True Bahá'í

We have unsealed the choice cyanide kool-aid!

I had to laugh out loud over the recent admission by a sans-Guardian Bahai in the talk.religion.bahai newsgroup who insisted that Baha'u'llah revealed the "stifling rules and regulations" enforced by the Bahai organization currently occupying Haifa and Wilmette.

Anyone with familiarity with that organization knows that their religion consists of a series of endless edicts about what one can or cannot think, do or say in every conceivable situation.  They pump out book after book of "guidance" to tell their faithful flock how they are supposed to think and behave about everything for the sake of "unity."  If perchance there is some area of their lives not covered by their stifling rules and regulations, there is only one thing to do about it. Not sure which shade of lipstick to use?  Is it OK for unmarried persons to kiss? With or without tongue?  Shoot off a letter to God's supposed representative on this earth, their so-called Universal House of Justice and ask them to please tell me what to do, what to say, what to believe. 

Of course, you can't have stifling rules and regulations without stifling ENFORCEMENT.  Luckily, there is a unified community of single-minded busybodies to get the job done.  The non-stop job of the Bahai busybodies is to make sure that nobody is breaking any of the stifling rules and regulations and to punish those who do, so that their precious Faith will not fall into disrepute:

Busybody 1: "What time did Jane come home last night?" 
Busybody 2: "Did she even come home? She was on a date and never came home at all!"
Busybody 1; "Who is she sleeping with? We need to have a talk with her and remind her that she will risk losing her (gasp) voting rights!"
Busybody 2:  "LuAnne never goes out on dates.  I wonder if she is at home masturbating? The UHJ said that was definitely not allowed."
Busybody 1:  "I wonder how we can find out?  We need to spy on her for the sake of the community."
Busybody 2:   "Is John drinking again?  Peter saw him in a bar the other night." 
Busybody 1:  "Oh really, what was Peter doing in a bar?"
Busybody 2:  "Good point.  I better report him to the LSA."

Am I exaggerating?  Perhaps.  But I have seen this kind of mind-boggling interference with people's lives when I was a cult member of this Bahai community.

But you know I have read up quite a bit on the Bahai Revelation over the years and frankly I cannot remember reading in the words of the founding figures of this Faith the remotest reference to the need for a Bahai community to organize for the purpose of spying upon and enforcing the personal "laws" of the Faith.

Baha'u'llah had this to say about His rules and regulations:

"Think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws. Nay, rather, We have unsealed the choice Wine with the fingers of might and power. To this beareth witness that which the Pen of Revelation hath revealed. Meditate upon this, O men of insight!"  Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 21

Let's meditate upon this for a moment.  He did not say that He wanted you to drink the cyanide-laced kool-aid of sicko cultists.  He said it was the choice Wine.  Note the capital letters.  I think that has something to do with God-intoxication and not a network of busybodies making sure everybody is doing the right thing, saying the right thing, and thinking the right thoughts. 

There is an idea. God intoxication.  That is, a soul in connection with the Beloved.  Mystic intercourse with the Holy Spirit.  Remember that spiritual stuff?

Could it be that the personal laws of the Bahai revelation are guidelines for leading a spiritual life that each person needs to internalize within his or her own life? 

Could it be that the purpose of the Bahai revelation is the spiritual growth of the entire community by each member of that community fighting his or her own spiritual battles?

Could it be that the role of the community and its administrative institutions is to foster and facilitate this growth and not to promulgate and enforce stifing rules and regulations that lord over the individual members?

I think it could be. 

The thing that really amazes me is that there so many individuals who are willing to allow others to impose external control over their minds and bodies.  Why don't they wake up?

Message from LSA of Lucknow (India) in 1957

Message from LSA of Lucknow (India) in 1957 to Bahai's of the World
Reproduced by National Bahai Council of Orthodox Bahais of India

by guest blogger
Hand of the Cause of God Y.H. Taylor

In this period of strife, India is privileged to be a light to the world, the torch-bearer of a message of universal brotherhood. Indian culture possesses the capacity for rejuvenation, and can without loss of continuity bring about a spiritual change. Indian people, though somewhat slow-going, have the strength and vitality of youth, and so have preserved their basic human instinct for love of the truth. Their instinct reacts infallibly to the impact of realities. They are capable of effecting changes, not by imposition nor by intimidation, but by the process of education, a spiritual refining.

How many of us are aware that the Local Spiritual Assembly of Lucknow, upon the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, stood up valiantly for this very basic human instinct of LOVE FOR THE TRUTH, and faithfully demonstrated its fidelity to the Will And Testament of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, in refusing to conform to the dictates of the violating Hands of Cause who conspired to make the religion of Bahá’u’lláh conform to their own whims and wishes? These violating Hands of the Cause were bent upon exploitation of the Sacred Name in following a policy of imposition and intimidation.

It is a well known fact that when men follow a policy of secret collusion, of which these Hands were guilty at the very first conclave of Hands, held in ‘Akká following the passing of Shoghi Effendi, they cut themselves off from the truth and they become deluded by ignorance, and developed satanic perversity or egotism that proclaims itself absolute both in knowledge and power. The LSA of Lucknow, undeterred by this policy of intimidation, passed a resolution in the presence of seven members of the Assembly on November 9th, 1957, resolving that "the activities of this L.S.A. be suspended till the appointment of the next Guardian of the Faith."

Y.H. Taylor

___________________________________________________________________________________

The letter written by the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Lucknow in 1957:

 

Resolution passed in the presence of seven members of the Assembly (L.S.A.

LUCKNOW) on November 9th,1957

REGISTERED SOCIETY NO. 141 NOVEMBER 18, 1958

(U.P.INDIA) RAFFANIAN
L.S.A. (LUCKNOW) HAIFA, ISRAEL

Where as by a resolution passed in the presence of seven members of the Assembly on November 9th, 1957, it was resolved that "the activities of this L.S.A. be suspended til the appointment of the next Guardian of the Faith" and the same was intimated to the N.S.A., New Delhi, and whereas it comes under the purview of the Supreme Council, so therefore it behooves this assembly to place the following arguments without prejudice, before the aforementioned Supreme Council through Raffanian, Haifa (Israel):

1. Man’s nature is two-fold; he is spirit and body and therefore, at once, a citizen of this world and of the Heavenly City. 

2. The State of Guardianship is the supermost thing upon Earth, for the Guardians are not only God’s lieutenants upon earth, and sit upon God’s throne, but even by God Himself they are called Gods. That which concerns the mystery of The Guardian’s power is not lawful to be disputed, for, that is to wade into the weakness of Gods, and to take away the mystical reverence that belongs unto the temporal presence of them that sit in the Throne of God.

3. The Guardian ought to have no equal in his realm because this would nullify the rule that an equal cannot have authority over his equals. Still less ought he to have a superior or anyone more powerful than he, for he would then be below his own deputies and it is impossible that inferiors should be equal to the Supreme.

4. The Supremacy of the Guardian in spiritual matters is absolute under God. Substantially He is the "AKDAS" in the sense that he can neither be removed nor held responsible and has ultimate authority over the rest of the hierarchy, which his deputies have not. The Guardian has full power to create Hands of the Cause and can do so without any of the customary forms of election.

5. The unique power possessed by The Guardian alone, is, therefore a "Divine Right". It confers a peculiar superiority, a power of revision and supervision over all other forms of authority whether ecclesiastical or secular. In substance the Guardian alone is the head of the entire legal system, not, indeed, as a universal executive but as a court of final authority which functions not in absentia but by presence. It is evident that it is impossible to invest the community or even the Hands of the Cause, with the supreme authority which is the Divine prerogative of the Guardian.

6. The present system is but conciliary and the concilliarists have set against it the ideal of a harmony of powers cooperating by free and mutual consent. Such an argument is fought with the implication that God had changed the mode of imposing His Divine Right according to the wishes of the few. Such a democratic conception is vitally opposed to the Spirit of the Faith. The concilliarist theory strands curiously balanced between past and present. Wherever authority stands upon the exploitation of a sacred name, intimidation has to be adopted as policy on considerations.

L.S.A. Lucknow in animated suspense til the consecration of the Guardian on His vacant throne.

51 Sundarbagh,

Lucknow

U.P. (India)

Update on Court Action Against the Orthodox Baha'is

An evidentiary hearing on the Wilmette NSA's contempt motion against the Orthodox Bahai Faith and the Baha'is under the Provisions of the Covenant is scheduled for January 7, 2008 at 9:30 AM in the United States District Court, before the Honorable Amy J. St Eve in Courtroom 1241 in the Everett McKinley Dirksen Federal Building, 219 South Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois.  This will be a "mini-trial" on the issue of whether the respondents are in "privity" with the NSA under the Hereditary Guardianship (Mason Remey's organization) and therefore bound by the 1966 Judgment against that NSA.  Witness testimony will be taken at the hearing which is scheduled for two days.

To see the recent Court orders, go to our updated page:
http://trueseeker.typepad.com/true_seeker/court_case.html

Huququ'llah is the Right of the Guardian Only

HUQUQU'LLAH IS THE RIGHT OF THE GUARDIAN ONLY
THEREFORE RECEIPT OF HUQUQ BY THE BOGUS  UHJ IS  ILLEGITIMATE
by guest blogger
Hand of the Cause of God Y.H. Taylor

According to the Master’s Will which complements the Aqdas, the Huquq goes only to the Guardian.

The bogus sans-Guardian organization (that is, the Bahai organization of currently occupying Haifa and Wilmette) collects Huquq, which according to the Will and Testament of Abdu’l Baha goes only to the Guardian of the Cause of God, “that it may be expended for the diffusion of the Fragrances of God and the exaltation of His Word, for benevolent pursuits and for the common weal.” But the money that they take undeservedly and without having any authority is being used in opposition to “what God hath decreed” and is spent to make opposition and animosity against the Guardian of the Cause of God. The recent court case by the Wilmette NSA against the TRUE FAITH OF BAHA'U'LLAH is witness to it.

The Master in his Will and Testament says:
“O friends of ‘Abdu’l-Baha! The Lord, as a sign of His infinite bounties, hath graciously favored His servants by providing for a fixed money offering (Huquq), to be dutifully presented unto Him, though He, the True One and His servants have been at all times independent of all created things, and God verily is the All-Possessing, exalted above the need of any gift from His creatures. This fixed money offering, however, causeth the people to become firm and steadfast and draweth Divine increase upon them. It is to be offered through the Guardian of the Cause of God, that it may be expended for the diffusion of the Fragrances of God and the exaltation of His Word, for benevolent pursuits and for the common weal”.

And the first Guardian emphasized:
“There is a difference between taxes and spiritual offerings. The House of Justice has certain revenues such as inheritance shares, fees and fines. These are the taxes, which, according to the Aqdas, go directly not to the Guardian but to the House of Justice.  According to the Master’s Will which complements the Aqdas, the Huquq goes only to the Guardian.”
(To Mr. George O. Latimer, Portland, Oregon, dated Haifa, June 17, 1933.)
(Shoghi Effendi, Extracts from the USBN)

Y.H. Taylor

Abdu'l-Baha's rejection of tyranny

The dictatorial attitude and practices of the Bahai World Faith (that is the Baha'i organization presently headquartered in Haifa and Wilmette, hereafter "BWF"), by which they attempt to rule and control over every aspect of its members' lives and thoughts, does not at all arise from the teachings of the Founders of the Faith.

Abdul-Baha, the Center of the Covenant and the Interpreter of the Bahai Texts, rejected all forms of despotism and tyranny.  In a talk He gave on 18 November 1911 in Paris, the Master said this:

"For persons who are believers, to commit tyranny is to be visited by divine torment in the world of immortality. Naturally, they will avoid despotism and coercion, especially if they believe that if they act justly they will draw near to the threshold of grandeur, gain eternal life, enter into the kingdom of God, and have their faces be illumined by the lights of divine grace and loving-kindness....

"My own hope is that all the divine friends will be manifestations of justice in all affairs. For justice does not pertain to government figures alone. Merchants must also be just in commerce. Those who make goods must be just in what they produce. All human beings, large and small, must behave with justice and fairness. Justice consists in not exceeding their own prerogatives. They must wish for each person what they wish for themselves. This is divine justice. Praise be to God, the sun of justice has risen from the horizon of Baha'u'llah. For in his tablets was laid the foundation for a justice such as was never conceived by any mind from the beginning of creation until now. A station has been established for every sort of individual, which they must not transgress against. For instance, he says that the people of every occupation must exercise justice therein, that is, they must not go beyond what they deserve. If anyone should transgress in his occupation, such as a king who becomes a despot, there is no distinction between them and him. All individuals who do not observe justice in their dealings with others are like the dictatorial leader. Thus, it is apparent that every human being can be just or tyrannical. But my hope is that all will be just, and that all of your thoughts will be of associating with all humankind and employing the utmost justice and fairness in your dealings with others." 
[from `Abdu'l-Baha on Democracy and the Separation of Religion and State by Juan R.I. Cole]
http://www.h-net.org/~bahai/trans/vol6/absiyas2.htm

In my view, the dictatorial behavior of the BWF arises out of fear and a lack of true guidance. The overwhelming fear of their leaders and their rank and file becomes manifest every time the legitimacy of their leadership is questioned. If they were so certain that they were in the right, that they had divine authority to lead the Baha'i community, then they would react with faith and confidence in the face of naysayers.  By reacting with panic and fear, their own faithlessness becomes apparent and their own doubts and concerns become evident.  They know full well that their leadership's claim to authority is based upon hollow and empty interpretations of the Bahai Texts.  It is a house of cards ready to fall with the slightest dissent.  Their bogus UHJ has no clothes!

There will come a time when the misled members of the BWF will awaken and begin to think for themselves. They will see that there is no reason for them to tolerate the mind control and busybody regulation of their personal lives practiced by the BWF leadership.  There is no reason at all for them to accept this abuse from anyone.  They will see that the true Faith of God is united by attraction and love and not by fear and coercion. When that day arrives that the misled Baha'is awaken to the Truth, the Guardian of the Cause of God, Joel B. Marangella, will joyously welcome them back under the shade of the Tree of Covenant.

They are cursed and trapped

by guest blogger:
Hand of the Cause of God Nosrat'u'llah Bahremand

A few years ago one of the Heterodox Baha'is told me that when Mason Remey, the second Guardian of the Cause of God broke his silence and sent his Proclamation to the American National Convention, the former Hands desperately started looking every where in the Writings to find anything to support their bogus claim and any thing to give legitimacy to their illegitimately appointed body of Custodians.  Of course there was not even a word that they could find, so they had exhausted their search and were disappointed. Then one day, Mr.  Varqa, one of the Hands, said he had good news as he had found something and then showed them a passage in the Aqdas regarding "Endowments dedicated to charity" and gave his interpretation which was accepted by the desperate Hands. That unauthorized and erroneous interpretation is the one which now is used by the bogus UHJ and its pawns. I am not sure how much of this story is accurate but I believe there is no reason to doubt its accuracy.   Any how, I think Mr Varqa is still alive and he can explain whether he was the originator of this erroneous interpretation or if it was someone else.

It seems that the headless and bogus UHJ, which is the product of the violators of the Covenant, i.e. the former Hands of the Cause, is cursed and trapped in their malice and wickedness for they have not only violated and misrepresented the Will and Testament of the Master but they have also transgressed against the Aqdas and violated this most Holy Book. They disregarded the following warning of Baha'u'llah in The Aqdas:

"Whoso interpreteth what hath been sent down from the heaven of Revelation, and altereth its evident meaning, he, verily, is of them that have perverted the Sublime Word of God, and is of the lost ones in the Lucid Book."  (The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 57)

In 1992 when they translated and published the Aqdas in English they added some notes to the Book,  Many of them contain unauthorised and erroneous interpretations.

In their translation they conveniently and sinfully changed the meaning of the word "bilaad" (cities) in the passage about endowments, to  "world," to suit their evil intentions.

"Endowments dedicated to charity revert to God, the Revealer of Signs. None hath the right to dispose of them without leave from Him Who is the Dawning-place of Revelation. After Him, this authority shall pass to the Aghsan, and after them to the House of Justice -- should it be established in the world by then -- that they may use these endowments for the benefit of the Places which have been exalted in this Cause, and for whatsoever hath been enjoined upon them by Him Who is the God of might and power. Otherwise, the endowments shall revert to the people of Baha who speak not except by His leave and judge not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet -- lo, they are the champions of victory betwixt heaven and earth -- that they may use them in the manner that hath been laid down in the Book by God, the Mighty, the Bountiful.  (The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 34)

In their notes, they illegitimately and erroneously interpreted this passage of Aqdas to mean that the main reason for including this verse was to tell the people that the Guardianship had been ended only 36 years after its establishment whereas, He in the same Holy Book:

"…alludes to the future Centre of His Covenant, and invests Him with the right of interpreting His holy Writ; anticipates by implication the institution of Guardianship; …"
(God Passes By p.214)

Also in the Will and Testament of Abdu'l Baha which is: "…the Charter of a future world civilization, which may be regarded in some of its features as supplementary to no less weighty a Book than the Kitab-i-Aqdas; signed and sealed by 'Abdu'l-Baha; entirely written with His own hand; … establishes the institution of the Guardianship as a hereditary office and outlines its essential functions;"   (God Passes By, p. 327)

And while His rightful interpreter; the first Guardian of the Cause of God assures the continuation of the Guardianship until the end of the Baha'i Dispensation:

"In this Dispensation, Divine guidance flows on to us in this world after the Prophet's ascension, through first the Master, and then the Guardians."  (Lights of Guidance, p.310)

Let's examine the erroneous and unauthorized interpretations of the man made, headless Body:

Note "66. "Aghsan," Paragraph 42 "Aghsan" (plural of Ghusn) is the Arabic word for "Branches". This term is used by Baha'u'llah to designate His male descendants."

Baha'u'llah only titled each one of His Sons using a superlative or comparative adjective and the word *Ghusn* such as *Ghusn-I-Azam* (Greatest Branch) and *Ghusn-I-At-har*(Purest Branch). or *Ghusn-I-Akbar* (Greater Branch) He never gave anybody other than His sons such a title or never did He write any thing to designate His male descendants to carry on such titles.

Baha'u'llah in the Kitab-i-Ahd (Book of the Covenant)  refers to His sons using the plural of (Ghusn) *Aghsan * i.e. Branches; but He distinguishes *Aghsan* (His sons) from His other descendants, such as His own kindred and members of the Holy Household, while the first Guardian has identified Aghsan as the sons of Baha'u'llah [God Passes By p.239] and [Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah p.244]. Even at the time of Abdu'l Baha it was well understood that Branches means sons of Baha'u'llah as this is quite evident from the following Tablet of Abdu'l Baha:

"O thou whose heart is attracted and whose breast is dilated with joy by the Holy Fragrances!

"Give the glad-tidings to the assemblies of the beloved who are firm in the Covenant and say:

"Verily the Lord hath manifested Himself in this new and wonderful age with the greatest bounty and mercy, which have never been preceded and whereof the eye of existence hath never seen the like; and it is His Great Covenant and New Testament, as appointed by the trace of His Supreme Pen, through which, and according to clear ordinances and explicit statements, the matter was plainly shown and the branches (sons), twigs (relations), kinsmen and beloved were commanded to obey the "appointed Center of the Covenant." But the Covenant of God and His Testament is a bounty to the righteous and a curse to the wicked."  (Abdu'l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu'l-Baha v2, p. 438)

Generally in Baha'u'llah's Writings the word ghusn and its plural aghsan similar to its meaning in English (branch) and (branches) are used as the original meaning (branch of tree) or other type of usage in representational or symbolic ways, but interestingly mostly these words are used to show spiritual connection or intellectual realities:

"Since the affectionate and faithful believers are as the aghsan (branches) and the leaves of this Holy Tree, therefore whatever (hostility and injuries) falls on the Mighty Stock; it will occur to the aghsan (branches), twigs and leaves as well, this is how in every age these tragedies and nuisances have been and will be for the lovers of the Beauty of All-Glorious."  (Baha'u'llah, Al'vah-i-Moba'rakeh, p.343)  (Ma'idiy-i-Asmani. Vol 4, p.42)

"O' Seeker when ye see the names in The Holy Scriptures mentioning Blessedness, Divine Lote-Tree, Forbidden tree, Leaves, Fruits and the like; do not consider them fantasy, in the sight of God; the purpose of all these names has been and will be the devoted believer of God, and as long as the believer is in the shadow of the Divine Tree he will be from the Tree of Blessedness and exalted in the presence of God, but after turning away will be from the burning bush of Hell, while being Faithful; afnan (twigs), aghsan (branches), o'ragh (leaves) and assmar (fruits) will be perceived as substantiated and after opposition all will considered as rejected and abandoned" (Baha'u'llah, Ma'idiy-i-Asmani. Vol 7, p.21)

In the continuation of the same note 66 they have written the following erroneous and sinful interpretation and flawed argument:

"It has particular implications not only for the disposition of endowments but also for the succession of authority following the passing of Baha'u'llah and of 'Abdu'l-Baha.  Baha'u'llah, in the Book of His Covenant, appointed 'Abdu'l-Baha, His eldest son, as the Centre of His Covenant and the Head of the Faith.  Abdu'l-Baha, in His Will and Testament, appointed Shoghi Effendi, His eldest grandson, as the Guardian and Head of the Faith. This passage of the Aqdas, therefore, anticipates the succession of chosen Aghsan and thus the institution of the Guardianship and envisages the possibility of a break in their line."

By their falsity and error they consider the "Endowments dedicated to charity" like a family foundation and business which has to be kept in the family, so with their other false interpretation that Aghsan means male descendent of Baha'u'llah, any remaining blood descendant can be a claimant to the Baha'i properties in the Holy land. The fact is that  Endowments dedicated to charity is not a family business, it has nothing to do with the Guardianship, it is a revenue for the Houses of Justice (Local, National and International) on the other hand, the Aghsan mentioned in this section did not exist after Abdu'l Baha since Shoghi Effendi was not an Aghsan (i.e. sons of Baha'u'llah) he was a ghusn-i-momtaz (chosen branch) he was chosen from among "affectionate and faithful believers" (branches) as were the second and third Guardians.

Abdu'l Baha in one of his Tablets gives the following direction and guidance:

"Prior to establishment of the House of Justice, Endowments dedicated to charity revert to a spiritual assembly which is free from remnants of concupiscence, there is no other arrangement."       (Ganjineh-i-hodood va Ahkam, p.221)

Shoghi Effendi first Guardian of the Cause of God wrote:

"There is a difference between taxes and spiritual offerings. The House of Justice has certain revenues such as inheritance shares, fees and fines. These are the taxes which, according to the Aqdas, go directly not to the Guardian but to the House of Justice. According to the Master's Will which complements the Aqdas, the Huquq goes only to the Guardian." (To Mr. George O. Latimer, Portland, Oregon, dated Haifa, June 17, 1933.) (Shoghi Effendi, Extracts from the USBN)

The first Guardian during his ministry in more than one hundred of his messages and letters strongly encouraged National and Local Spiritual Assemblies to establish their local and national endowments, even urging the National Spiritual Assemblies to have a part of their International endowments in the Holy Land registered in their names.

"Theirs is the unrivalled opportunity, should they bestir themselves, to carry forward to a triumphant conclusion this first corporate effort to which they have consecrated themselves and their nascent  institutions, to embark, in the course of subsequent Plans, on enterprises destined to safeguard and consolidate, in all parts of the motherland, the achievements so hardly won, to proclaim, unequivocally, systematically and effectively, to the masses throughout the length and breadth of the British Isles the verities enshrined in their Faith, to initiate the establishment of a befitting National Haziratu'l-Quds in either the capital of the United Kingdom or further north in the very heart of the British Isles, to inaugurate national and local endowments, to incorporate the newly constituted assemblies, to undertake the preliminary measures for the erection of the first Mashriqu'l-Adhkar in the British Empire," (Shoghi Effendi, The Unfolding Destiny of the British Baha'i Community, p. 220)

"Canadian National Assembly, the establishment of National Baha'i Endowments, doubling the number of Local Assemblies throughout the Dominion and raising to one hundred the total number of localities where Baha'is reside throughout the Provinces, the constitution of a group in Newfoundland and the formation of a nucleus of the Faith in the Territory of Greenland, singled out for special mention by the Author of the Divine Plan, and the participation of Eskimos and Red Indians in membership to share administrative privileges in local institutions of the Faith in Canada"  (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, p. 7)

"The incorporation of firmly established Local Spiritual Assemblies must simultaneously be accelerated in order to strengthen the structure of these newly established institutions, and pave the way for the establishment of local Baha'i endowments."       (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, p. 48)

"He was very pleased to learn of this endowment, now registered in the name of your Spiritual Assembly, and most generously contributed to the Faith of Baha'u'llah by the dear Baha'i friends Mr and Mrs. Bakhtiari… It is of the utmost importance that gradually, as the Communities grow stronger, they should acquire endowments to be used for the benefit of all the Baha'is. This not only reinforces the sense of community life, but enhances the prestige of the Faith in the eyes of their fellow citizens".
              (Shoghi Effendi, Messages to the Indian Subcontinent, p. 215)

"NEWLY-ESTABLISHED ISRAEL BRANCH OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
While the members of this valiant, this highly gifted, forward marching and deeply consecrated community, and particularly its alert and zealous national representatives, labour to attain these immediate goals, that constitute the distinguishing features and the prime objectives of this newly opened phase of the Crusade, the measures initiated recently in the Holy Land to transfer eventually part of the international Baha'i endowments on Mt. Carmel to the name of the newly-established Branch of the Canadian National Spiritual Assembly will be steadily and energetically pursued, as a mark of abiding appreciation of the magnificence and exemplary achievements of this community in recent years in the service of the Cause of Baha'u'llah."   Shoghi Effendi, Messages to Canada, p. 48)

The fact that the Endowments dedicated to charity is revenue for the House of Justice is quite clear and well understood by Iranian Baha'i scholars during the time of Abdu'l Baha and Shoghi Effendi.   Following are the links to two different books from two highly knowledgeable teachers of the Faith. Both of them have written about the passage on endowments in the section of the Aqdas  pertaining to the revenues of the House of Justice:

http://www.reference.bahai.org/fa/t/c/GHA/gha-229.html

http://www.reference.bahai.org/fa/t/c/AK4/ak4-272.html#pg268

Another erroneous and unauthorised interpretation about the "people of Baha":

"The term "people of Baha" is used with a number of different meanings in the Baha'i Writings. In this instance, they are described as those 'who speak not except by His leave and judge not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet.'  Following the passing of Shoghi Effendi in 1957, the Hands of the Cause of God directed the affairs of the Cause until the election of the Universal House of Justice in 1963"

"People of Baha" simply means people of Baha,  i.e. Baha'is.   To say otherwise, means that those former Hands of the Cause who have arrogated unto themselves the collective Guardianship have grossly misinterpreted its meaning.   They have obviously altered the evident meaning of the word in the Book, let alone conceded the fact that only the Guardian of the Cause of God has the authority to interpret.  It is amazing that those Hands who were violators of the Covenant, and had caused a breach in the Cause of God, and subverted His Word, and become the manifestation of the Center of Sedition, described themselves as those "who speak not except by His leave and judge not save in accordance with what God hath decreed in this Tablet".   Who did describe themselves as those? Themselves? The bogus UHJ?  How can they do that?  In fact they did so in opposition to "what God hath decreed"

"What deviation can be greater than interpolating and falsifying the words and verses of the Sacred Text,"   (Abdu'l-Baha, The Will and Testament, p. 5)

A book which is published  by the Heterodox Baha'is in 1997, based on the Ishraq-i-khavari's talks about the Aqdas,  contains some points which he could not help himself from saying and which also has escaped  the censor, includes the following:

"Abdu'l Baha in a tablet explicitly explains that these "people of Baha" are the Spiritual Assemblies who are managing the spiritual affairs of the Baha'i communities  in cities before the establishment of the House of Justice."  http://www.reference.bahai.org/fa/t/o/TDKA/tdka-137.html#pg116

I have not seen the Tablet which Ishraq-i-khavari has mentioned but I am certain that it is true since Abdu'l Baha wrote:

"Prior to establishment of the House of Justice, Endowments dedicated to charity revert to the spiritual assembly which is free from remnants of concupiscence, there is no other arrangement."       (Ganjineh-i-hodood va Ahkam, p.221)

Following is the interpretation of the "people of Baha" by the rightful interpreter of word of God, Joel B Marangella, the third Guardian, in response to the question of an individual  dated 12 April 2003

"If you will refer to page 154 in "God Passes By", in the fifth line from the top of the page you will find this statement:  "Rejoice with exceeding gladness, O people of Baha!"  It is clear that Baha'u'llah is referring to all faithful believers in this passage.  As to the other clauses under the same heading of the Aqdas, one must, of course, when reading the Aqdas always keep in mind that the Will and Testament of the Master supplements the Aqdas, as explained by Shoghi Effendi.  In this instance, it is clear that, similarly to the administration of other types of endowments, endowments or gifts to charity are currently administered, on behalf of the believers, that is, the "people of Baha" at national or local levels by their representatives in the Baha'i Administrative Order, that is their respective Assemblies (future Houses of Justice) and will in the future be administered by the Universal House of Justice, (when established) for any international endowments and by National and Local Houses of Justice, for endowments at those levels, as appropriate."

I have to remind Baha'is that:

"The mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the Guardian of the Cause of God. It is incumbent upon the members of the House of Justice, upon all the Aghsan, the Afnan, the Hands of the Cause of God to show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the Guardian of the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him. He that opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert His Word and will become a manifestation of the Center of Sedition."  (Abdu'l-Baha, The Will and Testament, p. 11)

Nosrat

Three Approaches to Understanding the term "Aghsán"

The division of Baha'is into several different sects came about because of the differing interpretations of the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Baha.  In that holy and sacred Document, Abdu'l-Baha created the Institution of the Guardianship as the Center of the Cause, and the Institution that would carry forward His function and authority as Interpreter of the Holy Writings.  He appointed Shoghi Effendi as the first Guardian of the Cause and enjoined upon him the duty to appoint his successor: either his first born descendant, or the Guardian may "choose another branch to succeed him."

Since Shoghi Effendi had no descendants, the question came up whether he chose another branch.  The Arabic word, Aghsán, or Branch, had been defined by Shoghi Effendi as the Sons of Baha'u'llah, although this was obviously not the meaning of the word in this context, since at the time Abdu'l-Baha wrote these words, there were no faithful Sons of Baha'u'llah.  The proper interpretation of the word Aghsán to the  question of the continuing Guardianship is key to understanding the split amongst the Baha'is.

There are three basic approaches to this:

1) Magic Sperm:  The first approach is the belief that only one of the Sons of Baha'u'llah, or at least a male blood-line descendant, is eligible for appointment as Guardian.  This is the majority Baha'i view represented by those Bahais who presently occupy Haifa and Wilmette (the heterodox Baha'is).  I consider this concept to be the "magic sperm" theory carrying the implicit belief that there is some magical essence in the bloodline of Baha'u'llah that is necessary for one to be divinely guided.  Although this is a highly superstitious and materialistic point of view, there is an historical basis for this in Islamic belief.  For example, the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad are considered to have some special status or respect.  The idea of blood royalty found in many of the systems of government historically also carry this idea that the genetic code of certain families carries with it some kind of magical power or essence.

If we carry the logic of this belief to its extreme, we would consider what would happen if the genetic material of Shoghi Effendi were cloned.  We would have an exact duplicate of Shoghi Effendi's genetic makeup, but of course physically we would end up with his cloned identical twin.  It would be a different person entirely and would not be the Guardian.  Of course, if we could do this, we could clone Baha'u'llah Himself, but of course we would end up with a cloned human being and not the Manifestation of God for this Day.  There is no magic in their genetic material. This example does not intend any disrespect, but merely to show absurd it is to insist that only a physical relative of Baha'u'llah could possibly serve as Guardian.

2) Spiritual Aghsán:  The second approach is the belief that the Guardian may choose any male believer as his successor, and that the person so chosen is, effectively, a "spiritual" Aghsán.  This would be the view represented by the Orthodox Baha'is, that is those who recognize Joel B. Marangella as the third Guardian.  It is also the view taken by those Baha'is who follow Jacques Soghomonian as their fourth Guardian.  This approach finds that the Will and Testament did not impose an obligation upon the Guardian to appoint an Aghsán, but allows him to appoint any male believer as his successor.  Branchhood is essentially a spiritual relationship and does not require a physical family relation.  This is not a materialistic and superstitious approach, but rather is a spiritual understanding of the essential relationships of the Institutions of the Faith and the believers.  For more on these spiritual relationships, see Joel B. Marangella's article entitled "Tree of the Covenant".

3) Secular Adoption:  The other approach is the belief that the Guardian may only choose an Aghsán to be his successor but that by a legal adoption, recognized by secular or civil authorities, of any male as his son will validate that choice as being legally an Aghsán.  This is the position taken by the Baha'is Under the Provisions of the Covenant.  In my opinion, this approach is very similar to the second one, but curiously adds the unnecessary requirement that the Guardian's choice of successor have a legal sanction by a secular adoption. 

It is ironic that the split of the Faith comes over the interpretation of a clause contained in the Will and Testament of Abdu'l-Baha, a writing intended by Him to avoid a split within the Cause of God by creating the Institution of the Guardianship and enjoining all of the believers to be obedient to the Guardian and his interpretations.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of Baha'is lost faith in the Covenant of Baha'u'llah and rejected the Guardianship following the death of Shoghi Effendi, and thus they adopted the materialistic and superstitious belief that Shoghi Effendi was unable to appoint a successor because the Aghsán were either dead or unfaithful.  Having failed to embrace the living Guardian of the Cause, the Baha'is followed the incorrect interpretation of the Will and Testament and have found themselves in grievous error.

Court Update- Wilmette NSA's Contempt Motion Denied "without prejudice"

This is an update regarding the Wilmette NSA's court action against the Orthodox Baha'is (and the Bahais Under the Provisions of the Covenant).

To see the court pleadings against the Orthodox Baha'is, go here:
http://trueseeker.typepad.com/true_seeker/court_case.html

At the status hearing held in the United States District Court in downtown Chicago on August 8, 2007, the Court denied the Wilmette NSA's motion for rule to show cause (or contempt motion) "without prejudice."  The Court stated there were issues of fact in dispute and ordered the parties to meet and confer and establish a plan for holding an evidentiary hearing on the issue of whether the Orthodox Bahais were in privity with the NSA under Charles Mason Remey and therefore bound to the Judgment that the Wilmette NSA obtained in 1964 against the Remey organization. 

The next status hearing is set for August 23, 2007 at 8:30 AM.

WHO CREATED THE SECTS IN THE BAHAI FAITH?

by guest blogger:
Dr. A. Parikh
Secretary of the National (Orthodox) Bahai Council of India

My Dear Bahá'í Friends!

Some of the friends enquire as to why the Divine Cause (Bahá'í Faith) has become divided into different sects?  What are the factors behind it?   Who is responsible for this division?

It is well understood why such questions should come to mind.  But it is sad that there is no discussion on such questions nor do we investigate the answers to such questions. While 'Abdu'l-Bahá insisted that:

"The shining spark of truth cometh forth only after the clash of differing opinions".
(Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 87)

Friends claim that:

According to the sayings of Abdul Bahá, the "Guardian" should be from the lineage of Bahá'u'lláh.

This is not correct in any way.   Bahá'u'lláh has never placed, or written, any such condition concerning the Guardianship.  In fact, He has only alluded to the Guardianship in His Writings, and it remained for 'Abdu'l-Bahá to establish the institution of the Guardianship in His Will and Testament.

I request the friends whenever you quote what "Abdul Baha says", please quote His correct and exact words and do not insert the doubtful ideas of your own mind.

The majorityof the friends are unaware of and lack knowledge of the truth but, on the other hand, accept whatever has been stated by the UHJ, the NSA or LSA and rely completely upon erroneous facts. They do not strive to know any thing other than those confused ideas and attribute those baseless, adverse and confused ideas and facts to Bahá'u'lláh.

In the Writings and Tablets of Bahá'u'lláh and 'Abdul Bahá, preference is given to impeccability and perfection and it is emphasized that preference should be given to spiritual relationships over physical relationships. Therefore, 'Abdul Bahá explains the matter as follows:

"The lineage of descendants is of two types one is from physical descendants and the other is spiritual.  One is born of clay and water, and the other from the soul and heart."
(Ma'idiy-i-Asmani. Vol 5, p. 161)

"O dear one of 'Abdu'l-Baha! Be the son of thy father and be the fruit of that tree. Be a son that hath been born of his soul and heart and not only of water and clay.  A real son is such a one as hath branched from the spiritual part of man. I ask God that thou mayest be at all times confirmed and strengthened."
(Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 140)

The Friends should note that Assemblies do not have any right to decide or discuss "any matter" outside the powers and responsibilities fixed by Abdul Bahá and Shoghi Effendi.  Then, who authorizes them to either change or falsify the intent of statements made in the "Tablets and Will and Testament" and thereby go against the explicit Holy Text?

They cannot decide that the Guardianship shall continue or not continue in the Bahai Faith, because according to the Will and Testament, the Guardianship of the Cause of God will continue till the end of the Dispensation of Bahá'u'lláh. Even if all the people of the world should stand against him the truth cannot be changed by decision of the people.

As for the current sects in the Bahá'í Faith, this is due to those Baha'is who, following the passing of Shoghi Effendi, stood against the Expounder and Interpreter of the Words of God-- "The Guardian of the Faith"-- and, unfortunately, the majority of the Bahá'ís blindly followed them. It was far better had they paid attention to the words of 'Abdul Baha.  For He said:

"Were it not for the protecting power of the Covenant to guard the impregnable fort of the Cause of God, there would arise among    the Baha'is, in one day, a thousand different sects as was the case in former ages. But in this Blessed Dispensation, for the sake of the permanency of the Cause of God and the avoidance of dissension amongst the people of God, the Blessed Beauty (may my soul be a sacrifice unto Him), has through the Supreme Pen written the Covenant and the Testament; He appointed a Center, the Exponent of the Book and the annuller of disputes. Whatever is written or said by Him is conformable to the truth and under the protection of the Blessed Beauty. He is infallible. The express purpose of this last Will and Testament is to set aside disputes from the world."
(Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 357)

Further, 'Abdu'l-Bahá wrote in His Will and Testament:

"The Mighty stronghold shall remain impregnable and safe through obedience to him who is the guardian of the Cause of God. It is incumbent upon the members of the House Justice, upon all the Aghsán, the Afnán, the Hands of the Cause of God to show their obedience, submissiveness and subordination unto the guardian of the Cause of God, to turn unto him and be lowly before him. He that opposeth him hath opposed the True One, will make a breach in the Cause of God, will subvert His word and will become a manifestation of the Centre of Sedition. (Will & Testament of Abdul Bahá page No.12)

My Dear Bahá'í Friend!

Do you now realize why the different sects came into existence among the Bahá'ís?   Do you understand to whom Abdul Bahá has referred to as the Disputer and Creator of the Sects?

It should now be clear from the terms of His "Will" that disobedience to the Guardian and rebelling against him have now caused the several sects to come into existence.

The true Bahá'ís are those who are under the Shelter of the Guardian. The deviated sects are those who have turned away from the true Guardian.

It is my fervent hope that soon all the friends will turn unto the living guardian of the Faith and will be submissive unto him.

Written by Dr. A. Parikh, Secretary of the National (Orthodox) Bahai Council of India
on 27th July 2007.

Bahai Liberty

In observing the behavior of the leaders of the Baha'is who presently occupy the Bahai World Center in Israel and the Wilmette headquarters of the Bahai Faith in the USA, you might not realize that one of the fundamental teachings of the Cause of Baha'u'llah is that individual conscience and the liberty of the individual is essential for peace and for the spiritual growth of humanity.

In the words of Abdu'l-Baha:

"The standard of liberty is held aloft in this land. You enjoy political liberty; you enjoy liberty of thought and speech, religious liberty, racial and personal liberty. Surely this is worthy of appreciation and thanksgiving.... Liberalism is essential in this day -- justness and equity toward all nations and people." (The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 390)

In other passages, Abdu'l-Baha refers to liberty and freedom as bestowals from God.  Any right thinking person will see that the heart of religion is the relationship and mystical union of the individual with God.  Without liberty and freedom of conscience, it is impossible for mysticism to flourish.

The agencies of the State, corporate boards and bodies of all type have no soul. Spiritual progress and understanding does not come from committees and agencies.  It is only the free individual, who answers to and communes with God, that can spiritually grow and apprehend the mysteries of the Holy Spirit.  Without freedom of the individual, there can be no inspiration, no creativity, and no progress.  Without liberty, all is lost.

How then did the Cause of Baha'u'llah become so denigrated and polluted by the pernicious ideas that the thoughts and minds of Baha'is must be controlled and limited for the sake of unity and protection of the community?