Without religion? - Chaos and confusion!

...In truth, religion is a radiant light and an impregnable stronghold for the protection and welfare of the peoples of the world, for the fear of God impelleth man to hold fast to that which is good, and shun all evil. Should the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue, and the lights of fairness and justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine. Unto this will bear witness every man of true understanding.

Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah , p. 125

Joyous Ridván

A young Persian merchant, known now to the world as the Báb, declared in 1844 that He was the herald of the Promised One of God who was expected by all the peoples of the world.

The story of Bahá’u’lláh is intertwined with that of the Báb. It is a story of abasement, persecution, torture, imprisonment and banishment. But it is also a story of Glory and Majesty and Victory.

On April 21st 1863, in a garden near Baghdad now known as the garden of Ridván Bahá’u’lláh openly claimed to His followers and to the world, that He was the Promised One whom the Báb had foretold and for whom the whole world was waiting.

Bahá’u’lláh and His companions stayed in the Garden of Ridván for a total of 12 days. These days are celebrated each year by Baha’is all over the world and are known as the Festival of Ridván. Of the 12 Days of this Festival, the first, the ninth and the twelfth day have a special significance and Bahá’ís treat them as special Holy days and celebrate them accordingly.

'Of the exact circumstances attending that epoch-making Declaration we, alas, are but scantily informed. The words Bahá'u'lláh actually uttered on that occasion, the manner of His Declaration, the reaction it produced, its impact on Mirza Yahya, the identity of those who were privileged to hear Him, are shrouded in an obscurity which future historians will find it difficult to penetrate. The fragmentary description left to posterity by His chronicler Nabil is one of the very few authentic records we possess of the memorable days He spent in that garden. "Every day," Nabil has related, "ere the hour of dawn, the gardeners would pick the roses which lined the four avenues of the garden, and would pile them in the center of the floor of His blessed tent. So great would be the heap that when His companions gathered to drink their morning tea in His presence, they would be unable to see each other across it. All these roses Bahá'u'lláh would, with His own hands, entrust to those whom He dismissed from His presence every morning to be delivered, on His behalf, to His Arab and Persian friends in the city."

"One night," he continues, "the ninth night of the waxing moon, I happened to be one of those who watched beside His blessed tent. As the hour of midnight approached, I saw Him issue from His tent, pass by the places where some of His companions were sleeping, and begin to pace up and down the moonlit, flower-bordered avenues of the garden. So loud was the singing of the nightingales on every side that only those who were near Him could hear distinctly His voice.

He continued to walk until, pausing in the midst of one of these avenues, He observed: 'Consider these nightingales. So great is their love for these roses, that sleepless from dusk till dawn, they warble their melodies and commune with burning passion with the object of their adoration. How then can those who claim to be afire with the rose-like beauty of the Beloved choose to sleep?' For three successive nights I watched and circled round His blessed tent. Every time I passed by the couch whereon He lay, I would find Him wakeful, and every day, from morn till eventide, I would see Him ceaselessly engaged in conversing with the stream of visitors who kept flowing in from Baghdad. Not once could I discover in the words He spoke any trace of dissimulation."'

H.M. Balyuzi, Baha'u'llah - The King of Glory, p. 173

What is a study circle?

A number of people have recently asked me what a study circle is all about. The following will, I hope, explain a little about this fun way of learning some of the how's and why's of applying spiritual and moral principles to improve our lives and widen our commitment to personal and collective change.

A "study circle" is were Bahá'ís and our friends learn about spiritual and moral principles through an active, cooperative learning method, which includes study of the course materials, planning service projects together, and putting into practice the acts of service one has learned in the course. The use of the arts is encouraged in all activities and there is a strong social element too. Study circles are organized by the Bahá'í community and are open to everyone who wishes to join, not just Bahá'ís.

The course content of the first book of the curriculum currently being used, entitled Reflections on the Life of the Spirit, is divided into three units: "Understanding the Bahá'í Writings," "Prayer," and "Life and Death." Among other things, these units examine the reality and purpose of life and the relationship we have with the spiritual world and our Creator.



Pictured here are the participants of a recently held study circle held in Swellendam, South Africa.

For more information check out the article entitled Collaborative Study for Individual and Social Transformation on the Bahá'í World Centre website.

Study circles are spiritualy energising and a lot of fun and I hope you will join one being held near you.