Beliefs & Practices
The comprehensive spiritual and social teachings
brought by Baha'u'llah are for the purpose of organizing the affairs
of the individual and society in alignment with the Will of the
Creator, in ways that not only address the well-being of each
person, but allow for the establishment of a just world society
of caring human beings.
The spiritual teachings nurture the individual
and prepare her or him for the eternal spiritual journey ahead.
Baha'u'llah has brought new insights into the concept of God,
the nature of the soul, life after death, prayer, fasting, and
the acquisition of virtues through the tests and difficulties
of life. The social teachings deal with groups of individuals
in society. They bring justice and order to promote the harmony
that is essential for the functioning of the human family.
The two sets of teachings are, in actuality,
inseparable. For example, the spiritual impetus for service to
others is expressed in the practical arena of daily life. Therefore,
work done in the spirit of service to humanity is elevated to
a spiritual station, that of worship for the Creator.
Without the individual living according to
the promptings of the spiritual teachings, society will lack the
motive force for implementing the social order. And in the absence
of adherence to the social teachings, the individual is severely
hampered in her or his development.
Universal Education
Basic education is obligatory in the Baha'i
Faith. All children must be afforded the opportunity for an education,
to be able to guide their own spiritual lives through reading
the Writings of the Messengers of God and to be trained for a
profession or trade to provide a livelihood for themselves and
their future families, as well as to implement the teaching mentioned
above, "Work in the spirit of service is worship."
Baha'u'llah wrote:
"Regard man as a mine rich in gems
of inestimable value. Education alone can cause it to reveal
its treasures, and enable mankind to benefit therefrom."
--Baha'u'llah, Gleanings, p. 260
Independent Investigation of Truth
Baha'is believe that this is the time of
the maturation of the human race. Now, the individual must seek
out truth, sometimes in spite of longstanding contrary customs,
prejudices and traditions. This teaching has scientific as well
as religious ramifications, for the study of both requires an
open mind.
"Furthermore, know ye that God has created in man the
power of reason, whereby man is enabled to investigate reality.
God has not intended man to imitate blindly his fathers and
ancestors. He has endowed him with mind, or the faculty of reasoning,
by the exercise of which he is to investigate and discover the
truth, and that which he finds real and true he must accept."
--`Abdu'l-Baha, Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 291
Religion as a Source of Unity
The word "religion" is from the
Latin "religio," meaning to bind together, to unify.
"...[Baha'u'llah] sets forth a new principle
for this day in the announcement that religion must be the cause
of unity, harmony and agreement among mankind. If it be the cause
of discord and hostility, if it leads to separation and creates
conflict, the absence of religion would be preferable in the world."
--`Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith, p. 247
Evolutionary Nature of Religion
Baha'is view religion as a progressive, evolutionary
process which needs to be updated as humanity evolves mentally,
socially and spiritually. Every so often a new Messenger is sent
to expand and update religious teachings. These Messengers bring
essentially the same spiritual teachings to mankind, in a form
that meets the needs of the people of Their time. Baha'is believe
that Baha'u'llah has brought an updated message for mankind today.
He has written:
"The essence of all the Prophets of
God is one and the same. Their unity is absolute. God, the Creator,
saith: There is no distinction whatsoever among the Bearers
of My Message. They all have but one purpose; their secret is
the same secret. To prefer one in honor to another, to exalt
certain ones above the rest, is in no wise to be permitted.
Every true Prophet hath regarded His Message as fundamentally
the same as the Revelation of every other Prophet gone before
Him... ".
"The measure of the revelation of
the Prophets of God in this world, however, must differ. Each
and every one of them hath been the Bearer of a distinct Message,
and hath been commissioned to reveal Himself through specific
acts. It is for this reason that they appear to vary in their
greatness... It is clear and evident, therefore, that any apparent
variation in the intensity of their light is not inherent in
the light itself, but should rather be attributed to the varying
receptivity of an ever-changing world. Every Prophet Whom the
Almighty and Peerless Creator hath purposed to send to the peoples
of the earth hath been entrusted with a Message, and charged
to act in a manner that would best meet the requirements of
the age in which He appeared." --Baha'u'llah, Gleanings,
pp.78-9
Harmony of Religion and Science
Truth transcends all boundaries. Scientific
and religious truth emanates from the same universal source; they
are like the two sides of the same coin. Speaking in Paris, `Abdu'l-Baha
said:
"Religion and science are the two
wings upon which man's intelligence can soar into the heights,
with which the human soul can progress. It is not possible to
fly with one wing alone! 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, p.147
Practice of Consultation
The Baha'i consultation is a method of group
decision-making that is an optimal means for the discovery of
truth, planning, settling disputes and solving problems. When
a decision-making body is consulting together, the equally-empowered
participants define the issue, explore the facts of the situation,
set forth their individual ideas, examine the ideas and opinions
dispassionately, and strive to reach the best possible decision
consistent with ethical and spiritual principles. Baha'i consultation
is a unique process in which differences of opinion are not suppressed,
but encouraged, in order to fully explore all facets of the matter
under consideration. In Baha'i consultation, the participant's
views may differ, but that is only necessary to arrive at the
truth.
The Baha'i principle of consultation requires
that an individual be detached from his or her opinions and always
welcome the views of others. `Abdu'l-Baha tells us:
"The shining spark of truth cometh
forth only after the clash of differing opinions."
"They must then proceed with the utmost
devotion, courtesy, dignity, care and moderation to express
their views. They must in every manner search out the truth
and not insist upon their own opinion, for stubbornness and
persistence in one's views will lead ultimately to discord and
wrangling and the truth will remain hidden..." -- `Abdu'l-Baha,
Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Baha, pp. 87-88
The tool of consultation works well in any
situation where decisions must be made by two or more people,
such as within the family home and at the workplace. Baha'is are
advised to consult on all matters, large and small, to take advantage
of the pooling of intelligence, knowledge, and judgment.
An International Auxiliary Language
The nations of the world must choose an international
language to be taught in school to every child, in addition to
his or her mother tongue. This is an essential instrument of unity.
It enhances communication and reduces the barriers among the members
of the human family.
Baha'u'llah wrote:
"It behooveth the sovereigns of the
world -- may God assist them -- or the ministers of the earth
to take counsel together and to adopt one of the existing languages
or a new one to be taught to children in schools throughout
the world, and likewise one script. Thus the whole earth will
come to be regarded as one country." --Baha'u'llah, Tablets
of Baha'u'llah, p. 22
This counsel of Baha'u'llah, given to humanity
over a century ago, is now being heeded more and more. The European
Community, composed of many nations with diverse languages, has
found it essential to adopt an auxiliary common language to facilitate
communication among its member nations. It has selected English
as its official language.
Eradication of All Forms of Prejudice
Prejudice of any type is alien to the Baha'i
Faith and severely undermines its pivotal principle of the oneness
of humanity.
"...again, as to religious, racial,
national and political bias: all these prejudices strike at
the very root of human life; one and all they beget bloodshed,
and the ruination of the world. So long as these prejudices
survive, there will be continuous and fearsome wars." --`Abdu'l-Baha,
Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Baha, p.249
Racial prejudice is considered by the Baha'is
to be the most vital and challenging issue facing the American
people. Around the country, members of the Faith have been in
the forefront of addressing this tragic problem and will continue
to promote the concept of the oneness of humanity, the pivotal
principle of Baha'u'llah's message for our time. Until all the
branches of the human family recognize their essential unity,
racial prejudice will not be eradicated. Baha'u'llah wrote:
"Close your eyes to racial differences,
and welcome all with the light of oneness." and, addressing
all of humanity, "O well-beloved ones! The tabernacle of
unity has been raised; regard ye not one another as strangers.
Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch."
--Baha'u'llah, Gleanings, p. 218
Equality of Women and Men
Baha'u'llah was the first Founder of a world
religion to teach explicitly that women and men must have equal
opportunities, rights and privileges. He wrote:
"Women and men have been and will
always be equal in the sight of God." --Baha'u'llah, The
Baha'is, p. 28
To emphasize the importance of this principle,
girls are to be given priority in receiving an education, if a
family cannot afford to educate all its children, for an educated
woman can greatly benefit her children and thereby benefit society
as a whole. When women attain their rightful place in society,
men will benefit as well. As intelligence tests amply show, one
half of the world's most intelligent people are women. `Abdu'l-Baha
spoke of gender inequality:
"To accept and observe a distinction
which God has not intended in creation is ignorance and superstition.
The fact which is to be considered, however, is that woman,
having formerly been deprived, must now be allowed equal opportunities
with man for education and training. There must be no difference
in their education. Until the reality of equality between man
and woman is fully established and attained, the highest social
development of mankind is not possible." --`Abdu'l-Baha,
The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 76
Spiritual Solution of the Economic Problem
The disparities of extreme wealth on the
one hand and severe poverty on the other must end. The rich must
realize that the poor have legitimate claims to the resources
of the common planet home and that no one should accept for himself
excessive luxury while fellow human beings suffer from poverty.
"O Ye Rich Ones on Earth!
The poor in your midst are My trust; guard
ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease."
--Baha'u'llah, Hidden Words, Persian, No.54
"We see amongst us men who are overburdened
with riches on the one hand, and on the other those unfortunate
ones who starve with nothing; those who possess several stately
palaces, and those who have not where to lay their head. Some
we find with numerous courses of costly and dainty food; whilst
others can scarce find sufficient crusts to keep them alive.
Whilst some are clothed in velvets, furs and fine linen, others
have insufficient, poor and thin garments with which to protect
them from the cold. This condition of affairs is wrong and must
be remedied. Now the remedy must be carefully undertaken."
--`Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p.156-7
Through one's spiritual awakening and the
subsequent development of such spiritual qualities as compassion
and mercy, a natural expression is the individual's love for all
of humanity and a de-emphasis of materialism. The sharing of wealth
is, for the most part, to be done voluntarily and not begrudgingly,
but with joy.
Avoidance of Partisan Politics
Baha'u'llah has foreclosed the age of parochialism,
limited loyalties and divisiveness and inaugurated the era of
inclusiveness, globalism and unity. Partisan politics, by its
very nature, is divisive. It pits one group against another, polarizes
and divides the human family along limited and shortsighted selfish
objectives.
Baha'u'llah directs humanity to become completely
united in every facet of life, to serve others rather than to
be self-serving. When humanity's energy and resources are directed
toward the best interests of mankind, the outcome is social justice
and the creation of a world that nurtures one and all.
Universal Peace
The permanent elimination of war is a prerequisite
to the unity of humanity. Rather than squandering the world's
precious natural resources and bearing heavy taxation for the
sake of war and territorial conquest, the nations of the world
must work toward a just allocation of its human, material and
spiritual resources for the betterment of all. Baha'u'llah, writing
in the 19th century, clearly foresaw the calamitous
wars of the 20th century.
He sent letters to the kings and rulers of
the world admonishing them to look after the welfare of their
people and to take steps toward establishing permanent world peace.
Had they listened to Him then, humanity could have avoided the
suffering of many wars. Today His words have an arresting immediacy:
"The time must come when the imperative
necessity for the holding of a vast, an all-embracing assemblage
of men will be universally realized. The rulers and kings of
the earth must needs attend it, and, participating in its deliberations,
must consider such ways and means as will lay the foundations
of the world's Great Peace amongst men. "Such a peace demandeth
that the Great Powers should resolve, for the sake of the tranquility
of the peoples of the earth, to be fully reconciled among themselves.
Should any king take up arms against another, all should unitedly
arise and prevent him. If this be done, the nations of the world
will no longer require any armaments, except for the purpose
of preserving the security of their realms and of maintaining
internal order within their territories." -- Baha'u'llah,
Gleanings, p. 249
The Baha'is believe that world peace is not
far off; the nations of the world are even now beginning to work
together. These present efforts are only the initial phases of
an accelerating process which eventually will result in permanent
world peace.
The Family as a "Fortress for Well-being"
Fundamental to the well-being of the individual
and the society is the institution of marriage and the family.
"And when He desired to manifest grace and beneficence to
men, and to set the world in order, He revealed observances and
created laws; among them He established the law of marriage, made
it as a fortress for well-being and salvation..." --Baha'u'llah,
Baha'i Prayers, p.105
Within the nurturing environment of loving
families, future generations can receive the spiritual education
prerequisite to the unfolding of a regenerated humanity. Also,
it is in the context of marriage and family life that one is personally
challenged, on a daily basis, to acquire and practice virtues.
Harnessing the Lower Nature
Baha'u'llah reaffirms the moral code of the
other religions, condemning acts such as murder, theft, immorality,
lying, covetousness, and disrespect for parents. He further forbids
backbiting, slander, gambling, arson, assault and trespass. He
also stipulates sanctions against the use of alcoholic beverages
and drugs for non-medical reasons. Baha'u'llah condemns the above
as inherently alien to the noble essence of the human soul. The
emphasis in His teachings is on the exaltation of the station
of humanity, so that the individual Baha'i strives to strengthen
his or her higher, more spiritual nature to become self-disciplined,
self-regulating in morals and conduct, and concerned with the
welfare of others.
Baha'is do not pretend to be exemplary human
beings solely by embracing the Baha'i precepts. To a Baha'i, salvation
is not merely through a declaration of faith. Deeds are what matter
-- how one's faith is put into action. Baha'is pledge to struggle
every day of their lives to become better human beings. They are
committed to transform themselves spiritually and, by so doing,
eventually to influence the spiritual transformation of the wider
community.
The Individual's Spiritual Responsibilities
Baha'u'llah inaugurated a new dispensation
marked by humanity's coming of age. This coming of age is accompanied
by new responsibilities and privileges. Among them is the abolition
of clergy and priesthood. In this Faith each individual is in
charge of her or his own spiritual development.
Community functions, such as marriage ceremonies,
funerals, and the religious instruction of children, traditionally
performed by the clergy, have now been transferred to democratically-elected
local Baha'i institutions. The religious authority invested in
the clergy, so prominent a feature of past religions, has been
replaced by these institutions. When elected or appointed, the
individual Baha'i has a sacred responsibility to serve on these
bodies and their agencies which guide and administer the affairs
of the community through the group decision-making process of
consultation.
Daily Prayer
The Baha'is believe that, since we are, in
essence, spiritual beings presently in a physical realm, we must
not neglect the needs of the soul. The daily obligatory prayer
is nurturance for the soul. More importantly, it is an indispensable
means of reaffirming love between the created and the Creator.
Baha'u'llah has commanded His followers to recite daily one of
three obligatory prayers to be chosen by the individual. To be
said between noon and sunset every day, the shortest of these
prayers is just three sentences long.
"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,
Baha'i Prayers, p. 4
In this brief prayer, the individual daily
reaffirms his or her covenant with God. "To know and to worship
God," to a Baha'i, is the purpose for life. We know God through
His Messengers and Their Writings. We worship God through obedience
to His teachings for this day and through service to His creation.
There are many prayers that Baha'is use in
addition to the daily obligatory prayer, such as prayers for assistance
with difficulties, healing, spiritual growth, praise and gratitude
to God, on behalf of children, and for the deceased.
Prayer gives us a glimpse into the happiness
of the spiritual realm and lifts us out of the limitations of
the material world. `Abdu'l-Baha tells us:
"...all the sorrow and the grief that
exist come from the world of matter--the spiritual world bestows
only the joy!"
"...the spiritual Kingdom never causes
sadness. A man living with his thoughts in this Kingdom knows
perpetual joy. The ills all flesh is heir to do not pass him
by, but they only touch the surface of his life, the depths
are calm and serene."
"...You see all around you proofs
of the inadequacy of material things--how joy, comfort, peace
and consolation are not to be found in the transitory things
of the world....If material anxiety envelops you in a dark cloud,
spiritual radiance lightens your path....Thus, spirituality
is the greatest of God's gifts." --`Abdu'l-Baha, Paris
Talks, p. 110-112
Daily Readings and Meditation
In addition to the obligatory prayers, Baha'is
read passages from their Sacred Scriptures on a daily basis. This
practice is indispensable for spiritual well-being and to maintain
one's feeling of closeness to the Creator. Baha'is are also encouraged
to practice meditation in order to discover the deep meanings
of the Writings. Baha'is are free to meditate in any way they
wish.
Acquisition and Practice of Virtues
As essential as praying is, it is not sufficient
by itself. Baha'is are required to live a life of prayer through
the acquisition and practice of virtues such as trustworthiness,
truthfulness, honesty, kindness, generosity, chastity, purity
of motive, and service to others. Virtues are only evident when
they have virtuous actions to indicate their presence.
"Let deeds, not words, be your adorning."
--Baha'u'llah, Hidden Words, Persian No.
5
To Baha'is, belief in God and His Messenger
is essential, but not enough--observance of His laws is equally
important.
"These twin duties are inseparable.
Neither is acceptable without the other." -- Baha'u'llah,
Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 19
Observance of the Fast
Virtually all of the world's religions practice
some form of fasting as a means of spiritual growth. Baha'u'llah
called on Baha'is to refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise
to sunset for nineteen consecutive days each year from March 2nd
to March 20th. This period is a time for deep reflection
on one's own spiritual progress.
Efforts are made to detach oneself from material
desires. Baha'is rise before dawn to eat breakfast and to pray.
Those who are ill are exempt from fasting, as are pregnant and
nursing women, people under 15 and over 70 years old, travelers,
and those engaged in arduous physical labor. Baha'is often speak
of the spiritual and physical energy released both during and
after the nineteen days. The period of Fast ends at sunset on
March 20th when the New Year is celebrated.
The Nineteen Day Feast
As an independent world religion, the Baha'i
Faith has a new calendar with nineteen months of nineteen days
each. Months and days are named for the attributes of God, such
as Splendor, Loftiness, Honor.
The Nineteen Day Feast is usually held in
each Baha'i community on the first day of every Baha'i month.
It is a unique blend of worship, fellowship and grassroots democracy.
Highly adaptable to a wide variety of cultural and social needs,
everywhere in the world the Feast is composed of three parts:
the spiritual, the consultative and the social. The word "feast"
is in reference to the exalted function it serves -- bringing
the local Baha'is together to worship God and to build their community
life.
The spiritual part of the Feast is the devotional
program, when selections from the Baha'i writings, and frequently
selections from other religions, are read or put to music. A general
consultation on the affairs of the local, national and international
Baha'i community follows the spiritual segment. In this phase,
a true "town hall" democracy is practiced. Views are
shared openly, yet with loving courtesy.
The Feast ends with a period of socializing
and sharing food. During the Nineteen Day Feast, the community
forms strong ties of fellowship. The children grow up feeling
the love of their extended Baha'i family.
The Nature of the Soul
Baha'is believe that the purpose of being
here in the physical realm is to know and to love the Creator,
as well as acquiring and practicing virtues. This is done through
personal effort arising from free choice. These virtues are the
faculties of the soul that are essential provisions for its journey
in the infinite worlds of God. Baha'u'llah explains:
"Thou hast asked Me concerning the
nature of the soul. Know, verily, that the soul is a sign of
God, a heavenly gem whose reality the most learned of men hath
failed to grasp, and whose mystery no mind, however acute, can
ever hope to unravel. It is the first among all created things
to declare the excellence of its Creator, the first to recognize
His glory, to cleave to His truth, and to bow down in adoration
before Him. If it be faithful to God, it will reflect His light,
and will, eventually, return unto Him. If it fail, however,
in its allegiance to its Creator, it will become a victim to
self and passion, and will, in the end, sink in their depths."
--Baha'u'llah, Gleanings, p. 158-159
"The reason for God's having made
Himself manifest, and for this shining forth of infinite lights
from the realm of the invisible, is none other than the training
of all men's souls and the refining of the characters of all
on earth -- so that blessed individuals, who have freed themselves
from the murk of the animal world, shall rise up with those
qualities which are adorning of the reality of man." --`Abdu'l-Baha,
Selections from the Writings of `Abdu'l-Baha, p. 10
Life After Death
The Baha'i concept of life after death is
inseparable from the reality of the soul and the purpose of earthly
life. Baha'u'llah confirms the existence of a separate, everlasting
soul for every human. Although non-material, the soul is intimately
associated with the physical body. One's soul can be expressed
through the individual's attributes or spiritual qualities. The
soul is the motive force for love, compassion, courage, faith
and other humane qualities.
The soul does not die. Since it is not composed
of material elements, it will not decompose when the human body
dies. The soul is then freed from its tie with the body and begins
its progress through the spiritual world. Baha'is understand the
spiritual world to be a timeless and placeless extension of God's
creation.
Ascending into the world of spirit can be
potentially a great joy as the soul leaves behind the limitations
of physical reality. Baha'u'llah likened death to birth. He explains
that the spiritual realm beyond is as different from this world
as this world is different from that of the baby while still in
the womb of its mother.
The analogy to the womb summarizes the Baha'i
view of earthly existence. Just as the womb is an important context
for a person's initial physical development, so is the physical
world a place for the spiritual development and the progressive
advancement of the soul. Baha'is view this earthly life as a form
of school, as a workshop for the acquisition and practice of the
qualities that are needed in the spiritual realm. Baha'u'llah
wrote:
"Know thou, of a truth, that if the
soul of man hath walked in the ways of God, it will, assuredly
return and be gathered to the glory of the Beloved ... By the
righteousness of God! It shall attain a station such as no pen
can depict, or tongue can describe." --Baha'u'llah, Gleanings,
p. 161
In the Baha'i view, heaven is seen as a state
of nearness to God, while hell is a state of remoteness from God.
The joys and sorrows of nearness and remoteness to God are present
here on earth as well. Each state follows as a consequence of
individual efforts, or the lack thereof, to develop spiritually.
The key for spiritual development is to learn and practice the
lessons of the Messengers from God in this school of life.
Next Section: The
Administration Order
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