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Ridván
1993
Bahá'í Era 150
by
Universal House of Justice
1993
To
the Bahá'ís of the World
Dearly loved
Friends,
1 We have come to the King of
Festivals in the undiminished glow of the marvellous benedictions of the Holy
Year through which we have just passed, confirmed, renewed and energized in
our sacred pursuits. For it was a time when the Abhá Beauty shed upon His
worldwide community the radiance of His grace in such effulgence as to invest
with astonishing success the efforts of His followers to observe so
significant a double anniversary as the centenary of His Ascension and of the
inauguration of His Covenant. It was the memorial pause that yielded a
proclamation of the Most Great Name that resounded throughout the earth as
never before; but what was so clearly an external phenomenon was quite
markedly a reflection of an inner attainment to a deeper understanding of our
relation to Bahá'u'lláh than hitherto obtained. The greater appreciation in
ourselves of the universality of the community, of its embodiment of the
first and over-arching principle of His Faith, has left a new and compelling
impression upon our hearts; the effects of that awareness were strikingly
demonstrated at the commemoration in the Holy Land last May and more broadly
at the World Congress last November, as if to confirm our assurance in these
desperately troubled times that the world of humanity is moving inexorably
towards its as-yet elusive destiny of unity and peace. Indeed, during the
Holy Year, we were transported on the wings of the spirit to a summit from
which we have seen the fast-approaching glory of the Lord's immemorial
promise that all humankind will one day be united.
2 The thrilling details of
the happenings throughout the year are too numerous to describe here, for the
workings of the Holy Spirit were universally felt, imbuing the activities of
the friends with a mysterious force. Let it suffice, then, to recall such
highlights as the gathering last May of the largest number of Bahá'ís to
participate in an event in the Holy Land; the circumambulation of the Shrine
of Bahá'u'lláh by the representatives of virtually every nation; the presence
of the majority of the living Knights of Bahá'u'lláh at the time of the
depositing of the Roll of Honour at the entry door of the Most Holy Shrine;
the unprecedented size of the World Congress and the vast variety of its
participants, including a huge body of youth who engaged in their own
auxiliary programme; the procession of the representatives of the races and
nations of the world on that spectacular occasion; the satellite broadcast which
linked the Congress and the World Centre with all the continents. These were
of a rare category of experience, and they have immortalized the fame of the
centennial commemorations. The innumerable, imaginative efforts undertaken by
the friends around the world, from remote villages to great cities, in
observance of these important anniversaries illustrated afresh the profound
degree to which the Faith of Bahá'u'lláh has been consolidated, and they
generated the teaching work in many areas, with unusual and surprising
results. The unprecedented publicity accorded the purpose and activities of
the Holy Year through the mass media in large and small countries, the notice
given by legislative bodies and public officials to the centennial, the
gestures of recognition and appreciation of the Faith by governmental
agencies, the involvement of representatives of the Bahá'í International
Community in major global events, including the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro last June, in connection
with which a public monument bearing an inscription from the writings of
Bahá'u'lláh and a large imprint of the Greatest Name was dedicated---such
developments gave clear indications that the profile of the community has
been raised in the public eye.
3 Apart from all these
outstanding events and developments, but of even greater magnitude because of
its far-reaching implications for the whole human race, was the release at
Naw-Rúz of the annotated English translation of the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the Most
Holy Book. We draw a stage closer, then, to a time envisaged by `Abdu'l-Bahá:
"When the laws of the Most Holy Book are enforced," the
Master said, "... universal peace will raise its tent in the centre
of the earth, and the blessed Tree of Life will grow and spread to such an
extent that it will overshadow the East and West."
4 The centennial year was
also a period in which the situation in the world at large became more
confused and paradoxical: there were simultaneous signs of order and chaos,
promise and frustration. Amid the convolutions of the current global state of
affairs, but with such feelings of wonder and joy, courage and faith as the
Holy Year has induced in our hearts, we, at this Ridván, in the one hundred
and fiftieth year of our Faith, are embarked upon a Three Year Plan. Its
brevity is compelled by the swiftly changing tides of the times. But the
Plan's primary purpose is indispensable to the future of the Cause and of
humankind. It is the next stage in the unfoldment of the divine charter of
teaching penned by the Centre of the Covenant. The Plan will be a measure of
our determination to respond to the immense opportunities at this critical
moment in the social evolution of the planet. Through resolute pursuit of its
stated objectives and full realization of its goals, as suited to the
circumstances of each national community, the way will be made clear for a
fit projection of the role of the Faith in relation to the inevitable
challenges facing all humanity towards the end of the fast-fleeting,
fate-laden twentieth century.
5 A massive expansion of the
Bahá'í community must be achieved far beyond all past records. The task of
spreading the Message to the generality of mankind in villages, towns and
cities must be rapidly extended. The need for this is critical, for without
it the laboriously erected agencies of the Administrative Order will not be
provided the scope to be able to develop and adequately demonstrate their
inherent capacity to minister to the crying needs of humanity in its hour of
deepening despair. In this regard the mutuality of teaching and
administration must be fully understood and widely emphasized, for each
reinforces the other. The problems of society which affect our community and
those problems which naturally arise from within the community itself,
whether social, spiritual, economic or administrative, will be solved as our
numbers and resources multiply, and as at all levels of the community the
friends develop the ability, willingness, courage and determination to obey
the laws, apply the principles and administer the affairs of the Faith in
accordance with divine precepts.
6 The new Plan revolves
around a triple-theme: enhancing the vitality of the faith of individual
believers, greatly developing the human resources of the Cause, and fostering
the proper functioning of local and national Bahá'í institutions. This is to
lend focus to requisites of success as the Plan's manifold goals are pursued
in these turbulent times.
7 Against the conspicuous signs
of moral decadence which daily is corroding the foundations of civilized
life, these graphic words of Bahá'u'lláh assume acute urgency: "The
vitality of men's belief in God is dying out in every land; nothing short of
His wholesome medicine can ever restore it. The corrosion of ungodliness is
eating into the vitals of human society; what else but the Elixir of His
potent Revelation can cleanse and revive it?" Such words have particular
implications for the actions of anyone who has recognized the Lord of the
Age. A crucial consequence of this recognition is a belief that impels
acceptance of His commandments. Depth of belief is assured by the inner
transformation, that salutary acquisition of spiritual and moral character,
which is the outcome of obedience to the divine laws and principles. Towards
this end the release of the annotated Kitáb-i-Aqdas in English, and its
anticipated early publication in other major languages, provide a mighty
infusion of divine guidance for realizing the vitality of faith which is
essential to the spiritual well- being and happiness of individuals and the
strengthening of the fabric of the community. No less essential to nourishing
this vitality is the cultivation of a sense of spirituality, that mystic
feeling which unites the individual with God and is achieved through
meditation and prayer. Training of the friends and their striving, through
serious individual study, to acquire knowledge of the Faith, to apply its
principles and administer its affairs, are indispensable to developing the
human resources necessary to the progress of the Cause. But knowledge alone
is not adequate; it is vital that training be given in a manner that inspires
love and devotion, fosters firmness in the Covenant, prompts the individual
to active participation in the work of the Cause and to taking sound
initiatives in the promotion of its interests. Special efforts to attract
people of capacity to the Faith will also go far towards providing the human
resources so greatly needed at this time. Moreover, these endeavours will
stimulate and strengthen the ability of Spiritual Assemblies to meet their
weighty responsibilities.
8 The proper functioning of
these institutions depends largely on the efforts of their members to
familiarize themselves with their duties and to adhere scrupulously to
principle in their personal behaviour and in the conduct of their official
responsibilities. Of relevant importance, too, are their resolve to remove
all traces of estrangement and sectarian tendencies from their midst, their
ability to win the affection and support of the friends under their care and
to involve as many individuals as possible in the work of the Cause. By their
constantly aiming at improving their performance, the communities they guide
will reflect a pattern of life that will be a credit to the Faith and will,
as a welcome consequence, rekindle hope among the increasingly disillusioned
members of society.
9 As National Spiritual
Assemblies, with the ready support of the Continental Counsellors, chart the
course to be followed in this brief span, the World Centre will attend to
coordinating widely diverse activities through- out the planet, giving
further direction to the external affairs of the Faith as the Bahá'í
International Community is drawn more deeply into dealing with world issues.
It will do this while at the same time pursuing with deliberate speed the
gigantic building projects on God's Holy Mountain, which constitute part of a
process clearly perceived by Shoghi Effendi as synchronizing with two no less
significant developments: the establishment of the Lesser Peace and the
evolution of Bahá'í national and local institutions. By the end of the Plan
all remaining construction phases of the Mount Carmel projects will have been
set in motion; the structural framework of the International Teaching Centre,
the Centre for the Study of the Texts and the Extension to the International
Archives Building will have been raised up; and seven terraces below the
Shrine of the Báb will have been completed.
10 The dramatic expansion of
the work of the Cause in recent years and the developments expected during
this new Plan demand material resources which have not been adequate for some
time, even though substantial increases have been made in the contributions
to Bahá'í Funds. The economic crises so widely reported seem destined to grow
even worse, but neither the economic nor other pressing problems confronting
humanity will ultimately be resolved unless the Cause of Bahá'u'lláh is given
due regard by nations and peoples and unless i receives the adequate material
support of its avowed adherents. May the friends everywhere consider,
together with their Bahá'í institutions and individually, undaunted by the
uncertainties, the perils and the financial stringency afflicting nations,
what must now be done by each and all to meet this inescapable, sacred
responsibility resting upon them.
11 Our appeal for immediate,
redoubled and sustained action on all aspects of the Plan is addressed
primarily to the individual believer of every locality, who possesses within
himself or herself the measures of initiative that ensure the success of any
global Bahá'í enterprise, and "on whom, in the last resort,"
as our beloved Guardian plainly stated, "depends the fate of the
entire community". The goals of the Three Year Plan will not be
easily won, but they must be magnificently achieved, whatever the sacrifice.
There should therefore be no hesitation or delay on the part of individuals
or Spiritual Assemblies in attending to them, lest the problems of mankind
pile up unchecked, or the rise of internal crises slows us down. Let it ever
be borne in mind that we earn our victories through test and trial; we turn
crisis to the advantage of progress by seizing the opportunity it provides to
demonstrate the viability and winning power of our principles. In the onward
surge of the Cause of God, crisis and victory have always alternated and have
ever proven to be the staple of progress. As we savour the triumphs of the
Holy Year, let us not forget the reality of this recurrent experience. Let us
also remember that our blessings are equal to our challenges, as repeatedly
shown by our glorious history.
12 Beloved friends: Do not be
dismayed or deterred. Take courage in the security of God's law and
ordinances. These are the darkest hours before the break of day. Peace, as
promised, will come at night's end. Press on to meet the dawn.
The Universal
House of Justice
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