Testimony on Love
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
A Historical Coalition Between the Hands of the Cause and the Covenant-Breakers
A Historical Coalition between the Hands of the Cause and the Covenant-Breakers Dear Friends, Baha’u’llah made it incumbent upon every believing Baha’i to prepare a will and testament (the most Holy Book, para 255) during his life time. And he followed his own command when he wrote a will and appointed an heir, so that his family and followers would not face any such difficulties after him. In the same way, Abdul-Baha considered it necessary to write a will during one’s life, having also written his own valuable Will and Testament, which includes his important edicts and recommendations. According to the most Holy Book, if a Baha’i dies and does not leave a will, all of his or her belongings and properties should be divided among the following seven groups: spouse, children, father, mother, brother(s), sister(s) and teacher. And according to the Kitab-i Aqdas, if any member of the above categories were deceased, his or her share will be inherited by the UHJ. Finally, according to that same Holy Book, all non-Baha’is, non-believers, Covenant-breakers, and those excommunicated from the Faith, are deprived from a Baha’i's estate. 1 Now, I would like to draw your attention to a very important event in the history of the Baha’i community. As you are well aware, the Beloved Guardian, Shoghi Effendi, passed away in London in the summer of 1957. He journeyed to London in order to purchase necessary material to complete the archives buildings. There, he died having suffered from a previously-undiagnosed disease. -
Bahá'í Canada
Bahá’í Canada FALL 2017 | W ILL 174 B . E . VOL . 30 N O. 1 Reflections on the Tablets of the Divine Plan PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT No. 40050758 From the Writings herefore, know ye of a certainty that whosoever he divine friends must be attracted to and enamored Tarises in this day to diffuse the divine fragrances, the Tof each other and ever be ready and willing to sacrifice cohorts of the Kingdom of God shall confirm him and their own lives for each other. Should one soul from the bestowals and the favors of the Blessed Perfection shall amongst the believers meet another, it must be as though encircle him. O that I could travel, even though on foot a thirsty one with parched lips has reached to the fountain and in the utmost poverty, to these regions, and, raising the of the water of life, or a lover has met his true beloved. call of “Yá Bahá’u’l-Abhá” in cities, villages, mountains, For one of the greatest divine wisdoms regarding the deserts and oceans, promote the divine teachings! This, appearance of the holy Manifestations is this: The souls alas, I cannot do. How intensely I deplore it! Please God, ye may come to know each other and become intimate with may achieve it. each other; the power of the love of God may make all of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Tablets of the Divine Plan, no. 7, p. 41. them the waves of one sea, the flowers of one rose garden, and the stars of one heaven. -
Star of the West V6 1915-16
□ — — 1 ^ — 1 ^ — — — □ HP 8 |fj T HAS been our aim |I'HUIIhmI I to uplifit man, through G 9 exalted Words, unto the Supreme Horizon, and to prepare them to hearken unto that which conduces to the sanctifying and purifying of the people of the world from strife and mminuui] discord resulting, from dif ItniiiiiibiiJ ferences in religions or iiiiiiiiiiinin sects. m — B A H A ’O ’L L A H • □•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•□•Cl» O friends! In this day the door of heaven is opened by the key of the g,odly Name, the ocean of generosity is manifested and is rolling, before your faces, and the Sun of Providence is shining and gleaming. Do not be exclusive nor destroy your most precious time through the speech of this or that person. Gird up the loins of endeavor and do your best in training the people of the world. Do not imagine that the Cause of God is a cause of opposition, hatred or wrath. The Sun of Greatness hath said, that which is revealed from the heaven of will in this Supreme Manifesta tion, is to unite the people with love and friendship toward all. The people of Baha, who have drunk of the pure wine of reality, must associate with all the world with a perfect spirit of joy and fragrance, and remind them of that which is for the benefit of all. This is the Commandment of the Wronged One to his saints and sincere ones. O people of the earth! Make not the religion of God a cause of variance among, you. -
The Ministry of Shoghi Effendi
The Ministry of Shoghi Effendi Will and Testament of `Abdu’l-Baha • He delineated the • `Abdu’l-Bahá revealed a authority of “twin Will and Testament in successor” institutions three parts, 1902 to 1910, • He further defined where He designated responsibilities of the Shoghi Effendi as His Hands of the Cause successor and elaborated on the election of the • `Abdu’l-Bahá almost Universal House of Justice never mentioned to anyone that Shoghi • We’ll look at some Effendi would succeed passages later Him; it was a well kept secret Shoghi Effendi Rabbani • Born March 1, 1897; eldest of 13 grandchildren of `Abdu’l-Bahá • Mother was `Abdu’l-Bahá’s oldest daughter (of 4) • `Abdu’l-Bahá insisted everyone address him with the term Effendi (Turkish for sir) • Education in home school in Akka (in the House of Abbud) first by a Persian man, then by an Italian governess Education • Then went to the College • He was devastated and des Freres in Haifa, a lost weight Jesuit private school • He very strongly disliked • Then went to a Jesuit the French high school, boarding school in Beirut though he learned fluent • Invited to go to America French there with `Abdu’l-Bahá, but he • Started his senior year at was turned back in Syrian Protestant College Naples on the claim his Preparatory School, Oct. eyes were diseased with 1912, when 15 years old trachoma • Graduated in early summer 1913 (age 16) Higher Education • Summer 1913: In Egypt • Bachelor of Arts degree with `Abdu’l-Bahá when he was 20 (the • Syrian Protestant graduating class had college, 1913-17 10!) • The college did relief • Graduate student at work and provided free SPC, fall 1917-summer medical care to Turkish 1918 soldiers, so it was • Sept. -
Den John Esslemont (1874 - 1925) a Wéi D‘Muecht Vum Bond Hie Belieft Huet
Den John Esslemont (1874 - 1925) a wéi d‘Muecht vum Bond hie belieft huet Zënter 1998 hunn ech d’Chance, un de Formatioune vum Institut de Formation, Bahá’í Lëtzebuerg, deelzehuelen, sief et als Participant oder als Tuteur. Elo zielen ech iech gär vun engem Léiermoment am Ruhi Buch 8, aus menger Perspektiv, do wou ech haut sinn. An engem Grupp vu 4-5 Leit a mat eisem Tutor, hu mir Sonndes moies tëscht 9:30 an 12:15 d‘Buch 8, De Bond vu Bahá’u’lláh, déi 1. Unitéit: Den Zentrum vum Bond a säin Testament, zesumme gelies, Froen zum Text gestallt an duerch eis Ergänzunge probéiert, den Inhalt besser ze verstoen an ze kucken, wéi mir dat Geléiert an eisem Alldag praktesch ëmsetze kënnen. ʻAbdu'l-Bahá ass de Mëttelpunkt vum Bond vu Baháʼu'lláh, an Hie seet, dass dëse Bond allmächteg ass, eng „universal Wo“, e „Magnéit vu Gottes Gnod“, e Bond dee „sengesgläichen, an den hellege Sendunge vun der Vergaangenheet, sicht“. 1 Am Abschnitt 20 gesi mer kuerz, wéi de Glawe sech am Weste verbreet huet. Verantwortlech dofir war virun allem ʻAbdu'l-Bahá. Et gi vill Geschichten, déi mat dëser aussergewéinlecher Period vun der Geschicht vum Glawe verbonne sinn, a Séilen, déi den Appell vu Bahá’u’lláh héieren hunn a sech entschloss hunn, sech fir d’Saach anzesetzen. Mir sollen hei eis eege Recherche maachen iwwer d’Liewe vun engem vun den éischte Gleewegen aus dem Westen an eng kleng Presentatioun fir de Grupp virbereeden. Mir solle versichen ze weisen, wéi d’Muecht vum Bond jiddeere vun hinne belieft huet. -
Lights of Irfan Book 12.Indb
Mayflowers in theVille Lumière: the Dawning of Bahá’í History in the European Continent1 Julio Savi Against the background of the Paris of the fin de siècle and of the Belle Époque, with its magnificent intellectual and artistic efflorescence, a young American lady becomes the catalyst for the spiritual awakening of a group of early God-intoxicated believers. The paper emphasizes their human characters and the mysterious ways through which they, lovingly steered by a subtle, omnipresent and all-guiding Will, came to recognize the dawn of the new era on the European continent and on the whole world. The nineteenth century of the Christian era was drawing to a close when a young woman from the town of Englewood, New Jersey, on the outskirts of New York City, arrived in Paris, on the banks of the Seine. Her family name was Bolles and her name was Mary Ellis(1870–1940), but she was known as May, a name evoking the thought of advanced springtime, multicolored roses, mild breezes, refreshing showers. Randolph, her brother, had decided to study architecture and his family had chosen for him the École des Beaux Arts in Paris. There- fore in 1892–93, May, Randolph and their mother Mary Martha moved to the French capital. A subtle, omnipresent and all-guiding Will had decreed that their choice would open to the young woman a road, which would lead her to a great destiny, comprising “the priceless honor of a martyr’s death” in Argentina in 1940(Shoghí Effendí, qtd. in Holley, “May Ellis Maxwell” 642), if only she would understand the true meaning of events and seize her God-given 281 Lights of ‘Irfán Book Twelve opportunities. -
Equality of Equality of Women and Men Women And
Oneness Equality of Women and Men Level Two Principle of Oneness – Equality of Women and Men – Level Two 79 TO UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY AND HOW IT DIFFERS FROM BEING THE SAME EQUALITY IN NATURE SPIRITUAL QUALITIES RELEVANT TO THIS TOPIC: COURAGE, LOVE, EQUALITY Nature in its essence is the embodiment of My Name, the Maker, the Creator. Its manifestations are diversified by varying causes, and in this diversity there are signs for men of discernment. Nature is God’s Will and is its expression in and through the contingent world. Bahá’u’lláh, Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 142 The teachings of Bahá’u’lláh also proclaim equality between man and woman, for He has declared that all are the servants of God and endowed with capacity for the attainment of virtues and bestowals. In the estimation of God there is no gender. The one whose deeds are more worthy, whose sayings are better, whose accomplishments are more useful is nearest and dearest in the estimation of God, be that one male or female. When we look upon creation, we find the male and female principle apparent in all phenomena of existence. All plant life is characterized by this difference in gender, but no distinction or preference is evidenced. Likewise, in the animal kingdom gender obtains; we have male and female, but no distinction or preference. Perfect equality is manifest. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 374 Principle of Oneness – Equality of Women and Men – Level Two 81 GOAL: TO UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLE OF EQUALITY AND HOW IT DIFFERS FROM BEING THE SAME TOPIC: EQUALITY IN NATURE LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES KNOWLEDGE OBJECTIVES • To know that each type of plant and animal plays an important role in the natural system • To know that in an individual plant each part plays an important role, e.g. -
The Auxiliary Board Members -A Rich Resource
U. S. SUPPLEMENT No. 108 BAHA'I YEAR 123 FEBRUARY 1967 The Auxiliary Board Members -a Rich Resource To establish the Faith of Baha'u'llAh on an unassail- emphasized by the Universal House of Justice in its able foundation throutghout the world, we have need of Ridvin Message of 1966, when it said that the propaga- all the resources of that great Administrative Order tion and consolidation of the Cause must go hand in provided for us by 'Abdu'l-BahA's Will and Testament hand. The purpose of the Auxiliary Boards is, not only and the messages of the beloved Guardian. The Univer- to proclaim the Faith, but also, primarily, to deepen sal House of Justice, with its infallible judgment, has the believers and stimulate them to teach. given us a divinely inspired Plan. The Hands of the Cause of God, in close cooperation with the Universal Freed from Administrative Responsibilities House of Justice, promulgate and protect the Faith In order to devote themselves to this important task, throughout the world, working with the National Spirit- they have been freed from administrative duties. They ual Assemblies, which provide the means for achieving may not serve on assemblies or committees. If one of the goals of the Plan and guide the activities of the them should be elected, for instance, to a National local Spiritual Assemblies, groups, and isolated believ- Spiritual Assembly, he must choose between that ser- ers. All these institutions, acting harmoniously tageth- vice and membership on the Auxiliary Board. But these er, can by their unity attract such confirmations of the deputies of the Hands work in close cooperation with Holy Spirit as can enable us to achieve undreamed of the administrative bodies and may be called upon for victories far exceeding the goals of the Nine Year Plan. -
Searching for May Maxwell: Bahá’Í Millennial Feminism, Transformative Identity & Globalism in the New World Order
Searching for May Maxwell: Bahá’í Millennial Feminism, Transformative Identity & Globalism in the new World Order Shaping Women’s Role in Early Bahá’i Culture 1898-1940 A Thesis Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of History University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon, SK, Canada By Selena M. Crosson © Copyright Selena M. Crosson, June 2013. All rights reserved. PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis/dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Postgraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis/dissertation in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised my thesis/dissertation work or, in their absence, by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my thesis work was done. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis/dissertation or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis/dissertation. DISCLAIMER Reference in this thesis/dissertation to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the University of Saskatchewan. -
The Baha'i World
THE BAHA'I WORLD A BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL RECORD Prepared under the supervision of the National Spiritual Assembly of the BahB'is of the United States with the approval of Shoghi Effendi VOLUME XI1 107, log, 109 AND 110 OF THE BAHA'I ERA APRIL 1950-1954 A.D. BAHA'I PUBLISHING TRUST Wilmette, Illinois xii CONTENTS PAGE 74 . Prof . Joseph Klausner. Jerusalem. Israel ....................... 655 75. Prof . Francesco Gabrieli. University of Rome .................. 655 76 . Dr. G . A . Borgese. Professor of Italian Literature. University of Chi- cago .................................................. 655 77 . Prof . Raffaele Pettazzoni. Professor of the History of Religion. Uni- versity of Rome ........................................ 656 78 . Dr. Marshall Wingfield. D.D.. Litt.D. .......................... 656 79 . Sir Alfred Zimmern. Switzerland .............................. 656 111. In Memoriam William Sutherland Maxwell .................................... 657 Roy C . Wilhelm .............................................. 662 Siegfriedschopflocher .......................................... 664 Louis Gregory ................................................ 666 DorothyBaker ................................................ 670 Marion Jack ................................................. 674 Edward B . Kinney ............................................ 677 Dr. Youness Afrukhtih ......................................... 679 Ella Goodall Cooper ........................................... 681 Dr. SulaymLn Berjis .......................................... -
The Man of Courage
The Man of Courage A Brief Account of the Bahá’í Life of Mírzá Áqá Khán Qá’im-Maqámí Ḥasan Núshábádí Translated by Adib Masumian Foreword by the Translator The subject of this article, written by the late Ḥasan Núshábádí (c. 1891–2 February 1962),1 is Mírzá Áqá Khán Qáʼim-Maqámí (1868–4 January 1954). This gentleman was the great-grandson of Mírzá Abuʼl-Qásim Faráhání, the Qáʼim-Maqám (c. 1779–26 June 1835), an outstanding man of letters and the first Prime Minister of Persia to serve under Muḥammad Sháh (r. 1834–1848). He was, moreover, the first of the Qáʼim-Maqám’s many descendants to accept the Baháʼí Faith. According to the signature which Núshábádí himself appended to this article, he finished writing it on 6 February 1954—but it did not appear in print until much later, eventually being published in the Áhang-i-Badíʻ magazine in 1974,2 more than a decade after Núshábádí’s death. Ḥasan Núshábádí On page 27 of his original article, Núshábádí has included a sidebar that features four statements made in praise of Mírzá Áqá Khán Qáʼim-Maqámí—the first by ʻAbduʼl-Bahá, the other three on Shoghi Effendi’s behalf. These statements were extracted from correspondence that was addressed to Núshábádí himself. I have rendered the contents of this sidebar in full, but have chosen to move them towards the end of this translation as Appendix A. Page 1 of 39 Throughout his article, Núshábádí has interspersed facsimiles of a few Tablets from ʻAbduʼl- Bahá addressed to Mírzá Áqá Khán Qáʼim-Maqámí. -
Ransom-Kehler, Keith Bean
Ransom-Kehler, Keith Bean (1876–1933) American Bahá’í lecturer and world traveler; designated by Shoghi Effendi as the first American Bahá’í martyr and, posthumously, a Hand of the Cause of God, the first woman to be so named. ARTICLE OUTLINE: FAMILY AND EARLY LIFE Family and Early Life Keith Ransom-Kehler was born Nannie Keith Bean Bahá’í Activities, 1921–29 in Dayton, Kentucky, across the Ohio River from World Travels the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, on 14 February 1876. Her parents were William Worth Bean, who used ARTICLE RESOURCES: the courtesy title "Colonel" often adopted by Notes descendants of Confederate officers, and Julia Other Sources and Related Reading Bean (neé Julia Belle Keith). Nannie Keith, who came to be known solely by the family name Keith, had a younger brother, William Worth Bean Jr. (b. 1880). The family lived in the Cincinnati area, where from 1880 to 1889 Colonel Bean owned a horse-drawn rail line that ran on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River. Keith received her early education at the Bartholomew English and Classical School for Girls in Cincinnati and later attended Miss Grant’s School in Chicago. In 1889 Keith’s parents and maternal grandparents moved to the Saint Joseph–Benton Harbor area of southwestern Michigan, where her father and grandfather were among a group that bought the streetcar system. Shortly thereafter, Colonel Bean formed the company that brought electricity to the twin cities less than ten years after the invention of the electric light bulb. His pioneering ventures caused him to be recognized as one of the area’s leading citizens.