On the Baha’i Faith
The Baha’i Faith Proclaims:
The oneness of God, the oneness of religion, and of humankind. It abolishes prejudice of all kinds, establishes Universal education, eliminates extremes of wealth and poverty, protects cultural diversity and provides a blueprint for the establishment of a spiritual world system of governance, a peaceful maintenance of order through consultation and co-operation. It also advocates individual search after truth, the harmony of science and religion, use of an auxiliary universal language and proclaims the imminent attainment of Universal Peace.
The Central Figures of the Baha’i Religion
One of three Central Figures of the Baha’i Faith, the Bab (gate) is a Messenger of God and a herald of One greater than Himself–One who would inaugurate a new era in religion and civilization. This Christ-like figure is known as the Great Announcement (of) the Day of Resurrection. Like earlier Messengers of God, the Bab was opposed and denounced. After six years of persecution He was publicly martyred at the age of 30 in Tabriz.
Baha’u’llah (Glory of God) is the founder of the Baha’i Faith. He was a Persian nobleman who in 1863 declared Himself to be the One whose coming the Bab and all the previous Prophets had foretold. Like His predecessor, He was bitterly opposed, persecuted and exiled from place to place, fulfilling prophecy. During nearly forty years of exile and imprisonment His writings were largely delivered through speech in a process of spontaneous revelation. These works were delivered in formal Arabic, the language of the Koran, a written language and one He had never studied. His “writings” were recorded by secretary during these revelatory experiences and then verified as accurate by Him. An investigation of these stupendous works demonstrates that their Source is unquestionably Divine and without equal, transcendent and supreme. Hundreds of volumes in scope covering all manner of subjects, the teachings of Baha’u’llah provide a Holy Scripture for the New Era which no previous revelation has ever approached in beauty, luminosity, depth or range. Baha’u’llah, as the Mouthpiece for God and the Prime representative of the Godhead, is the key imprint for mankind in this Day and has, through the power of the Word of God, unleashed spiritual forces that have revolutionized every aspect of human life. His writings herald the coming Golden Age of humanity, which marks the recognition of the Oneness of God, humanity and religion and a new cycle in our destiny as a species. They portend a time of peace, creativity, freedom, prosperity and salvation in which the whole of humanity is being enabled to attain to Eternal Reunion through the establishment of the Kingdom of God within earth.
Baha’u’llah’s fourth and final place of banishment, reached in 1865, was the prison city of ‘Akka (Acre), Palestine, where He ascended in 1892 at the age of seventy-four. This site has become part of the homeland of the Baha’i World Center on the slope of Mt. Carmel in the Holy Land. The events of His life, His title and these geographical occurrences including this location of the City of God fulfil Biblical prophecy. Baha’u’llah represents the Oneness of the prophets of all true religions and proclaims the “Changeless, Eternal Faith of God” His Revelation calls humanity to an entirely new way of life a “wondrous New System, the like of which mortal eyes have never witnessed” delineating not only a new set of social teachings and laws but offering an experience of limitless freedom through the vehicle of the revealed Word of God and its “vibrating influence”. The proof of His claim is His life and His writings subject to an independent investigation.
The authorized interpreter and exemplar of the Baha’i religion is Abdu’l-Baha (Servant of the Glory), eldest son of Baha’u’llah, who was appointed by his father as the Center of His Covenant to whom all must turn for instruction and guidance. ‘Abdu’l-Baha was the close companion and constant helper of his father, whose sufferings he shared. He remained a prisoner until 1908, when the old regime in Turkey was overthrown and all religious and political prisoners were liberated. Afterwards he traveled widely in Egypt, Europe and America, explaining the principles of the Faith and inspiring and directing the activities of its followers throughout the world. He passed away in Haifa in 1921, mourned by people of all faiths. His life was and continues to be a shining example to all.
Single Heart, Single Soul
Ending Loneliness Forever
We are in truth, a single heart and a single soul. The fact of our singleness turns out to be our salvation as we learn to forgive, truly. When forgiveness dissolves the boundaries that keep us distant and apathetic, we will find that loneliness, disenchantment with life, sorrow and boredom are forgotten. Instead of a stream of special relationships that end in frustration and letdown, we find a deep satisfaction with the delightful beings we find surrounding us. Depression, restlessness and the need for endless distractions are replaced with a constant fascination with life and its joyful unending surprises.
“So intensely hath the glory of Divine Unity penetrated souls and hearts that all are now bound one to another with heavenly ties, and all are even as a single heart, a single soul. Wherefore reflections of the spirit and impressions of the Divine are now mirrored clear and sharp in the deep heart’s core. I beg of God to strengthen these spiritual bonds as day followeth day, and make this mystic oneness to shine ever more brightly, until at last all shall be as troops marshalled together beneath the banner of the Covenant within the sheltering shade of the Word of God; that they may strive with all their might until universal fellowship, close and warm, and unalloyed love, and spiritual relationships, will connect all the hearts in the world. Then will all humankind, because of this fresh and dazzling bounty, be gathered in a single homeland. Then will conflict and dissension vanish from the face of the earth, then will mankind be cradled in love for the beauty of the All-Glorious. Discord will change to accord, dissension to unison. The roots of malevolence will be torn out, the basis of aggression destroyed.” (Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha, p. 19)
What a world this can be! Why wait? This can happen now…in fact, it must be now. The shortening of the time that it will take to realize the end of dissension and strife, loneliness and estrangement, can occur every time you choose love.
Forgiveness is an exquisite Art. We must pay exquisite attention to our relationships because it is there that we will find the gemstones, the precious metal that are treasured in the mine of the heart…our heart, my heart, all hearts. Once you get the hang of this art form, loneliness will seem impossible, absurd even. You will learn to give love, real love. This Love emanates from the Source of all Hearts and Souls: the Source of Love itself. As you love, you will be loved. And when you heal one heart through the miracle of your love, you will heal all hearts.
The root of banishing loneliness forever is in our inherent Singleness. There is not one among us who is not a whole, integral part of this Oneness and thus a part of Our Very Self. At the core of exquisite forgiveness is that we can give but to ourselves, because we are a Single Heart, a Single Soul.
“The bright rays of union will obliterate the darkness of limitations, and the splendours of heaven will make the human heart to be even as a mine veined richly with the love of God.” (ibid)
When the inner light of the individual is released through forgiveness, it will join the greater light and the “Bright rays of Union” will produce undreamed of results. The human heart can then become “richly veined with the Love of God” as the light of our union opens us to the “Splendors of Heaven”.
Let us focus our attentions on training the mind in the exquisite Art of Forgiveness. This will catalyze the release of the inner light of the soul. Then the Splendors of Heaven, the Light itself, will do the rest.
Your heart is part of the Single Heart, your soul part of the Single Soul. As such it is part of my heart and soul. Here is my blessing for you: May the mine of your heart yield up the gems and precious ore that are treasured therein and become more manifest as day follows day. May you find yourself discovering that you have so much love to give that it will be impossible for you to be lonely ever again.
~ D. Oraea Varis
Note: The ideas expressed herein are based solely upon the author’s experiences and do not seek to represent any official Baha’i viewpoint.
