Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

RELIGIONS

PRAYERS “O my God, O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy com- mandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavour, and grant them strength to serve Thee. O God! leave them not to themselves, but guide their steps by the light of Thy knowledge, and cheer their hearts by Thy love. Verily, Thou art their Helper and their Lord. ” - Baha'u'llah “I adjure Thee by Thy Might, O my God! Let no harm beset me in times of tests, and in moments of heedlessness guide my steps aright through thine inspiration. Thou art God, potent art Thou to do what Thou desirest. No one can withstand Thy will or thwart Thy purpose. ” - The Bab “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. ” - Abu'l-Baha QUOTES "Ye are all the fruits of One tree, the leaves of one branch, the flowers of one Garden. Glory is not his who loves his own country; let him rather glory in this that he loves his kind." Baha'u'llah "The best beloved of all things in My sight is Justice, turn not away therefrom if thou desirest me . . . . " Baha'u'llah "Behold a candle how it gives its light. It weeps away its life drop by drop in order to give forth its light." Abdu'l-Baha "Economy is the foundation of human prosperity. The spend- thrift is always in trouble. Prodigality on the part of any person is an unpardonable sin. We must never live on others like a parasitic plant. Every person must have a profession, whether it be literary or manual, and must live a clean manly, honest life, an example of purity to be imitated by others. It is more kingly to be satisfied with a crust of stale bread than to enjoy a sumptuos dinner of many courses, the money of which comes out of the pockets of others. The mind of the contented person is always peaceful and his heart at rest . " 'Abdu'l-Baha "God grant that the light of unity may envelop the whole earth, and that the seal, "the kingdom is God's", may be stamped upon the brow of all its peoples." Baha'u'llah ”0 God, Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord."

* The equality of man and woman must be established. Both must have equal rights, opportunities and privileges. * All children must receive a basic education. * People must adopt a world auxiliary language that will be taught in all schools in addition to their mother tongue. Then no matter where on earth one goes he would be able to easily communicate with all people. * People must abolish extremes of wealth and poverty. * A supreme international tribunal must be set up to adjudicate all disputes between nations and all must submit to it. * No sects * No priesthood * No idol worship * No change of name on becoming a Baha'i * Acceptance of all the Prophets of the past religious dispensa- tions. * Loyalty and obedience to the duly constituted Government of the land. * Pray each day * Fast (19 days, 2nd-21st March) * Obey the Baha'i Administration. * Strive to acquire the virtues of God. * Contribute towards carrying forward an ever-advancing civilisa- tion. * Follow the Laws of the Baha'i Faith. BAHA'I MARRIAGE * Consent of both parents of both parties is required. * Two witnesses approved by the Local Spiritual Assembly are present. * The marriage vow is repeated by the boy and the girl; "We will all, verily, abide by the will of God." * A marriage based on the love of two individuals for each other and blessed with the consent of their parents has a much better chance of proving successful than otherwise. DATES A solar calender revealed by the Bab and confirmed by Ba- ha'u'llah. It begins at the vernal equinox. (21st March). It has nineteen months of nineteen days each. The balance four days, five in a leap year, are called intercalary days. These are days of charity and preparation for the Baha'i fast during the last nineteen days of the year. * Holy days on which Bha'is do no work. * Feast of Nawruz (Baha'i New Year) - 21 March. * Feast of Ridvan (Declaration of Baha'u'llah) - 21 April, 29 April, 2 May. CODE OF CONDUCT BAHA'I CALENDER AND HOLY

* Declaration of the Bab - 23 May. * Ascension of Baha'u'llah - 29 May. * Martyrdom of the Bab - 9 July. * Birth of Bab - 20 October. * Birth of Baha'u'llah -12 November.

'Abdu' 1-Baha

(A.R.)