 |
| The Greatest Holy Leaf |
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Gleanings from
the Writings of Baha’u’llah’)
Dec 31, 2014
patience
Dec 30, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
... If any soul speak ill of an absent one, the only result
will clearly be this: he will dampen the zeal of the friends and tend to make
them indifferent. For backbiting is divisive, it is the leading cause among the
friends of a disposition to withdraw. If any individual should speak ill of one
who is absent, it is incumbent on his hearers, in a spiritual and friendly
manner, to stop him, and say in effect: would this detraction serve any useful
purpose? Would it please the Blessed Beauty, contribute to the lasting honour
of the friends, promote the holy Faith, support the covenant, or be of any
possible benefit to any soul? No, never! On the contrary, it would make the
dust to settle so thickly on the heart that the ears would hear no more, and
the eyes would not longer behold the light of truth.
('Abdu'l-Bahá, ‘Selections
from The Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’)
Dec 29, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
O
Emigrants! The tongue I have designed for the mention of Me, defile it not with
detraction. If the fire of self overcome you, remember your own faults and not
the faults of My creatures, inasmuch as every one of you knoweth his own self
better than he knoweth others.
(Baha'u'llah, ‘The Hidden Words
of Baha’u’llah’)
Dec 28, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
If we Bahá'ís cannot attain to cordial
unity among ourselves, then we fail to realize the main purpose for which the
Bab, Bahá'u'lláh and the Beloved Master lived and suffered. In order to achieve
this cordial unity one of the first essentials insisted on by Bahá'u'lláh and
'Abdu'l-Bahá is that we resist the natural tendency to let our attention dwell
on the faults and failings of others rather than on our own. Each of us is
responsible for one life only, and that is our own. Each of us is immeasurably
far from being "perfect as our heavenly father is perfect" and the
task of perfecting our own life and character is one that requires all our
attention, our will-power and energy.
(From a letter dated 12 May 1925 written
on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer; The Compilation of
Compilations, vol. II, Living the Life)
Dec 27, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
He feels that you should do your utmost to call the
attention of the friends to these large things and real triumphs, and away from
their personal differences and petty pre-occupations. Now is certainly not the
time for any man to think of himself, or busy himself with the weaknesses of
his brother; but, rather each and every Bahá'í must concentrate in the tasks
ahead and be reborn in the service of Bahá'u'lláh.
(From a letter written on
behalf of the Guardian to the Area National Teaching Committee (USA), July 17,
1950; Bahá'í News, October 1970)
Dec 26, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
One must see in every human being only that which is worthy
of praise. When this is done, one can be a friend to the whole human race. If,
however, we look at people from the standpoint of their faults, then being a
friend to them is a formidable task.
('Abdu'l-Bahá: Selections of the Writings
of 'Abdu'l-Bahá)
Dec 25, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
O Son of Being! How couldst thou forget thine own faults and
busy thyself with the faults of others? Whoso doeth this is accursed of Me.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Hidden Words of Baha’u’llah’)
Dec 24, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
Each Local Spiritual Assembly should become the heart and
nerve center of its community. The Assemblies should be so educated and
equipped with guidance from you that they become pillars of strength for the
believers, and sources of knowledge and guidance. The Local Assemblies should
neither be like private agents prying into the lives of the believers and
seeking out their personal problems, nor should they condone glaring disregard
of the Holy Laws. Whenever it becomes known that one of the believers is
flagrantly disobeying the Teachings of the Faith, whether spiritual, ethical,
moral or administrative, the Assemblies should not allow such a situation to
become a source of backbiting among the friends or deteriorate into either the
loss of the dignity of the Teachings in the eyes of the Bahá’ís and
non-Bahá’ís, or the eventual inactivity of the believers, as you have observed.
The Assemblies, with the encouragement and under the continuous guidance of
your National Assembly, should, in the name of protecting the interests of the
Faith, themselves initiate action for the solution of the problem, and handle
it with love, wisdom and firmness.
(The Universal House of Justice, from a letter dated November 12, 1965, to a National Spiritual Assembly)
Dec 23, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
You
ask in your letter for guidance on the implications of the prohibition on
backbiting and more specifically whether, in moments of anger or depression,
the believer is permitted to turn to his friends to unburden his soul and
discuss his problem in human relations. Normally, it is possible to describe
the situation surrounding a problem and seek help and advice in resolving it,
without necessarily mentioning names. The individual believer should seek to do
this, whether he is consulting a friend, Baha'i or non-Baha'i, or whether the
friend is consulting him. Abdu'l-Baha does not permit adverse criticism of
individuals by name in discussion among the friends, even if the one
criticizing believes that he is doing so to protect the interests of the Cause.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an
individual believer, September 23, 1975)
Dec 22, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
I hope that the believers of God will shun completely
backbiting, each one praising the other cordially and believe that backbiting
is the cause of Divine Wrath, to such an extent that if a person backbites to
the extent of one word, he may become dishonored among all the people, because
the most hateful characteristic of man is fault-finding. One must expose the
praiseworthy qualities of the souls and not their evil attributes. The friends
must overlook their shortcomings and faults and speak only of their virtues and
not their defects.
('Abdu'l-Bahá: Tablet to Dr. M.G. Skinner, August 12, 1913:
Star of the West, Vol. IV, No. 11, p. 192)
Dec 21, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
That
seeker should regard backbiting as grievous error and keep himself aloof from
its dominion, inasmuch as backbiting quencheth the light of the heart, and extinguisheth
the life of the soul.
(Baha'u'llah, Kitab-i-Iqan)
Dec 20, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
To every generation of young believers comes an opportunity
to make a contribution to the fortunes of humanity, unique to their time of
life. For the present generation, the moment has come to reflect, to commit, to
steel themselves for a life of service from which blessing will flow in
abundance. In our prayers at the Sacred Threshold, we entreat the Ancient
Beauty that, from out a distracted and bewildered humanity, He may distil pure
souls endowed with clear sight: youth whose integrity and uprightness are not
undermined by dwelling on the faults of others and who are not immobilized by
any shortcomings of their own; youth who will look to the Master and
"bring those who have been excluded into the circle of intimate
friends"; youth whose consciousness of the failings of society impels them
to work for its transformation, not to distance themselves from it; youth who,
whatever the cost, will refuse to pass by inequity in its many incarnations and
will labour, instead, that "the light of justice may shed its radiance
upon the whole world."
(The Universal House of Justice, message to
the Baha’is of the World, Feb. 8, 2013)
Dec 19, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
You must not make the great mistake of judging our Faith by
one community which obviously needs to study and obey the Bahá'í teachings.
Human frailties and peculiarities can be a great test. But the only way, or
perhaps I should say the first and best way, to remedy such situations, is to
oneself do what is right. One soul can be the cause of the spiritual
illumination of a continent. Now that you have seen, and remedied, a great
fault in your own life, now that you see more clearly what is lacking in your
own community, there is nothing to prevent you from arising and showing such an
example, such a love and spirit of service, as to enkindle the hearts of your
fellow Bahá'ís.
He urges you to study deeply the teachings, teach others,
study with those Bahá'ís who are anxious to do so, the deeper teachings of our
Faith, and through example, effort and prayer, bring about a change.
(From a
letter dated30 September 1949 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an
individual believer; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. III, Issues
Concerning Community Functioning)
Dec 18, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
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 were shut eternally and each
one of the believers unsealed his lips in praise of others, then the teachings
of His Holiness Baha’u’llah would spread, the hearts be illumined, the spirits
glorified, and the human world would attain to everlasting felicity.'
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Star of West, Vol. IV; quoted in a letter dated February 11,
1925 written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles; compilation:
Lights of Guidance)
Dec 17, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
Breathe not the sins of others so long as thou art thyself a
sinner. Shouldst thou transgress this command, accursed wouldst thou be, and to
this I bear witness.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Hidden Words of Bahá'u'lláh’)
Dec 16, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
As 'Abdu'l-Bahá so often points out,
the Manifestation of God is a Divine Educator. He attracts the hearts of men,
pours out His spirit upon those who respond to Him, instructs them in the right
way of life, uses them to carry forward the development of human society, and
disciplines them by His Law. We Bahá'ís, we who have answered His call, bear
the responsibility of carrying forward His work among mankind, and in spite of
our innumerable failings His plan is irresistibly progressing. The great
tragedy of mankind at this time is the failure of the vast majority of human
beings to heed the Divine Call, and this is in large part occasioned by the
failure of most of those who have believed to live up to the high standard that
Bahá'u'lláh has set. This is the condition in which we must work in our service
to mankind, turning a sin-covering eye to the faults of others, and striving in
our own inmost selves to purify our lives in accordance with the divine
Teachings.
(From a letter written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice
to an individual believer, July 22, 1981; a compilation on ‘Removal of
Administrative Rights’, prepared by the Research Department of the Universal
House of Justice)
Dec 15, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
…it [backbiting]
is obviously one of the foremost obligations for Baha'is to set their faces
against this practice. Even if what is said against another person be true, the
mentioning of his faults to others still comes under the category of
backbiting, and is forbidden.
(From a letter written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to the
National Spiritual Assembly of the British Isles, February 11, 1925; compilation:
Lights of Guidance)
Dec 14, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
Remember, above all, the teaching of Bahá'u'lláh concerning
gossip and unseemly talk about others. Stories repeated about others are seldom
good. A silent tongue is the safest. Even good may be harmful, if spoken at the
wrong time, or to the wrong person.
(Abdu'l-Baha, from a talk, ‘Abdu'l-Baha in
London’)
Dec 13, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
It is Our wish and desire that every one of you may become a
source of all goodness unto men, and an example of uprightness to mankind.
Beware lest ye prefer yourselves above your neighbors. Fix your gaze upon Him
Who is the Temple of God amongst men. He, in truth, hath offered up His life as
a ransom for the redemption of the world. He, verily, is the All-Bountiful, the
Gracious, the Most High. If any differences arise amongst you, behold Me
standing before your face, and overlook the faults of one another for My name's
sake and as a token of your love for My manifest and resplendent Cause. We love
to see you at all times consorting in amity and concord within the paradise of
My good-pleasure, and to inhale from your acts the fragrance of friendliness
and unity, of loving-kindness and fellowship.
Dec 12, 2014
avoidance of fault-finding & backbiting
If ye become aware of a sin committed by another,
conceal it, that God may conceal your own sin. He, verily, is the Concealer,
the Lord of grace abounding.
(Baha'u'llah, ‘Epistle to the Son of the Wolf’)
Dec 11, 2014
fear of God
Let the mothers consider that whatever concerneth the
education of children is of the first importance. Let them put forth every
effort in this regard, for when the bough is green and tender it will grow in
whatever way ye train it. Therefore is it incumbent upon the mothers to rear
their little ones even as a gardener tendeth his young plants. Let them strive
by day and by night to establish within their children faith and certitude, the
fear of God, the love of the Beloved of the worlds, and all good qualities and
traits. Whensoever a mother seeth that her child hath done well, let her praise
and applaud him and cheer his heart; and if the slightest undesirable trait
should manifest itself, let her counsel the child and punish him, and use means
based on reason, even a slight verbal chastisement should this be necessary. It
is not, however, permissible to strike a child, or vilify him, for the child's
character will be totally perverted if he be subjected to blows or verbal
abuse.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, ‘Selections from the Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá’; The
Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i Education)
Dec 10, 2014
fear of God
The word of God which the Abha Pen hath revealed and
inscribed on the first leaf of the Most Exalted Paradise is this: Verily I say:
The fear of God hath ever been a sure defence and a safe stronghold for all the
peoples of the world. It is the chief cause of the protection of mankind, and
the supreme instrument for its preservation. Indeed, there existeth in man a
faculty which deterreth him from, and guardeth him against, whatever is
unworthy and unseemly, and which is known as his sense of shame. This, however,
is confined to but a few; all have not possessed and do not possess it.
(Baha'u'llah,
Tablets of Baha'u'llah revealed after the Kitab-i-Aqdas)
Dec 9, 2014
fear of God
I give you my advice, and it is this: Train these children
with divine exhortations. From their childhood instill in their hearts the love
of God so they may manifest in their lives the fear of God and have confidence
in the bestowals of God. Teach them to free themselves from human imperfections
and to acquire the divine perfections latent in the heart of man. The life of
man is useful if he attains the perfections of man. If he becomes the center of
the imperfections of the world of humanity, death is better than life, and
nonexistence better than existence. Therefore, make ye an effort in order that
these children may be rightly trained and educated and that each of them may
attain perfection in the world of humanity. Know ye the value of these children
for they are all my children.
('Abdu'l-Baha, 'The Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks
Delivered by 'Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States and Canada in
1912"; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i Education)
Dec 8, 2014
fear of God
Cleave thou to the fear of God and to whatsoever hath been
revealed in His Book: thus biddeth thee He Who is the Word of Truth and the
Knower of things unseen. Say: trustworthiness is the sun of the heaven of My
commandments, truthfulness is its moon, and praiseworthy attributes are its
stars. Yet the people, for the most part, understand not.
(Baha’u’llah, The
Compilation of Compilations, Vol. II, Trustworthiness)
Dec 7, 2014
fear of God
O people of the world! Follow not the promptings of the
self, for it summoneth insistently to wickedness and lust; follow, rather, Him
Who is the Possessor of all created things, Who biddeth you to show forth
piety, and manifest the fear of God. He, verily, is independent of all His
creatures. Take heed not to stir up mischief in the land after it hath been set
in order. Whoso acteth in this way is not of Us, and We are quit of him. Such
is the command which hath, through the power of truth, been made manifest from
the heaven of Revelation.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
Dec 6, 2014
fear of God
There are some who imagine that an innate sense of human
dignity will prevent man from committing evil actions and insure his spiritual
and material perfection. That is, that an individual who is characterized with
natural intelligence, high resolve, and a driving zeal, will, without any
consideration for the severe punishments consequent on evil acts, or for the
great rewards of righteousness, instinctively refrain from inflicting harm on
his fellow men and will hunger and thirst to do good. And yet, if we ponder the
lessons of history it will become evident that this very sense of honor and
dignity is itself one of the bounties deriving from the instructions of the
Prophets of God. We also observe in infants the signs of aggression and
lawlessness, and that if a child is deprived of a teacher's instructions his
undesirable qualities increase from one moment to the next. It is therefore
clear that the emergence of this natural sense of human dignity and honor is
the result of education. Secondly, even if we grant for the sake of the
argument that instinctive intelligence and an innate moral quality would
prevent wrongdoing, it is obvious that individuals so characterized are as rare
as the philosopher's stone. An assumption of this sort cannot be validated by
mere words, it must be supported by the facts. Let us see what power in
creation impels the masses toward righteous aims and deeds! Aside from this, if
that rare individual who does exemplify such a faculty should also become an
embodiment of the fear of God, it is certain that his strivings toward
righteousness would be strongly reinforced.
(‘Abdu’l-Baha, "The Secret of
Divine Civilization’; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Baha’i Education
)
Dec 5, 2014
fear of God
It is incumbent upon thee to summon the people, under all
conditions, to whatever will cause them to show forth spiritual characteristics
and goodly deeds, so that all may become aware of that which is the cause of
human upliftment, and may, with the utmost endeavor, direct themselves towards
the most sublime Station and the Pinnacle of Glory. The fear of God hath ever
been the prime factor in the education of His creatures. Well is it with them
that have attained thereunto!
(Baha’u’llah, ‘Epistle to the Son of Wolf’)
Dec 4, 2014
fear of God
Give ye great weight to the Nineteen Day gatherings, so that
on these occasions the beloved of the Lord and the handmaids of the Merciful
may turn their faces toward the Kingdom, chant the communes, beseech God's
help, become joyfully enamoured each of the other, and grow in purity and
holiness, and in the fear of God, and in resistance to passion and self. Thus
will they separate themselves from this elemental world, and immerse themselves
in the ardours of the spirit.
('Abdu'l-Bahá,
from a Tablet to the local Spiritual Assembly of Spokane, Washington,
translated from the Persian; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I, Nineteen
Day Feast)
Dec 3, 2014
fear of God
Adorn your heads with the garlands of trustworthiness and
fidelity, your hearts with the attire of the fear of God, your tongues with
absolute truthfulness, your bodies with the vesture of courtesy. These are in
truth seemly adornings unto the temple of man, if ye be of them that reflect.
(Baha’u’llah, ‘The Kitab-i-Aqdas’)
Dec 2, 2014
fear of God
You
have asked the exact meaning of the term 'Fear of God' mentioned in Baha'i
Sacred Writings; it often means awe, but has also
other connotations such as reverence, terror and fear.
(From a letter
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to an individual believer, November 13, 1940;
compilation:’ Lights of Guidance’)
Dec 1, 2014
fear of God
Undoubtedly the friends are illumined
with the light of the fear of God and are fully conscious of the need to purify
and protect their possessions in accordance with the decisive Words revealed by
our Lord, the Most High.
In these turbulent days, we that yearn
for Him, fervently turn in prayer to the court of the Lord of mankind that He
may graciously enable that august Assembly to repeatedly remind the lovers of
the Beauty of the All-Merciful of the vital importance and the binding
character of this sacred and heavenly injunction. Through issuing
announcements, distributing leaflets and in gatherings, schools and conferences
held by the followers of our Zealous Lord, they should be guided and encouraged
to observe strictly and conscientiously that which His divine commandment has
enjoined upon them, so that those believers who are adorned with the fear of
God may be shielded from the dire consequences foreshadowed in His ominous
warnings, may become the recipients of His assured blessings and be enabled to
partake of the outpourings of His infallible spiritual grace.
(12 September 1969, written by the
Universal House of Justice, translated from the Persian; The Compilation of Compilations, vol. I,
Huququ’llah)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)