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Hi again
Somebody said, it is not enough with words, there has to be action too. So I'll tell about the spiritual transformation of early Bahais. How did they accept Bahaullah?What did it mean to them? Then I'll come to the larger transformation of the world and give an explanation from the Bahai perspective. I'll tell you about the Covenant.
"From His place of confinement in distant Akka, Bahaullah stirred His native land of Persia to its depths; and not only Persia; He stirred and is stirring the world. The spirit that animated Him and His followers was unfailingly gentle, courteous and patient, yet it was a force of astonishing vitality and transcendent power. It achieved the seemingly impossible. It changed human nature. Men who yielded to its influence became new creatures. They were filled with a love, a faith, and enthusiasm, compared with which earthly joys and sorrows were but dust in the balance. They were ready to face lifelong suffering or violent death with perfect equanimity, nay, with radiant joy, in the strength of fearless dependence on God.
Most wonderful of all, their hearts were so brimming over with the joy of a new life as to leave no room for thoughts of bitterness or vindictiveness against their oppressors. They entirely abandoned the use of violence in self defense, and instead of bemoaning their fate, they considered themselves the most fortunate of men in being privileged to receive this new and glorious Revelation and to spend their lives or shed their blood testfying to its truth. Well might their hearts sing with joy, for they believed that God, the Supreme, the Eternal, the Beloved, had spoken to them through human lips, had called them to be His servants and friends, had come to establish His Kingdom upon earth and to bring the priceless boon of Peace to a warworn, strife- stricken world.
Such was the faith inspired by Bahaullah. He announced His own Mission, as the Bab had foretold that He would, and, thanks to the devoted labors of His great Forerunner, there were thousands ready to acclaim His Advent - thousands who had shaken off superstitions and prejudices, and were waiting with pure hearts and open minds for the Manifestation of God's Promised Glory.Poverty and chains, sordid circumstances and outward ignominy could not hide from them the Spiritual Glory of their Lord- nay, these dark earthly surroundings only served to enhance the brilliance of His real Splendour."(Bahaullah and the New Era).
It is said above: "He stirred and is stirring the world." You might wonder how. The Bahai Faith is little known you might say. So I'll explain and ask you to ponder a while upon the great changes that has taken place since the middle of the 19th century. And ask yourself :Wouldn't there be a specific cause for the great turning of the old world into a completely new one? Since there is a cause for everything that happens.
"Indeed, no domain of life remains unaffected. In the burgeoning energy, the magnified perspectives, the heightened global consciousness, in the social and political turbulence, the fall of kingdoms, the emancipation of nations, the intermixture of cultures, the clamour for development; in the agitation over the extremes of wealth and poverty, the acute concern over the abuse of the environment, the leap of consciousness regarding the rights of women; in the growing tendency towards ecumenism, the increasing call for a new world order; in the astounding advances in the realms of science, technology, litterature and the arts - in all this tumult, with its paradoxical manifestations of chaos and order, integration and disintegration, are the signs of (Bahaullahs) power as World Reformer, the proof of His claim as Divine Physician, the truth of His Word as the All-Knowing Counsellor."(Tribute by the Universal House of Justice to Bahaullah on the centenary of His Passing. May 1992 Commemoration at Bahji of the Ascension of Bahaullah)
So my standpoint is as a Bahai, that even though the world doesn't know why the Great Change has taken place, or would just state that there was an industrial revolution and that's it ,or seldom think about it, I'd readily say that the Great Change is caused by the forces released by the Revelation of Bahaullah,
through His re-establishing of the Covenant.
" By recognizing Bahaullah as the source of the transformation occurring in the world and the centre of the ancient Covenant of God in this age and committing itself wholeheartedly to the laws and ordinances He has provided, humanity will attract the power that created, sustains and educates all things. Once recognized, the Covenant serves to 'direct and canalize' the forces released by the Revelation of Bahaullah. It is not merely a spiritual concept; the laws, ordinances and institutions it inaugurates are destined to be a 'pattern for future society, a supreme instrument for the establishment of the Most Great Peace, and the one agency for the unification of the world, and the proclamation of the reign of righteousness and justice upon the earth."
Yes the COVENANT, it was broken and Bahaullah re- established it. When did we last think of the covenant? What is it?
"'It is impossible to separate the Bahai perspective on social transformation from the mystical aspects of faith'The Bahai Faith, like all other Divine Religions, is ... fundamentally mystic in character. Its chief goal is the development of the individual and society, through the aquisition of spiritual virtues and powers'. (Shoghi Effendi) These virtues and powers are channelled through the ancient Covenant between God and humankind.
The centrality of the Covenant and its power to transform the world is forcefully stated in the Bahai writings. The term'Covenant' refers to a binding agreement between God and humanity, whereby God provides certain blessings in return for certain behaviours. God provides all the physical requirements for life and - through the educators of humankind, the prophets and founders of religion- the impetus for our material and spiritual development. The obligations of humanity in this covenant are twofold : to recognize the divine educator and to follow his laws and ordinances. Following these obligations releases an immense transformative power to the world, the only power capable of bringing about a global transformation."
( Paul Hanley)
I hope this has been informative and good news for you all.
Good night
and greetings from
Laila
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