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Showing posts with label the Báb. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Báb. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Bahá’í Faith at a Glance

     

The Bahá’ís: An exploration of the 
history, beliefs, and practices
 of the Bahá’í Faith
A publication of the 
Bahá’í International Community

Origins

The Bahá’í Faith was born in Persia (today Iran) in the mid-19th century. In less than 200 years it has become a universal faith present in every country in the world with adherents from virtually every national, ethnic, religious, and tribal background.

Founders

The Bahá’í Faith originated with Bahá’u’lláh (1817-1892), Whose title means “the Glory of God.” Bahá’ís regard Him as the latest in the succession of Divine Messengers Who founded the world’s major religions. He is the Promised One They foretold. In His writings, Bahá’u’lláh outlines a framework for the development of a global civilization which takes into account both the spiritual and material dimensions of human life. His teachings, centered around the recognition of the oneness of humanity, offer a compelling vision of an approaching world united in justice, peace, and prosperity.

Bahá’u’lláh’s coming was heralded by the Báb (1819-1850), meaning “the Gate.” The Báb proclaimed His divine mission in 1844, which is considered the beginning of the Bahá’í Era—a new cycle of human history and social evolution.

A Movement of Personal and Social Transformation 

The millions worldwide who constitute the international Bahá’í community are quite possibly the most diverse organized body of people on the planet. United by their belief in Bahá’u’lláh, and inspired by His teachings, members strive to live out the twofold moral purpose of transforming their own characters while contributing to the advancement of society.
 
Sacred Writings

The writings of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh are considered by Bahá’ís to have been revealed by God. As the creative Word of God, these sacred writings have the power to touch the deepest recesses of our hearts and transform us and the world around us.

The Bahá’í writings address the needs of the age and offer inspiration for individuals working to better themselves and their communities. Bahá’u’lláh enjoined His followers to read daily from the sacred texts:

“Immerse yourselves in the ocean of My words, that ye may unravel its secrets, and discover all the pearls of wisdom that lie hid in its depths.”

Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings

Worship

Daily prayer, offered both in private and in the company of others, is regarded by Bahá’ís as essential spiritual nourishment, providing inspiration for positive personal and social change. Bahá’ís consider work done in the spirit of service to humanity as the highest form of worship. Individuals pray daily and observe an annual 19-day period of fasting during daylight hours. The Bahá’í Faith has no clergy or sacraments, and has simple practices for life’s rites of passage, such as marriage and funerals.

Structure

The affairs of the Bahá’í community are governed by institutions established by Bahá’u’lláh. This Administrative Order comprises both elected and appointed institutions at local, national, and international levels. Nonpartisan elections, without nominations or campaigns and conducted by secret ballot, and collective decision making are hallmarks of Bahá’í administration. These and other principles constitute a model of just and unified global governance.

Excerpted from The Bahá’ís 
Bahá’í Faith at a Glance

Sunday, October 18, 2020

"The most acceptable prayer is the one offered with the utmost spirituality and radiance..."

House where The Báb declared His mission - May 23, 1844
Shíráz, Iran

 

"The most acceptable prayer is the one offered with the utmost spirituality and radiance; its prolongation hath not been and is not beloved by God. The more detached and the purer the prayer, the more acceptable is it in the presence of God."

The Báb
www.bahai.org/r/375009817

Saturday, October 17, 2020

"The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion."

Shrine of the Báb

"It is better to guide one soul than to possess all that is on earth, for as long as that guided soul is under the shadow of the Tree of Divine Unity, he and the one who hath guided him will both be recipients of God’s tender mercy, whereas possession of earthly things will cease at the time of death. The path to guidance is one of love and compassion, not of force and coercion. This hath been God’s method in the past, and shall continue to be in the future!"

The Báb
www.bahai.org/r/352433880