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Baha’i beliefs address essential spiritual themes for humanity’s collective and individual advancement. Learn more about these and more.
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Throughout history, God has sent us a series of divine Educators. They include (among others) Krishna, Moses, Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, the Bab, and Baha’u’llah. Baha’u’llah explained that the religions of the world come from the same Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion.
Religion has but one single noble purpose, and it is defined by the word itself. “Religion”, from the root religare “to bind fast”, speaks of a bond between man and God. Within religions such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baha’i Faith, the close, immediate bond of communion of man and God is extolled in psalms, prayers, admonitions, and art.
But what is meant by being bound to God? Here are some clear words from Manifestations of God. Moses said:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.1
Jesus said:
The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.2
Muhammad (peace be upon Him) said:
[…] Allah cautions you (to remember) Himself, for the final goal is to Allah.3
Baha’is speak each day of their connection with God if they recite the short Obligatory Prayer: “I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created me to know Thee”.4 This knowing of God is religion, the spiritual, real connection of spirit to Spirit. The human intellect can believe that bridge exists, but the mind of man cannot understand or describe it, as it is of the spirit, not of this temporal world. The foundation for that bond is built through a man’s knowledge and love of God, which are themselves gifts from God. Abdu’l-Baha said:
You have acquired the love of God. You have attained to the knowledge of God. This is the most great bestowal of God. This is the breath of the Holy Spirit, and this consists of faith and assurance. This eternal life is the second birth; this is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.5
and
…if he possesses the knowledge of God, becomes ignited through the fire of the love of God, witnesses the great and mighty signs of the Kingdom, becomes the cause of love among mankind and lives in the utmost state of sanctity and holiness, he shall surely attain to second birth, be baptized by the Holy Spirit and enjoy everlasting existence.6
In order to receive those gifts and participate in that spiritual union with our Creator, we must begin a journey, such as that recorded in The Seven Valleys. Intellectual acceptance of Baha’u’llah as the Manifestation of God for this day is not the same as Recognition of the Manifestation. We must be of those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”7
The fundamental purpose of all divine religions, including the Baha’i Faith, is to bring man closer to God and to change that man’s character. All the divine religions are of two parts. The essential teachings are spiritual and deal with the eternal verities, true reality, and are “unchangeable and immutable”8; in this all the divine religions are the same. The secondary aspect of true religions deals with practical life, transactions, and business and social issues; these laws change according to the needs of the time. Shoghi Effendi wrote:
[…] the fundamental purpose of all religions — including our own — is to bring man nearer to God, and to change his character, which is of the utmost importance. Too much emphasis is often laid on the social and economic aspects of the Teachings; but the moral aspect cannot be over-emphasized.9
It is easy for a man to invest his time in the secondary aspects of his religion, e.g., serving others, working within a faith community, and promoting a visible unity. It is far more difficult to foster the true spiritual connection with his Creator that God desires. Even for a man to acknowledge that God is his Lord and Master, and that he, the man, is the servant, is difficult in this age of the world. So, too often, we might find ourselves “doing” to appear busy in God’s work, when in truth, God is far more interested in our “becoming” His true sons and daughters in the Spirit. For, as we develop as disciples and learners we will inevitably be transformed in our spirit and soul. Through this transformation, the Second Birth, the Spirit of God, working within our spirit, will provide that all the things we do in the world in service to God and men, is built on a foundation of God’s Love and Will. Without this foundation, all of our well-intentioned acts in this world will be of no benefit to man or God. Only through our individual bond with our Creator are we able to work in His Strength. And then nothing is impossible.
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Great insights, thank you for sharing
Sohayla (September 9, 2016 at 6:00 AM)
Thank you Reed. I agree with you that Recognition of the Manifestation is greater and more praise worthy in His sight . But I think first must come as you put it intellectual acceptance. So many thousands of Recycled sects and religions only have created confusion and irreligion. “Cast away, O people, the things ye have composed with the pen of your idle fancies and vain imaginings. By God! The Daystar of Knowledge hath shone forth above the horizon of certitude. (Baha’u’llah, ESW, p. 97)
Hooshang S. Afshar (September 9, 2016 at 6:27 AM)
Enlightening.
Criselda R. Figuerres (September 9, 2016 at 8:55 PM)