October 22, 2017 Bicentennial of the Birth of Baha'u'llah

arthra

arthra

Baha'i
Messages
3,778
Reaction score
222
Points
63
Location
Redlands, California
This next October 22nd will be the anniversary of the bicentennial of the Birth of Baha'u'llah and the occassion for the Baha'i communities around the planet to have programmes and materials about the life of Baha'u'llah...

So I was thinking one place to start would be to share the Writings of Baha'u'llah that have been translated into English and are available to us online:

The Writings of Bahá'u'lláh:

 
A fine banner to commemorate the Bicentennial of the Birth of Baha'u'llah:
18947256_1557122594320651_1340264415_o.jpg
 
A good summary of the life of Baha'u'llah can be found online and begins with the following excerpt:

Early life
Born in Tehran, Iran on 12 November, 1817, Mirza Husayn-‘Alí enjoyed all the advantages conferred by noble birth. From a very early age, He displayed extraordinary knowledge and wisdom.


The city of Tehran, Iran, where Bahá’u’lláh was born.
As a young man, rather than pursuing a career in government service as His father had done, Mirza Husayn-‘Alí chose to devote His energies to the care of the poor. He showed no interest in seeking position or prominence.

With His acceptance of the religion of the Báb, life permanently changed for the young nobleman and His family. Although They never met in person, from the moment Mirza Husayn-‘Alí heard of the Báb’s message, He declared His wholehearted belief in it and put all of His energy and influence into promoting it.

Read more at

The Life of Bahá’u’lláh | What Bahá’ís Believe
 
A brief summary of the teachings of Baha'u'llah according to His Son Abdul-Baha as found in the book Abdul-Baha in London:

Thus when hatred and animosity, fighting, slaughtering, and great coldness of heart were governing this world, and darkness had overcome the nations, Bahá'u'lláh, like a bright star, rose from the horizon of Persia and shone with the great Light of Guidance, giving heavenly radiance and establishing the new Teaching.

He declared the most human virtues; He manifested the Spiritual powers, and put them into practice in the world around Him.

Firstly: He lays stress on the search for Truth. This is most important, because the people are too easily led by tradition. It is because of this that they are often antagonistic to each other, and dispute with one another.

But the manifesting of Truth discovers the darkness and becomes the cause of Oneness of faith and belief: because Truth cannot be two! That is not possible.

Secondly: Bahá'u'lláh taught the Oneness of humanity; that is to say, all the children of men are under the mercy of the Great God. They are the sons of one God; they are trained by God. He has placed the crown of humanity on the head of every one of the servants of God. Therefore all nations and peoples must consider themselves brethren. They are all descendants from Adam. They are the branches, leaves, flowers and fruits of One Tree. They are pearls from one shell. But the children of men are in need of education and civilization, and they require to be polished, till they become bright and shining.

Man and woman both should be educated equally and equally regarded.

It is racial, patriotic, religious and class prejudice, that has been the cause of the destruction of Humanity.

Thirdly: Bahá'u'lláh taught, that Religion is the chief foundation of Love and Unity and the cause of Oneness. If a religion become the cause of hatred and disharmony, it would be better that it should not exist. To be without such a religion is better than to be with it.

Fourthly: Religion and Science are inter-twined with each other and cannot be separated. These are the two wings with which humanity must fly. One wing is not enough. Every religion which does not concern itself with Science is mere tradition, and that is not the essential. Therefore science, education and civilization are most important necessities for the full religious life.

Fifthly: The Reality of the divine Religions is one, because the Reality is one and cannot be two. All the prophets are united in their message, and unshaken. They are like the sun; in different seasons they ascend from different rising points on the horizon. Therefore every ancient prophet gave the glad tidings of the future, and every future has accepted the past.

Sixthly: Equality and Brotherhood must be established among all members of mankind. This is according to Justice. The general rights of mankind must be guarded and preserved.

All men must be treated equally. This is inherent in the very nature of humanity.

Seventhly: The arrangements of the circumstances of the people must be such that poverty shall disappear, and that every one as far as possible, according to his position and rank, shall be comfortable. Whilst the nobles and others in high rank are in easy circumstances, the poor also should be able to get their daily food and not be brought to the extremities of hunger.

Eighthly: Bahá'u'lláh declared the coming of the Most Great Peace. All the nations and peoples will come under the shadow of the Tent of the Great Peace and Harmony -- that is to say, by general election a Great Board of Arbitration shall be established, to settle all differences and quarrels between the Powers; so that disputes shall not end in war.

Ninthly: Bahá'u'lláh taught that hearts must receive the Bounty of the Holy Spirit, so that Spiritual civilization may be established. For material civilization is not adequate for the needs of mankind and cannot be the cause of its happiness. Material civilization is like the body and spiritual civilization is like the soul. Body without soul cannot live.

This is a short summary of the Teachings of Bahá'u'lláh. To establish this Bahá'u'lláh underwent great difficulties and hardships. He was in constant confinement and He suffered great persecution. But in the fortress (Akká) He reared a spiritual palace and from the darkness of His prison He sent out a great light to the world.

~ Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 27
 
The following is a brief summary of the life of Baha'u'llah provided at a new international web site at

https://bicentenary.bahai.org/life-bahaullah

Bahá’u’lláh, was born in Tehran on November 12, 1817, and was named Mírzá Husayn-‘Alí. His father, Mírzá Buzurg, held a high-ranking position in the court of the Persian king. At a young age, Bahá’u’lláh exhibited qualities that made those around Him realize He was no ordinary child. He possessed an innate wisdom and intelligence, even though He did not attend school, and as He grew, the signs of His greatness became increasingly clear. Bahá’u’lláh became known for His keen insight, His excellent character, His generosity and compassion. At the age of 18, Bahá’u’lláh married a young woman, Navváb, and their home became a shelter, a place of light and love and hospitality, open to all.

feature_article_life_inline_two.png
The house of Bahá’u’lláh (right) and a photo of its entrance (left) in Tákur, northern Iran, destroyed by the Iranian government in 1981.
 
Last edited:
24704_70539f1f15437d060211fa0f9c4a8f2b.jpeg


“Upon our arrival We were first conducted along a pitch-black corridor, from whence We descended three steep flights of stairs to the place of confinement assigned to Us. The dungeon was wrapped in thick darkness, and Our fellow-prisoners numbered nearly a hundred and fifty souls: thieves, assassins and highwaymen. Though crowded, it had no other outlet than the passage by which We entered. No pen can depict that place, nor any tongue describe its loathsome smell. Most of these men had neither clothes nor bedding to lie on. God alone knoweth what befell Us in that most foul-smelling and gloomy place!” (Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, pp. 20-1)

This prison prized highly and was famous for two of its chief instruments, the dreaded chains known as Salbil and Qara-Guhar. Qara-Guhar, which was heavier than Salasil, weighed about fifty-one kilograms, about 112 pounds! One of these two chains was placed around Bahá'u'lláh's neck at all times. The weight of the chains cut through Baha’u’llah’s flesh and left their marks on His blessed body till the end of His life. They were so heavy that a special wooden fork was provided to support their weight. Baha'u'llah declared that for four months He was 'tormented and chained by one or the other of them'. (Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 77)
 
According to our National Spiritual Assembly 120,000 people attended the Bicentennial of Baha'u'llah activities in the United States last October and two thirds of them were not Baha'is. Activities from community to community were varied. A nearby community held an afternoon of activities in a park with booths. In my community we had music, singing and a childrens' choir with a butterfly release and a model on display of a proposed House of Worship. Another nearby community offered some books about Baha'u'llah to a local library.
 
This belongs under the thread about the Bicentennial of the Birth of Baha'u'llah:

"BRASILIA, Brazil — In an extraordinary display of solidarity, 10 members of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, representing eight political parties, gathered for a special session of Congress to speak, one after another, about the life and teachings of Baha’u’llah.


Held in honor of the bicentenary of the birth of Baha’u’llah, the event—referred to as a Solemn Session—brought together over 350 people from 20 of Brazil’s 27 states. Included among them were representatives of two major indigenous groups, who had come on behalf of their people to honor the historic anniversary.


“To immerse oneself in Baha’u’llah’s teachings is to be immersed in the purest of humanity’s contributions to the world,” stated Congresswoman Erika Kokay in her remarks at yesterday morning’s event.


“The Baha’i community is, in a very concrete sense, intimately aware of the sufferings of humanity and at the same time of the nobility and beauty of the human condition. It is this beauty that gives us hope for the construction of a just and equal world,” she continued...."

http://news.bahai.org/story/1224/?u...wns/rss+(Bahá’í+World+News+Service+Headlines)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top