A Dream
w.scott23@genie.geis.com
Fri, Jan 6 1995 14:37:52 GMT
> > The question I would want to add is whether that is an important tenet
> > of the faith, that is, to "have faith. . ." (as quoted)? Is that a
> > neccessity? I would pursue this faith to worship God, and to respect,
> > perhaps revere, His Messengers. So, it is a question of mine also, what
> > is the "right relation" to Baha'u'llah?
Dear Tim,
Think I'll let 'Abdu'l-Baha do the talking here to answer your question:
"And now I give you a commandment which shall be for a covenant between
you and Me--that ye have faith: that your faith be steadfast as a rock
that no storms can move, that nothing can disturb, and that it endure
through all things even to the end...
"As ye have faith so shall your powers and blessings be. This is the
balance- -this is the balance--this is the balance." (_An Early
Pilgrimage, p. 20)
As for right relationship to Baha'u'llah, I'll let Him tell you:
Extract from the Tablet of Wisdom:
This is an Epistle which the All-Merciful hath sent down from the
Kingdom of Utterance. It is truly a breath of life unto those who dwell
in the realm of creation...
O peoples of the world:
Forsake all evil, hold fast that which is good. Strive to be shining
examples unto all mankind, and true reminders of the virtues of God
amidst men. He that riseth to serve My cause should manifest My wisdom,
and bend every effort to banish ignorance from the earth. Be united in
counsel, be one in thought. Let each morn be better than its eve and
each morrow richer than its yesterday. Man's merit lieth in service and
virtue and not in the pageantry of wealth and riches. Take heed that
your words be purged from idle fancies and worldly desires and your
deeds be cleansed from craftiness and suspicion. Dissipate not the
wealth of your precious lives in the pursuit of evil and corrupt
affection, nor let your endeavors be spent in promoting your personal
interest. Be generous in your days of plenty, and be patient in the hour
of loss. Adversity is followed by success and rejoicings follow
woe. Guard against idleness and sloth, and cling unto that which
profiteth mankind, whether young or old, whether high or low. Beware
lest ye sow tares of dissension among men or plant thorns of doubt in
pure and radiant hearts.
O ye beloved of the Lord! Commit not that which defileth the limpid
stream of love or destroyeth the sweet fragrance of friendship. By the
righteousness of the Lord! Ye were created to show love one to another
and not pervisity and rancour. Take pride not in love for yourselves but
in love for your fellow creatures. Glory not in love for your country,
but in love for all mankind. Let your eye be chaste, your hand faithful,
your tongue truthful and your heart enlightened. Abase not the station
of the learned in Baha and belittle not the rank of such rulers as
administer justice amidst you. Set your reliance on the army of justice,
put on the armour of wisdom, let your adorning be forgiveness and mercy
and that which cheereth the hearts of the well-favoured of God...
Endeavor to the utmost of thy powers to establish the word of truth with
eloquence and wisdom and to dispell falsehood from the face of the
earth.
Thus directeth thee the Dayspring of divine knowledge from this luminous
horizon.
Baha'u'llah, _Tablets of Baha'u'llah_, p. 137-139
As you can see, it would take a lot of faith, in God, Baha'u'llah, and
in yourself, to go to the trouble of doing all these things. :)
Love and peace, Wendy---{-@
W.Scott23@GEnie.GEIS.com