Baha'i Writings - delivered to your inbox each day

The Baha'i Writings Service brings to your email inbox a daily selection from the Holy Scriptures and related writings of the Baha'i Faith. This is a free service that has been operating since the mid-1990's.

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There is also a Baha'i Writings Discussion Forum, where ongoing discussions of the daily selections are encouraged.

Stars of understanding

O friends! Be not careless of the virtues with which ye have been endowed, neither be neglectful of your high destiny. Suffer not your labours to be wasted through the vain imaginations which certain hearts have devised. Ye are the stars of the heaven of understanding, the breeze that stirreth at the break of day, the soft-flowing waters upon which must depend the very life of all men, the letters inscribed upon His sacred scroll. With the utmost unity, and in a spirit of perfect fellowship, exert yourselves, that ye may be enabled to achieve that which beseemeth this Day of God.

Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 196)


 

Bahá'í Glossary

Like every other group, Bahá'ís use some terms that may not be familiar to everyone. Here's a glossary to help you.

The purpose of God's Prophets

God's purpose in sending His Prophets unto men is twofold. The first is to liberate the children of men from the darkness of ignorance, and guide them to the light of true understanding. The second is to ensure the peace and tranquillity of mankind, and provide all the means by which they can be established.

Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 79

Unity in the family

... the unity of the family must be sustained. The injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the comfort of each, the comfort of all; the honour of one, the honour of all.

'Abdu'l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 168
 

Pilgrimage photos

I've finally managed to sort some of my photos and put them up for viewing. 
They can be found here. Just click on the Shrine to get to the album.

Holy war is finally abolished

O people of the earth! The first Glad-Tidings which the Mother Book hath, in this Most Great Revelation, imparted unto all the peoples of the world is that the law of holy war hath been blotted out from the Book. Glorified be the All-Merciful, the Lord of grace abounding, through Whom the door of heavenly bounty hath been flung open in the face of all that are in heaven and on earth.

Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah, p 21

The Bahá'í Faith - mystic in character

....for the core of religious faith is that mystic feeling which unites Man with God. This state of spiritual communion can be brought about and maintained by means of meditation and prayer. And this is the reason why Bahá'u'lláh has so much stressed the importance of worship. It is not sufficient for a believer merely to accept and observe the teachings. He should, in addition, cultivate the sense of spirituality which he can acquire chiefly by means of prayer. The Bahá'í Faith, like all other Divine Religions, is thus fundamentally mystic in character. Its chief goal is the development of the individual and society, through the acquisition of spiritual virtues and powers. It is the soul of man which has first to be fed. And this spiritual nourishment prayer can best provide.

Laws and institutions, as viewed by Bahá'u'lláh, can become really effective only when our inner spiritual life has been perfected and transformed. Otherwise religion will degenerate into a mere organization, and becomes a dead thing. The believers, particularly the young ones, should therefore fully realize the necessity of praying. For prayer is absolutely indispensable to their inner spiritual development, and this, as already stated, is the very foundation and purpose of the religion of God.

Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, p. 86


To learn more about Shoghi Effendi and the Guardianship click here