis title means The Book of Certitude. This is often considered the primary theological work within Baha'i scripture.

The Hidden WordsThis is a collection of short passages. Baha’u’llah stated that within this relatively small book was contained the basic essence of spiritual Truth. Abdu’l-Baha said that “The Hidden Words is a treasury of divine mysteries. When thou ponderest its contents, the doors of the mysteries will open.”

Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llahA compilation of selected writings by Baha’u’llah. This book was compiled by Shoghi Effendi. The compilation is separated into sections, each of which specifically address a theological issue, including the Manifestation of God, the nature of the human soul, the revelation of Baha’u’llah, and the spiritual meaning of life.

Social Teachings

The Oneness of Humanity

“O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you. Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out whatever is the source of contention amongst you…. There can be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly Source, and are the subjects of one God.”

-Baha’u’llah, Gleanings

“All men are the leaves and fruit of one same tree… they all have the same origin. The same rain has fallen upon them all, the same warm sun makes them grow, they are all refreshed by the same breeze… the whole of humanity is enveloped by the Mercy and Grace of God. As the Holy Writings tell us: All men are equal before God.”

-Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks

The world is but one country,

and mankind its citizens.

-Baha’u’llah

Unity In Diversity

“Should any one contend that true and enduring unity

can in no wise be realized in this world, inasmuch as

its people widely differ in their manners and habits,

their tastes, their temperament and character, their

thoughts and their views, to this we make reply that

differences are of two kinds; the one is the cause of

destruction, as exemplified by the spirit of contention

and strife which animates mutually conflicting and

antagonistic peoples and nations, whilst the other is

the sign of diversity, the symbol and the secret of

perfection, and the revealer of the bounties of the All-

glorious.”

– Abdu’l-Baha

Baha'i communities can be found

all over the planet

The Baha'i community honors its diversity

and celebrates the cultural heritage of

humanity

Snapshots of

different

Baha'i events

from all over

the world.

The Elimination of All Forms of

PrejudicePrejudice is the product of separation and division, and as such

is the antithesis of unity. In His writings Baha’u’llah calls on

humanity to rid itself of personal prejudices:

“Close your eyes to racial differences, and welcome all with the

light of oneness.” -From The Advent of Divine Justice

Abdu’l-Baha placed great emphasis on this issue:

“Beware of prejudice; light is good in whatsoever lamp it is

burning. A rose is beautiful in whatever garden it may bloom. A

star has the same radiance if it shines from the east or the

west… We must banish prejudice. Religious, patriotic, racial

prejudices must disappear, for they are the destroyers of human

society. We must become the cause of the unity of the human

race.”

“O Children of Men! Know ye not why We created you all from the same dust? That no one should exalt himself over the other. It is incumbent on you to be even as one

soul, to walk with the same feet… that by your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness

and the essence of detachment may be

made manifest.”

-Baha’u’llah

Harmony of Science and Religion“God has endowed man with intelligence and reason whereby

he is required to determine the verity of questions and

propositions. If religious beliefs and opinions are found

contrary to the standards of science, they are mere

superstitions and imaginations; for the antithesis of knowledge

is ignorance, and the child of ignorance is superstition.

Unquestionably there must be agreement between true

religion and science.” -Abdu’l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith

“Religion and science are the two wings upon which man’s

intelligence can soar into heights, with which the human soul

can progress… Should a man try to fly with the wing of

religion alone he would quickly fall into the quagmire of

superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science

alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the

despairing slough of materialism.”

-Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks

Elimination of Extremes of Wealth and

Poverty

“…the disease which afflicts the body politic is lack of love and absence of altruism…” -Abdu’l-Baha

The Baha'i Writings assert that while the true solutions to economic problems are individual spiritual perception and transformation, nations also must strive for the economic security of all their citizens.

Baha’u’llah stated that economic injustice is a moral evil:

“O Children of Dust! Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the poor, lest heedlessness lead them into the path of destruction, and deprive them of the Tree of Wealth.”

Equality of Men and Women

In the Baha'i Writings God is seen as being without gender and similarly the human soul is also considered genderless. Therefore, gender and sexuality are understood as belonging to the physical world and having no bearing on our spiritual reality.

However, it does become useful to explore gender as a reflection of the “Masculine” and “Feminine” attributes of God.

It is understood that life arises out of the interplay between the masculine and feminine qualities, and that as a general rule men and women express those complementary qualities. The Baha'i writings repeatedly assert that men and women are absolutely equal: that each is capable of reflecting all the attributes of God in equal measure.

“Know thou, O handmaid, that in the sight of Bahá, women are accounted

the same as men, and God hath created all humankind in His own image,

and after His own likeness. That is, men and women alike are the

revealers of His names and attributes, and from the spiritual viewpoint

there is no difference between them.”

-Abdu’l-Baha, Selections From the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha

“What, then, constitutes the inequality between man and woman? Both

are human. In powers and function each is the complement of the other.

At most it is this: that woman has been denied the opportunities which

man has so long enjoyed, especially the privilege of education....

And let it be known once more that until woman and man recognize and

realize equality, social and political progress here or anywhere will not be

possible. For the world of humanity consists of two parts or members:

one is woman; the other is man. Until these two members are equal in

strength, the oneness of humanity cannot be established, and the

happiness and felicity of mankind will not be a reality. God willing, this is

to be so.”

-Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace

The Baha'i Faith and the Natural

World

The Baha'i writings have an attitude of reverence for the natural world. Baha’is understand that it is in their best interest to work in harmony with the earth, and to find a responsible and sustainable way living.

“The civilization, so often vaunted by the learned exponents of arts and sciences, will, if allowed to overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon men… If carried to excess, civilization will prove as prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when kept within the restraints of moderation. Meditate on this...

-Baha’u’llah, Gleanings

The Baha'i Writings also

speak of the natural world

as a vehicle for

understanding spiritual

reality and God.

“There are two Books: one is the Book of creation and the other is the written Book. The written Book consisteth of the heavenly Books which are revealed to the Prophets of God and have issued forth from the lips of His Manifestations. The Book of creation is the preserved Tablet and the outspread Roll of existence. The Book of creation is in accord with the written Book… When thou readest the written Book thou wilt become aware of the mysteries of God, but when thou gazest at the Book of creation thou wilt observe the signs, symbols, realities and reflections of the hidden mysteries of the bounties of [God].”

-Abdu’l-Baha

Art in all forms is encouraged…“By the power of the Holy Spirit, working through his soul, man is able to perceive the Divine reality of things. All great works of art and science are witnesses to this power of the Spirit.”

-Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks

“In accordance with the Divine Teachings, the acquisition of sciences and the perfection of arts is considered as acts of worship. If a man engages with all his power in the acquisition of a science or in the perfection of an art, it is as if he has been worshipping God in the churches and temples.”

-Abdu’l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith

‘Canticle’ (1954) by Mark Toby, a

Baha'i abstract expressionist

painter.

In the Baha'i Faith there are prohibitions against

alcohol

and drugs, as they “stupefy” the mind and cause

“torpor of the soul”. “Become ye intoxicated with the wine of the love of God, and not with that

which deadeneth your minds…”

“ The one diminisheth the intelligence of man, the other increaseth it. The one

leadeth to perdition, the other bestoweth life”. -Baha’u’llah

“Alcohol consumeth the mind and causeth man to commit acts of absurdity,

but [drugs] freeze the spirit, petrify the soul, waste the body and leave man

frustrated and lost.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

“Intellect and the faculty of comprehension are God’s gifts whereby man is

distinguished from other animals. Will a wise man want to lose this Light in

the darkness of intoxication? No by God… He will, rather, do that which will

develop his powers of intelligence and understanding, and not increase his

negligence, heedlessness and decline.” -Abdu’l-Baha

However, perhaps the most strongly prohibited act

of all in the Baha'i writings is backbiting

The Baha'i writings make it very clear that Baha’is should make every effort to avoid faultfinding and slander.

“O Son of Man! Breath not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a sinner.” -Baha’u’llah

“Never to allow ourselves to speak one unkind word about another, even though that other be our enemy.” -Abdu’l-Baha

“The worst human quality and the most great sin is backbiting, more especially when it emanates from the tongues of the believers of God. If some means were devised so that the doors of backbiting could be shut eternally, and each one of the believers of God unsealed his lips in praise of others… the hearts [would be] illumined, the spirits glorified, and the human world would attain to everlasting felicity. -Abdu’l-Baha

Community Activities

Baha'i communities have numerous ongoing

activities. Some events are regular and structured

by the Baha'i calendar. Other events are planned

at the discretion of the community according to its

needs.

Gathering in

Tuvalu

The Baha'i year is broken into nineteen months of nineteen days, and each month is named for an attribute of God. The Baha'i calendar is solar, and begins on the spring equinox.

Depending on the year, there are 4 or 5 days that do not fit into a month. These days comprise the Festival of Ayyam-i-Ha and are designated “days out of time”. This is a celebratory time within the community, characterized by acts of service to others, and commemorates God’s transcendence above His attributes (i.e. His Unknowable Essence).

Feast

At the beginning of each month the local community comes together for “Feast”, a gathering that consists of devotions (the reading of prayers and scripture), consultation about

community affairs, and socialization. The purpose of Feast is to maintain the unity of the community, address its

needs, and to be an opportunity for community worship. Unless a Baha'i community is large enough to own a Baha'i

Centre, Feast is usually held an the home of one of the community members.

Other Baha'i events that are determined by

the Baha'i calendar are:

-Holy Day observances such as the Birth of

Baha’u’llah and the Martyrdom of the Bab.

-The Baha'i New Year

-Ayyam-i-Ha

-The Fasting period (in the spring Baha'is fast for

nineteen days between sunrise and sunset)

-Community Elections

Community events that are not determined

by

the Baha’i calendar are:-Regular Devotional Gatherings

-Study Groups (where scripture is studied, Baha'i or otherwise)

-Informational gatherings for those interested in learning about the Baha'i Faith (called Firesides)

-Children’s spiritual education classes

-Youth activities

-Artistic events

-Social events

-Service activities

Baha'i Symbols

The Greatest Name

Ya Baha’u’l-Abha

“O Glory of Glories”

Baha’u’llah identified “The All-Glorious” as the greatest name (or attribute) of God. “O Glory of Glories” is an invocation of Baha’u’llah’s name, and speaks to His station as a Manifestation of God. The preceding symbol is this invocation written in calligraphic form, and is often positioned in a place of respect in the home of a Baha’i.

Baha’is also use a version of the Greatest Name as a greeting. This version is spoken as Allah’u’Abha, which means “God, the Most-Glorious”.

-The ringstone symbol was designed by Abdu’l-

Baha, and is found on Baha'i rings and other

jewelry. It is a stylized form of the word “Baha”

with two five-pointed stars on either side,

representing The Bab and Baha’u’llah. The three

horizontal lines represent God, The Manifestation

of God, and the world of creation (from top to

bottom), and the vertical line represents the Holy

Spirit.

-The five pointed star was the symbol of the Babi

Faith, and is also technically the symbol of the

Baha'i Faith (however now it is more common to

use the nine pointed star). The five pointed star

traditionally represents the human temple (the

body). The Bab’s writings written in

the form of a five-pointed

star.

-The nine-pointed star is one of the most

commonly used symbols of the Baha'i Faith.

For Baha’is the number nine represents the

number of perfection and greatest possible

unity (being the highest single digit number).

The nine-pointed star also represents the

unity of the 9 major world religions.

Baha'i Worship

Prayer

Shoghi Effendi wrote that, “the core of religious faith is that mystic feeling that unites man with God. This state of spiritual communion can be brought about and maintained by means of meditation and prayer. And this is the reason why Bahá'u'lláhhas so much stressed the importance of worship. It is not sufficient for a believer to merely accept and observe the teachings. He should, in addition, cultivate the sense of spirituality, which he can acquire chiefly by the means of prayer. The Bahá'í Faith, like all other Divine religions, is thus fundamentally mystic in character. Its chief goal is the development of the individual and society, through the acquisition of spiritual virtues and powers. It is the soul of man that has first to be fed.”

Prayer and meditation are a

fundamental elements of

Baha'is spiritual life.

Abdu’l-Baha explained that

prayer is “conversation with

God”.

Together, The Bab, Baha’u’llah, and Abdu’l-Baha wrote hundreds of prayers, and most often these are the prayers that Baha’is will use for personal praying and for group devotions.

Baha’is can also use their own language to pray when they feel the need to speak from the heart. As Abdu’l-Baha said, prayer is “conversation with God,” and therefore can be quite informal.

It may also be helpful to note that very often Baha'i prayers are ended with praise for God by the naming His attributes. This is an expression of devotion, but the naming of these attributes also gives Baha’is the opportunity to identify the qualities of God and to examine how these attributes can be expressed in their own lives.

To read some of the prayers of the Baha'i Faith visit:

www.bahaiprayers.org

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my

heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in

Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will

no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy

and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of

anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not

dwell on the unpleasant things of life.

God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to

myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.

-Abdu’l-Baha

Obligatory Prayer

Baha’is also have a practice of obligatory prayer. There is a choice of three: a short, a medium, and a long.

The short obligatory prayer is said once a day between noon and sunset. The medium obligatory prayer is said three times in a day, at morning, noon, and night. The long obligatory prayer is said once at any time during the day.

Baha’is are only required to say one of the prayers in a given day, and when saying these prayers the individual turns to face the Shrine of Baha’u’llah in Israel.

“As for obligatory prayer, it hath been sent down by the Pen of the Most High in such wise that it settethablaze the hearts and captivateth the souls and minds of men.”

-Baha’u’llah

“Obligatory prayers and supplications are the very water of life. They are the cause of existence, of the refinement of souls, and of their attainment to the utmost joy. Exercise the greatest care in this regard, and encourage others to recite the Obligatory Prayers and supplications.”

-Abdu’l-Baha

The Short Obligatory Prayer:

I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy

might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth.

There is none other God but Thee, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

-Baha’u’llah

Meditation

In the Baha'i Writings prayer and meditation go hand in hand. Some Baha’is consider meditation the practice of deepening on the Sacred Writings. Meditation can also be the careful and prayerful consideration of a personal issue in order to come to a course of action. First and foremost, meditation is the practice of being receptive to the divine spirit.

Shoghi Effendi writes, “It is not sufficient to pray diligently for guidance, but this prayer must be followed by meditation as to the best methods of action and then action itself… because prayers can only be answered through action and if someone’s action is wrong, God can use that method of showing the pathway which is right.”

“The inspiration received through meditation is of a nature that one cannot measure or determine. God can inspire into our minds things that we had no previous knowledge of, if He desires to do so.”

-Shoghi Effendi

“The meditative faculty is akin to the

mirror; if you put it before earthly

objects it will reflect them. Therefore if

the spirit of man is contemplating

earthly subjects he will be informed of

these. But if you turn the mirror of your

spirits heavenwards, the heavenly

constellations and the rays of the Sun

of Reality will be reflected in your

hearts, and the virtues of the Kingdom

will be obtained.”

Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks

Baha'i Houses of Worship

A Baha'i house of worship is a place of prayer and meditation and is open to

people of all faiths.

The architecture is often chosen to reflect the culture in which the House of Worship has been erected, but they all have nine sides and a central dome, which is meant to symbolize the unity

and diversity of the human race.

There are currently seven Houses of Worship around the world, one on each

(habitable) continent, and there are currently plans to build local houses of

worship within the larger Baha'i communities.

A pillar from the Chicago House of

Worship. It shows the symbols of the

major world faiths, signifying the unity of

religion.

Wilmette, USA

Panama City, Panama

Frankfurt, Germany

Kampala, Uganda

New Delhi, India

An Areal View of the Indian House of

Worship

Sydney, Australia

Samoa

Temple currently being built in Santiago,

Chile

Baha’i Holy Places

The Baha'i holy sites currently accessible to

Baha’is are in Israel.

Mount Carmel in Haifa was chosen by

Baha’u’llah as the resting place for the body

of The Bab. He directed Abdu’l-Baha to build

a shrine there in honor of The Bab’s station

as a Manifestation of God and as the

forerunner of Baha’u’llah.

These are views of the Shrine of The

Bab on Mt. Carmel. Nineteen

terraces have been shaped into the

mountain, each adorned with

gardens and fountains. The terraces

are often referred to as the hanging

gardens of Haifa.

The global administrative centre is also

located on Mt. Carmel

The Archives Building

The buildings of the International

Teaching Centre, The Seat of the

Universal House of Justice and the

Centre for the Study of the Texts. The Seat of

the

Universal

House of

Justice

The house, gardens, and

the Shrine of Baha’u’llah

at Bahji

There are two other significant holy places

but they are located in Iraq and Iran where

Baha’is are still heavily persecuted.

These two properties are the house of

Baha’u’llah in Bagdad, and the house of the

Bab in Shiraz. In the future visiting these two

houses will be part of Baha'i pilgrimage.

In 1922 the House of Baha’u’llah was confiscated by the Shi’ih

authorities and has yet to be returned to the Baha’is.

The house of the Bab has been destroyed twice. It was first

destroyed by those hostile to the Baha’is 1955 and was

subsequently rebuilt. More recently it was destroyed during

the Islamic Revolution (1979), and later a mosque was built on

the site.

The House of the

Bab Rebuilt Present Day

Further Reading

Baha’i International Website – www.bahai.org

Comprehensive overview of the Baha'i Faith –

info.bahai.org

Baha'i Writings – reference.bahai.org

Baha'i Prayers – www.bahaiprayers.org

The Life of Baha’u’llah – www.bahaullah.com

Photos Depicting the Life of Baha’u’llah –

www.bahaullah.org

Sources

• info.bahai.org

• http://media.bahai.org/

• http://www.bahaullah.org/

• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

• Wikipedia.com

• Understanding the Baha'i Faith by Wendi Moomen

• The Priceless Pearl by Ruhiyyih Khanum

• Refreshed and Renewed by Robert Atkinson

• The Life of Shoghi Effendi by Danesh

• The Guardian ca.bahai.org/guardian

• The Baha'i Faith by Perkins and Hainsworth

• Eliminating Religious Intolerance from www.bic.org