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Eternal India
encyclopedia
RELIGIONS
*
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.
CODE OF CONDUCT
*
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.
BAHA'I
CALENDER
AND
HOLY
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.
*
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.
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."
'Abdu' 1-Baha
(A.R.)