Attachment to the lantern is not loving the light.
~ Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 151
Some of the most poignant Baha’i quotations are the shortest as well. This one always reminds me that we should not pay so much attention to the rituals or even the founding prophet of any religion, but instead listen to the message that particular manifestation of God was telling to the world. Too often I have seen people miss that entirely and insist on strict adherence to religious practices that were invented long after the prophet and moved on to another world. There sometimes is an insistence that being faithful is only about how we wash our hands, what we eat for dinner on Friday night, when we can drive, or what color clothing we should wear. Alas, this is but mimicry of loving others and following in the path of God.
TeacherJay Promulgation of Universal Peace, The manifestations, mankind, prophets, rituals
Give me to drink of the river that is life indeed, whose waters have streamed forth from the Paradise (Ridvan) in which the throne of Thy Name, the All-Merciful, was established, that mine eyes may be opened, and my face be illumined, and my heart be assured, and my soul be enlightened, and my steps be made firm.
~ Baha’u'llah, Baha’i Prayer
In this, the last day of Ridvan, we commemorate when Baha’u’llah left the garden as a prophet of God and his true work began. He had already been a spiritual leader and a follower of the The Báb, but it was during his time waiting in the Garden of Ridvan outside of Baghdad before leaving for Constantinople that his days as a manifestation, as the “Him Whom God shall make manifest” began. Although it was on the first day that his proclamation began, I find the 12th day to be just as spiritually uplifting because it celebrates when Baha’u’llah left the garden to spread forth God’s message.
TeacherJay Baha'u'llah, Prayers holiday, manifestations, paradise, prayer, prophets
I asked the Prophet, “What is the greatest sin in the Sight of Allah?” He said, “That you set up a rival unto Allah though He Alone created you.” I said, “That is indeed a great sin.”
~ Hadith, Bukhari Vol 6, Book 60, Number 4
Baha’is believe that all of the world’s religions really are just one; that there is no one way to get to God; that one religion is not better than the other; that the world religions are not, and should not, be rivals with one another. Baha’is believe there is only one God; that all of the world’s religions are actually worshiping the same God. It is our human interventions that make these different dispensations of God’s message to be rivals with one another.
TeacherJay Islam Allah, faith, manifestations, Mohamed, oneness of God, progressive revelation, prophets, unity, worship
At two hours before sunset today will begin the 12-day Festival of Ridvan. This is a time commemorating the 12 days in 1863 that Baha’u’llah revealed that he ws a manifestation of God and the Baha’i Faith began.
Verily, all created things were immersed in the sea of purification when, on that first day of Ridvan, We shed upon the whole of creation the splendours of Our most excellent Names and Our most exalted Attributes.
~ Baha’u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 47
On this day (along with the 9th and 12th days of Ridvan), Baha’is will abstain from work and school and celebrate through community gatherings, prayers, and in some places, the election of the Local Spiritual Assembly—the local administrative council.
TeacherJay Kitab-i-Aqdas administration, declaration, faith, holiday, manifestations, prophets, worship
The Divine Messengers have been sent down, and their Books were revealed, for the purpose of promoting the knowledge of God, and of furthering unity and fellowship amongst men.
~ Baha’u'llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 12
Baha’is believe that the founders of each of the major religions were Divine Messengers of the same God. We believe in only one God, and only one true religion. These manifestations were able to give us texts—from the Zand-i-Avesta to the Qur’ān and from the Tripiṭaka to the New Testament—these books were meant to provide us with instructions on how to create a more unified and peaceful world. Each one revealed to us more of God’s message.
TeacherJay Epistle to the Son of the Wolf independent investigation of truth, manifestations, progressive revelation, prophets, spiritual maturation, unity