La Alianza Eterna

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La Alianza Eterna LLaa AAlliiaannzzaa EEtteerrnnaa ppoorr LLoowweellllll JJoohhnnssoonn TTrrraadduucccciiióónn ppoorrr DDaavviiidd TTaakkaaggiii AAuutttoorriiizzaaddoo ppoorr lllaa AAssaammbbllleeaa EEssppiiirriiitttuuaalll NNaacciiioonnaalll ddee lllooss bbaahháá’’’íííss ddee CChhiiilllee,,, 11999999 Las Terrazas del Santuario de El Báb, la Puerta de Dios En las laderas de Monte Carmelo, la Montaña de Dios Haifa, Israel, la Tierra Santa 1 Todo verdadero creyente, si va a profundizar en su entendimiento de la Causa de Bahá’u’lláh, debe combinar una profunda fe en la infalible eficacia de Su Mensaje y Su Alianza, con la humildad de reconocer que nadie en esta generación puede afirmar haber abrazado la vastedad de Su Causa ni haber comprendido los múltiples misterios y potencialidades que contiene. La Casa Universal de Justicia,1 1 Wellspring of Guidance, p. 53 2 Contenido Prólogo 05 Dedicación 07 Nota del traductor 08 Introducción 11 Parte I: La Alianza 17 1. El Propósito de la Vida 18 2. ¿Qué es Una Alianza? 27 3. La Alianza de Dios con Abraham 33 4. Bahá’u’lláh Cumple Todas las Alianzas 39 5. La Alianza Bahá’í 47 6. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, el Centro de la Alianza 60 Parte II: La Unidad 74 7. La Unidad 75 8. Las Leyes y Obligaciones 82 9. La Obediencia 91 10. Shoghi Effendi, el Guardián 96 11. El Orden Administrativo 109 12. La Casa Universal de Justicia 127 13. La Asamblea Espiritual Local 137 Parte III: La Virtud 152 14. La Virtud y la Alianza: Louis Gregory 153 15. Cómo Adquirir Virtudes 163 3 16. La Ciencia del Amor de Dios 178 17. La Alianza es el Centro de Todo 186 Parte IV: El Futuro 195 18. Los Desafíos que Vendrán 196 La Política 196 El Prejuicio Racial 198 La Violación de la Alianza 200 La Oposición 203 La Entrada en Tropas 206 19. La Alianza y la Vida Eterna 211 Apéndices 221 1. La Voluntad y Testamento de Bahá’u’lláh 221 2. La Voluntad y Testamento de ‘Abdu’l-Bahá 223 3. La Alianza Antigua y Eterna 225 4. El sabeanismo, el hinduismo, el budismo, el zoroastrianismo, el judaísmo, el cristianismo, el islam. 240 5. Huqúqu’lláh: El Derecho de Dios 251 6. Introducción: ‘La Alianza de Bahá’u’lláh’ 253 4 Prólogo Las Enseñanzas de Bahá'u'lláh, las palabras e interpretaciones del Maestro, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, la dirección establecida por Shoghi Effendi, el Guardián de la Fe, y la difusión de las fragancias de la Causa de Dios por el Cuerpo Supremo, la Casa Universal de Justicia, giran todas alrededor de la Alianza. Este es un libro para todo el mundo, pero especialmente para el Tercer Mundo. La gente en todo el Tercer Mundo requiere ayuda, y nada, nada sino la Alianza es la verdadera educadora. ‘La Alianza es el Centro', es en verdad aplicable a esta gente. La Alianza es el poder y la providencia divina. Este sentimiento innato y latente es un sentido de pertenencia que puede ser nutrido y gradualmente desarrollado a un grado más alto para difundir las fragancias de la palabra creativa de Bahá'u'lláh. La Alianza y las Escrituras relativas a la Alianza de la Bendita Belleza deben ser llevadas con verdadera sencillez a la gente por todas partes. El libro La Alianza Eterna cuando sea bien estudiado, entendido y utilizado en los hogares, las Asambleas Espirituales Locales, las comunidades bahá’ís y en los centros bahá’ís, sin duda mejorará el modelo de la vida bahá’í en las comunidades. Por ejemplo, en siglos anteriores, la gente rica empleó lo que fueron descritos como 'sirvientes'. Fueron considerados como 'siervos leales' quienes cuidaron al ganado y las prosperas cosechas. Después de la cosecha, el empleador normalmente compartía un décimo de su producción de cosecha con los empleados de acuerdo con la producción obtenida. La publicación de este estudio es oportuna para reavivar este concepto. Si fuera reavivada, la contribución al Fondo bahá’í no sería difícil. Por medio de Asambleas Locales bien administradas estas señales destacadas de la naturaleza humana pueden llegar a ser evidentes. El poder de la Alianza es la ayuda necesaria. La Alianza de Bahá’u’lláh es estabilizada por su continuidad, su Centro, su Exponente, la Guardianía y la Institución de la Casa Universal de Justicia. Ninguna otra dispensación jamás ha llegado a tener ese sistema de continuidad. La virtud y la Alianza se presentan distintivamente en el carácter de Louis Gregory, la primera Mano de la Causa de Dios de raza negra, que era un norteamericano. Fue un momento difícil en la historia, un intento de unir el pueblo negro y blanco. En ese momento, el poder de la Alianza llegó a ser más amplio y comprensible. Él fue un monumento de cualidades y virtudes, tenía un corazón puro y tuvo características sobresalientes en su comportamiento. La oración está entrelazada a través de todo el libro. Ésta es una condición esencial. Nos permite entrar a la edad de la madurez moral y espiritual con una alta moral y desarrollo espiritual, con una nueva estructura dentro de nosotros mismos, reemplazando las malas cualidades por buenas. La auto-disciplina es la 5 primera meta de aquel quien desea vivir una vida verdadera y ejemplar. La oración provee el apoyo que necesitamos. El mundo debe ahora abrir su corazón y permitir la entrada al Espíritu de Bahá'u'lláh para obtener fortaleza y guía. Este espíritu es actualmente la influencia renovadora de este mundo. Esto puede ser obtenido y alcanzado adhiriéndose a la Alianza. Debemos por lo tanto reconocer ese cambio de carácter como el 'Segundo Nacimiento': El físico, que está sujeto a la naturaleza; El misericordioso o divino, que está conectado con Dios. El estudio de La Alianza Eterna y el Ministerio de Bahá'u'lláh nos asistirá para alcanzar esta estación y construir el Reino de Dios en la tierra. Consejero Daniel Ramoroesi Soweto, 1986 6 Dedicación Este libro está dedicado a todas las almas valiosas que se encuentran en todos los lugares del mundo donde se han alzado el grito: '¿Cómo puedo llegar a ser un Apóstol de Bahá'u'lláh?' ¿Qué es un Apóstol de Bahá'u'lláh? Tales almas son los rayos del Sol de la Realidad que iluminarán todos los continentes. Cada una tiene en su mano una trompeta, soplando el hálito de vida sobre todas las regiones. Ellas están libres de las cualidades humanas y de los defectos del mundo de la naturaleza, están caracterizadas por los atributos de Dios y se encuentran atraídas por las fragancias del Misericordioso... Estas almas son los ejércitos de Dios y los conquistadores del Este y del Oeste. Si alguien de entre ellas volviese su rostro hacia cualquier dirección y llamase a la gente al Reino de Dios, todas las fuerzas ideales y las confirmaciones señoriales se apresurarán a su sostén y refuerzo. Él verá que todas las puertas se abren y que todas las fortalezas y castillos inexpugnables quedan arrasados. Individualmente y solo, atacará los ejércitos del mundo, derrotará los flancos derecho e izquierdo de las huestes de todos los países, romperá las líneas de las legiones de todas las naciones y llevará su ataque hasta el centro mismo de los poderes de la tierra. Esto es lo que significa las Huestes de Dios. Cualquier alma entre los creyentes de Bahá'u'lláh que alcance esta posición será conocida como un Apóstol de Bahá'u'lláh.2 '¿Cómo puedo llegar a ser un Apóstol de Bahá'u'lláh?' Oí este grito que provenía de un corazón por primera vez en la aldea Africana de Kgale hace veintidós años. Su eco me ha perseguido por dondequiera que he ido. El resultado es este libro. Espero que provea algunas de las respuestas. Lowell Johnson 2 (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablas del Plan Divino, pág. 20) 7 Nota del traductor La traducción del libro: The Eternal Covenant (La Alianza Eterna), tiene como objetivo principal responder al llamado del Plan de Tres Años de la Asamblea Espiritual Nacional de los bahá’ís de Chile, es decir, de desarrollar y publicar material sobre Bahá’u’lláh y la Alianza, además de apoyar el Plan de Cuatro Años lanzado por la Casa Universal de Justicia, y como un aporte a la literatura de habla hispana. Cuando la Casa Universal de Justicia lanzó el Plan de Cuatro Años se refiere a la Tabla del Fénix revelada por ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, con especial énfasis diciendo que tales almas y seres santos ya están en el mundo: ¡Oh fénix de aquella llama inmortal encendida en el Árbol Sagrado! Bahá’u’lláh -- que mi vida, mi alma, mi espíritu, sean ofrendados en sacrificio por sus humildes siervos -- durante Sus últimos días en la tierra, ha hecho la más enfática promesa, de que mediante las efusiones de la gracia de Dios, y el apoyo y ayuda otorgados desde su Reino en lo alto, se levantarán almas y aparecerán seres santos, quienes, como estrellas, adornarán el firmamento de Guía divina, iluminarán la aurora de amorosa bondad y munificencia, manifestarán los signos de la unidad de Dios, brillarán con la luz de la santidad y la pureza, recibirán en su plena medida la inspiración divina, portarán en alto la sagrada antorcha de la fe; se mantendrán firmes como la roca e inamovibles como la montaña; y crecerán hasta llegar a ser lumbreras en los cielos de su Revelación, grandes canales de su gracia, instrumentos para la dádiva del munífico cuidado de Dios, anunciadores que harán manifiesto el nombre del Dios único y verdadero, y constructores del supremo basamento del mundo. Ellos trabajarán incesantemente, de día y de noche; no harán caso de aflicciones ni de infortunios; no se permitirán tregua en sus esfuerzos, no buscarán descanso, desestimarán toda holgura y comodidad y, desprendidos e impolutos, consagrarán cada fugaz momento de sus vidas a la difusión de la fragancia divina y a la exaltación de la santa Palabra de Dios.
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