Meetings, Baha'i
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Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Bahá'u'lláh, Meetings, Baha'i, bahai-library.com.
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Meetings, Bahá'í

Bahá'u'lláh

Abdu'l-Bahá

Shoghi Effendi

Universal House of Justice, Research Department

, compiler

n.d.

Contents:

I.

From The Writings Of Bahá'u'lláh

II.

From The Writings And Utterances Of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá

III.

From The Writings Of Shoghi Effendi

IV.

From Letters Written On Behalf Of Shoghi Effendi To Individual Believers

I.

From The Writings
Of Bahá'u'lláh

1.
The
friends of God, one and all, are remembered by the Supreme Pen: The bounties of the Source of Bounty
are at every moment visibly descending. It behoveth the friends in whatever land they be, to gather together in
meetings, and therein to speak wisely and with eloquence, and to read the
verses of God; for it is God's Words that kindle love's fire and set it ablaze.

(Bahá'u'lláh,
from unpublished Tablet)

2.
By
My life and My Cause! Round about
whatever dwelling the friends of God may enter, and from which their cry shall
rise as they praise and glorify the Lord, shall circle the souls of true
believers and all the favoured angels. And should the door of the true eye be opened unto some, they shall
witness the Supreme Concourse as it circleth and crieth: “Blessed art thou, O house, for God
hath made thee a resting-place for those He favoureth, and a lodging for those
He holdeth dear, and a home for those in whom He hath placed His trust. Unto thee be His praise and His glory
and His endless grace.”

(Bahá'u'lláh,
from unpublished Tablet)

3.
They
who are the beloved of God, in whatever place they gather and whomsoever they
may meet, must evince, in their attitude towards God, and in the manner of their
celebration of His praise and glory, such humility and submissiveness that
every atom of the dust beneath their feet may attest the depth of their
devotion. The conversation carried
by these holy souls should be informed with such power that these same atoms of
dust will be thrilled by its influence. They should conduct themselves in such manner that the earth upon which
they tread may never be allowed to address to them such words as these: “I am to be preferred above you. For witness, how patient I am in
bearing the burden which the husbandman layeth upon me. I am the instrument that continually
imparteth unto all beings the blessings with which He Who is the Source of all
grace hath entrusted me. Notwithstanding the honor conferred upon me, and the unnumbered
evidences of my wealth - a wealth that supplieth the needs of all creation -
behold the measure of my humility, witness with what absolute submissiveness I
allow myself to be trodden beneath the feet of men....”

(“Gleanings
from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh”, rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust,
1984), sec.
5
, pp.
7
-
8
)

4.
Blessed
is the house that hath attained unto My tender mercy, wherein My remembrance is
celebrated, and which is ennobled by the presence of My loved ones, who have proclaimed
My praise, cleaved fast to the cord of My grace and been honoured by chanting
My verses. Verily they are the
exalted servants whom God hath extolled in the Qayyúmu'l-Asmá' and other
scriptures. Verily He is the
All-Hearing, the Answerer, He Who perceiveth all things.

(Bahá'u'lláh,
from unpublished Tablet)

II.

From The Writings
And Utterances Of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá

5.
Praise
be to God! that ye are gathered in one assembly like unto the stars of the
Pleiades, are illumined with the light of the knowledge of God and through the
outpouring of the cloud of the love of God, ye are the fresh flowers of the
meadow and plain; ye are intimate and familiar with infinite unity and love.

Therefore, this meeting is
blessed. But if it is firmly
established and become constant, it will bring forth great results and most
weighty developments will be attained. Consequently, persevere ye in renewing your meetings and display utmost
magnanimity in firmness and steadfastness. When the root of the tree of the garden is well established
and its protection is safeguarded, it will bring forth luscious fruits.

Likewise, when the regiment of an
army and the individuals of a cohort are united and related with ease, untold
triumphs will be acquired. But if
they come together one day and disperse another day, no fruits will be
produced.

Therefore, as ye have prepared an
army of heaven and become the host of life, ye must continue to hold meetings,
have spiritual communications, be firm in resolution, steadfast in purpose and
be constant and persevering so that ye may win celestial conquests.

I supplicate and entreat at the
Threshold of God to assist and confirm you in firmness and steadfastness and
cause you to guide the inhabitants of that region.

(“Tablets
of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá ‘Abbás”, vol. 3 (Chicago: Bahá'í Publishing Society, 1916), p.
690
)

6.
If
thou seekest after the light of the Kingdom, hasten undoubtedly to the meetings
of the believers, in order that the rays of truth may reflect in thy heart.

(“Tablets
of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá ‘Abbás”, vol. 3, p.
695
)

7.
Hold
meetings and read and chant the heavenly teachings, so that city may be
illumined with the light of reality and that country become a veritable
paradise by the strength of the Holy Spirit, for this cycle is the cycle of the
Glorious Lord and the melody of oneness and solidarity of the world of mankind
must reach the ears of the East and West.

(“Tablets
of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá ‘Abbás”, vol. 3, p.
631
)

8.
Every
meeting which is organized for the purpose of unity and concord will be
conducive to changing strangers into friends, enemies into associates, and
‘Abdu'l-Bahá will be present in his heart and soul with that meeting.

(“Tablets
of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá ‘Abbás”, vol. 3, p.
553
)

9.
One
consecrated soul is preferable to a thousand other souls. If a small number of people gather
lovingly together, with absolute purity and sanctity, with their hearts free of
the world, experiencing the emotions of the Kingdom and the powerful magnetic
forces of the Divine, and being at one in their happy fellowship, that
gathering will exert its influence over all the earth. The nature of that band of people, the
words they speak, the deeds they do, will unleash the bestowals of Heaven, and
provide a foretaste of eternal bliss. The hosts of the Company on high will defend them, and the angels of the
Abhá Paradise, in continuous succession, will come down to their aid.

(“Selections
from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá” [rev. ed.], (Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre,
1982), sec.
39
, p.
81
)

10.
The
hearts of all the friends rejoiced, and in particular, the heart of
‘Abdu'l-Bahá, when we heard of thy rising up to serve the Cause of God, and
that thou hast set apart one of the rooms in thy home for meetings of the
lovers of God, so that from it may ascend to the Lord of Revelation the clamour
of chanted prayers.

By the life of God! The queens of the world, with all their
castles, cannot boast of such a room, since from it shineth forth the light of
lights.

(‘Abdu'l-Bahá,
from unpublished Tablet)

11.
We
hear that thou hast in mind to embellish thy house from time to time with a
meeting of Bahá'ís, where some among them will engage in glorifying the
All-Glorious Lord…. Know that
shouldst thou bring this about, that house of earth will become a house of
heaven, and that fabric of stone a congress of the spirit.

(“Selections
from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá”, sec.
57
, p.
94
)

12.
Whensoever
a company of people shall gather in a meeting place, shall engage in glorifying
God, and shall speak with one another of the mysteries of God, beyond any doubt
the breathings of the Holy Spirit will blow gently over them, and each shall
receive a share thereof.

(“Selections
from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá”, sec.
56
, p.
94
)

13.
Once
in every week, gather ye the steadfast friends together in a meeting-place, and
there let them engage in praising and glorifying the Lord.

[citation missing; note: one print edition at least lists this as "From a recently translated Tablet of 'Abdu'l-Bahá to an individual believer"]

14.
It
befitteth the friends to hold a gathering, a meeting, where they shall glorify
God and fix their hearts upon Him, and read and recite the Holy Writings of the
Blessed Beauty - may my soul be the ransom of His lovers! The lights of the All-Glorious Realm,
the rays of the Supreme Horizon, will be cast upon such bright assemblages, for
these are none other than the Mashriqu'l-Adhkárs, the Dawning-Points of God's
Remembrance, which must, at the direction of the Most Exalted Pen, be
established in every hamlet and city…. These spiritual gatherings must be held with the utmost purity and
consecration, so that from the site itself, and its earth and the air about it,
one will inhale the fragrant breathings of the Holy Spirit.

(“Selections
from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá”, sec.
55
, pp.
93
-
94
)

15.
Thy
letter was received. Thou hast
written in regard to the Sunday meeting, saying that it is established in the
utmost of love. Undoubtedly you
must be firm in holding it, and on the day of meeting raise such song and
melody in the glorification and praise of Bahá'u'lláh that you may cause a
tumult in that city - so that everyone may hear the call of God and obtain a
new spirit through the soul-refreshing breeze wafted from the rose-garden of
the Covenant.

(‘Abdu'l-Bahá,
from unpublished Tablet)

16.
If
it were possible that in every city a few of the awakened ones, when
opportunity offered, could hold a meeting, and therein habitually present the
proofs and arguments of God, this would do much to expand the consciousness of
men; provided, however, that the discourse be kept to this one theme.

(‘Abdu'l-Bahá,
from unpublished Tablet)

17.
Ye
have written as to the meetings of the friends, and how filled they are with
peace and joy. Of course this is
so; for wherever the spiritually minded are gathered together, there in His
beauty reigneth Bahá'u'lláh. Thus
it is certain that such reunions will yield boundless happiness and peace.

Today it behoveth one and all to
forgo the mention of all else, and to disregard all things. Let their speaking, let their inner
state be summed up thus: “Keep all
my words of prayer and praise confined to one refrain; make all my life but
servitude to Thee.” That is, let
them concentrate all their thoughts, all their words, on teaching the Cause of
God and spreading the Faith of God, and inspiring all to characterize
themselves with the characteristics of God; on loving mankind; on being pure
and holy in all things, and spotless in their public and private life; on being
upright and detached, and fervent, and afire. All is to be yielded up, save only the remembrance of God;
all is to be dispraised, except His praise. Today, to this melody of the Company on high, the world will
leap and dance: “Glory be to my
Lord, the All-Glorious!” But know ye this: save for this song of God, no song will stir the world, and
save for this nightingale-cry of truth from the Garden of God, no melody will
lure away the heart. “Whence cometh
this Singer Who speaketh the Beloved's name?”

(“Selections
from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá”, sec.
54
, p.
93
)

18.
Verily,
‘Abdu'l-Bahá inhaleth the fragrance of the love of God from every meeting-place
where the Word of God is uttered and proofs and arguments set forth that shed
their rays across the world, and where they recount the tribulations of
‘Abdu'l-Bahá at the evil hands of those who have violated the Covenant of God.

O handmaid of the Lord! Speak thou no word of politics; thy
task concerneth the life of the soul, for this verily leadeth to man's joy in
the world of God. Except to speak
well of them, make thou no mention of the earth's kings, and the worldly
governments thereof. Rather,
confine thine utterance to spreading the blissful tidings of the Kingdom of
God, and demonstrating the influence of the Word of God, and the holiness of
the Cause of God. Tell thou of
abiding joy and spiritual delights, and godlike qualities, and of how the Sun of
Truth hath risen above the earth's horizons: tell of the blowing of the spirit of life into the body of
the world.

(“Selections
from the Writings of ‘Abdu'l-Bahá”, sec.
53
, pp.
92
-
93
)

19.
Rest
you assured that the breathings of the Holy Spirit will loosen your
tongue. Speak, therefore; speak
out with great courage at every meeting. When you are about to begin your address, turn first to Bahá'u'lláh and
ask for the confirmations of the Holy Spirit, then open your lips and say
whatever is suggested to your heart; this, however, with the utmost courage,
dignity and conviction. It is my
hope that from day to day your gatherings will grow and flourish, and that
those who are seeking after truth will hearken therein to reasoned arguments
and conclusive proofs. I am with
you heart and soul at every meeting; be sure of this.

Hold you the Nineteen Day Feasts
with utmost dignity.

(‘Abdu'l-Bahá,
from unpublished Tablet)

20.
At
these meetings, there should be no extraneous conversation whatever. Rather, the assemblage should confine
itself to reading and reciting the Holy Words, and to the discussion of matters
relating to the Cause of God: expounding, for example, conclusive proofs and
arguments, and the Writings of the Best Beloved of mankind. Those who present themselves at these
gatherings must first array themselves in spotless clothing, turn their faces
toward the Kingdom of Abhá, and then with lowliness and submissiveness enter
in. During the readings they must
maintain complete silence. Should
anyone wish to speak, he should say his say in all humility, with exactitude
and eloquence.

(‘Abdu'l-Bahá,
from unpublished Tablet)

21.
All
the meetings must be for teaching the Cause and spreading the Message, and
suffering the souls to enter in the Kingdom of Bahá'u'lláh. Look at me. All my thoughts are centered around the proclamation of the
Kingdom.

I have a Lamp in my hand searching
through the lands and seas to find souls who can become heralds of the
Cause. Day and night I am engaged
in this work. Any other deliberations
in the meetings are futile and fruitless. Convey the message! Attract
the hearts! Sow the seeds! Teach the Cause to those who do not
know.

I enter all meetings, all churches,
so that the Cause may be spread. When the MOST IMPORTANT work is before our sight, we must let go the Important one.

If the meetings or Spiritual
Assembly has any other occupation, the time is spent in futility. All the deliberations, all
consultation, all the talks and addresses must revolve around one focal center
and that is: TEACH THE CAUSE!
TEACH! TEACH! Convey the Message! Awaken the souls!

Now is the time of laying the
foundation. Now we must gather
brick, stone, wood, iron, and other building materials! This is not the time of decoration. We must strive day and night and think
and work. What can I say that may
become effective? What can I do
that may bring results? What can I
write that may bring forth fruits?

Nothing else will be useful,
today. The interests of such a
Glorious Cause will not advance without undivided attention. While we are carrying this load we
cannot carry any other load!

(“Star
of the West”, vol. 4, no. 15 (12 December 1913), p. 256)

22.
Amongst
other things is the holding of the meetings for teaching so that blessed souls
and the old ones from amongst the believers may gather together the youths of
the love of God in schools of instruction and teach them all the divine proofs
and irrefragable arguments, explain and elucidate the history of the Cause, and
interpret also the prophecies and proofs which are recorded and are extant in
the divine Books and Epistles regarding the Manifestation of the Promised One,
so that the young ones may go in perfect knowledge in all these degrees.

(“Tablets
of the Divine Plan Revealed by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá to the North American Bahá'ís”,
rev. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í
Publishing Trust, 1980), pp.
51
-
52
)

23.
Such
a gathering as this is worthy of thanksgiving; it is peerless and unique among
meetings. Other meetings are held
from motives of material interests - such as social, political, commercial,
educational - but this assemblage has no other purpose than attainment to the
divine Kingdom; therefore, it is unique, unequaled. The hearts have turned to God; spirits are exalted through
the glad tidings of God; the intentions of all are directed to God. What better meeting could be imagined
than this?

Such a gathering is fundamentally
spiritual, sincere and most important. But we must arise in the accomplishment of its purposes, for our
attention is directed toward the heavenly Kingdom unto which we must render
faithful service. Therefore, all
individuals present here must be in the attitude of perfect love and
fellowship, manifesting the utmost humility and self-sacrifice, turning our
thoughts toward the Kingdom of God so that our meeting may be an expression of
the glorified hosts of the Supreme Concourse.

(“The
Promulgation of Universal Peace: Talks Delivered by ‘Abdu'l-Bahá during His Visit to the United States
and Canada in 1912”, 2nd. ed. (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing Trust, 1982), p.
334
)

24.
Thou
hast written concerning the meetings and gathering-places of the believers of
God. Such assemblies and
gatherings will greatly aid the promotion of the Word and all the audience,
whether friends or not, will become affected. But when the friends have the intention of entering into
these meetings they must disengage the heart from all other reflections, ask
the Inexhaustible Divine Confirmation, and with the utmost devotion and
humility set their feet in the gathering-place. Let them not introduce any topic in the meeting except the
mentioning of the True One, neither must they confuse that merciful assembly
with complex outside questions. They must ... either commune
or supplicate and pray to God, either read Tablets or give out advises and
exhortations.

(“Star
of the West”, vol. 2, no. 6 (24 June 1911), p. 5)

25.
You
have written concerning the spiritual meetings. The foundation of the spiritual meetings must be the
teaching and delivering of the Cause of God. In these meetings the believers and maid-servants of the
Merciful must proclaim the proofs and arguments and explain the signs of the
appearance of the Beauty of Abhá - May my life be a sacrifice to the beloved
ones! Meanwhile they may read some
Tablets and Communes, and at the end of the meetings, if they desire to sing
with the utmost supplication and meekness, it is acceptable. But the fundamental principle of the
establishment of spiritual meetings is for the sake of teaching and delivering the
Truth so that those souls who are present may become informed of the Divine
Evidences and Proofs.

(“Star
of the West”, vol. 2, no. 6 (24 June 1911), p. 5)

26.
Let
the beloved of God gather together and associate most lovingly and spiritually
and happily with one another, conducting themselves with the greatest courtesy
and self-restraint. Let them read
the holy verses, as well as essays which are of benefit, and the letters of
‘Abdu'l-Bahá; encourage and inspire one another to love each and all; chant the
prayers with serenity and joy; give eloquent talks, and praise the matchless
Lord.

(‘Abdu'l-Bahá,
from unpublished Tablet)

III.

From The Writings
Of Shoghi Effendi

27.
They
must undertake the arrangement of the regular meetings of the friends, the
feasts and the anniversaries, as well as the special gatherings designed to
serve and promote the social, intellectual and spiritual interests of their
fellow-men.

(12
March 1923 to the Bahá'ís of America, Great Britain, Germany, France,
Switzerland, Italy, Japan and Australasia, published in “Bahá'í Administration: Selected Messages 1922-1932” [rev.
ed.], (Wilmette: Bahá'í Publishing
Trust, 1980), p.
38
)

IV.

From
Letters Written On Behalf Of Shoghi Effendi To Individual Believers

28.
With
regard to the question that you had asked, Shoghi Effendi feels that as he has
formerly said in Bahá'í meetings it is quite proper for some of the friends to
deliver talks, but their speeches must have a direct bearing on the teachings
of Bahá'u'lláh and our dear Master. It is not absolutely necessary that in all the meetings only the
writings and utterances of Bahá'u'lláh and the Master should be read, but when
lectures and talks are given they must bear either directly or indirectly on
the Cause.

(Letter
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to individual believer, 10 February 1926)

29.
Regarding
your question as to the advisability of holding Bahá'í meetings at a time
coinciding with church meetings; the Guardian would advise the friends to avoid
such a coincidence, as otherwise many church people may feel offended, and this
may lead to unnecessary and even harmful misunderstandings and developments
which may injure the Cause and affect its prestige in the eyes of the
public. The friends should, under
all circumstances, be careful not to arouse unnecessarily any feelings of
religious antagonism.

(Letter
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to individual believer, 5 September 1936,
published in “Bahá'í News” 111 (October 1937), p. 1)

30.
Since
you have found in the Bahá'í Teachings the fulfilment of your highest aspirations
and the realization of those ideals most dear to your heart, it is your
paramount duty now to spare no effort for their study and their dissemination.

To this end, the Guardian would
recommend that, in addition to your studies of Bahá'í writings, you closely
associate with your fellow-Bahá'ís, and take part in various activities of your
local group, so that you may not only acquire a theoretical knowledge of the
Cause, but grow to become a loving, active and efficient member of the
Community.

(Letter
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to individual believer, (25 November 1938)

31.
In
some places the Bahá'ís have held meetings for prayer, for people who desire to
meet and pray. As we have such
wonderful prayers and meditations in our writings, the reading of these with
friends who are interested in and crave for this type of small meeting is often
a step towards attracting them to the Faith. Perhaps you could start such an activity in your city.

(Letter
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to individual believer, 4 February 1950)

32.
We
should try not to introduce any set patterns into our teaching methods;
however, if this form of group meditation produces unity and a deeper
understanding of the teachings, he sees no reason why it should be not used at
least in the beginning of a teaching class - providing the people want to, like
it, and fully understand it has nothing to do with the teachings of the Faith,
but is a method which sometimes proves helpful.

(Letter
written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi to individual believer, 30 July 1956)

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Inventory #

BH00443[BRL_MEET.BH#01x]
,
BH00251[BRL_MEET.BH#02x]
,
BH00045[BRL_MEET.BH#04x]
,
AB11973[BRL_MEET.AB#10x]
,
AB03692[BRL_MEET.AB#13x]
,
AB12024[BRL_MEET.AB#15x]
,
AB11073[BRL_MEET.AB#16x]
,
AB09344[BRL_MEET.AB#19x]
,
AB02358[BRL_MEET.AB#20x]
,
AB04716[BRL_MEET.AB#26x]

Language

English

Permission

&copy; BIC, public sharing permitted. See sources
1
,
2
, and
3
.

History

Formatted 2010-08 by Jonah Winters;  Proofread 2010-08 by Romane Takkenberg.

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-- Meetings, Baha'i (Used by permission of the curator)