Wws presentation march 2015

The Baha’i faith is the most recent
independent world religion.
The Baha'i Faith has between 6 and 8
million believers worldwide.
The Baha'i Faith is the second most
geographically widespread religion in the
world.

Baha’is Believe In:
The Oneness of God
The Oneness of Religion
The Oneness of Humanity

To Baha’is, the Manifestation of God
is a term that refers to the Divine Teachers:
those Great Spiritual Leaders who
reveal the Word of God
to humanity.

These are some of the Manifestations of
God referred to by Baha’u’llah:
Adam
Abraham
Moses
Krishna
Buddha
Zoroaster
Christ
Muhammad
It is also understood that there were many Manifestations who have not
been specifically mentioned by Baha’u’llah in His Writings, in particular,
the founders of the oral traditions in North and South America, and
Australia. Examples of these Manifestations may be The Peacemaker,
White Buffalo Calf Woman, Quetzalcoatl, and The Rainbow Serpent.

According to Baha’u’llah, the continual
appearance of the Manifestations of God on
earth fulfills God’s Covenant with mankind.
This covenant is illustrated in the story of Noah and the
flood, in which a rainbow appears signifying God’s
promise to Noah and his descendants that He will never
again send a flood.
Baha’is understand the Covenant to be God’s promise
to send spiritual guidance and training to humanity,
furthering our process of maturity, and enabling us to
grow in understanding our innermost reality.

This is the changeless Faith of God,
eternal in the past,
eternal in the future.
-Baha’u’llah

However, God remains an unknowable Essence,
and the Manifestation of God is not, in fact, God
incarnate:
All the Prophets of God and their chosen Ones, all the
divines, the sages, and the wise of every generation,
unanimously recognize their inability to attain unto the
comprehension of that Quintessence of all truth, and
confess their incapacity to grasp Him, Who is the inmost
Reality of all things.
-Baha’u’llah, The Book of Certitude
“We find God only through the Intermediary of His Prophet.
We see the Perfection of God in His Prophets … God is
never flesh, but mirrored in the attributes of His Prophets,
we see His Divine characteristics and perfections.” -Shoghi
Effendi, Lights of Guidance

To understand Progressive Revelation this simple
analogy is often used:
Just as foundational concepts in math and science
become more and more advanced throughout our
years of schooling, the Religion of God is revealed to
humanity in a progressive manner, so that it never
exceeds the capacity of human understanding at the
time at which it is given. The teachers of different
grades in school all have the same training, but their
teaching methods have to be adapted to meet the
needs of their students. In this way the Manifestations
of God bring the same spiritual Truth in each
revelation, but the language and the social teachings
are different in order to suit the time in which they

Another common analogy is to liken the Religion of
God to the chapters in a book:
Each chapter is different and builds on the one that
comes before it in order to convey the story in its
entirety. Each chapter tells the same story, but not
each chapter is the same. No chapter is better
than another, but there is a progression to the
story.

In the Baha'i writings, Man
(as in mankind, which is inclusive of women)
is described as being inherently noble:
“From among all created things He hath singled
out for His special favor the pure, the gem-like
reality of man, and invested it with a unique
capacity of knowing Him and of reflecting the
greatness of His glory.”
-Baha’u’llah, Gleanings

The Baha'i writings state that humanity was created
out of God’s love for us:
“O Son of Man! I loved thy creation, hence I created
thee. Wherefore, do thou love Me, that I may name thy
name and fill thy soul with the spirit of life.”
-Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words

Therefore, the ultimate purpose of human life is to develop
those latent attributes through the assistance and guidance
we receive from the Manifestations of God:
O My Servant!
Thou art even as a finely tempered sword
concealed in the darkness of its sheath and its
value hidden from the artificer’s knowledge.
Wherefore come forth from the sheath of self and
desire that thy worth may be made resplendent and
manifest unto all the world.
O My Friend!
Thou art the day-star of the heavens of My holiness,
let not the defilement of the world eclipse thy
splendor. Rend asunder the veil of heedlessness,
that from behind the clouds thou mayest emerge
resplendent and array all things with the apparel of
life.
-Baha’u’llah, The Hidden Words

The attributes of God can also be understood as
virtues, or spiritual qualities.
• Loving-
kindness
• Patience
• Humility
• Compassion
• Strength
• Wisdom
• Gratitude
• Hope
• Beauty
• Charity
• Confidence
• Unity
• Mercy
• Perseveranc
e
• Forgiveness
• Understandin
g
• Detachment
• Joyfulness
• Awe
• Service
• Generosity
• Creativity
• Mindfulness
For a comprehensive list visit www.virtuesproject.com/virtueslist.html

Baha’u’llah wrote that the purpose of religion is twofold: to
educate humanity about their spiritual reality, and to
provide a framework for the evolution and unity of mankind.
“The religion of God and His divine law are the most potent
instruments and the surest of all means for the dawning of the
light of unity amongst men. The progress of the world, the
development of nations, the tranquility of peoples, and the peace
of all who dwell on earth are among the principles and
ordinances of God. Religion bestoweth upon man the most
precious of all gifts, offereth the cup of prosperity, imparteth
eternal life, and showereth imperishable benefits upon mankind.”
-Baha’u’llah, The Tablet of Splendours

Baha’u’llah means “The Glory of
God”.
Baha’u’llah was born in 1817 to Persian nobility. It is
said that His family’s ancestry could be traced back
to Abraham through Abraham’s wife Keturah.
His given name was Mirza Husayn Ali, but
Baha’u’llah is His title as a Manifestation of God.

In 1863 Baha’u’llah announced His mission to a small
group of His fellow Babis, and within a few years His
station had been recognized by the generality of His
fellow believers. Consequently the Babi faith became
the Baha'i faith, and Baha’u’llah the center of a new
world religion.
For 40 years Baha’u’llah and His family were subject to
exile, imprisonment and persecution. His followers
continued to grow in number – responding to His
message of the dawning of a new revelation that would
usher in an age of unity, peace, and justice.
The prison of Akka, where
Baha’u’llah and his family were
imprisoned for five years

Other Central Figures in the
Baha'i Faith

Abdu’l-Baha
Abdu’l-Baha was the eldest son of Baha’u’llah and
shared in His Father’s suffering. As a young man He
took as His title Abdu’l-Baha, which means the “Servant
of Baha”, and true to His name, Abdu’l-Baha was the
dedicated supporter of His father, as well as His closest
companion. As an adult, Abdu’l-Baha lived his life in
service to Baha’u’llah’s Faith and its followers, functioning
as His father’s deputy.
His compassion and loving-kindness made him beloved
wherever He lived or visited, and there are countless
stories about his devotion to the poor and the sick. He
was also greatly respected for his spiritual understanding.

In Baha’u’llah’s Will and Testament He designated Abdu’l-
Baha the Head of the Baha'i Faith, and the authorized
interpreter of the spiritual meaning of Baha’u’llah’s Writings.
This marks a departure from all previous religions as the
Baha'i community was left with a clearly authenticated
leader and interpreter. This provision ensured the unity of
the Baha'i community after the death of the Manifestation.

There are many pictures of Abdu’l-Baha, and very often
Baha’is will display His picture in their homes.

Current Baha’i Administration

There is no clergy in the Baha'i Faith. Baha’u’llah
made it the responsibility of each individual to
pursue their spiritual education. Accordingly, there
is no hierarchy within the Baha'i community, and
no individual believer has spiritual authority over
another.
The Baha'i writings state that when the vast
majority of people were illiterate a priesthood was
necessary, but that now education is a universal
right and responsibility. As a result the individual
Baha'i is asked to take ownership of developing
their own knowledge and spiritual growth, as well
as fostering a personal relationship with God.

In fact, one of the great principles of the Baha'i Faith
is
The Independent Investigation of Truth,
wherein each individual acquires knowledge with their
“own eyes and not through the eyes of others”. -
Baha’u’llah
“Another new principle revealed by… Baha’u’llah is the
injunction to investigate truth; that is to say, no man
should blindly follow his ancestors and forefathers. Nay,
each must see with his own eyes, hear with his own
ears, and investigate the truth himself in order that he
may follow the truth instead of blind acquiescence and
imitation of ancestral beliefs.”
-Abdu’l-Baha

Democratic Elections
Since there is no clergy the Baha'i faith is
organized democratically. Elections are made
through secret ballot, and nominations or
canvasing are strictly forbidden. In fact, Baha’is
are admonished not to discuss who they vote for
with another person.
The decision-making process is one of prayer and
meditation, with the criteria of one’s selection
founded on the character and understanding of the
eligible individuals.

Consultation
The decision making process within the Baha'i Faith is founded on
consultation. The process of consultation was carefully outlined by
Abdu’l-Baha, and consists of these elements:
-A condition of love and harmony that is mindful of the absolute unity of
the participants.
-Reliance on God
-A courteous, dignified, careful and moderate expression of one’s views
-Detachment from one’s own opinion, so as to not be stubborn or
insistent.
-The free expression of opinion, and a respect for divergent thoughts.
-If a consensus cannot be reached, the majority of voices prevail, and
all must voluntarily submit to the majority decision.
Abdu’l-Baha explains that it is absolutely necessary for all participants
to submit to the majority because if a decision happens to be wrong,
the consequences of that decision will be recognized much more
quickly if all the participants are working together, and the problem can
be remedied quickly and with clarity. If some do not act in accord with
the decision of the majority, it will obscure the source of the problem
and will slow the remedial process considerably.

The Writings of The Bab and Baha’u’llah are
considered by Baha’is to be divine
revelation.
Baha’u’llah wrote thousands of compositions, often in
his own hand. Baha’u’llah wrote in many styles,
sometimes using simple language, but often in a highly
mystical and poetic manner.
It is helpful to note that in His writings, Baha’u’llah
speaks as God’s Servant, expressing His devotion and
unconditioned submission to God, and as the
mouthpiece of God, addressing humanity with
unconditioned authority.

Some Central Texts of Baha'i
Scripture:
(All of the following are Baha’u’llah’s writings)The Kitab-i-Aqdas
Translated, this title means The Book of Laws. This book is also referred to as The Most
Holy Book, and as such has foremost importance in the Baha’i canon.
The Kitab-i-Iqan
This title means The Book of Certitude. This is often considered the primary theological
work within Baha'i scripture.
The Hidden Words
This is a collection of short passages. Baha’u’llah stated that within this relatively small
book was contained the basic essence of spiritual Truth. Abdu’l-Baha said that “The
Hidden Words is a treasury of divine mysteries. When thou ponderest its contents, the
doors of the mysteries will open.”
Gleanings from the Writings of Baha’u’llah
A compilation of selected writings by Baha’u’llah. This book was compiled by Shoghi
Effendi. The compilation is separated into sections, each of which specifically address a
theological issue, including the Manifestation of God, the nature of the human soul, the
revelation of Baha’u’llah, and the spiritual meaning of life.

The Oneness of Humanity
“O contending peoples and kindreds of the earth! Set your faces
towards unity, and let the radiance of its light shine upon you.
Gather ye together, and for the sake of God resolve to root out
whatever is the source of contention amongst you…. There can
be no doubt whatever that the peoples of the world, of whatever
race or religion, derive their inspiration from one heavenly
Source, and are the subjects of one God.”
“All men are the leaves and fruit of one same tree… they all
have the same origin. The same rain has fallen upon them all,
the same warm sun makes them grow, they are all refreshed by
the same breeze… the whole of humanity is enveloped by the
Mercy and Grace of God. As the Holy Writings tell us: All men
are equal before God.”
-Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks

The world is but one country,
and mankind its citizens.
-Baha’u’llah

Unity In Diversity
“Should any one contend that true and enduring unity
can in no wise be realized in this world, inasmuch as
its people widely differ in their manners and habits,
their tastes, their temperament and character, their
thoughts and their views, to this we make reply that
differences are of two kinds; the one is the cause of
destruction, as exemplified by the spirit of contention
and strife which animates mutually conflicting and
antagonistic peoples and nations, whilst the other is
the sign of diversity, the symbol and the secret of
perfection, and the revealer of the bounties of the All-
glorious.”
– Abdu’l-Baha

Baha'i communities can be found
all over the planet

The Baha'i community honors its diversity
and celebrates the cultural heritage of
humanity
Snapshots of
different
Baha'i events
from all over
the world.

The Elimination of All Forms of
Prejudice
Prejudice is the product of separation and division, and as such
is the antithesis of unity. In His writings Baha’u’llah calls on
humanity to rid itself of personal prejudices:
“Close your eyes to racial differences, and welcome all with the
light of oneness.” -From The Advent of Divine Justice
Abdu’l-Baha placed great emphasis on this issue:
“Beware of prejudice; light is good in whatsoever lamp it is
burning. A rose is beautiful in whatever garden it may bloom. A
star has the same radiance if it shines from the east or the
west… We must banish prejudice. Religious, patriotic, racial
prejudices must disappear, for they are the destroyers of human
society. We must become the cause of the unity of the human
race.”

“O Children of Men! Know ye not why We
created you all from the same dust? That
no one should exalt himself over the other.
It is incumbent on you to be even as one
soul, to walk with the same feet… that by
your deeds and actions, the signs of oneness
and the essence of detachment may be
made manifest.”
-Baha’u’llah

Harmony of Science and Religion
“God has endowed man with intelligence and reason whereby
he is required to determine the verity of questions and
propositions. If religious beliefs and opinions are found
contrary to the standards of science, they are mere
superstitions and imaginations; for the antithesis of knowledge
is ignorance, and the child of ignorance is superstition.
Unquestionably there must be agreement between true
religion and science.” -Abdu’l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith
“Religion and science are the two wings upon which man’s
intelligence can soar into heights, with which the human soul
can progress… Should a man try to fly with the wing of
religion alone he would quickly fall into the quagmire of
superstition, whilst on the other hand, with the wing of science
alone he would also make no progress, but fall into the
despairing slough of materialism.”

Elimination of Extremes of Wealth and
Poverty
“…the disease which afflicts the body politic is lack of love
and absence of altruism…” -Abdu’l-Baha
The Baha'i Writings assert that while the true solutions to
economic problems are individual spiritual perception and
transformation, nations also must strive for the economic
security of all their citizens.
Baha’u’llah stated that economic injustice is a moral evil:
“O Children of Dust! Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of
the poor, lest heedlessness lead them into the path of
destruction, and deprive them of the Tree of Wealth.”

Equality of Men and Women
In the Baha'i Writings God is seen as being without gender and
similarly the human soul is also considered genderless.
Therefore, gender and sexuality are understood as belonging to
the physical world and having no bearing on our spiritual reality.
However, it does become useful to explore gender as a reflection
of the “Masculine” and “Feminine” attributes of God.
It is understood that life arises out of the interplay between the
masculine and feminine qualities, and that as a general rule men
and women express those complementary qualities. The Baha'i
writings repeatedly assert that men and women are absolutely
equal: that each is capable of reflecting all the attributes of God
in equal measure.

“Know thou, O handmaid, that in the sight of Bahá, women are accounted
the same as men, and God hath created all humankind in His own image,
and after His own likeness. That is, men and women alike are the
revealers of His names and attributes, and from the spiritual viewpoint
there is no difference between them.”
-Abdu’l-Baha, Selections From the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha
“What, then, constitutes the inequality between man and woman? Both
are human. In powers and function each is the complement of the other.
At most it is this: that woman has been denied the opportunities which
man has so long enjoyed, especially the privilege of education....
And let it be known once more that until woman and man recognize and
realize equality, social and political progress here or anywhere will not be
possible. For the world of humanity consists of two parts or members:
one is woman; the other is man. Until these two members are equal in
strength, the oneness of humanity cannot be established, and the
happiness and felicity of mankind will not be a reality. God willing, this is
to be so.”
-Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace

The Baha'i Faith and the Natural
World
The Baha'i writings have an attitude of reverence for the
natural world. Baha’is understand that it is in their best
interest to work in harmony with the earth, and to find a
responsible and sustainable way living.
“The civilization, so often vaunted by the learned
exponents of arts and sciences, will, if allowed to
overleap the bounds of moderation, bring great evil upon
men… If carried to excess, civilization will prove as
prolific a source of evil as it had been of goodness when
kept within the restraints of moderation. Meditate on
this...

The Baha'i Writings also
speak of the natural world
as a vehicle for
understanding spiritual
reality and God.
“There are two Books: one is the Book of creation and the other
is the written Book. The written Book consisteth of the heavenly
Books which are revealed to the Prophets of God and have
issued forth from the lips of His Manifestations. The Book of
creation is the preserved Tablet and the outspread Roll of
existence. The Book of creation is in accord with the written
Book… When thou readest the written Book thou wilt become
aware of the mysteries of God, but when thou gazest at the Book
of creation thou wilt observe the signs, symbols, realities and
reflections of the hidden mysteries of the bounties of [God].”
-Abdu’l-Baha

Art in all forms is encouraged…
“By the power of the Holy Spirit, working through his soul, man is
able to perceive the Divine reality of things. All great works of art
and science are witnesses to this power of the Spirit.”
-Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks
“In accordance with the Divine Teachings, the acquisition of
sciences and the perfection of arts is considered as acts of
worship. If a man engages with all his power in the acquisition of
a science or in the perfection of an art, it is as if he has been
worshipping God in the churches and temples.”
-Abdu’l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith
‘Canticle’ (1954) by Mark Toby, a
Baha'i abstract expressionist
painter.

In the Baha'i Faith there are prohibitions against
alcohol
and drugs, as they “stupefy” the mind and cause
“torpor of the soul”.
“Become ye intoxicated with the wine of the love of God, and not with that
which deadeneth your minds…”
“ The one diminisheth the intelligence of man, the other increaseth it. The one
leadeth to perdition, the other bestoweth life”. -Baha’u’llah
“Alcohol consumeth the mind and causeth man to commit acts of absurdity,
but [drugs] freeze the spirit, petrify the soul, waste the body and leave man
frustrated and lost.”
-Abdu’l-Baha
“Intellect and the faculty of comprehension are God’s gifts whereby man is
distinguished from other animals. Will a wise man want to lose this Light in
the darkness of intoxication? No by God… He will, rather, do that which will
develop his powers of intelligence and understanding, and not increase his
negligence, heedlessness and decline.” -Abdu’l-Baha

However, perhaps the most strongly prohibited act
of all in the Baha'i writings is backbiting
The Baha'i writings make it very clear that Baha’is should
make every effort to avoid faultfinding and slander.
“O Son of Man! Breath not the sins of others so long as
thou art thyself a sinner.” -Baha’u’llah
“Never to allow ourselves to speak one unkind word
about another, even though that other be our enemy.” -
Abdu’l-Baha
“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 could be shut
eternally, and each one of the believers of God unsealed
his lips in praise of others… the hearts [would be]

Baha'i communities have numerous ongoing
activities. Some events are regular and structured
by the Baha'i calendar. Other events are planned
at the discretion of the community according to its
needs.
Gathering in
Tuvalu

The Baha'i year is broken
into nineteen months of
nineteen days, and each
month is named for an
attribute of God. The Baha'i
calendar is solar, and begins
on the spring equinox.
Depending on the year, there
are 4 or 5 days that do not fit
into a month. These days
comprise the Festival of
Ayyam-i-Ha and are
designated “days out of
time”. This is a celebratory
time within the community,
characterized by acts of
service to others, and
commemorates God’s
transcendence above His
attributes (i.e. His
Unknowable Essence).

Feast
At the beginning of each month the local community comes
together for “Feast”, a gathering that consists of devotions
(the reading of prayers and scripture), consultation about
community affairs, and socialization. The purpose of Feast
is to maintain the unity of the community, address its
needs, and to be an opportunity for community worship.
Unless a Baha'i community is large enough to own a Baha'i
Centre, Feast is usually held an the home of one of the
community members.

Other Baha'i events that are determined by
the Baha'i calendar are:
-Holy Day observances such as the Birth of
Baha’u’llah and the Martyrdom of the Bab.
-The Baha'i New Year
-Ayyam-i-Ha
-The Fasting period (in the spring Baha'is fast for
nineteen days between sunrise and sunset)
-Community Elections

Community events that are not determined
by
the Baha’i calendar are:
-Regular Devotional Gatherings
-Study Groups (where scripture is studied, Baha'i
or otherwise)
-Informational gatherings for those interested in
learning about the Baha'i Faith (called Firesides)
-Children’s spiritual education classes
-Youth activities
-Artistic events
-Social events
-Service activities

Ya Baha’u’l-Abha
“O Glory of Glories”
Baha’u’llah identified “The All-Glorious” as the
greatest name (or attribute) of God. “O Glory of
Glories” is an invocation of Baha’u’llah’s name, and
speaks to His station as a Manifestation of God. The
preceding symbol is this invocation written in
calligraphic form, and is often positioned in a place
of respect in the home of a Baha’i.
Baha’is also use a version of the Greatest Name as
a greeting. This version is spoken as Allah’u’Abha,
which means “God, the Most-Glorious”.

-The ringstone symbol was designed by Abdu’l-
Baha, and is found on Baha'i rings and other
jewelry. It is a stylized form of the word “Baha”
with two five-pointed stars on either side,
representing The Bab and Baha’u’llah. The three
horizontal lines represent God, The Manifestation
of God, and the world of creation (from top to
bottom), and the vertical line represents the Holy
Spirit.
-The five pointed star was the symbol of the Babi
Faith, and is also technically the symbol of the
Baha'i Faith (however now it is more common to
use the nine pointed star). The five pointed star
traditionally represents the human temple (the
body).
The Bab’s writings written in
the form of a five-pointed
star.

-The nine-pointed star is one of the most
commonly used symbols of the Baha'i Faith.
For Baha’is the number nine represents the
number of perfection and greatest possible
unity (being the highest single digit number).
The nine-pointed star also represents the
unity of the 9 major world religions.

Prayer
Shoghi Effendi wrote that, “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.
The Bahá'í Faith, like all other Divine religions, is thus
fundamentally mystic in character. Its chief goal is the
development of the individual and society, through the
acquisition of spiritual virtues and powers. It is the soul of man
Prayer and meditation are a
fundamental elements of
Baha'is spiritual life.
Abdu’l-Baha explained that
prayer is “conversation with
God”.

Together, The Bab, Baha’u’llah, and Abdu’l-Baha wrote
hundreds of prayers, and most often these are the
prayers that Baha’is will use for personal praying and for
group devotions.
Baha’is can also use their own language to pray when
they feel the need to speak from the heart. As Abdu’l-
Baha said, prayer is “conversation with God,” and
therefore can be quite informal.
It may also be helpful to note that very often Baha'i
prayers are ended with praise for God by the naming His
attributes. This is an expression of devotion, but the
naming of these attributes also gives Baha’is the
opportunity to identify the qualities of God and to
examine how these attributes can be expressed in their
own lives.
To read some of the prayers of the Baha'i Faith visit:
www.bahaiprayers.org

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my
heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in
Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will
no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy
and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of
anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not
dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to
myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.
-Abdu’l-Baha

Obligatory Prayer
Baha’is also have a practice of obligatory prayer.
There is a choice of three: a short, a medium, and a
long.
The short obligatory prayer is said once a day
between noon and sunset. The medium obligatory
prayer is said three times in a day, at morning, noon,
and night. The long obligatory prayer is said once at
any time during the day.
Baha’is are only required to say one of the prayers in
a given day, and when saying these prayers the
individual turns to face the Shrine of Baha’u’llah in
Israel.

“As for obligatory prayer, it hath been sent down by
the Pen of the Most High in such wise that it setteth
ablaze the hearts and captivateth the souls and
minds of men.”
-Baha’u’llah
“Obligatory prayers and supplications are the very
water of life. They are the cause of existence, of the
refinement of souls, and of their attainment to the
utmost joy. Exercise the greatest care in this regard,
and encourage others to recite the Obligatory
Prayers and supplications.”
-Abdu’l-Baha

The Short Obligatory Prayer:
I bear witness, O my God, that Thou hast created
me to know Thee and to worship Thee. I testify,
at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Thy
might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth.
There is none other God but Thee, the Help in
Peril, the Self-Subsisting.
-Baha’u’llah

Meditation
In the Baha'i Writings prayer and meditation go hand
in hand. Some Baha’is consider meditation the
practice of deepening on the Sacred Writings.
Meditation can also be the careful and prayerful
consideration of a personal issue in order to come to
a course of action. First and foremost, meditation is
the practice of being receptive to the divine spirit.
Shoghi Effendi writes, “It is not sufficient to pray
diligently for guidance, but this prayer must be
followed by meditation as to the best methods of
action and then action itself… because prayers can
only be answered through action and if someone’s
action is wrong, God can use that method of
showing the pathway which is right.”

“The inspiration received through meditation is of a nature
that one cannot measure or determine. God can inspire
into our minds things that we had no previous knowledge
of, if He desires to do so.”
-Shoghi Effendi
“The meditative faculty is akin to the
mirror; if you put it before earthly
objects it will reflect them. Therefore if
the spirit of man is contemplating
earthly subjects he will be informed of
these. But if you turn the mirror of your
spirits heavenwards, the heavenly
constellations and the rays of the Sun
of Reality will be reflected in your
hearts, and the virtues of the Kingdom
will be obtained.”
Abdu’l-Baha, Paris Talks

A Baha'i house of worship is a place of
prayer and meditation and is open to
people of all faiths.
The architecture is often chosen to
reflect the culture in which the House of
Worship has been erected, but they all
have nine sides and a central dome,
which is meant to symbolize the unity
and diversity of the human race.
There are currently seven Houses of
Worship around the world, one on each
(habitable) continent, and there are
currently plans to build local houses of
worship within the larger Baha'i
communities.
A pillar from the Chicago House of
Worship. It shows the symbols of the
major world faiths, signifying the unity of
religion.

An Areal View of the Indian House of
Worship

Temple currently being built in Santiago,
Chile

The Baha'i holy sites currently accessible to
Baha’is are in Israel.
Mount Carmel in Haifa was chosen by
Baha’u’llah as the resting place for the body
of The Bab. He directed Abdu’l-Baha to build
a shrine there in honor of The Bab’s station
as a Manifestation of God and as the
forerunner of Baha’u’llah.

These are views of the Shrine of The
Bab on Mt. Carmel. Nineteen
terraces have been shaped into the
mountain, each adorned with
gardens and fountains. The terraces
are often referred to as the hanging
gardens of Haifa.

The global administrative centre is also
located on Mt. Carmel
The Archives Building
The buildings of the International
Teaching Centre, The Seat of the
Universal House of Justice and the
Centre for the Study of the Texts.
The Seat of
the
Universal
House of
Justice

The house, gardens, and
the Shrine of Baha’u’llah
at Bahji

There are two other significant holy places
but they are located in Iraq and Iran where
Baha’is are still heavily persecuted.
These two properties are the house of
Baha’u’llah in Bagdad, and the house of the
Bab in Shiraz. In the future visiting these two
houses will be part of Baha'i pilgrimage.

In 1922 the House of Baha’u’llah was confiscated by the Shi’ih
authorities and has yet to be returned to the Baha’is.
The house of the Bab has been destroyed twice. It was first
destroyed by those hostile to the Baha’is 1955 and was
subsequently rebuilt. More recently it was destroyed during
the Islamic Revolution (1979), and later a mosque was built on
the site.
The House of the
Bab Rebuilt Present Day

Further Reading
Baha’i International Website – www.bahai.org
Comprehensive overview of the Baha'i Faith –
info.bahai.org
Baha'i Writings – reference.bahai.org
Baha'i Prayers – www.bahaiprayers.org
The Life of Baha’u’llah – www.bahaullah.com
Photos Depicting the Life of Baha’u’llah –
www.bahaullah.org

Sources
• info.bahai.org
• http://media.bahai.org/
• http://www.bahaullah.org/
• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
• Wikipedia.com
• Understanding the Baha'i Faith by Wendi Moomen
• The Priceless Pearl by Ruhiyyih Khanum
• Refreshed and Renewed by Robert Atkinson
• The Life of Shoghi Effendi by Danesh
• The Guardian ca.bahai.org/guardian
• The Baha'i Faith by Perkins and Hainsworth
• Eliminating Religious Intolerance from www.bic.org

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