Chaos and confusion are daily increasing in the world. They
will attain such intensity as to render the frame of mankind unable to bear
them. Then will men be awakened and become aware that religion is the
impregnable stronghold and the manifest light of the world, and its laws,
exhortations and teachings the source of life on earth. 
...The real teaching of Buddha is the same as the teaching
of Jesus Christ. The teachings of all the Prophets are the same in character.
Now men have changed the teaching. If you look at the present practice of the
Buddhist religion, you will see that there is little of the Reality left. Many
worship idols although their teaching forbids it.
…among the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is that religion must be
the cause of fellowship and love. If it becomes the cause of estrangement then
it is not needed, for religion is like a remedy; if it aggravates the disease
then it becomes unnecessary.
Thou hast asked about places of worship and the underlying
reason therefor. The wisdom in raising up such buildings is that at a given
hour, the people should know it is time to meet, and all should gather
together, and, harmoniously attuned one to another, engage in prayer; with the
result that out of this coming together, unity and affection shall grow and
flourish in the human heart.
'Abdu'l-Bahá is constantly engaged in ideal communication
with any Spiritual Assembly which is instituted through the divine bounty, and
the members of which, in the utmost devotion, turn to the divine Kingdom and are
firm in the Covenant. To them he is whole-heartedly attached and with them he
is linked by everlasting ties....
In all cases submitted for its consideration the Assembly
must uphold the standard of justice in delivering its verdict, and in all its
dealings with the community and the outside world it must strive to evince the
qualities of leadership. The following quotation from a letter of the Guardian
summarizes in simple terms the immediate goal every Assembly should set for
itself in its efforts to pursue the exalted standard of perfection inculcated
in our writings:
The institution of the Summer School constitutes a vital and
inseparable part of any teaching campaign, and as such ought to be given the
full importance it deserves in the teaching plans and activities of the
believers. It should be organized in such a way as to attract the attention of
the non-believers to the Cause and thus become an effective medium for
teaching. Also it should afford the believers themselves an opportunity to
deepen their knowledge of the Teachings, through lectures and discussions and
by means of close and intense community life.
The teachings of Bahá'u'lláh are the light of this age and
the spirit of this century. Expound each of them at every gathering.
No brotherhood appears in the world as lasting save that of
the spiritual type. Only that brotherhood is permanent and eternal, for it is a
spiritual brotherhood through the breath of the Holy Spirit. It is absolutely
indissoluble; permanently will it remain intact, and in all the worlds of God
will it be everlasting. It is a brotherhood not based upon thoughts, but one
that has emanated from the love of God. It is not founded for the attainment of
physical or material interests. This spiritual brotherhood has no other purpose
than nearness to the Threshold of God. It is not for defensive purposes but for
the illumination of the human heart.
This Major Plan of God, carried out for the most part
through the agency of people who are ignorant of its course and even
antagonistic to its purpose, proceeds tumultuously, turbulently, as the
Almighty makes use of the works of His disobedient children to tear down the
barriers to human unity and weld mankind into a unified whole. It was in
relation to the operation of this Plan that, in the opening paragraphs of
"The Promised Day is Come", the beloved Guardian characterized the
devastating effects of the Second World War as "this great and mighty wind
of God".
In its own meetings it [LSAs] must endeavour to develop
skill in the difficult but highly rewarding art of Baha'i consultation, a
process which will require great self-discipline on the part of all members and
complete reliance on the power of Baha'u'llah.
The need is very great, everywhere in the world, in and
outside the Faith, for a true spiritual awareness to pervade and motivate
people's lives. No amount of administrative procedure or adherence to rules can
take the place of this soul-characteristic, this spirituality which is the
essence of Man. He is very glad to see you are stressing this and aiding the
friends to realize its supreme importance.
I am however assured and sustained by the conviction, never
dimmed in my mind, that whatsoever comes to pass in the Cause of God, however
disquieting, in its immediate effects, is fraught with infinite Wisdom and
tends ultimately to promote its interests in the world. Indeed, our experiences
of the distant past, as well as of recent events, are too numerous and varied
to permit of any misgiving or doubt as to the truth of this basic principle — a
principle which throughout the vicissitudes of our sacred mission in this world
we must never disregard or forget.
The Bahá'í youth must be taught how to teach the Cause of
God. Their knowledge of the fundamentals of the Faith must be deepened and the
standard of their education in science and literature enhanced. They must
become thoroughly familiar with the language used and the example set by
'Abdu'l-Bahá in His public addresses throughout the West. They must also be
acquainted with those essential prerequisites of teaching as recorded in the
Holy Books and Tablets.
Among the more salient objectives to be attained by the
Local Spiritual Assembly in its process of development to full maturity are to
act as a loving shepherd to the Baha'i flock, promote unity and concord among
the friends, direct the teaching work, protect the Cause of God, arrange for
Feasts, anniversaries and regular meetings of the community, familiarize the
Baha'is with its plans, invite the community to offer its recommendations,
promote the welfare of youth and children, and participate, as circumstances
permit, in humanitarian activities. In
its relationship to the individual believer, the Assembly should continuously
invite and encourage him to study the Faith, to deliver its glorious message,
to live in accordance with its teachings, to contribute freely and regularly to
the Fund, to participate in community activities, and to seek refuge in the
Assembly for advice and help, when needed.
In regard to the main question you have raised in connection
with the singing of hymns at Bahá'í meetings: He wishes me to assure you that
he sees no objection to it whatsoever. The element of music is, no doubt, an
important feature of all Bahá'í gatherings. The Master Himself has emphasized
its importance. But the friends should in this, as well as in all other things,
not pass beyond the limits of moderation, and should take great care to
maintain the strict spiritual character of all their gatherings. Music should
lead to spirituality, and provided it creates such an atmosphere there can be
no objection against it.
O pure soul! Follow thou in the footsteps of the truthful
and tread the way of the righteous, so that, through truthfulness, thou mayest
come to occupy a Seat of Truth,[Qur'án, 54:55] and, through righteousness, thou
mayest attain to abiding honour. If the sum of all sins were to be weighed in
the balance, falsehood would, on its own, countervail them; nay, its evils
would even outweigh them and its detriment prove greater. It were better for
thee that thou shouldst be a blasphemer and tell the truth than that thou
shouldst mouth the formulas of faith and yet be a liar. These clear words are
addressed as an admonition to the peoples of the world. Render thanks unto God
that it is through thee that this counsel hath been addressed to all mankind.
It is not enough to proclaim the Bahá'í message, essential
as that is. It is not enough to expand the rolls of Bahá'í membership, vital as
that is. Souls must be transformed, communities thereby consolidated, new
models of life thus attained. Transformation is the essential purpose of the
Cause of Bahá'u'lláh, but it lies in the will and effort of the individual to
achieve it in obedience to the Covenant.
Make every effort to acquire the advanced knowledge of the
day, and strain every nerve to carry forward the divine civilization....
... the World Civilization which will follow upon the Most Great
Peace will unfold and evolve and gradually perfect itself during following
Dispensations; in other words, a World Civilization and a World Culture, which
will reach its ascendancy in the distant future and is something that will
require many thousands of years to mature.
O ye lovers of God, make firm your steps in His Cause, with
such resolve that ye shall not be shaken though the direst of calamities assail
the world. By nothing, under no conditions, be ye perturbed. Be ye anchored
fast as the high mountains, be stars that dawn over the horizon of life, be
bright lamps in the gatherings of unity, be souls humble and lowly in the
presence of the friends, be innocent in heart. Be ye symbols of guidance and
lights of godliness, severed from the world, clinging to the handhold that is
sure and strong, spreading abroad the spirit of life, riding the Ark of
salvation. Be ye daysprings of generosity, dawning-points of the mysteries of
existence, sites where inspiration alighteth, rising-places of splendours,
souls that are sustained by the Holy Spirit, enamoured of the Lord, detached
from all save Him, holy above the characteristics of humankind, clothed in the
attributes of the angels of heaven, that ye may win for yourselves the highest
bestowal of all, in this new time, this wondrous age.
O ye loving mothers, know ye that in God's sight, the best
of all ways to worship Him is to educate the children and train them in all the
perfections of mankind; and no nobler deed than this can be imagined.
Shoghi Effendi was delighted to hear of your conversation
with Sir.... How much he hopes to have such scholars obtain a true
understanding of the spirit and teaching of the Cause and arise to dissipate
that veil of misconceptions that is prejudicing the mind of the scholars in the
western world. The Cause is in great need for such competent and spiritually
minded men who after a thorough study of the Movement would share with the
world the fruit of their labours.
…the core of religious faith is that mystic feeling that
unites man with God. This state of spiritual communion can be brought about and
maintained by means of meditation and prayer. And this is the reason why
Bahá'u'lláh has so much stressed the importance of worship. It is not
sufficient for a believer to merely accept and observe the teachings. He
should, in addition, cultivate the sense of spirituality which he can acquire
chiefly by the means of prayer.
Wherever a Bahá'í community exists, whether large or small,
let it be distinguished for its abiding sense of security and faith, its high
standard of rectitude, its complete freedom from all forms of prejudice, the
spirit of love among its members and for the closely knit fabric of its social
life.
Erelong it will become evident and clear that the ensign of
the Most Great Peace is the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh, and the tent of union and
harmony among nations is the Tabernacle of the divine Kingdom, for therein the
intention, the power and the action, all three, are brought together. The
realization of everything in the world of being dependeth upon these three
elements.
...although sound is but the vibrations of the air which
affect the tympanum of the ear, and vibrations of the air are but an accident
among the accidents which depend upon the air, consider how much marvelous
notes or a charming song influence the spirits! A wonderful song giveth wings
to the spirit and filleth the heart with exaltation....
One consecrated soul is preferable to a thousand other
souls. If a small number of people gather lovingly together, with absolute
purity and sanctity, with their hearts free of the world, experiencing the
emotions of the Kingdom and the powerful magnetic forces of the Divine, and
being at one in their happy fellowship, that gathering will exert its influence
over all the earth. The nature of that band of people, the words they speak,
the deeds they do, will unleash the bestowals of Heaven, and provide a
foretaste of eternal bliss. The hosts of the Company on high will defend them,
and the angels of the Abhá Paradise, in continuous succession, will come down
to their aid.