Our Principals
Each of the Prophets has also left us with words that they will return to give us further guidance. Baha'u'llah explains that it is the return of God's direct speaking to us through another messenger, not the miraculous return in bodily form that should be expected. Thus, Baha'u'llah claimed to represent the return of Christ, and also the one promised in other faiths. Bahá’Ãs believe that there is ample evidence in the fantastic life and teachings of Baha'u'llah to justify that claim.
Our Vision
World peace
Universal education
Oneness of mankind
Elimination of prjeduce
Equality of men and women
Elimination of extremes of wealth and poverty
Harmony of science and religion
Spiritual solution to economical problems.
Our Teachings
Prayer and Spiritual Growth
Spiritual growth, coming closer to God, is dependent on prayer and meditation. Therefore, prayer and meditation seeking servitude to God is a central part of Bahá’à life. (see Bahá’à prayers)
Universal Education
Every person in the world should be taught to read and write and receive such other education as her or his abilities allow.
Individual Search for Truth
Every individual is capable of reading and reflecting on the holy writings. Hence there is no clergy in the Bahá’à Faith. Rather, each individual is responsible for his/her own search for truth and spiritual growth. "The understanding of His words are in no wise dependent upon human learning. They depend solely upon purity of heart, chastity of soul and freedom of spirit."
Harmony of Science and Religion
The ultimate, overarching truth must, by definition, embrace both science and religion. Likewise, the ultimate truth cannot be inconsistent or self-contradictory. Therefore, there is truly a harmony between science and religion. Apparent conflicts are because of incomplete or erroneous understanding of either or both science and religion. Ultimately, science and religion are like the two wings of a bird. Neither one by itself will suffice. Together in harmony, they will carry human civilization to ever greater heights.
Oneness of Mankind
Like different colors and shapes of flowers give beauty to a garden, so different races and cultures give beauty to the garden of humanity. No distinctions are to be made. We are all important "flowers" in the garden of humanity.
Abolition of all Prejudice
Coinciding with the oneness of mankind, there is the demand to abolish prejudice of every sort from our hearts and minds.
Equality of Men and Women
Women and men are spiritually equal. However, each gender is endowed with particular strengths. Human kind can only soar to greater heights when women and men, like the two wings of a bird, use their strengths in harmony and concert.
Individual Search for Truth
Spiritual unity and harmony among all peoples is God's desire for human kind. Disunity and enmity begin with simple backbiting. Therefore, Bahá’Ãs are beseeched to eliminate all backbiting from our speech and even our thoughts.
No use of Alcohol or non-medical drugs
Living a Bahá’à live depends on maintaining a clear mind. Use of alcohol or drugs can naught but undermine and derail. Therefore, such use is prohibited.
The Hereafter
There is a hereafter as different and more grand as this world is from the womb. Our station in the world of the hereafter will depend on the life we lead and the spiritual growth we achieve in this life. Heaven and hell are defined in terms of nearness to or remoteness from God. Eliminated from the Bahá’à dispensation is the concept of original sin. "I created thee noble. Why doest thou abase thyself."
Our Beliefs
To be a Bahá’à means to be a follower of Baha'u'llah. Baha'u'llah, translated "The Glory of God," lived in Persia (what is now Iran) in the 1800s and preached and wrote extensively. Most of Baha'u'llah's work, equivalent to hundreds of volumes, has survived and is now preserved in archives at our World Center in Haifa Israel.
All Bahá’à beliefs and teachings are derived directly from the writings of Baha'u'llah. Translations of key portions are readily available.
The core of Baha'u'llah's teachings, hence the core of Bahá’à beliefs, are:
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One GOD
There is one God Who always has been and always will be. He is the creator of the universe and continues to direct its flow. The exact nature of God is far beyond human understanding and reasoning. We cannot comprehend the nature of God any more than the pigments on a canvas can comprehend the artist. Baha'u'llah himself refers to God as an "Unknowable Essence." Yet, we know the attributes of God.
We know his love for us, "I knew My love for thee; therefore, I created thee"
We know His concern for us, "I created thee noble; Why doest thou abase thyself."
We know his desires for us, "My first counsel is this: Possess a pure, kindly and radiant heart, that thine may be a sovereignty ancient, imperishable and everlasting."
We know these things because God has spoken to us through the mouth of Baha'u'llah.
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One Religion
Baha'u'llah is only the latest person through whom God has spoken to humanity. God has spoken to us through Abraham, through Moses, through Buddha, through Christ, through Mohammed and others.
The spiritual message that God has relayed to humanity through these persons, whom we refer to as "manifestations of God," has remained constant and consistent. What has differed is instructions regarding specific practices and this is only to be appropriate for the needs of the particular culture and the times.
Also the successive teachings have been elaborated and expanded in proportion to expanded capacity of humanity to understand wider concepts.
If ONE AND THE SAME GOD has delivered the ONE AND THE SAME SPIRITUAL MESSAGE on successive occasions then ALL RELIGIONS ARE REALLY ONE IN THE SAME. They are all God's, wishes, desires, and instructions to humanity.
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Our Humanity
Like different colors and shapes of flowers give beauty to a garden, so different races and cultures give beauty to humanity. Thus, there are no distinctions. We are all important "flowers" in the garden of humanity. God's love and desires are for all of humanity equally.
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Oneness of Prophets
Each of the major prophets has said words to the effect, In me you see God. I am not God. The words I speak are not mine but come from above. Confusing? Baha'u'llah explains this with the following analogy. Let the sun stand for God and a prophet, a perfect mirror reflecting the rays of the sun. Might not the mirror say, I am not the sun? In me you see the sun. The rays that come from me are not mine but come from above. Are not all these statements perfectly logical and correct from the point of view of the mirror?
The nature and role of the Prophets, then, is that of perfect mirrors. In them we see the attributes of God. God's words come through them like the reflected rays of the sun. But, they are not, in themselves, God.
Since all the prophets are perfect mirrors reflecting the words of God to humanity is there any virtue in saying than one is better, more important, or more significant than another? Like the different teachers of a school, all are equally significant and should be equally honored in having provided us with the education that we needed for our particular stage of development.
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Return of The Prophets
Each of the Prophets has also left us with words that they will return to give us further guidance. Baha'u'llah explains that it is the return of God's direct speaking to us through another messenger, not the miraculous return in bodily form that should be expected. Thus, Baha'u'llah claimed to represent the return of Christ, and also the one promised in other faiths. Bahá’Ãs believe that there is ample evidence in the fantastic life and teachings of Baha'u'llah to justify that claim.
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Some Bahai Prayers
Directly from the founders of our Faith, we are given hundreds of prayers fitting for various occasions of life. The followings are a few of BCW selections:
HEALING
Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All Bountiful, the All Knowing, the All-wise. Baha'u'llah
MORNING
I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide within the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defense. Illumine by inner being, O my Lord, with the splendors of the Dayspring of Thy Revelation, even as Thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of Thy favor. Baha'u'llah
EVENING
O my God, my Master, the Goal of my desire! This, Thy servant, seeketh to sleep in the shelter of Thy mercy, and to repose beneath the canopy of Thy grace, imploring Thy care and Thy protection.
I beg of Thee, O my Lord, by Thine eye that sleepeth not, to guard mine eyes from beholding aught beside Thee. Strengthen, then, their vision that they may discern Thy signs, and behold the Horizon of Thy Revelation. Thou art He before the revelations of Whose omnipotence the quintessence of power hath trembled.
No God is there but Thee, the Almighty, the All-Subduing, the Unconditioned. Baha'u'llah
AMERICA
O Thou kind Lord! This gathering is turning to Thee. These hearts are radiant with Thy Love. These mind and spirits are exhilarated by the message of Thy glad-tidings. O God! Let this American democracy become glorious in spiritual degrees even as it has aspired to material degrees, and render this just government victorious. Confirm this revered nation to upraise the standard of the oneness of humanity, to promulgate the Most Great Peace, to become thereby most glorious and praiseworthy among all the nations of the world. O God! This American nation is worthy of Thy favors and is deserving of Thy mercy. Make it precious and near to Thee through Thy bounty and bestowal.
Abdu'l-Baha
DEPARTED
O my God! O my God! Verily, Thy servant, humble before the majesty of Thy divine supremacy, lowly at the door of Thy oneness, hath believed in Thee and in Thy verses, hath testified to Thy word, hath been enkindled with the fire of Thy love, hath been immersed in the depths of the ocean of Thy knowledge, hath been attracted by Thy breezes, hath relied upon Thee, hath turned his face to Thee, and hath relied upon Thee, hath turned his face to Thee, hath offered his supplications to Thee, and hath been assured of Thy pardon and forgiveness. He hath abandoned this mortal life and hath flown to the kingdom of immortality, yearning for the favor of meeting Thee.
O Lord, glorify his station, shelter him under the pavilion of Thy supreme mercy, cause him to enter Thy glorious paradise, and perpetuate his existence in Thine exalted rose garden, that he may plunge into the sea of light in the world of mysteries.
Verily, Thou art the Generous, the Powerful, the Forgiver and the Bestower. Abdu'l-Baha
UNITY
O my God! O my God! Unite the hearts of Thy servants, and reveal to them Thy great purpose. May they follow Thy commandments and abide in Thy law. Help them, O God, in their endeavor, 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