...the world will become indeed as a garden and a paradise.
~ Abdu'l-Baha ~
~ Abdu'l-Baha ~
Dear Ones,
The progressive Divine Revelation has always aimed to lead humanity toward its ultimate unification and perfection, revealing the spiritual and social principles that accelerate this sacred journey.
The earth upon which we live is ancient beyond ordinary imagination. Before the Adamic cycle, vast civilizations rose and fell across immense cycles of time, each advancing human culture in its own measure.
Today as well, the Baha'i Revelation guides our civilizational choices toward the emergence of a New Eden — a world renewed both in matter and, above all, in spirit.
The day is approaching when We will have rolled up the world and all that is therein, and spread out a new Order in its stead.
Yet none of the preceding civilizations can compare with the one that is now dawning. The Golden Age promised in the Baha’i Writings will not merely repeat the glories of the past — it will unite and vastly surpass all previous achievements in a single, ever-advancing, world-embracing Order.
...the age in which the face of the earth, from pole to pole, will mirror the ineffable splendors of the Abhá Paradise.
Let us now turn to this sublime vision.
At this time, divine education has become the bedrock of world civilization, the majority of nations having found shelter beneath the banner of the new Covenant.
Although autonomous, these national governments confidently entrust their collective challenges to the wisdom of the Universal House of Justice, the supreme institution of the Baha'i World Order, charged by Baha'u'llah Himself with ensuring universal peace, economic justice and the well-being of all humanity. As He declared:
In this unified world, the ethical and moral code revealed by Baha'u'llah forever shields humanity from the great sociological upheavals of the past. He enjoined:The
House of Justice is the institution which He hath ordained to be the
supreme legislative body of the world. It is the source of all good and
the remover of all evil.
Abdu'l-Baha, for His part, gave this striking example of future governance:
The United States may be held up as the example of future government — that is to say, each province will be independent in itself, but there will be a federal union protecting the interests of the various independent states…
The United States may be held up as the example of future government — that is to say, each province will be independent in itself, but there will be a federal union protecting the interests of the various independent states…
In all circumstances one should seize upon every means which will promote security and tranquility among the people of the world.
He further counseled those who govern:
The members of the Government should consider the laws of God when they are framing plans for the ruling of the people.
He further counseled those who govern:
The members of the Government should consider the laws of God when they are framing plans for the ruling of the people.
Therefore, true honor now resides in the observance of the divine teachings.
…how fortunate are the great who leave a good name behind them, and the memory of a lifetime spent in the pathway of the good pleasure of God.
It is a world where all illusory ancestral distinctions — religious, racial, political or national — have been rightly laid aside.
…there is no distinction or preferment for any soul in the dominion of His justice and equity.
In this vast and verdant garden where one moves freely, a common language and script unite East and West, while the unique beauty of every culture infinitely enriches the whole.
…a common script… should be taught in all the schools of the world. Thus will the earth be regarded as one country and one home.
An engaged citizenry plays a vital role in safeguarding social justice. Where freedom of expression flourishes, malicious forces are held at bay, every soul considering the pursuit and dissemination of truth a sacred trust.
The press will, under such a system, while giving full scope to the expression of the diversified views and convictions of mankind, cease to be mischievously manipulated by vested interests…
Since civic and spiritual education immunizes the human community against the sufferings of former ages, capital punishment or life imprisonment remains only for the most heinous crimes.
Divine civilization, however, so traineth every member of society that no one, with the exception of a negligible few, will undertake to commit a crime.
In addition, technology has become the humble servant — never again the master — of humanity. Scientific discoveries serve the common good, and the varied creeds of humanity are finally reconciled.
In such a world society, science and religion, the two most potent forces in human life, will be reconciled, will co-operate, and will harmoniously develop.
In this renewed world, nature itself appears transfigured. Waters, skies, earth and seas are purified and lovingly protected. Human settlements nestle gently within this living paradise. Agriculture beats at the very heart of the economy.
The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil. All must be producers.
The Village Granary, elaborated by Abdu'l-Baha, wisely regulates commerce and exchange.
In brief, from among the wise men in every village a board should be set up […] a general storehouse should be founded…
At the serene center of towns and villages stands the House of Worship, gathering the people at dawn for prayer and adoration — placing devotional life at the beating heart of the new world civilization.
Were ye to discover the hidden, the shoreless oceans of My incorruptible wealth, ye would, of a certainty, esteem as nothing the world, nay, the entire creation.
This sacred edifice serves as both spiritual sanctuary and administrative focal point. The administrative institutions of the Faith consult there in unity to ensure the material and spiritual well-being of all.
…a haven for the deepest contemplation on spiritual reality and foundational questions of life, including individual and collective responsibility for the betterment of society.
As worship expressed in action, the Temple’s dependencies tenderly provide for essential needs.
Although it is a House of Worship, it is also connected with a hospital, a drug dispensary, a traveler’s hospice, a school for orphans, and a university for advanced studies.
The Funds of the Faith, nourished by the free generosity of the believers, allow public institutions dedicated to human well-being to flourish.
The beginning of magnanimity is when man expendeth his wealth on himself, on his family and on the poor among his brethren in his Faith.
In a spirit of universal fellowship, great fortunes are freely — and where necessary by law — redistributed to contribute to the prosperity of all, while taxation is "proportionate to capacity and production".
…the rich inhabitants… willingly give their wealth to the poor, retaining only as much as will enable them to live comfortably.
Spiritual, primary and vocational education is guaranteed to every soul, man and woman alike. Thus, everyone channels their God-given talents into artistic, artisanal, commercial, agricultural or other pursuits, according to the exalted standards of the Faith.
All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization…
In this age, art and craftsmanship rise to their true station: no longer servants of materialism or idle luxury, but luminous expressions of the spirit, elevating the soul and reflecting the divine attributes.
…engage in some occupation — such as a craft, a trade or the like. We have exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship of the one true God.
In this earthly paradise, where spiritual and moral education has reached its full flowering, couples form earlier, marriages endure in abiding love, children grow surrounded by love, purpose and the wonders of nature, while the concept of family extends to embrace the whole of humanity.
Love is the spirit of life unto the adorned body of mankind, the establisher of true civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of imperishable glory upon every high-aiming race and nation.
Families awaken with the first light to pray together in the House of Worship, then disperse joyfully to their vocations — tilling fertile fields, shaping beauty with skilled hands, caring for the eager young minds or the elderly and the vulnerable.
Woman must especially devote her energies and abilities toward the industrial and agricultural sciences, seeking to assist mankind in that which is most needful.
While the Baha'i calendar sets the peaceful rhythm of life, daily MEDITATION ON THE DIVINE NAMES opens the door of human perfections and divine mysteries to the inhabitants, their days unfolding like a sacred melody, each an offering, each an act of prayer.
Meditating upon these sublime attributes, man is enabled to gaze beyond the curve of time, wherein the swing and change of planetary movements exists, to the eternal qualities that stabilize the soul.
Thus can we begin to imagine life within a human community guided by the Hand of our august Sovereign.
And yet, there is far more — immeasurably more — described by the Guardian of the Faith in his breathtaking VISION OF THE FUTURE.
This New Eden we endeavored to describe is the promised flowering, the apotheosis of the historic DECLARATION OF THE BAB on May 23, 1844 — the first radiant spark that set in motion the transformation of the entire human race!
May this vision kindle in our hearts the resolve to become its humble builders.
We must now highly resolve to arise and lay hold of all those instrumentalities that promote the peace and well-being and happiness, the knowledge, culture and industry, the dignity, value and station, of the entire human race.
Be wonderfully blessed!
Loesha
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…how fortunate are the great who leave a good name behind them, and the memory of a lifetime spent in the pathway of the good pleasure of God.
It is a world where all illusory ancestral distinctions — religious, racial, political or national — have been rightly laid aside.
…there is no distinction or preferment for any soul in the dominion of His justice and equity.
In this vast and verdant garden where one moves freely, a common language and script unite East and West, while the unique beauty of every culture infinitely enriches the whole.
…a common script… should be taught in all the schools of the world. Thus will the earth be regarded as one country and one home.
An engaged citizenry plays a vital role in safeguarding social justice. Where freedom of expression flourishes, malicious forces are held at bay, every soul considering the pursuit and dissemination of truth a sacred trust.
The press will, under such a system, while giving full scope to the expression of the diversified views and convictions of mankind, cease to be mischievously manipulated by vested interests…
Since civic and spiritual education immunizes the human community against the sufferings of former ages, capital punishment or life imprisonment remains only for the most heinous crimes.
Divine civilization, however, so traineth every member of society that no one, with the exception of a negligible few, will undertake to commit a crime.
In addition, technology has become the humble servant — never again the master — of humanity. Scientific discoveries serve the common good, and the varied creeds of humanity are finally reconciled.
In such a world society, science and religion, the two most potent forces in human life, will be reconciled, will co-operate, and will harmoniously develop.
In this renewed world, nature itself appears transfigured. Waters, skies, earth and seas are purified and lovingly protected. Human settlements nestle gently within this living paradise. Agriculture beats at the very heart of the economy.
The fundamental basis of the community is agriculture, tillage of the soil. All must be producers.
The Village Granary, elaborated by Abdu'l-Baha, wisely regulates commerce and exchange.
In brief, from among the wise men in every village a board should be set up […] a general storehouse should be founded…
At the serene center of towns and villages stands the House of Worship, gathering the people at dawn for prayer and adoration — placing devotional life at the beating heart of the new world civilization.
Were ye to discover the hidden, the shoreless oceans of My incorruptible wealth, ye would, of a certainty, esteem as nothing the world, nay, the entire creation.
This sacred edifice serves as both spiritual sanctuary and administrative focal point. The administrative institutions of the Faith consult there in unity to ensure the material and spiritual well-being of all.
…a haven for the deepest contemplation on spiritual reality and foundational questions of life, including individual and collective responsibility for the betterment of society.
As worship expressed in action, the Temple’s dependencies tenderly provide for essential needs.
Although it is a House of Worship, it is also connected with a hospital, a drug dispensary, a traveler’s hospice, a school for orphans, and a university for advanced studies.
The Funds of the Faith, nourished by the free generosity of the believers, allow public institutions dedicated to human well-being to flourish.
The beginning of magnanimity is when man expendeth his wealth on himself, on his family and on the poor among his brethren in his Faith.
In a spirit of universal fellowship, great fortunes are freely — and where necessary by law — redistributed to contribute to the prosperity of all, while taxation is "proportionate to capacity and production".
…the rich inhabitants… willingly give their wealth to the poor, retaining only as much as will enable them to live comfortably.
Spiritual, primary and vocational education is guaranteed to every soul, man and woman alike. Thus, everyone channels their God-given talents into artistic, artisanal, commercial, agricultural or other pursuits, according to the exalted standards of the Faith.
All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization…
In this age, art and craftsmanship rise to their true station: no longer servants of materialism or idle luxury, but luminous expressions of the spirit, elevating the soul and reflecting the divine attributes.
…engage in some occupation — such as a craft, a trade or the like. We have exalted your engagement in such work to the rank of worship of the one true God.
In this earthly paradise, where spiritual and moral education has reached its full flowering, couples form earlier, marriages endure in abiding love, children grow surrounded by love, purpose and the wonders of nature, while the concept of family extends to embrace the whole of humanity.
Love is the spirit of life unto the adorned body of mankind, the establisher of true civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of imperishable glory upon every high-aiming race and nation.
Families awaken with the first light to pray together in the House of Worship, then disperse joyfully to their vocations — tilling fertile fields, shaping beauty with skilled hands, caring for the eager young minds or the elderly and the vulnerable.
Woman must especially devote her energies and abilities toward the industrial and agricultural sciences, seeking to assist mankind in that which is most needful.
A healthy, primarily plant-based diet foster a radiant state of well-being for all.
The food of the future will be fruits and grains.
The food of the future will be fruits and grains.
Natural care is preferred to medicine when feasible.
Treat disease first of all through diet, and refrain from medicine.
Thus, human communities flourish amid joyful natural surroundings — in graceful simplicity, rich in meaning, liberated from the vain artifices of the past and from the materialism that still gnaws at the heart of today’s civilization.
…material civilization is like the body and spiritual civilization is like the soul.
Treat disease first of all through diet, and refrain from medicine.
Thus, human communities flourish amid joyful natural surroundings — in graceful simplicity, rich in meaning, liberated from the vain artifices of the past and from the materialism that still gnaws at the heart of today’s civilization.
…material civilization is like the body and spiritual civilization is like the soul.
Meditating upon these sublime attributes, man is enabled to gaze beyond the curve of time, wherein the swing and change of planetary movements exists, to the eternal qualities that stabilize the soul.
Thus can we begin to imagine life within a human community guided by the Hand of our august Sovereign.
And yet, there is far more — immeasurably more — described by the Guardian of the Faith in his breathtaking VISION OF THE FUTURE.
This New Eden we endeavored to describe is the promised flowering, the apotheosis of the historic DECLARATION OF THE BAB on May 23, 1844 — the first radiant spark that set in motion the transformation of the entire human race!
May this vision kindle in our hearts the resolve to become its humble builders.
We must now highly resolve to arise and lay hold of all those instrumentalities that promote the peace and well-being and happiness, the knowledge, culture and industry, the dignity, value and station, of the entire human race.
Be wonderfully blessed!
Loesha
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